<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  »No topics above this level« The Add Key Numbers and Cylinders Wizard

This is the best method to manually add Master Keys, Change Keys, and Cylinders to the program. The wizard is also useful for adding keys and cylinders for an existing system that may be missing information.  Add your key numbers and key information to a list, and the program creates the key number and cylinder records at once. The keys can be automatically assigned to the key system. This is also a quick way to create cylinders that are single-keyed, and cylinders that are also combinated with Control Keys and/or Selective Masters.

 

 

 

 

Before you use this wizard:

 

1. If you're assigning the new key numbers to add to a key system, make sure you already have the Manufacturer's System (including keyways) and the Key System information set up. If the key numbers and cylinders you want to create are not part of any key system, then you don't assign a Parent Key or select a Key System on the wizard screen.

 

2. When adding new change keys that are linked to a key system, you must first add the master keys. This is because when you use this wizard, you select the Parent Key (immediate master) that the new change keys (individual keys) will fall under. If you've already added your master keys to the program then don't add them again using this wizard.

 

Important - This wizard only lets you add new key numbers and cylinder/cores to the program. This means that you can't re-enter existing key numbers to produce another group of cylinder/cores that may be combinated somewhat differently than the original group.

 

3. In multi-level systems, Master Keys can be Parent Keys of other Master Keys (i.e., GGM > A > AA). If your key system has a hierarchy of master keys, you should first add those master keys to the program. If you want the program to automatically look up and combinate these multiple masters into your cylinders, you will also need to set up the Parent Key relationships between those masters. See Fig. 1.

 

 

Fig. 1 - Parent Key examples for 4 Levels of Keying:

 

 

 

Fig. 2 - Level Assignment examples:

 

 

 

4. While adding the Master Keys, it's important to assign the master keys a level of 2 or greater. See Fig. 2. If you don't know the different levels of your masters, at least assign them the level of 2. Later, you can edit the level.

 

4. Once the Master Keys (Parent Keys) are entered, You can create new change keys and cylinders under any one of these masters. If you only have one master key in your system (2-Levels of Keying), you only have to add that one master.

 

5. If your key numbers don't follow Standard Key Coding (i.e., A, AA, AA1) don't worry about it. The Parent Key assignment is just the immediate master key above the change keys you're creating. Just figure out the Parent-Child relationships of your masters and add them to the program. For example, if the key number for the immediate master is "Bob's Master," then that's the Parent Key.

 

 

Using the Wizard

 

To add Master Keys (Create Keys Only):

 

1. On the Key Systems screen, select Add Key Number and Cylinder. The wizard will automatically load the current key system.

 

2. Begin by adding your highest level master key (Top Master Key). This key does not have a Parent Key so leave this blank. Select the Keyway - Manufacturer's System and the Key System for the Top Master Key (TMK).

 

3. Type in the Top Master Key's information in the Change Key/Cylinder List but do not type in any more keys into the list. Make sure to assign this master a level of at least 2 (2 or greater).

 

4. Click on the Create Keys Only button. The Top Master Key is added.

 

5. Use the Binoculars button on the Parent Key field and look up and select the Top Master Key. The program automatically fills in the system information.

 

6. Make sure that the Keyway - Manufacturer's System is correct for the next master key(s) that you're adding. You need to be careful with Multiplex (multi-keyway) systems.

 

7. Now, type in the Key Number of the Master(s), if any, that falls directly under the Top Master Key. For example, your TMK is GGM and under that you have the three Grand Master Keys named A, B, and C. You can type in all three masters into the Change Keys/Cylinders List at the same time because they all share the same keyway and are at the same level of keying. Do not type in multiple master keys that are at different levels (i.e., A and AA). Make sure to assign the master keys a level of at least 2.

 

8. Click on the Create Keys Only button. Continue to follow this procedure for any more levels of master keys. When you're done, you can select any master key as a Parent Key and create your key numbers (change keys) and cylinders. When entering your master keys, always work from the highest level down so that you always have a Parent Key to select.

 

Note: You can also use the Create Keys and Cylinders option below, if you would like to additionally create cylinder/core records pinned to just your master keys.

 

 

To add Key Numbers and Cylinders (Create Keys and Cylinders):

 

1. From the Key System screen, select Add Key Number and Cylinder.

 

2. Click on the Binoculars button to the right of the Parent Key field.

 

3. Look up and select the Parent Key. This is the immediate master key for the change keys and cylinders you're creating.

