Test Mode

date	desc
29 Apr 2022	Initial

Test Mode is a global state within Signals that temporarily changes how the system works.

Test Mode can:

alter notification text to indicate a test is being run
limit the number of notifications sent out during testing
bypass specific rules during a test

The objective is to provide tools to make ongoing ICON Signals testing less disruptive to site personnel.

In the simplest case, it is useful to make sure notification texts include some sort of "Testing" phrase.

For a site with a large number of contact closure switches or dial codes, the technician probably doesn't want to send notifications to twenty people every time a switch is tested.

For a site with sirens or speakers, the technician might want to test those devices once every six months but run checks on other components more often. Rules with a TestMode bypass could help.

(Designed) Limitations of Test Mode

Test Mode is a transient, in-memory state. The administrator puts ICON Signals into Test Mode for a limited amount of time. Once that time expires, the system is no longer in Test Mode.

If ICON Signals is restarted while in Test Mode, it will no longer be in Test Mode after the restart.

TestMode Feature Summary

The following features are only active when ICON Signals is in Test Mode

feature	description	how to configure
alter notification text	Prepends a "Testing" string to all email, rainbow and text messages	Edit prefix strings in page `Admin -> Configuration -> Environment`
limit notifications	Rules including the `testmode` group in recipients ignore all other groups, addresses and numbers when sending notification	Create a contact group named 'testmode'. Add it to Contacts and Rules as needed.
bypass rules	Rules can be configured to be skipped when running in Test Mode	In the Rule 'Actions', change the TestMode Action to ByPass in TestMode

Initiating Test Mode

A TestMode dialog on the Admin -> System Status page allows the administrator to put ICON Signals into Test Mode for up to 60 minutes. This dialog can be used to leave Test Mode or change the duration of Test Mode at any time.

testmode dialog

While in Test Mode, the remaining minutes of Test Mode (rounded away from zero) are displayed in the Admin -> System Status page.

testmode remaining

Configuration Details

TestMode Prefix Strings

The Test Mode notification prefix is defined in: Admin -> Configuration -> Environment. A separate string which is prepended when NOT in Test Mode can also be specified (e.g. '*** THIS IS NOT A DRILL ***').

testmode remaining

'testmode' contacts group

Create a group named testmode. Whenever that group is included for notifications in a rule, all other numbers or email addresses will be ignored for that notification method.

grp testmode

contact testmode

rule notification 1

rule notification 2

TestMode Rule Bypass

Go to Workflow -> Rule List. Edit a rule and click on the Actions tab. Change the TestMode Action to Bypass in TestMode. Click the Update button.

rule bypass 1

rule bypass 2

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