Advanced Operations with a Site

Working with Global Site Settings

Admin and Manager users can access and modify global site settings on the Company > Settings > Sites page.

Settings on this page affect all sites of the company and configurations you set up globally become available for all sites.

Site Templates

Site Templates are YAML files with site configurations which you can use to batch-create sites with a certain setup.

You can create Site Templates from scratch, make an existing site into a Site Template or import templates, for example, templates from a site from another company.

Create a New Site Template

To create a new site template:

1. Navigate to Company > Settings > Sites and scroll to the Site Templates pane

2. Click addAdd Site Template and select New

   

3. From the template creation dialog that opens, select one of the following template options:

   • Basic - offers minimal configuration for a new site
   • Best Practices Alarm Connection - adds a default DualPath connection type field
   • Advanced Example - adds several advanced options for site configuration, such as alarm dispatcher and API tokens.

4. Click Continue

   A built-in template editor dialog opens.

   

5. In the Name field, specify the name of the new site template

6. In the YAML editor field, alter the template as desired

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   You can manually add or delete site parameters from the template using YAML markup.

7. Click Submit

A new template appears in the list of templates. You can use it for site creation now.

Import a New Template

1. Navigate to Company > Settings > Sites and scroll to the Site Templates pane

2. Click addAdd Site Template and select Import

   Your file explorer opens.

3. Navigate your file explorer to locate the template file you want to import

4. Select the file and click Open

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   evalink talos continues to import the new template only if you have selected a file in YAML format.

5. Click Submit

Create a Template from Site

You can use one of your existing sites and its configuration to create a template. This is a good option if you don't want to manually add site properties using YAML, but need to implement complex site settings.

To create a template from a site:

1. Navigate to Company > Settings > Sites and scroll to the Site Templates pane

2. Click addAdd Site Template and select From existing site

3. In the template creation dialog that opens, select a site you want to use as a base from the dropdown list

4. Click Submit

Edit a Site Template

To edit a site template:

1. In the list of templates, locate a site template you want to edit and click on its name

   

2. The the YAML editing dialog that opens, change the necessary site parameters

3. Click Submit

   Date and Time Handling in Site Templates

   To convert a human-readable date string to milliseconds in a site template, use the dateFromFormat function combined with the toMillis filter.

   For example, if ActivationDate is a String parameter accepting a date in dd/MM/yyyy format, and activationDate is a device parameter that stores the activation date in milliseconds, you can map between the two as follows:

   activateDate: "${{ ActivationDate ? (dateFromFormat(ActivationDate + ' 00:00', 'dd/MM/yyyy HH:mm', 'Europe/Zurich') | toMillis) : '' }}"

   Where:

   • dateFromFormat(dateString, format, timezone) — parses a date string into a date object using the specified format and timezone
   • toMillis — converts the parsed date object to milliseconds

Export a Site Template

You can export a site template if you wish to edit it outside of evalink talos or import it to another company.

1. In the list of templates, locate a site template you want to export and click on its corresponding export icon cloud_download

2. Select the file saving options and save the template file to your computer.

Delete a Site Template

1. In the list of templates, locate a site template you want to delete and click on its corresponding delete icon delete

2. Type the deletion confirmation and click Confirm Delete

Custom Fields

A custom field is a variable that stores information related to a site and can be used in workflows. Custom fields can also be created for site groups.

For example, for a company that monitors vehicles, you can create a License plate custom field. Then, you can specify a License plate number for each monitored vehicle and use it in your workflows.

Custom Fields are created on a global level. After a custom field is created, it appears on the Settings page of all sites (or site groups) created under the Company account.

On the Company > Settings > Sites > Custom Fields pane, all custom fields are listed under either a Custom Field Group they belong to or in the Ungrouped list.

On the Company > Settings > Sites > Custom Fields pane, you can search custom fields, organize them into logical groups and order the sequence of custom fields within each group.

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Some actions and integrations in evalink talos create Custom Fields automatically.

For example, when you create a Service company or configure Twilio integration, evalink talos creates respective Custom Fields.

You can't delete such custom fields while integrations of entities that led to the creation of Custom Fields are in use in evalink talos.

