PIANO 5.

USER GUIDE

Table of contents

INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................3

HISTORY..................................................................................................................................4

INSTALLATION.......................................................................................................................5

PIANO FUNCTIONS................................................................................................................6

4.1

Create Base Stations map................................................................................................................................................6

4.2

Load BTS File...................................................................................................................................................................7

4.3

Load HO File.....................................................................................................................................................................7

4.4

HO Relations.....................................................................................................................................................................9

4.5

GSM Frequency..............................................................................................................................................................10

4.6

DCS Frequency...............................................................................................................................................................11

4.7

E-GSM Frequency..........................................................................................................................................................12

4.8

Display BSC.....................................................................................................................................................................12

4.9

Display LAC....................................................................................................................................................................13

PIANO IMPORT FROM NPO................................................................................................14

1 Introduction
This document describes in detail PIANO tool operation and the different steps of each function.
PIANO tool is a MapInfo application which plots the cells of a GSM network in a cartographical mode.
The main functions provided by PIANO tool are:

Check (E)GSM and DCS frequencies in the network. The co-channel and adjacent channels are
shown with different colors for all the cells.

Show the cells with a different color according to the related BSC and LAC.

Show Handover relations in the map.

2 History
Version 5.0:
- Creation of a User Guide.
- The QoS part was removed. NPO can be used instead.
- The "Agilent tools" function was removed. MapNitro can be used instead.
- The import procedure from NPO was added.
- The HO table is not closed anymore after check frequencies.
- Fix the displayed notes.
- LAC and BSC function are always seen even if they are the first one or the last one.
- Possibility the use PIANO functions from a table view
- Correct Macro in order to work on MS Excel 2000
Version 5.1:
-The number of HO relations was limited to 3000. This version is able to handle up to 130800 HO
relations.
-Error in case of load HO table from a table window.
-In urban zones the minimum azimuth length of 250m is too high. The minimum length becomes 10 m.
-When click next/previous HO, nothing happens when there is no HO table.
-If we open a new BTS table, the HO table is not closed and the program crashes if we want to see HO
relations.
-LAC and BSC maps are not displayed automatically.
Version 5.2:
- E-GSM band was introduced on this version.
- Some crashes when there is no BTS table were fixed.
- LAC and CI are used for HO relations.
Version 5.3:
- Fix issues related to show frequencies after a new table load.
- Distinct Operational and Planned HO relations
- Show 3 types of HO relations between 2 cells (A and B): Only A, only B or common to both. A Legend
is available for this map.

3 Installation
PIANO tool works under MapInfo Professional tool which is mandatory to run PIANO.
MapInfo version should be equal or greater than 6.5.
To add PIANO on MapInfo:
1. Open MapInfo
2. Select Menu Tools -> Tool Manager
3. Click on "Add Tool" button
4. Set Title as PIANO, browse for Piano.MBX in Location field and click "OK"
5. Select Autoload option in PIANO row and click "OK".
With Autoload option enable, the PIANO tool will start every time that MapInfo is open.
PIANO tool is ready to be used.

4 PIANO Functions
The PIANO functions are available from the menu PIANO or from the PIANO toolbar.

PIANO toolbar
In the next sub-chapters, all the function will be described.
4.1

Create Base Stations map

PIANO tool has the function to create the Base Stations map table. This function has the goal to
display all the cells in the map with a certain azimuth.
To create a Base Stations map:
1. In the PIANO toolbar click on this button

or select Menu PIANO -> Create Base Stations.

2. Select the BTS table and click "Open".

3. Give a name for the new map table and click "Save"
4. Select Azimuth on Bore filed and keep the length as 0.10.
5. For "Get X Coordinates from Column" field select X_SITE_LOC and for "Get Y Coordinates from
Column" field select Y_SITE_LOC, then click "OK".

4.2 Load BTS File

In order to see the frequencies it is required to load the BTS files created in the previous step.
To load BTS File:

1. In the PIANO toolbar click on this button

or select Menu PIANO -> Load BTS File.

2. Select the BTS/Piano map table and click "Open".

4.3 Load HO File

The HO File has the HO table with LAC_SOURCE, CI_SOURCE, LAC_DEST, CI_DEST and Planned,
these columns represent the LAC/CI of the source and target cell. The BTS File must be loaded before
loading the HO File.
To Load HO File:
1. If the BTS File is not loaded then load the BTS File like described in 3.2.
2. In the PIANO toolbar click on this button

or select Menu PIANO -> HO relationships ->

Load HO File.
3. Select the HO table and click "Open".

Typical issue
There is no planned column in the HO Table.
Because in 5.3 version there is a new column in HO Table, probably, the user will see the following error
message Variable or Field H_A955MP.Planned not defined. User must add the Planned field in the
HO table. Check next steps to know how to add this field.