 

Note: To add new change keys that are not part of a key system, or for creating cylinders that are single-keyed, don't assign a Parent Key.

 

4. Once the Parent Key is selected, the Keyway - Manufacturer's System, Key System, and other system information is automatically filled in for you.

 

Note: The keyway that the program selects is based on the Parent Key's keyway. If you've got a multiplex or multi-sectional system, make sure to select the correct keyway for your change keys.

 

5. The status of the Serialized Keys check box is based on the Parent Key.

 

6. The Control Key Bitting field will display the control key bitting if one has been entered into the Control Key field of the Key Systems Screen. If you want to combinate the new cylinders with multiple control keys, add the bittings of those control keys. An example of the format is, 123456,234567.

 

7. The Operating Keys list will display any Master Keys that are parents of the Parent Key that you selected. These masters will be automatically combinated into the new cylinder(s). You can use the Add Key and Clear Key buttons to add or remove Operating Keys to be combinated. If you clear a Master Key, for example, it does not necessarily mean that it won't operate the cylinder mathematically.

 

8. Type in your Key Numbers and other information into the Change Keys/Cylinders List. The only required field is Key Number. All Change Keys should be assigned a Level of 1.

 

9. If you want to create a group of key number and cylinder records based on one Parent Key, and then continue to add some more records based on another Parent Key, or different Operating Keys, use the Create These Keys and Cylinders button. First, add your first group of records and click on this button. This clears the screen. Then, add your second group of records and so on.

 

10. When you're done with your final Key Number entries, click on the Create Key and Cylinders button and then the Exit button.

 

11. To cancel any entries without adding them, click on the Exit button.

 

12. The Keys Under this Master button - Use this button to see a list of change keys and/or masters that were assigned to the master. This helps you see where you left off adding keys, or to see how many change keys have been created under the master.

 

 

Wizard Options

 

Adding Control Keys - This is only supported for SFIC systems. Type in the bitting (cuts) of the control key to be combinated into your cylinders. You can combinate multiple control keys by typing in the bittings. Use the format: 1234567,2345678 (separate with a comma, no spaces). If you're working with a key system that already has the control keys(s) entered in the Control Keys Bitting field on the Key Systems Screen, then the bitting(s) will be automatically displayed when you pick the system in the wizard.

 

Adding Selective Master Keys - To combinate a Selective Master(s), click on the Add Key button.  Look up and select it. It's now assigned to the Operating Keys List and will be combinated into the cylinders you've entered in the Change Keys/Cylinders List.

 

Note:

1. Any keys that you want to assign to the Operating Keys List to be combinated, must already be added to the program.

2. Don't use this wizard to add your Selective Master(s) to the program. Add these masters manually in the Key Numbers List for Key System Screen. This is because selective masters are not fixed to the hierarchy of the system.

3. After you create cylinder/core records that are operated by a selective master, you may want to re-number the cylinder/core names for traditional identification. For example, change AA14 to AA14(ENG). On the Cylinders Screen in the expanded list view, you can edit the cylinder/core names by going down the Cylinder/Core column.

 

Creating Single-Keyed Cylinders - Don't select a Parent Key (no master). If you're creating single-keyed cylinders that you want to assign to a key system (i.e., SKD1, SKD2), then select the Key System  If you're creating single-keyed cylinders that are not part of a system then leave the Key System field blank.

 

Creating Special Situation Cylinders - For example, you want to create key numbers and cylinders that fall directly under the GGM (GGM1, GGM2).  Look up and select the GGM as the Parent Key. This omits one or more masters in the hierarchy so that they will not combinate in your cylinders.

 

 

Adding Additional Information Later

 

To create key numbers and cylinders that are added to a Key System, the only required data is Parent Key and Key Number. If the key numbers and cylinders to be added are not part of a Key System, then the only required data is Key Number. The Keyway - Manufacturer's System is always selected regardless of method.

 

If you have limited information and you're in a hurry to assign your keys and cylinders to doors and rooms, this is the quickest way to get your records into the program. As you obtain the additional information later, you add it to your Key Number records. The best way to do this later, is to go to the Key Numbers Screen (expanded list view) and click on the Edit button. You can go down the following columns of records and edit or add to your information: Key Number, Bitting, Symbol, Description, Sidebar, Angles, and Tag Number. For example, if you add your Bittings later, the program will build your cylinder Pinning Charts and Pinning Screens automatically.

 

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