Create a Custom Field

To configure a custom field:

1. Go to the Company > Settings > Sites

You can go to this page directly from the Settings page of a particular site (or site group) by clicking on the open_in_new Configure shortcut in the Custom Fields area of the page.

2. On the Company > Settings > Sites page, click addAdd Custom Field

3. In the dialog that opens, specify:

• Name – the custom field ID to be used by evalink talos internally

The name can contain only letters and numbers. It is recommended to follow the best practices used for programming language variables, such as lowerCamelCase: testRecord, invoiceNumber, etc.

• Type – determines what type of data is stored in the field

You can the select one of the following:

• Text – the value can contain any character, including letters, digits, and keyboard symbols

• Number – the value can contain whole numbers – positive, negative, or zero

• Select One – one value from the list can be selected

• Select Multiple – multiple values from the list can be selected

When you select an enumerated type (Select One or Select Multiple), an Option field appears at the bottom of the dialog. To add more options to the list, click the addAdd Option button.

• Display – the custom field name to be displayed in evalink talos UI

• Grouped - you can assign your custom field to a Custom Field Group* or leave it ungrouped

• Order - if you assign a custom field to a Custom Field Group, you need to specify its order number within the group. The default number is 1

• Scope – determines if the custom field value is set for sites only or for site groups only

• Sites (the default option)

  • the custom field is offered for filling on the Settings page of each site
  • the value of the custom field (if set) is displayed on the Overview page of the site

• Site Groups

  • the custom field is offered for filling on the Settings page of each site group
  • the value of the custom field (if set) is displayed on the Overview page of each site that is included into the group and on the Overview page of the site group itself

• (Optional) Validation pattern – an expression for user input validation

The custom field value must match the validation pattern value. Validation pattern follows regular expressions syntax. For example, the ^[0-9]*$ expression allows entering only numbers in a custom field.

Validation patterns can only be configured for Text and Number types of custom fields.

• (Optional) select the Public checkbox to include custom field information in PDF and email reports

• (Optional) select the Operator checkbox to display the custom field to the Operator

Operator will see custom fields for a site on the operator Workflow page when processing an alarm

• (Optional) select the Hidden checkbox to hide the custom field value from the Overview pages of the concerned sites or site groups

This option is useful for storing sensitive information.

5. Click Submit

By default, custom fields are displayed on the site / site group Settings and Overview pages in the order in which they were added. To reorder custom fields, go to Company > Settings > Sites page and move the custom fields as desired by clicking on arrow_drop_up and arrow_drop_down (arrow) buttons to the right of each custom field.

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Name and Type of an existing custom field cannot be edited.

warning

To be able to delete a custom field on the Company > Settings > Sites page, first erase all the custom field values specified for all sites / site groups.

Custom Field Groups

Custom Field Groups allow you to organize Custom Fields into logical sections for better readability and search.

To add a Custom Field Group:

1. Go to the Company > Settings > Sites

2. Scroll to the Custom Fields pane and click addAdd Field Group

   A Field Group dialog opens.

3. In the Group Name field, type the Custom Field Group name

4. (Optional) In the Custom Fields Inside Group search and select existing custom fields you want to add to this group

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   You can create an empty Custom Field Group and add new or existing ungrouped custom fields later.

5. Click Submit

Once you create a Custom Field Group, you can expand it to view all the Custom Fields that belong to this group. Any ungrouped custom fields appear in the list

Add a Custom Field to a Custom Field Group

There are two ways you can add a custom field to a Custom Field Group.

1. Click more_vert Three Dots menu next ot a Custom Field Group record and then do one of the following:

   • Click addAdd Custom Field to add a new custom field within a group
   • Click editEdit Field Group to add an existing ungrouped custom field to a group

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You can only add an ungrouped custom field to a Custom Field Group.

Once you have added a custom field to a Custom Field Group, you can't add it to another one.

Once you have more than one custom field in the Custom Field Group, you can position them in the selected order. To do so, specify the Order number when creating or editing a custom field.