In order to add Planned column you may use MapInfo to make this change. Use Table Structure
action from Menu Table -> Maintenance. Select the HO table and finally click on Add Field button
with the following attributes for Planned field.

Click OK and after user may use this table to check HO relations with PIANO. To add planned HO
relations, insert in the table the CIs and LACs with a y on Planned column.

4.4

HO Relations

This function allows the user to see the HO relations of one specific cell. Using left and right button, user
can navigate over all the cells and the source/target cells are highlighted automatically. The red color
represents the source cell and the blue color represents the target cell. Starting from 5.3 version, PIANO is
able to display planned HO relations and these relations are presented in green color.
To manage HO Relations:

1. The see one cell click on icon

or select Menu PIANO -> HO relationships -> New cell

2. To see the next cell click on

or select Menu PIANO -> HO relationships -> Next cell

3. To see the next cell click on

or select Menu PIANO -> HO relationships -> Previous cell

A new feature was introduced on PIANO 5.3 which the Compare Cells feature. With This feature, user is
able to see the HO relation exclusive from cell A, only from cell B and the common cells between both.

Planned relations from cell A are also displayed but they can be overlapped by the HO relations from cell
B. A legend is available for this map only in case if there are common HO relations between cell A and B.
To use Compare Cells feature:

1. The start this procedure click on icon

Cells

or select Menu PIANO -> HO relationships -> Compare

2. Select the Cell A:

3. Select the Cell B:

A similar view like the one above will be displayed on MapInfo. A new window will be generated for a
legend in order to understand better the presented colors. A summary is presented below.
Cell A is displayed in red.
Cell B is displayed in pink
HO Relations only from Cell A are displayed in blue.
HO Relations only from Cell B are displayed in yellow.
Common HO Relations between Cell A and B are displayed in light blue.
The Planned HO Relations from Cell A are displayed in green. This color may be overlapped by yellow if
the planned target from Cell A is an operational target from Cell B.

4.5 GSM Frequency

This function allows the user to see the GSM co-channel and adjacent frequencies. Using left and right
button, user can navigate over all the frequencies. The red color means the selected frequency (cochannel), the green color means the upper adjacent frequency (co-channel + 1) and the blue color means
the lower adjacent frequency (co-channel - 1).

To manage GSM Frequencies:

1. The see one specific frequency, click on icon

-> New GSM Frequency
2. To see the next frequency, click on
GSM Frequency
3. To see the previous frequency, click on
Previous GSM Frequency

or select Menu PIANO -> GSM Frequencies

or select Menu PIANO -> GSM Frequencies -> Next

or select Menu PIANO -> GSM Frequencies ->

4. To detect cells with the same pair BCCH/BSIC, click on

Frequencies -> GSM BCCH BSIC

or select Menu PIANO -> GSM

This is an example of GSM BCCH/BSIC check, the cells with the same pair BCCH/BSIC are highlighted.
If there are no duplicated pairs BCCH/BSIC, nothing is displayed.

4.6 DCS Frequency

This function allows the user to see the DCS co-channel and adjacent frequencies. Using left and right
button, user can navigate in all the frequencies. The red color means the selected frequency (co-channel),
the green color means the upper adjacent frequency (co-channel + 1) and the blue color means the lower
adjacent frequency (co-channel - 1).
To manage DCS Frequencies:

1. The see one specific frequency, click on icon

-> New DCS Frequency
2. To see the next frequency, click on
DCS Frequency

or select Menu PIANO -> DCS Frequencies

or select Menu PIANO -> DCS Frequencies -> Next

3. To see the previous frequency, click on

Previous DCS Frequency

or select Menu PIANO -> DCS Frequencies ->

4. To detect cells with the same pair BCCH/BSIC, click on

Frequencies -> DCS BCCH BSIC

or select Menu PIANO -> DCS

If there are no duplicated pairs BCCH/BSIC, then nothing is displayed.

4.7 E-GSM Frequency

This function allows the user to see the E-GSM co-channel and adjacent frequencies. Using left and right
button, user can navigate in all the frequencies. The red color means the selected frequency (co-channel),
the green color means the upper adjacent frequency (co-channel + 1) and the blue color means the lower
adjacent frequency (co-channel - 1).

To manage E-GSM Frequencies:

1. The see one specific frequency, click on icon

Frequencies -> New E-GSM Frequency
2. To see the next frequency, click on
E-GSM Frequency

or select Menu PIANO -> E-GSM Frequencies -> Next

3. To see the previous frequency, click on

Previous DCS Frequency

or select Menu PIANO -> DCS Frequencies ->

4. To detect cells with the same pair BCCH/BSIC, click on

Frequencies -> E-GSM BCCH BSIC

4.8

or select Menu PIANO -> E-GSM

or select Menu PIANO -> E-GSM

Display BSC

This function allows the user to see all cells which belong to the same BSC in a cartographical way.

