This article outlines the steps to implement the CAD Interface at the agency level. To complete this process, your agency will need to get information from the county, and you'll need your IT provider or the county's assistance to complete some of these steps.


Summary


Step 1: Set up an automated file transfer to receive CAD files from the county


Before you can begin using the CAD Interface, your department will need to set up the automated transfer of CAD files from the county's CAD system to a designated folder on the department's server. This step is usually done in coordination with the county and your department's IT staff. Due to differences in how CAD vendors and individual counties set up file transfers, Informant's support team does not directly handle installing or configuring the file transfer process itself.

There are two primary methods CAD vendors or counties typically use to transfer CAD files to individual departments:


  • Push: In this model, the CAD vendor's system or a script on the CAD system pushes exported CAD call files to the relevant department's server, usually via FTP or SFTP. This means your department will be running an FTP or SFTP server, and you will need a public static IP address. Your CAD vendor or county will then ensure that CAD files are sent to your server via FTP or SFTP.
  • Pull: In other cases, your CAD vendor or county may set up an FTP,  SFTP,  or other file transfer client on your department's server along with a scheduled task or script to pull files down periodically from the central CAD server.


Other file transfer methods are possible, but these are the most common.


Since the file transfer will need to place files in a folder on your network, we recommend creating a new "CAD" folder for incoming CAD files inside the existing C:\Informant folder on your Informant server and then having your county's file transfer process place incoming CAD files in the C:\Informant\CAD folder. Our support team can assist with setting up this folder and the appropriate permissions and network folder configuration.


TIP: If another department in your county has already implemented the CAD Interface with Informant and is actively importing CAD files into Informant, we recommend reaching out to them or the relevant county contacts for advice on how to set up the file transfer at your department.


Step 2: Test the file transfer process


Next, have the dispatch center send a few CAD files over to ensure they are being received and are appearing in the designated network folder at the department. Troubleshoot any file transfer issues with the county and/or your IT staff at this stage if there are any issues receiving the files.


Step 3: Install and configure CAD Interface


After the file transfer process is set up and you have the codes from the dispatch center, schedule a time with Informant's support team to install the Informant CAD Interface and configure it on your Informant server.


Step 4: Get dispatch code lists from the county


Request the code lists that the dispatch center is using for various fields so they can be properly mapped to the corresponding values in Informant.


You'll need the following code lists specifically:


  • A list of complaint type codes used by the dispatch center and their meanings: The department will use this list to properly map the dispatch complaint type codes to corresponding Complaint Type selection list values in Informant, using the Informant CAD Interface's code mapping interface.
  • A list of complaint "how received" codes used by the dispatch center and their meanings: The department will use this list to properly map the dispatch complaint type codes to corresponding How Received selection list values in Informant, using the Informant CAD Interface's code mapping interface.
  • A list of officer IDs used by the dispatch center: The department will use this list to properly map officers to the corresponding Officer ID in Informant for the department's officers, using the Informant CAD Interface's code mapping interface.

Step 5: Set up CAD Interface code mappings using dispatch center code lists


Your department will use the codes they received from the county dispatch to configure the corresponding code mappings in the CAD Interface. This ensures that codes used by the dispatch center (such as codes identifying units/officers and codes for complaint types, etc.) are properly translated to the corresponding values in Informant when CAD calls are imported into Informant.