Removing a Custom Field from a Custom Field Group

To remove custom field from a Custom Field Group:

1. Click more_vert Three Dots menu next to the Custom Field Group record

2. From the dropdown menu select editEdit Field Group

3. In the list of custom fields, unflag those you want to remove

4. Click Submit

Deleting a Custom Field

To delete a custom field:

1. Expand the group this custom field is in or expand the Ungrouped list of custom fields

2. Find the custom field you want to delete

3. Click the deleteDelete icon next to it and type deletion confirmation

Deleting a Custom Field Group

To delete a Custom Field Group:

1. Click more_vert Three Dots menu next to the Custom Field Group record

2. From the dropdown menu select deleteDelete Field Group

3. (Optional) Check Also Delete Custom Fields to delete all the custom fields in this Custom Field Group

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   If you delete the Custom Field Group but not the custom fields in it, evalink talos moves them to the Ungrouped list.

4. Type deletion confirmation

Configuring Quick Actions for evalink talos Mobile App

The evalink talos mobile application provides limited functionality compared to the browser version.

To extend mobile capabilities, administrators can configure Quick Actions. Quick Actions allow users to trigger predefined API calls directly from the mobile app.

Quick Actions:

• Are configured with the help of Custom Fields

• Trigger an external API URL

• Support GET requests only

• Are available immediately in the mobile application once you configure them in evalink talos

For each quick action, you need to configure 2 custom fields on evalink talos, one for the quick action name as it appears on the evalink talos mobile app, and one for the URL it will call.

To configure Quick Actions on the evalink talos side, follow the procedure of creating a custom field

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For details about how to create custom fields, see section Create a Custom Field above.

To create a Quick Action Name custom field, use the following configuration when creating a custom field:

1. For Name field use QUICK_ACTION_NAME_N where N is a number, for example QUICK_ACTION_NAME_2

2. For Type use text

3. for Display use a readable quick action name with the same number, for example 2. Name

4. Enable the Public checkbox

To create a Quick Action URL custom field, use the following configuration when creating a custom field:

1. For Name field use QUICK_ACTION_URL_N where N is the same number, for example QUICK_ACTION_URL_2

2. For Type use URL

3. for Display use a readable quick action name with the same number, for example 2. URL Trigger Webhook

4. Enable the Public checkbox

tip

We recommend to group quick actions so that you can conveniently locate and configure them at the site level.

To configure a quick action for a particular site:

1. Go to Sites [Site Name] > Settings > Custom Fields

2. For the Name custom field, add a user-friendly name

3. For the URL custom field, add a URL you need to call.

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For more information on how to work with Quick Actions from your mobile app, contact our Customer Support team.

Once you configure a quick action for a particular site in evalink talos, Quick Action menu option becomes available for the respective Site in your mobile app.

Working with Site Types

Site types allows you to assign a specific alarm severity configuration to sites or specify important site comments for operators.

Adding a Site Type

1. Go to the Company > Settings > Sites

2. Scroll to the Site Types area and click click addAdd Site Type

   

3. In the Site Type field, specify the name of the new site type

4. (Optional) In the Operator Comment field, add a comment for operator describing the site type

5. Set up specific and / or global alarm severity:

   • Add a global alarm severity for evalink talos to apply this severity level to ALL alarms on this site
   • Add a specific alarm severity by specifying particular Alarm Types and / or Event Codes

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You can add a combination of a global severity value for a site and specific severity values for particular alarms.

When you have a global severity value in place and have specified particular severity for specific alarms, alarm-specific configuration overrides the global severity.

6. Click Submit

After a site type is added, you can assign it to new or existing sites.

Edit a Site Type

To edit a Site Type:

1. Go to the Company > Settings > Sites

2. Scroll to the Site Types area and click on the site type record you want to edit

3. In the Site Type dialog that opens, edit the site type configuration as desired

4. Click Submit

Delete a Site Type

To delete a Site Type:

1. Go to the Company > Settings > Sites

2. Scroll to the Site Types area and click on the delete Delete icon next to the site type record you want to delete

3. Type deletion confirmation and click Delete

Adding Countries and States

If a Country and / or State you need to attribute a site to isn't present in the standard evalink talos list, you can configure custom countries and states in the Company > Settings > Sites tab.

Once you add custom countries and / or states, they become available for selection when you create or edit a site.

warning

Adding a custom configuration of countries and states makes the default evalink talos list of countries and states unavailable to you.