To manage BSC:

1. The see one specific BSC, click on icon

BSC

2. To see the next BSC, click on

or select Menu PIANO -> Display BSC -> New

or select Menu PIANO -> Display BSC -> Next BSC

3. To see the previous BSC, click on

or select Menu PIANO -> Display BSC -> Previous BSC

4.9 Display LAC

This function allows the user to see all cells which belong to the same Location Area in a cartographical
way.
To manage LAC:

1. The see one specific LAC, click on icon

LAC

2. To see the next BSC, click on

or select Menu PIANO -> Display LAC -> New

or select Menu PIANO -> Display LAC -> Next LAC

3. To see the previous LAC, click on

LAC

or select Menu PIANO -> Display LAC -> Previous

PIANO Import from NPO

This chapter presents how to export data from NPO in order to be imported on PIANO.
The plan is to import the PIANO view on NPO and then to export it with network data. This exported data will be
post-processed by an Excel Template in order to generate the final tables which will be ready to import on PIANO.
The main 4 steps of this import are:
1. Import Piano view in NPO
2. Export the Piano view from NPO with network data
3. Copy the exported file to Excel template and run the excel macro.
4. Open the xls on MapInfo and store it as a MapInfo table (.tab)

To import Piano view on NPO:

1. Open the NPO iconbox

2. Select MUSE Applications -> Optimization -> Import/Export Management
3. Enter the login and click "OK". By default the login is osmadmin/alcatel. If it is not working,
ask for the right login to NPO administrator.
4. From NPO Administration - NPO Import/Export Management, select "Import Dictionary" ->
"Report Dictionary"
5. Browse for Piano_NPO_View.xml, click on "Add" and then on "OK" button.
6. At the step 2/4 click on "Create" button. Ignore the definition equal to 0, that's because there are
no reports, only one view.
7. At step 4/4 be sure that the Import Status is OK and click on "End" button.
Note: If the import status is NOK, export the customer Report dictionary and delete after the
customer Report dictionary, then import the Piano_NPO_View.xml. The exported dictionary can be
imported after. If after this workaround, the import status still NOK, contact Joao.Frade@alcatellucent.com.
8. Click on "Exit" to leave the NPO Administration.

To export Piano view from NPO:

1. Select the planned cells and the Piano table from view tab. If you want all the cells, click on Global.

2. Export the Piano table using the Excel icon in the left side. Save it in xls format.

If you want to use the HO functions on Piano, we have to export the adjacencies from NPO. Please follow
the next steps to export the adjacencies.
3. Select the mode Adjacencies and select the appropriate adjacencies or Global if you want all the
adjacencies. Then select the indicator Matrix_Inc_request located in MATRIX - BASIC family. In the
context window select only the last day. The important is the adjacency relations.

4. Export the Adjacency table in xls format.

To use the Piano Template:

1. Open the exported file.

2. Open the Piano_NPO_Template.xls file
3. In "Matrix Sheet - tabular view" sheet, copy the entire Planned table to PL sheet on Piano template.

4. In "Matrix Sheet - tabular view" sheet, copy the entire Operational table to OP sheet on Piano template.

5. Run the macro "Run_Piano" using Alt+F8 or selecting the Menu Tools -> Macro -> Macros
The final Piano table will be generated in Piano sheet.

6. Save the Template file and close it.

If you want to generate HO Table, please follow the next steps:

7. Open the exported file with Adjacency relations.

8. Copy only the adjacency relations from Matrix Sheet - tabular view and paste it on column A of sheet
Adjacencies in Piano Template. Normally the range starts on B14 in the exported file and just this column
is needed for Piano Template.

9. Run the macro "Run_HO" using Alt+F8 or selecting the Menu Tools -> Macro -> Macros
The Final HO table will be generated in HO sheet. Be sure that no External Cells are in the ADJ relations.
In case of External Cell, LAC/CI cannot be determined and this line should be removed.
10. Save the Template file and close it.

To open Piano Template Table on MapInfo

1. Open MapInfo
2. Close the any Excel Application
3. Open Piano_NPO_Template.xls in MapInfo. Don't forget to set xls as type.
4. Select "Use Row Above Selected Range for Column Titles" option in Piano sheet.

5. In "Set Field Properties" click "OK"

6. Select File -> Save Copy AS and give Piano for the table name.

If you want to import the HO table, perform the same steps described before but select HO sheet and save
it as HO.tab.

End of Document