AMX NSS-VOTE User manual

instruction manual
integration!Solutions
i!-VotingManager

Software Warranty Agreement
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Table of Contents
i
i
!-VotingManager
Table of Contents
Introduction ...............................................................................................................1
Supported Operating Systems .......................................................................................... 1
Minimum PC Requirements .............................................................................................. 2
Installing i!-VotingManager................................................................................................ 2
User Interface Layout ........................................................................................................ 3
Using i!-VotingManager ...........................................................................................9
Program Preferences ........................................................................................................ 9
NetLinx Connection ......................................................................................................... 10
Connection ............................................................................................................................. 10
Advanced ............................................................................................................................... 11
i!-Voting Agenda Editor ................................................................................................... 12
Topic Options ......................................................................................................................... 13
Agenda Editor Components ................................................................................................... 15
i!-Voting Agenda Results Viewer..................................................................................... 17
Appendix .................................................................................................................19

ii i!-VotingManager
Table of Contents

Introduction
1
i!-VotingManager
Introduction
i!-VotingManager™ is a PC based software for use with the Platinum Solution NSS-VOTE™.
i!-VotingManager is designed to create and edit i!-Voting voting topic agendas. It is also designed
to view, export, and archive i!-Voting agenda results.
i!-VotingManager is comprised of two main components: the i!-Voting Agenda Editor and the
i!-Voting Agenda Results Viewer.
 i!-Voting Agenda Editor: This component allows you to easily create and manage
multiple agenda files and download these agendas to your i!-Voting system. You can
create or edit these files offline, and then simply connect to your i!-Voting NetLinx
system and download the new or updated agenda files to the system. You can also retrieve
existing i!-Voting agenda files from the i!-Voting system back to your PC.
 i!-Voting Agenda Results Viewer: This component allows you to view, export and
archive i!-Voting agenda results from the i!-Voting system. After a voting session is
completed, the results of the session are recorded to an i!-Voting agenda result file. To
view the file:
1. Connect to the i!-Voting NetLinx system.
2. Select from the existing result files.
3. Retrieve the file.
After retrieving the file, you can print the results, save them to the PC for archival purposes, or
export the results to one of the supported formats from i!-VotingManager.
Supported Operating Systems
 Windows 95®/98®(with at least 48 MB of installed memory)
 Windows NT 4.0®Workstation or Server (service pack 6 B or greater, with at least
64 MB of installed memory)
 Windows 2000®Professional or Server (running on a Pentium 266 MHZ processor
(minimum requirement); 300 MHZ or faster recommended, with 96 MB of installed
memory.)
 Windows ME®(running on a Pentium 266 MHZ processor (minimum requirement);
300 MHZ or faster recommended, with 96 MB of installed memory.)
 Windows XP®(running on a Pentium 266 MHZ processor (minimum requirement);
300 MHZ or faster recommended, with 128 MB of installed memory.)

Introduction
2i!-VotingManager
Minimum PC Requirements
 Windows-compatible mouse (or other pointing device)
 At least 15 MB of free disk space (150 MB recommended)
 SVGA monitor, with a minimum screen resolution of 800 x 600
 A Network adapter
 A Sound Card
Installing i!-VotingManager
1. In Explorer, double-click i!-VotingManagerSetup.exe from the directory window where you
downloaded the i!-VotingManager install program.
2. After reading the License Agreement, select I Agree and Next to proceed.
3. The Welcome To i!-VotingManager Setup dialog opens, reminding you to close all Windows
programs before going any further. Click Next to proceed.
4. In the i!-VotingManager Select Components dialog, select which example programs you would
like to install.
5. In the Select i!-VotingManager Install Location dialog, use the Browse button to navigate to a
directory other than the default install directory, if desired. Click Next.
6. In the i!-VotingManager Shortcut Creation dialog, select Install Shortcut Icons for the
installed components on your desktop, if desired.
7. Click Next in the Start i!-VotingManager Installation dialog to install the selected components.
8. The program prompts you to restart your system to complete the installation.
Continued

Introduction
3
i!-VotingManager
User Interface Layout
FIG. 1 displays the the graphical user interface (GUI) for i!-VotingManager.
1. i!-VotingManager Components Selection: Click the tab of the component you wish to use
(i!-Voting Agenda Editor or i!-Voting Agenda Results Viewer).
2. i!-VotingManager Menu:
 FILE
 Open i!-Voting Agenda File – Opens existing agenda file.
 Open i!-Voting Results File – Opens existing results file.
 Close – Closes open file.
 Append i!-Voting Agenda File – Appends topics from an existing agenda file to
current open agenda.
 Save – Saves open file.
 Print – Prints current file.
 Recent i!-Voting Agenda Files – Opens agenda file from recent list.
 Recent i!-Voting Results Files – Opens results file from recent list.
 Minimize i!-VotingManger – Minimizes i!-VotingManager program window.
 Exit i!-Voting Manager – Exits i!-VotingManager software.
 EDIT
 Cut – Cuts current selection.
 Copy – Copies current selection.
 Paste – Pastes clipboard contents.
 Program Preferences – Opens program preferences dialog.
FIG. 1 i!-VotingManager User Interface
Continued

