Recent TMS Enhancements - Plant Records/Cable Records (PR/CR) Module

• Switch Interface
• Cable Number field expanded
• New fields added to Cable-Terminal records
• New field added to the Building Master record
• 'Suspended' