Zoning your audio devices (from release 7.16)

Once you have connected and created your outputs, you will need to zone them. The Zones tab enables you to assign audio device outputs as well as displays to zones and further arrange in zone groups. The grouping is shown on the tab in a three structure.

There is no restriction to how many times each zone or zone group can be used in other zone groups, leaving the structure of zone grouping up to the user.

Since the individual device outputs are generated on the Audio devices tab, each output is created once, see the tutorial on nnounce - audio device configuration. Same as the display outputs are created on the Displays tab.

In this tutorial:
create zones from outputs,
create zone groups,
show how to configure:
access limitations and
icons to zones and zone groups.
configure assets and paging split.
assign zones and zone groups to UIs and user groups.

It is important to know that the zone and zone groups need to be assigned to user groups so the users are enabled to page into them. The here created zones and zone group hierarchies are then used on OpsUI paging tabs as Ad hoc announcement, Paging tab as well as in role-based UIs as FlexUI.

Topics covered:

Zones tab
UI configurations tab
Users tab

TUTORIAL STEPS:

A) Zones tab

Open the Zones tab.
Click on the Add button.

Optional - Quick action button to add an output as a zone. Available outputs can be added as zones and later edited in the right-hand item detail.

Zones creation

B) New zone

Fill in Name and Label for the new zone.
The Label is used as a shorter user-friendly zone name visible when configuring paging.
Define the item type - whether the new item is a zone or a group of zones. For now, select Zone; the zone group is described further on.
Add outputs to your zone; a new window opens.

Optional – Add an icon for the zone.

C) Add output/s to the zone

Option 1 – The available outputs list opens. Choose individual outputs.

Option 2 – Bulk add with checkbox and click on the Choose button.

D) Save the new zone

The selected audio and display outputs are listed in the zone detail.
By hovering over an item, you can delete an output from the zone.
Save the new zone.

Optional – Limit access to which user groups can page to this zone.

Zones GROUP creation

E) New zone group

Fill in Name and Label for the new zone group.
The Label is used as a shorter userfriendly zone name visible when configuring paging.
Define the item type - whether the new item is a zone or a group of zones. Select the zone group option.
Select items:
a. Add zones and zone groups to your new item; a new window opens.
b. Add outputs to your zone group; a new window opens.

Optional – Add an icon and/or Manage access for the zone group, more information below.

F) Add zone and zone groups

The available zones and zone groups list opens.

Choose individual items or bulk by clicking the item checkboxes.

G) Add output/s to the zone group

The available outputs list opens; outputs can be added to the zone group as a new zone.

Choose individual outputs or bulk by clicking the item checkboxes.

H) Save the new zone group

The selected audio and display outputs are listed in the zone detail.
By hovering over an item, you can delete an output from the zone.
Save the new zone.

Optional – Switch on the Advanced feature to either hide the zone group's children or hide the zone group parent.

By default, both are visible.

Icons & Manage access features

ICONS for zone and zone groups

The icon is visible on paging tabs and UIs in the zone selection field.

Click on the Select icon button.
Select an icon from the list.
Configure the icon you have chosen - flip, rotate.
Save your zone/zone group icon.

MANAGE ACCESS for zone and zone groups

LImit access to the zone or zone group directly on the Zones tab.

Click on the Manage access button.
Drag and drop user groups from left to right. Only user groups in the right-hand list are allowed to page to the zone.
Confirm your selection with the OK button.
Save your changes.

Assets configuration & Paging split

A) Zone assets
You can categorize zones by Custom field / Asset values and define paging split based on them.

Click the cog button in the upper right corner of the page.
Drag and drop assets for zone configuration.
Save your zone assets.

B) Paging split

Tick the checkbox to enable paging as soon as the asset is available.

Paging split breaks a single announcement into separate actions so each group of zones can play as soon as it's ready — without waiting for the others.

This is useful when paging to locations that are far apart. For example, if you split by a custom field like "Location" (with values "Location 1" and "Location 2"), the announcement plays as two separate actions. "Location 1" plays as soon as its zones are free, without waiting for "Location 2."

Splitting by an asset works the same way: the announcement plays as a separate action for each asset value, plus one more action for any zones with no asset value.

C) Configure assets for your zones and zone groups

Open your zone or zone group for modification.
Select the asset value from the drop-down field.
Save your changes.

Assign zones and zone groups to UIs and user groups

Before your users can page into the created zones and zone groups, you will need to assign them.

A) Assign zones and zone groups to UI configurations

Drag & drop zones and/or zone groups from the Available zones & zone groups section to the Selected zones & zone groups section.
Click the Save button.

Now users with access to this user interface will be able to use these selected zones & zone groups for announcement playback.

B) Users tab

Open the Users tab.
Select an existing user.

C) Assign zones and zone groups to user

Drag & drop zones and/or zone groups from the Available zones & zone groups section to the Selected zones & zone groups section.
Click the Save button.

Now, this user will be able to use these selected zones & zone groups in addition to the ones already selected in OpsUI configuration for announcement playback.