Assigning Devices to Areas

This guide shows you how to assign Ally devices to areas, move devices between areas, and unassign devices from the area structure.

Before you start: Make sure you've already created your area structure. If you haven't, see the article "Creating and Managing Area Structure" first.

Understanding Device Assignment

Each device can be assigned to one area in your hierarchy. Once assigned, the device appears when you navigate to that area, making it easy to find and manage devices by location.

Assignment rules:

Each device can only be in one area at a time
Devices can be unassigned (not in any area)
You can move devices between areas anytime
Moving a device doesn't affect its settings or data
Area assignment is separate from device tags

Method 1: Assign Individual Device

To assign a single device:

Go to Device Administration
Click on a device
Click the edit icon (pencil)
Click General tab
Find the Area dropdown
Select the area where this device belongs (e.g., "Building A → Floor 1 → Apartment 101")
Click Save

The device now appears in that area when you filter or navigate by area.

Method 2: Assign Multiple Devices

To assign several devices to the same area at once:

Go to Admin → Areas
Navigate to the target area
Click + Assign devices
Select devices from the "Available devices" list
Click the right arrow to move them to "Selected devices"
Click Apply

All selected devices are now assigned to that area.

Method 3: Use Device Filters

For organized bulk assignment using filters:

Create a device filter for devices you want to assign (e.g., filter by device tag "BuildingA_Floor1")
Go to Admin → Areas
Navigate to target area
Click + Assign devices
Apply your filter in "Available devices"
Select all filtered devices
Click Apply

Moving Devices Between Areas

To move a device from one area to another:

Move Single Device

Go to the device
Click edit icon
Click General tab
Change Area dropdown to new area
Click Save

The device immediately moves to the new area.

Move Multiple Devices

Go to Admin → Areas
Navigate to the area containing the devices
Click + Assign devices
Devices currently in this area show in "Selected devices"
Select devices you want to move
Click the left arrow to remove them from this area
Click Apply
Navigate to the new target area
Click + Assign devices
Select the devices from "Available devices"
Click the right arrow
Click Apply

Unassigning Devices from Areas

To remove a device from all areas (make it unassigned):

Unassign Single Device

Go to the device
Click edit icon
Click General tab
Change Area dropdown to "None"
Click Save

The device no longer appears in any area but remains in your device list.

Unassign Multiple Devices

Go to Admin → Areas
Navigate to the area containing devices
Click + Assign devices
Select devices in "Selected devices"
Click the left arrow
Click Apply

Viewing Devices by Area

Once devices are assigned, navigate by area:

In Device Administration

Go to Device Administration
Click Area filter or area navigation menu
Select an area
Only devices in that area display

In Areas Management

Go to Admin → Areas
Click on any area name
Device count shows next to area name
Click to view list of devices in that area

Device Assignment Strategies

Strategy 1: Assign During Initial Import

Best for new installations:

Create area structure first
Import devices from Ally Home
Immediately assign devices to areas using device tags as guide
Use bulk assignment for groups of devices

Strategy 2: Tag-Based Assignment

Best when device names or tags match area structure:

Ensure device tags include location info (e.g., "BuildingA_Floor1_Apt101")
Create device filters by tag
Use filtered lists for bulk area assignment
This allows semi-automated assignment

Strategy 3: Progressive Assignment

Best for large installations done in phases:

Assign one building or floor at a time
Verify assignments before moving to next section
Leave remaining devices unassigned until their area is ready
Gradually complete full assignment

Assignment Best Practices

💡 Tips for effective device assignment:

Assign to lowest level: Put devices in rooms, not floors (more specific is better)
Match physical location: Assign where device is actually located, not where it's managed
Use consistent logic: If one eTRV goes in room, all eTRVs go in rooms (not some in hallways)
Handle Gateways specially: Usually assign to building or floor level, not individual rooms
Verify after bulk operations: Check a few devices to confirm correct assignment
Update when moving devices: If device physically moves, update its area assignment

Common Assignment Patterns

Pattern 1: Room-Level Assignment

Building A
└── Floor 1
    ├── Apartment 101
    │   ├── eTRV_Living Room
    │   ├── eTRV_Bedroom
    │   └── Room Sensor
    └── Apartment 102
        ├── eTRV_Living Room
        └── eTRV_Bedroom

Use when: You want precise control and tracking per room

Pattern 2: Apartment-Level Assignment

Building A
└── Floor 1
    ├── Apartment 101
    │   ├── eTRV 1
    │   ├── eTRV 2
    │   └── eTRV 3
    └── Hallway
        └── eTRV_Hallway

Use when: Room-level detail isn't needed, but apartment separation matters

Pattern 3: Zone-Based Assignment

Building A
└── Floor 1
    ├── North Zone
    │   ├── eTRV 1
    │   ├── eTRV 2
    │   └── eTRV 3
    └── South Zone
        ├── eTRV 4
        └── eTRV 5

Use when: HVAC zones or orientation matters more than room divisions

Using Areas with Bulk Operations

Area assignment makes bulk operations more powerful:

Example: Change all setpoints for Floor 2:

Go to Bulk Operation
Select setpoint to change
In device selection, filter by Area: "Building A → Floor 2"
Select all devices
Apply changes

Example: Apply schedule to all common areas:

Go to Bulk Operation
Select Schedule
Configure new schedule
Filter devices by Area: "Building A → Common Areas"
Select all and apply

Troubleshooting

Problem: Can't Find Device After Assignment

Check correct area is selected in filter. Verify device was assigned to intended area (check device details). Try removing area filter to see all devices. Search by device name instead of browsing areas.

Problem: Device Shows in Wrong Area

Edit device and check Area dropdown. Change to correct area. Save changes. Verify by navigating to correct area.

Problem: Bulk Assignment Didn't Work

Check if devices were already assigned elsewhere. Verify you clicked Apply. Refresh page and check again. Try assigning smaller batches. Check device permissions (you need edit rights).

Problem: Too Many Unassigned Devices

Create device filter for unassigned devices. Tackle one area at a time. Use device tags to identify which area they belong to. Consider if some devices should remain unassigned (test devices, spares).

Problem: Need to Reassign Many Devices After Area Restructure

Export device list with current areas (if available). Plan new assignments on spreadsheet. Use bulk operations with filters. Work systematically through one area at a time. Verify critical devices first before bulk changes.

Understanding Device Assignment