Network & IT

Place 50 IT device types, capture the full patch/port mapping, run integrity checks, and export a plan page plus six reports and CSV.

The Network & IT engine maps your infrastructure and generates the paperwork. See the feature overview; this is the how-to.

Add the engine

Add the Network & IT engine. The region follows the app’s Settings region and sets the cabling standard and units on every report header:

Device catalogue

Place kit from six rail categories (50 device types):

Wall faceplates auto-snap to the nearest wall within 30 cm (and drop the link if dragged more than 30 cm off); floor boxes stay free. Symbols and labels are drawn at plan scale, so they zoom with the drawing and the printed plan matches the editor. Tap a device to select it in place; double-tap centres it and opens its editor, and deletes always ask first (and stay undoable).

Auto-labelling

Every device is labelled on placement:

• Most kit uses a per-type prefix that increments across the plan, PC-01, SW-01 (managed and unmanaged switches share SW).
• Outlets are room-aware: each room is lettered (A, B, C…) and outlets are numbered within it, A-01, A-02, B-01. An outlet outside every room becomes OUT-01.

Capturing the patch mapping

Select an outlet to record its structured-cabling path:

• Patch-panel port
• Switch and switch port
• VLAN (id or name)
• Patch-lead colour

Then connect endpoints, each to an outlet, or directly to a switch port for comms-room kit. Switches and patch panels have an editable port count (default 24).

Cable runs and racks

• Draw cable runs with the Cable-run tool, Cat5e/6/6a, fibre, trunking or tray polylines, with a length read-out. Pick the run type from the bottom-bar menu while drawing and tap Finish run when done.
• Give rack-mountable kit a parent rack and U-position; give a rack its U-height. These drive the rack-elevation report.

Integrity checks

The engine flags issues in the bottom bar and editor, worst first:

1. A switch port double-booked by two devices.
2. A switch over capacity (more kit than ports).
3. An outlet with no patch-panel port.
4. An endpoint with no uplink.
5. A patched outlet with no VLAN.
6. Missing site or installer details.

Colour-by & link overlay

Colour devices by category, VLAN or switch, and toggle the logical link overlay (outlet → switch, endpoint → switch) with the eye chip, it shows when you open the editor.

Plan layers

The Layers chip holds per-drawing toggles for Measurements, Doors, Windows, Room names and Furniture, and they apply to both the live canvas and the exported PDF. Furniture starts off on a network plan (built-in fixtures stay drawn for context); hiding doors keeps the opening in the wall. A Text size stepper (8–48 pt) sets the room-name size app-wide.

Reports & CSV export

Export a multi-page PDF (A4 or US Letter portrait). Page 1 is the drawn plan, your building shell with the placed devices, the logical links (outlet → switch, endpoint → switch) and the cable runs, so the pack opens on the picture. Its footer carries a colour key matching your colour-by choice, a scale bar and a north point; the page frames everything (devices and runs outside the building aren’t clipped) and your Layers choices carry through to the print. The six tabular reports then follow:

1. Device inventory, label, type, category, room, mount.
2. Per-room schedule, devices by room, with a patch/uplink summary.
3. Switch utilisation, a row per port (used/free), with outlet, device and VLAN.
4. Patch schedule, per panel: panel port → outlet → switch · port → VLAN → lead colour, plus a “direct to switch” section.
5. Outlet / floor-port list, every faceplate, its room, type, switch · port and VLAN.
6. Rack elevation, per rack, the mounted kit by U-position.

A CSV export (the ⋯ menu’s “Export CSV…”) writes one row per device with the inventory and patch columns, ready for your asset system. Exporting the CSV uses one export credit, or is included with full access.

In the engine settings you can reword the printed compliance statement (“Reset to default” restores the standard text) and add a branding logo (from Photo Library or Files) that prints bottom-right on the plan page.

Fade the base plan

The engine settings open with a Canvas → Plan opacity slider. Drag it down to fade the static floor plan in the editor so your outlets, devices, links and cable runs stand out; it starts at 90%. It only changes how the plan looks while you work - the drawing itself and the exported PDF/CSV are unchanged - and the choice is shared across every overlay engine and remembered between sessions.

Next

• CCTV & Security guide
• Exporting & sharing