Working with Overall Site Status

The overall site status, as opposed to its functional status (see section Work with Site Statuses), is the general operational status of the site. The overall status can be one of the following:

• Active (the default status) – a status in which the site can receive alarms

• Inactive – a status in which the site cannot receive alarms, all incoming alarms for it are rejected by evalink talos

The overall site status is displayed on the Overview  page of a site, in the Site Status area. To access the page, go to the Sites page and click on the site name in the list. If the site status is changed to Inactive, a warning message Device is Inactive, evalink talos will reject Alarms  is displayed.

Only Administrator or Manager can change the overall site status.

Change the Overall Site Status

The site status can be changed on the Overview  page of a site:

• manually, when necessary

• automatically, by setting a timer for activation and / or deactivation

To change the status of a site:

1. On the Sites > [site] > Overview page, click the import_export Change button

2. In the Change Status dialog that opens:

• to change the site status immediately, check or uncheck the Active option

• to set a timer for the status change

  a. Click Add in the Activation Date area and / or in the Deactivation Date area, accordingly

  b. Specify the date and time for the activation / deactivation

3. Click Submit

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If you need to activate or deactivate a site periodically, consider using Activation / Deactivation alarms for this purpose. For details, see section Manage Sites > Edit the Site Settings, the Special Alarms pane description.

When the site status is changed, a Deactivate Device or an Activate Device event appears on the Event Logs page of the site, site group, and in the global Event Logs.

Shareable Site Links

Sharing a site allows you to create links to a site on your tenant that you can share with other users who do not belong to your tenant.

You can configure the set of permissions for each shareable link, including viewing and / or management permissions.

When someone opens your site using a shared link, they don't have to log into evalink talos and will not view any other information from your tenant, such as Company, Alarms, Events.

You can create multiple shareable links for the same site using different access and peermission configurations. All shareable links that you create are displayed on the Share subpage for each site.

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You can share Regular Site Groups in a similar way.

The figure below shows a record of a shareable link to a Site:

Each shareable link record includes:

• The link itself and its expiration date, if applied

• Information about the last time it was used for access

• Password, if any

• Enable / Disable toggle

  When you disable the link using the toggle, the record is marked as Disabled

• Permissions, configured for the link

• Edit, Copy Link and Delete controls

Create a Shareable Link

To Create a shareable link:

1. Navigate to the site or a Site Group you want to share

2. In the Overview page of a Site or a Site Group, click share Share

3. In the Share subpage, click add Create Link or Share Site / Share Site Group.

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   The Share Site / Share Site Group button is available only if you have no shared links for this site or Site Group. If there's at least one shareable link record, use the add Create Link option.

   The Site Sharing dialog opens:

4. In the Site Sharing dialog, fill out the following fields:

   • Description - a few words describing the link

   • Password - a password a user with a link has to enter for access

   • Test Type - select a test type for the shared site.

     For details about Test Types, see section Working with Test Types

   • Check / Uncheck the permissions that you want the user with the link to have in Share and Manage fields

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     The Share permission list allows users with the link to view information about the site or Site Group.

     The Manage permission list allows users with the link to change information about the site or Site Group.

5. Select the expiration option for your link

6. Click Submit

Edit a Shareable Link

To edit a shareable link:

1. Go to the site or Site Group Overview > Share

2. For the desired shared link record, click Edit

3. Edit the shareable link as desired

4. Click Submit

Delete a Shareable Link

Deleting a shareable link immediately revokes any access to your site or Site Group through this link. If a user with a link has your site opened at the moment when you delete a link, evalink talos still lets you delete a link. The user with an opened site or Site Group will not be able to save any changes they have made.

The moment they try to save changes or refresh the page, they receive an error message.

To delete a shared link:

1. Go to the site or Site Group Overview > Share

2. For the desired shared link record, click Delete

3. Type the delete confirmation

4. Click Submit

Assign a Service Company to a Site

Service Companies can act like contact, schedule and workflow databases that you can assign to a particular site or to multiple sites instead of managing repeatedly used contacts or similar workflows and schedules for each separate site.

For more details about Service Companies, see section Working with Service Companies.

To assign a Service Company to a Site:

1. Navigate to Sites > [Site] > Settings

2. In the Site pane, select the Service Companies you want to assign to the site from the Service Companies field

3. Click Save

The Service Companies you have assigned to the site are shown in the Overview tab for your site, grouped by their type.