Getting started with etapAPP™

This document describes the installation, configuration, and start-up of field data collection and synchronization between the ETAP Desktop Application and the etapAPP Mobile Application.

To establish communication, ETAP DXM (NetPM Server) must first be installed and configured. An active internet connection is also required for ETAP and etapAPP to communicate. 

ETAP DXM is a web service using ASP.NET web framework hosted in Microsoft IIS. ETAP DXM provides multi-user, queued messaging between ETAP and etapAPP mobile devices. Since DXM can communicate with a Mobile device outside the corporate LAN, it should be hosted in a DMZ with an outward internet facing NIC and an inward, corporate LAN facing NIC. DXM does not need to be installed on the same machine running ETAP. Alternatively, DXM can be installed on a Cloud, such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon WS, etc.

1. Install ETAP DXM 

To install ETAP DXM, you must have administrative access to your computer.

1. Click the DataX Manager (DXM) option from the ETAP Installation Manager menu 

2. DXM License Agreement

 

3. Welcome 

4. ETAP License Agreement

5. System Requirements

6. Database & Notification Setup 

ETAP DXM uses MongoDB to store information such as registered users, NetPM projects, incremental project changes, and mobile publications transferred between ETAP and etapAPP. This screen lets you reconfigure the MongoDB setup as well as optional E-mail Notifications. 

7. Server Administrator Setup

On this page, the NetPM Server Administrator’s default credentials are automatically established and displayed. This information can later be reconfigured via NetPM Console.

8. Destination Location

9. DXM Installation Setup Complete

   

2. Register ETAP project users to DXM

1. Log in with Project Manager & Editor access and make sure passwords are enabled. 

    

Notes:

1. For new projects, the first user will automatically be established as the Project Manager
2. For existing projects, you can enable/disable passwords using Administrator access
   

2. Launch the User Manager from the “Project” pulldown menu and click Register to NetPM

3. Enter the NetPM URL provided by your IT department. Generally, the URL is structured as follows…

HTTP:// (IP address, machine name, or domain of NetPM server) /etapDXM/

Examples:

Once registered, the NetPM page in the Project Information window will display the DXM address and list the registered users.

     

At this point, the registered users will also be able to log into the Projects page within etapAPP.

3. Publish Project to DXM

1. As the Project Manager, open the ETAP project and access the DataX Manager from the DataX menu. Alternatively, you can click the etapAPP Manager button on the 3D-Database toolbar. 

2. Click New to create new project publications from the Publish To User dialog.

Each publication generated is addressed to specific registered etapAPP users and stored on DXM. etapAPP users can then download their project publications at any time and from anywhere via the Internet. 

4. Get etapAPP

EtapAPP is available for iOS, Windows, and Android tablet operating systems. You can visit the Apple App Store, Microsoft Store, or Google Play Store to download and install etapAPP at no cost.

Once downloaded, launch etapAPP.

5. Login and Download from DXM

1. From the Settings > Projects page, enter the DXM address and login information.

All project publications addressed to the logged-in user will be available on this page. Blue markers indicate new items while the Green checked marker indicates the currently connected project.

2. Select a project publication from the list to display details as well as the upload and download options.

3. Click the Download button  to open the selected project in etapAPP.

4. Enter or modify data in Property Tables

5. Add or remove elements from the drawing

6. Save and Upload Changes to DXM

1. From the Settings menu hit Save to locally save changes you have made.

2. From the Projects page, select the connected project and hit Upload. Here you can also add a comment to help clarify the changes made.

7. Synchronize Collected Data Back to ETAP

1. In ETAP, launch DataX Manager and go to the Imports page. This is where the ETAP Project Manager can view, manage and merge uploads submitted from registered etapAPP users.

2. Select an uploaded then hit Merge to launch the ETAP Merge & Sync Wizard. This window lets you review change details then Accept or Reject the collected data. 

Click Finish to complete the merge process.

8. Definitions

DMZ: In computer security, a DMZ or Demilitarized Zone (sometimes referred to as a ‘perimeter network’) is a physical or logical subnetwork that contains and exposes an organization's external-facing services to a larger and untrusted network, usually the Internet.

ASP.NET: ASP.NET is a unified Web development model that includes the services necessary to build enterprise-class Web applications with a minimum of coding. ASP.NET is part of the .NET Framework.

NIC: A Network Interface Controller (NIC, also known as a network interface card, network adapter, LAN adapter, or physical network interface, and by similar terms) is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network.

DXM: Also known as NetPM Server. This application allows for communication between etapAPP and ETAP. In a NetPM environment, it also provides a communication channel between Primary and Client ETAP projects.

User Manager: Interface used by the Project Manager or Administrator to establish or reconfigure the users associated with a project. 

DataX Manager: Also known as etapAPP Manager. This is the interface used to manage outgoing project publications to etapAPP users as well as incoming uploads from etapAPP users.

Project Manager: This access level combines the capabilities of both the Project Editor and the Administrator access levels. Each project can have, at most, one Project Manager. Project Manager access is required for registering ETAP projects to NetPM and launching Data Exchange Manager (DataX Manager).

NetPM Server Administrator: Super user that can access and manage the projects and mobile etapAPP publications on DXM (NetPM Server).