Configuring CI visualization

You can configure and customize the CI visualization implementation by performing the following administrative actions.

• Specify the images that represent Configuration Items (CIs) in the visualization diagram.
• Define the criteria and images used to indicate CI status.
• Configure settings and display preferences.
• Create or modify labels for menu items used to control display of decorators.

Adding custom icons and decorators to the graph

You can add your own custom decorators and icons to the library to use with your application. The objects you create are saved as attachments in the database. For peak performance and to align with the look and feel of the out-of-box (OOB) application, use the following standards:

Object	Dimensions	Color palette	Format	Rules
Decorator	16x16	256	.gif	Ensure that the image name is not the same as any of the OOB image names. The image must be saved in the SYSATTACHMENTS table.
Decorator (background)	76x64 maximum	256	.gif	Ensure that the image name is not the same as any of the OOB image names. The image must be saved as transparent or it will cover the binding icon in the visualization diagram. The image must be saved in the SYSATTACHMENTS table.
Icon	32x32 in 48x48 frame	256	.gif	Icons must be 32x32 images centered within a 48x48 frame. Ensure that the image name is not the same as any of the OOB image names. The image must be saved in the SYSATTACHMENTS table.
Line ___	None	None	N/A	A solid line between icons indicates a physical relationship between the items, they are physically connected.
Line –––	None	None	N/A	A dotted line between icons indicates a logical relationship between the items; they are connected with software and dependent on each other.

Modify an out-of-box icon

You can modify the out-of-box icons that represent configuration items (CIs) in visualization diagrams from the Configuration Management module.

To modify an out-of-box icon, follow these steps:

1. Click Configuration Management > Administration > Configure CI  Visualization > CI Images.
2. Use search or advanced search to find one or more records. Select the CI Type and CI Subtype, if applicable, from the CI Type menu.

3. Select the icon you want to modify from the record list. Service Manager opens the image associated with that CI Type.

4. To Add, Save As, or Remove the icon, right-click the image and select an action from the menu.
5. Click Add or modify fields to use the Add or Modify Tooltip Information wizard. Follow the instructions in the wizard to add, modify, or remove the fields that determine what text the system displays when a user hovers over the CI in a visualization diagram.

6. When you finish modifying the icon, click Save. Service Manager updates the CI Image record.

7. Click OK.
8. Log off and log back on to view your changes.

Add a custom icon

You can add a custom icon to represent a new configuration item (CI) in the visualization diagrams from the Configuration Management module.

To add a custom icon, follow these steps:

1. Add a new device type record in Configuration Management. For details, see Create a new configuration item (CI) type.
2. Create the image you want to use for the CI icon.
3. Click Configuration Management > Administration > Configure CI  Visualization > CI Images.
4. Select the device type and optionally a subtype.
5. Click Add.
6. Start adding the image by doing one of the following:
   • For Windows clients: right-click the Image field, select Add, browse to the file, and then click Open.

   • For Web tier clients: click Specify Image, type the full path of the icon file in the File location text field or browse to the icon file, and then click OK.

     The icon opens on the CI Image record.

7. Click Add or modify fields to use the Add or modify tooltip information wizard. Follow the instructions in the wizard that allow you to add, modify, or remove the fields and text that are displayed when hovering over the CI in the visualization diagram.

   Note When displaying the tooltip for a multi-line text field, CI visualization inserts a line break for each element in the tooltip. Additionally, if the length of one element is greater than 55 characters, the line is truncated with an ellipsis mark (...).

8. Click Save.

   Service Manager maps the custom icon to the specified CI Type and saves it in the SYSATTACHMENTS table in the database.

Modify an out-of-box decorator

You can modify the out-of-box decorators that are shown in the visualization diagrams from the Configuration Management module.

To modify an out-of-box decorator, follow these steps:

1. Click Configuration Management > Administration > Configure CI Visualization > Decorators.
2. Use search or advanced search to find one or more records.

   Note Make sure that the Disable Decorator option is disabled. If you enable this option, the decorator is not displayed in the visualization diagram.

3. Edit the icon if needed.

   • For Windows clients: To Add, Save As, or Remove the icon, right-click the image and select an action from the menu.
   • For web clients: Click Remove to remove the existing image, and then click Specify Image to replace the existing image with a new one.
4. In the Category Label menu, the decorator label type is selected with the out-of-box settings. You can modify this field with Change, Critical, or Incident.
5. Add or modify Conditions.
6. You can use the Decorator Position menu to select where the decorator appears relative to the base image. The default setting is the lower right corner.
7. Select a priority from the Priority menu or accept the default setting.
8. Modify the line color to show upstream and downstream relationships:
• Modify the line color for upstream relationships by selecting the highlight color from the Upstream Highlight Color menu or accept the default settings.
• Modify the line color for downstream relationships by selecting the highlight color from the Downstream Highlight Color menu or accept the default settings.
9. Edit the information that displays when users hover over the decorator image:
• In the Tooltip section of the record, you can add or edit the fields that show data when hovering over the decorator image in the visualization diagram.
• In the Group Label field, you can type a group label to use when a user hovers the mouse pointer over the decorator image with a group label or accept the default settings.
10. When you finish modifying the decorator, click Save and click OK.
11. Log off and log back on to view your changes.

Add a custom decorator

You can add a custom decorator that is shown in the visualization diagrams from the Configuration Management module.

To add a custom decorator, follow these steps:

1. Create an icon to represent the new decorator by following these steps:
   1. Click Configuration Management > Administration > Configure CI Visualization > Decorators.
   2. Type a name in the Name field for the new decorator.
   3. Click Specify Image, and then browse for an image in the Specify Image Location window.
   4. Select an image and click OK.
   5. Select Add from the menu.
   6. Navigate to the directory where you saved the custom decorator and select the file name.
   7. Click Open. Service Manager displays the icon on the decorator record.

      Note Make sure that the Disable Decorator box is not checked. If you select the box, the decorator is not displayed in the visualization diagram.

2. In the Category Label menu, select Change, Critical, or Incident in the decorator label type.
3. Add or modify Conditions.
4. You can optionally use the Decorator Position menu to select where the decorator appears relative to the base image. The default setting is the lower right corner.
5. Select a priority from the Priority menu or accept the default setting.
6. Modify the line color to show upstream and downstream relationships:
   1. Modify the line color for upstream relationships by selecting the color from the Upstream Highlight Color menu or accept the default settings.
   2. Modify the line color for downstream relationships by selecting the color from the Downstream Highlight Color menu or accept the default settings.
7. Edit the information that displays when users hover over the decorator image:
   1. In the Tooltip section of the record, you can add or edit the fields that show data when hovering over the decorator image in the visualization diagram.
   2. In the Group Label field, you can type a label to use when a user hovers over the decorator image with a group label or accept the default settings.
8. Click Save.
9. Click OK.
10. Log off and log back on to view your changes.