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    GE Security TOPAZ (ACURT4) — Software User Guide

    August 31, 2026 4 min read

    Software User Guide for the GE Security TOPAZ Access Control & Security System (ACURT Intelligent Controllers) — access control, alarm monitoring, badge design, and CCTV integration.

    💾 Download Original PDF
    Full text manual (for reference)

    Software User Guide for GE Security's TOPAZ Access Control & Security System (used with ACURT Intelligent Controllers) — a PC-based facility security platform covering access control, alarm monitoring, interactive color graphics, photo badging, and CCTV control.

    Overview

    TOPAZ is a browser-based facility security system built around a file server, one or more workstations, ACURT Intelligent Controllers, card readers, alarm sensors, and door locking hardware. Communication between the server, field panels, card readers, and alarm points uses Secure Communications Protocol (SCP) over dial-up, RS-232/RS-485 hardwire, or TCP/IP on LAN/WAN networks.

    The system is modular and scales to support up to 64 readers and 2,000 cardholders per site. All data entry happens through an Internet browser interface using mouse and keyboard at the server or a workstation. TOPAZ continuously polls remote panels to check communication status, tamper switches, alarm inputs, and cardholder access events, displaying and logging everything in real time.

    Three Core Functions

    • Communications: Facilitates communication between the server and remotely located control panels.
    • Supervision & Reporting: Monitors status changes on alarm devices (motion detectors, door contacts, temperature gauges) and access devices (card readers, keypads controlling doors, elevators, gates), reporting them as alarms, troubles, or events.
    • Remote Control: Executes remote-control actions via manual operator command, automatic event response, or stored time schedules.

    Auto Configuration

    Auto Configuration is TOPAZ's signature feature — a self-configuring setup process that automatically detects and defines all field devices connected to each server communication port (up to five serial ports plus one LAN port), then generates default settings for readers, alarm points, access groups, time schedules, holidays, and the graphical device-hierarchy "tree."

    • Starts automatically on first login of a brand-new TOPAZ install with no configured hardware (password-protected).
    • Can be run manually anytime afterward via Hardware > Auto Configuration.
    • Detected devices are color-coded in the tree view: Green = found, not yet configured; Red = configured but not currently found/connected; Black = found and configured.
    • After Auto Configuration, devices get default numeric names (e.g. "Reader 2-1-3" = host port 2, field panel address 1, reader 3) which can be renamed to descriptive labels.

    System Requirements & Installation

    TOPAZ runs on Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional, requires Internet Explorer 6.0+ (installed and configured from the TOPAZ CD before first launch), and uses a USB Sentinel hardware key for license enforcement. Server installation includes accepting a license agreement, a "Complete" install option, Sentinel driver installation, and a mandatory PC restart to activate the software. Workstations are installed separately and added to a running server (see Hardware > Workstation Page).

    Startup order matters: power up field panels/readers before the server so diagnostic messages display correctly, and always have the server running before starting a workstation.

    Main Navigation Structure (Chapters)

    The TOPAZ browser interface is organized around a left-side navigation bar with the following main sections:

    Button / Chapter Purpose
    Events View live system events as they occur
    Cards Cardholder database, access rights, Photo ID/badging, masking, custom fields, batch add/delete
    Control Manual reader/alarm point/relay control, access trace, Anti-Passback (APB) reset, panel & database service, backup/restore
    Status Real-time status of field panels, readers, alarm points, and relays
    Reports Cardholder database reports, full system setup reports (per device type), event recall reports (all events, by number, user actions, system devices, access, alarms), alarm history, employee reports
    Setup Operators & operator types, time schedules, security areas, access groups, site settings, custom fields, facility codes, variable cards, reader events, alarm instructions/categories, holidays
    Hardware Serial ports, LAN communication, workstations, field panels & dial-up, elevator control (cab setup, floor definitions, public access), reader setup/options, alarm point setup, relays, Auto Configuration, video recorder/camera integration
    Badge Design Design ID badges — photo/signature, text/database fields, bitmaps, shapes, chroma key/ghosting effects
    Map Interactive color graphics maps — activate/operate map screens, add maps, points, cameras, and map links

    Built-In Help System

    Every browser page has two Help buttons: Help Index (opens the full Table of Contents/Index/Search for the whole system) and Page Help (context-sensitive help for the currently open screen, with a "SHOW" link to expand into the full Global Help browser).

    Shutting Down

    Use the software's proper shutdown sequence from the Navigation Bar rather than simply closing the browser window, to ensure the database and active sessions close cleanly.

    Document Info

    Manual number 460932001, most recent revision covered here dated February 2, 2005, published by GE Security, 12345 SW Leveton Drive, Tualatin, Oregon 97062. This guide has gone through multiple revisions (B through the 2005 update) adding features like Alarm Reporting Delay, Public Access configuration, Auto Acknowledge for reader events, expanded facility codes, external dial-up modem setup, and GE Security Video (CCTV) support.

    Note: This is a legacy software guide (Windows 2000/XP era) covering the full 400+ page TOPAZ reference manual. This page summarizes the system's architecture and menu structure; download the full PDF below for complete screen-by-screen configuration instructions, dialog reference tables, and appendices (including the USB Camera appendix).