Introduction
4i!-VotingManager
 VIEW
 i!-Voting Agenda Editor – Views Agenda Editor.
 i!-Voting Agenda Result – Views Agenda Results Viewer.
 TOOLS
 Spell Check – Launches spell check utility.
 Thesaurus – Launches thesaurus utility.
 Topic Wizard – Launches the Topic Wizard dialog.
 Percentages in Quorum Value – Switches quorum value method to percentage.
 Numbers in Quorum Value – Switches quorum value method to numbers.
FIG. 2 Topic Wizard
Continued

Introduction
5
i!-VotingManager
 CONNECTION
 Connect to NetLinx – Connects to the i!-Voting NetLinx System.
 Disconnect from NetLinx – Disconnects from the i!-Voting NetLinx System.
 NetLinx Connection Settings – Opens NetLinx connection settings dialog.
 Retrieve Agenda/Results File from i!-Voting – Uploads an existing agenda or results
file from the i!-Voting System.
FIG. 3 Retrieve Agenda
FIG. 4 Retrieve Results

Introduction
6i!-VotingManager
 Send Agenda/Results File to i!-Voting – Downloads an agenda or results file to the
i!-Voting System.
 Launch Web Browser to i!-Voting System – Launches a Web browser to the
i!-Voting NetLinx Master.
 HELP
 i!-VotingManager Help – Opens i!-VotingManager help file.
 About i!-VotingManager – Views the i!-VotingManager About dialog.
3. i!-VotingManager Status Bar:
 Status Message – Display of program status messages.
 Quorum Value Method Status – Display of current quorum value method.
 NetLinx Connection Status – Current NetLinx connection status.
FIG. 5 Send Agenda
FIG. 6 About i!-VotingManager

Introduction
7
i!-VotingManager
4. i!-Voting Agenda Editor:
 User interface to edit/create voting agenda files
5. Agenda Editor Toolbar:
6. Agenda Title:
 Enter/edits Agenda title.
7. Agenda Message:
 Enter/edits Agenda welcome message.
8. Topic Grid:
 Grid view to edit/create/manage vote topics.
 Open Opens Agenda file.
 Close Closes Agenda file.
 Save Saves Agenda file.
 Export Exports Agenda to File.
 Send to NetLinx Sends Agenda file to NetLinx.
 Download from NetLinx Downloads Agenda file from NetLinx.
 Print Prints Agenda topics.
 Delete Selected Topic(s) Deletes selected Agenda topics.
 Cut Cuts selected Agenda topic cells.
 Copy Copies selected Agenda topic cells.
 Paste Pastes selected Agenda topic cells.
 Move Selected Topic(s) Up Moves selected Agenda topic Up.
 Move Selected Topic(s) Down Moves selected Agenda topic Down.
 Spell Check Spell checks selected Agenda topics.
 Thesaurus Looks up word in Thesaurus.
 Topic Wizard Launches Topic Wizard.

Introduction
8i!-VotingManager
9. i!-Voting Agenda Results:
 User interface to view Agenda results file.
10. i!-Voting Agenda Results Toolbar:
11. i!-Voting Results: Rich Text Viewer:
 Formatted rich text view of results file.
 Open Opens Agenda file.
 Close Closes Agenda file.
 Save Saves Agenda file.
 Retrieve from NetLinx Retrieves Agenda file from NetLinx.
 Export Exports Results file.

Using i!-VotingManager
9
i!-VotingManager
Using i!-VotingManager
Program Preferences
The program preferences dialog is divided in to three sections:
 GENERAL tab: Changes the agenda editor grid colors and font settings. Also, you can
define the maximum number of voting stations in your i!-Voting system.
 VISIBLE OPTIONS tab: Selects or de-selects which topic options you want to be
available on the main agenda editor grid interface.
FIG. 7 General
FIG. 8 Visible Options

Using i!-VotingManager
10 i!-VotingManager
 DEFAULT OPTIONS tab: Specifies the default topic options that are applied when a
new topic is created from the main agenda editor grid interface. If the value of the topic
option is set to “SYSTEM”, when the topic is loaded in the i!-Voting system, the default
body topic option will be applied to that topic option.
NetLinx Connection
The NetLinx Connection dialog is divided into two sections:
 Connection
 Advanced
Connection
The Connection tab of the NetLinx Connection dialog contains the Connection Mode and
Connection Settings.
FIG. 9 Default Options
FIG. 10 NetLinx Connection
Continued

