I think it's useful from time to time to make suggestions about how 
Intermapper can be improved, from a user or admin point of view, so the 
developer team can consider them for future releases.  With that in 
mind, I'll mention a few things below that I see as minor annoyances or 
obstacles about Intermapper or Intermapper Remote.  Keep in mind that 
I'm a happy user of Intermapper, and am mentioning these things as ways 
the product could be further improved ... not slamming the product.

INTERMAPPER

I'd like greater use of context-clicks within the product.  For 
example, it would be natural to context-click on any map element (such 
as a device being monitored) and (1) open the Attach Notification box 
that lets you define who is notified about problems with this device, 
or (2) open the definition for the probe for this device, or (3) change 
the label for this device, or (4) acknowledge an outage for this 
device, or (5) cut/copy this device so you can paste into another map, 
etc.

I'd like the Attach Notification dialog box to remember its last-opened 
size and position on the screen.  In any non-trivial Intermapper 
installation the box opens way too small for  today's monitors, 
considering the probable list of people to be notified.  If it would 
just remember the last open, then I could size it suitably for our 
facility.

I'd like the full Device Notification window as well as the Attach 
Notification window to be printable.  In our facility  it requires 
multiple scrolls to see the whole list (and we are only monitoring 
about 100 devices), so the most natural way for a manager or admin to 
work with that list is off-line if you are considering making changes 
in who takes care of what.

I'd like to see a comment field added for every map element, so we can 
put our own customized comment on any element (perhaps to record a 
building/room location, or maybe the phone number of the person 
responsible for this device, etc).  If this is added, then I want it 
available by context-click as well, and of course I want this 
information to optionally print if you implement the suggestion above 
about being able to print the Device Notification or Attach 
Notification windows.

I'd like to see the Acknowledgement mechanism broadened in scope and 
options.  I'd like to pre-acknowledge an outage if I know a device is 
going down without having to turn off all the definitions for who is 
being notified about it or wait until it's down before taking action.  
I'd like to see a context-click that would give me any available 
information about an acknowledgement beyond the message the person 
typed (who made it, when, etc).

I'd like to see rollovers used within Intermapper, if possible, without 
having to click on items on the map for the most important information. 
  For devices in an alarm state I want to see when the alarm began and 
what the alarm is, along with any other information available.  For 
devices not in an alarm state I'd like to see the descriptive 
information about what probe is being used, along with the comment 
field (see above).

Finally, in a previous suggestion to this group I suggested that being 
able to "filter" the Outage or Event log for a specific device would be 
helpful, so you can see any pattern of past failures.

INTERMAPPER REMOTE

I've recently begun to use this, and the glaring omission from this 
product is the lack of ability to modify or view the notification 
settings for any alarm.  I know this is a new product, and that it is 
in development so perhaps this capability is slotted for a near-future 
release.  And what already exists is quite useful.  But not being able 
to set or view notifications is a major shortcoming that requires me to 
make regular trips to the computer room that could be eliminated.

I'd like the splash window that continually reminds you that you 
haven't got a licensed copy of Intermapper Remote to go away more 
permanently than it does.  I can't find a way to buy the product on 
your site yet, so it's useless to remind me every hour that I haven't 
bought it yet (I'd be HAPPY to buy it just to get rid of this box 
constantly covering part of my screen).

I'd like context-clicks within Intermapper Remote for the same reasons, 
and in the same way, as in the suggestion about Intermapper itself 
above.

Charles South
HRL Laboratories
Malibu CA 90265


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