Question:  I'm setting up a V-Series panel for IFB assignment (port property of V-Series panel in ECS Cards & Ports) and would like to know if there are any tips or tricks for setting up the panel for a logical IFB assignments i.e. key layout, label names etc.
Answer: Depending on how many global IFB assignments (sources and destinations) that need to be populated on the panel here are some tricks and tips to setting up a 2RU push button panel (these tips can also apply to level key and rotary key V-Series panels as well):
1.  Use a shift page to setup the source and destination keys for the IFBs.  Create a dummy control label if there is extra key real estate available and name the control label "IFB ASSIGN" or something similar and place the control label on the selected shift page of the panel.
2.  Setup  the IFB sources as listen (GREEN) keys on the top 2 rows of the panel on the shift page.
3.  Setup the IFB destinations as talk (RED) keys on the bottom 2 rows of the panel on the shift page.
4.  Apply changes in ECS software, the panel shift page should now look like the panel layout below: 



Now the V-panel user can access the shift page by pressing the shift button on the panel. When they see the IFB ASSIGN label they know that they are on the correct page. Press the "4" keypad button to activate assignment panel mode, the user can dynamically setup IFB forced listen feeds by first selecting an IFB destination (flashing RED keys) so that it is solid red, then assign an IFB audio source (flashing GREEN keys) so that it is solid green, this confirms the forced listen feed to the IFB destination.
To exit IFB assignment mode press the "4" button on the keypad, or the backlit IFB ASSIGN reply key or the menu button, the panel will revert to normal operating mode.

For rotary panels only: Instead of adding a dummy control "IFB ASSIGN" to your panel's shift page, add the special "COMM" key available in panel programming. Instead of pressing "4" on the key pad to enter IFB assignment mode, you can simply press the COMM key to achieve the same. Press it again to switch out of IFB assignment mode.