In MR imaging in a suite of rooms including a diagnostic room and a second surgical room, the magnet includes a diagnostic table separable from a docking station of the magnet and the second room includes a second surgical table. An imaging control computer controls operation of the imaging system and a movement control computer controls operation of the magnet moving system and the patient support table. During imaging in the surgical room, the diagnostic table is separated and docked at a secondary docking station while an emulating computer system cooperate with the imaging control computer system by emulating outputs from the disconnected diagnostic table for controlling operation of the imaging system.