Using i!-VotingManager
11
i!-VotingManager
The NetLinx Connection Mode selects the desired connection method to connect to your i!-Voting
system.
The NetLinx System Settings are listed in the following table.
If the authentication requirement is enabled on the NetLinx master, you need to set I!-
VotingManager to look for and use authentication. If you do not provide authentication to a security
enabled master the connection will fail. To set the authentication:
1. Place a check next to Authentication Required. This enables the username password fields.
2. Enter a username and corresponding password already established with the target master.
For more information on setting authentication at the master level, consult the documentation for
your NetLinx master.
Advanced
The NetLinx Advanced dialog is divided into two sections:
 Auto Connect – This option is visible when the NetLinx connection mode is set to
HOST TO NETLINX. i!-VotingManager attempts to auto connect to the i!-Voting
NetLinx system when this option is selected.
 NetLinx Connection Log File – This option is visible when the NetLinx connection
mode is Not set to NO CONNECTION. i!-VotingManager creates a log file on the PC
with PCLink connection details when this option is enabled.
NetLinx Connection Modes
NETLINX TO HOST (Listen) The i!-Voting NetLinx Master initiates the connection to your PC. To use this
mode, the IP address of your PC needs to be in the NetLinx Master’s URL
list. (Please see the Appendix section on page 19)
HOST TO NETLINX (Connect) Your PC initiates the connection to the i!-Voting NetLinx Master. In this mode
you need to enter the IP address of host name of the NetLinx Master. This is
the recommended method for use with the i!-Voting system.
NO CONNECTION This mode does not allow i!-VotingManager to communicate with the
i!-Voting NetLinx Master.
NetLinx System Settings
IP Address IP Address or host name of the i!-Voting NetLinx Master.
IP Port IP port for ICSP communications (Default: 1319).
Device i!-VotingManager PCLink device (Default: 8001).
Port i!-VotingManager PCLink port (read only).
System i!-VotingManager PCLink system (read only)
The username and password fields remain populated.
Continued

Using i!-VotingManager
12 i!-VotingManager
i!-Voting Agenda Editor
The i!-Voting Agenda Editor is designed to quickly and easily create and edit voting agendas for
use with the i!-Voting system. These files can be created and edited offline. The actual connection
to the i!-Voting NetLinx Master is only required to send or retrieve the files. The user interface is
designed as a spreadsheet to easily view, edit, move, or delete agenda vote topics.
 Each vote topic is created on a new row of the grid interface.
 Each column of the grid interface specifies the specific topic options per topic.
FIG. 11 NetLinx Advanced
FIG. 12 i!-Voting Agenda Editor
Continued

Using i!-VotingManager
13
i!-VotingManager
Topic Options
The Topic Options are listed in the following table.
Topic Options that are set to the value “<System>” inherit the i!-Voting default body
options of the voting body that executes this agenda.
Topic Options
Topic Text The actual vote topic presented to the voting members.
Default Vote This option specifies the default-selected vote for each voting station.
HOTKEY
S
N
Y
O
A
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
None
Ye s
No
Abstain
Allow Abstain This option allows voting stations to submit an abstain vote.
HOTKEY
S
E
D
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Enabled
Disabled
Allow Excuse This option allows voting stations to submit an excuse vote.
HOTKEY
S
E
D
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Enabled
Disabled
Vote Attendance This option allows voting stations to submit an excuse vote.
HOTKEY
S
E
D
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Enabled
Disabled
Pass Requirement The vote tally must meet the selected requirement to pass the topic.
HOTKEY
S
M
2
U
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Majority
2/3 Majority
Unanimous
Require Quorum This vote requires quorum rules to be applied to this vote topic.
HOTKEY
S
E
D
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Enabled
Disabled

Using i!-VotingManager
14 i!-VotingManager
Topic Options (Cont.)
Quorum Value This option specifies the quorum value or percentage required to pass a
quorum enabled topic. This option is only used if the Require Quorum option
is enabled.
HOTKEY
S
E
D
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Enabled
Disabled
Vote Time Enabled This option enable/disables the voting timer for this vote topic.
HOTKEY
S
E
D
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Enabled
Disabled
Vote Timer Time This option specifies the voting timer start time for this topic, and is only used if
the voting timer is enabled.
HOTKEY
S
N/A
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Enter the Time in MM:SS
Warning Timer Enabled Enable/disables the voting timer warning time option for this topic.
HOTKEY
S
E
D
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Enabled
Disabled
Warning Timer Time This option specifies the time at which the warning takes effect, and is only
used if the voting timer and vote warning timer are enabled.
HOTKEY
S
N/A
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Enter the Time in MM:SS
Close Vote Method This option selects the method for closing the vote session for this topic.
HOTKEY
S
M
L
T
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Manual
Last Vote
Timer
Display Totals This option displays the totals of the vote results. As each vote is locked, the
totals are displayed if the Display Results in Progress is enabled.
HOTKEY
S
E
D
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Enabled
Disabled
Display Percentages This option displays the calculated percentages of the vote results. As each
vote is locked, the updated percentages are displayed if the Display Results in
Progress is enabled
HOTKEY
S
E
D
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Enabled
Disabled

Using i!-VotingManager
15
i!-VotingManager
Agenda Editor Components
The following table lists the Agenda Editor components:
Topic Options (Cont.)
Display Names This option displays the vote cast be each member to the i!-Voting console. As
each vote is locked, the totals are displayed if the Display Results in Progress
is enabled.
HOTKEY
S
E
D
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Enabled
Disabled
Display Results in Progress This option displays the voting results as each station vote is locked.
HOTKEY
S
E
D
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
<System>
Enabled
Disabled
Agenda Editor Components
AGENDA TITLE Specifies the Agenda title, or name displayed in the i!-Voting system.
AGENDA MESSAGE Specifies the Agenda welcome message displayed in the i!-Voting system. If
this field is left blank, then the i!-Voting body default message is used.
OPEN Opens an existing i!-Voting agenda file (*.vaf).
CLOSE Closes any open agenda files.
SAVE Saves the current listed topics to a voting agenda file (*.vaf).
EXPORT Export the current i!-Voting Agenda topics to one of the following formats:
.RTF - Rich Text Format, enhanced formatted text file.
.TXT - Text File, basic text file
.LOG - same as text file.
.XML - Extensible Markup Language file
SEND Sends the current voting agenda file to the i!-Voting NetLinx system. If the
selected voting body is password protected, you are prompted to enter the
correct password. i!-VotingManager saves each entered voting body password
until disconnecting from the i!-Voting System.
RETRIEVE Retrieves an existing voting agenda file from the i!-Voting NetLinx system. If the
selected voting body is password protected, you are prompted to enter the cor-
rect password. i!-VotingManager saves each entered voting body password
until disconnecting from the i!-Voting System.
PRINT Prints the current listed voting topics from the grid interface. If no cells are
selected in the grid interface, then the all of the visible cells are printed. If cells,
columns, and/or rows are selected, then i!-VotingManager only prints the
selected cells.
DELETE TOPIC(S) To delete a topic the entire row must be selected. You can delete multiple
topics by selecting multiple rows before selecting delete.
Note: Pressing the DELETE key on the keyboard can also preform this
function.
CUT Upon selecting CUT, if 1 or more cells in the grid interface are selected, then
the current selected cells are copied to the topic clipboard, and the existing
values are returned to default values. If no cells are selected, then the current
selected text is cut and placed in the Windows®clipboard.

Using i!-VotingManager
16 i!-VotingManager
Agenda Editor Components (Cont.)
COPY Upon selecting COPY, if 1 or more cells in the grid interface are selected, then
the current selected cells are copied to the topic clipboard, and the existing
values remain intact. If no cells are selected, then the current selected text is
copied to the Windows clipboard.
PASTE Upon selecting PASTE , if 1 or more cells in the grid interface are selected and
data is currently in the topic clipboard, then the topic clipboard attempts to copy
itself to the grid interface. If order to PASTE the topic clipboard, the starting cell
(top left) must be in the same column position as where the data was copied or
cut from. The topic clipboard cannot paste if the columns do no line up. If no
cells are selected then the current Windows clipboard attempts to paste to any
text field.
MOVE TOPIC(S) UP You can select 1 or more topic rows and move them up in the grid interface.
This tool is used to re-order the position of topic in the agenda.
MOVE TOPIC(S) DOWN You can select 1 or more topic rows and move them down in the grid interface.
This tool is used to re-order the position of topic in the agenda.
SPELL CHECK A utility to check spelling is provided. If topic rows are selected, then the spell
check attempts to check the selected topics only. If no topic rows are selected,
the spell check utility starts at the top of the grid interface and continues over
each topic until it reaches the last topic in the grid interface.
THESAURUS A utility to check for synonyms is provided. If a particular word is highlighted in
a topic cell, then the thesaurus looks up that word. If one of the suggested
replacements is selected, it replaces the selected word. However, if no word is
highlighted then the thesaurus prompts for a word to be manually entered.
After a replacement is selected, it places it in the Windows clipboard.
TOPIC WIZARD The topic wizard is a tool that allows you to add/edit topics in a simple
one-topic view interface. The topic text and each of the topic options can be
modified in this wizard. The wizard also has a scroll bar allowing you to
navigate through each of the topics without having to use the grid interface.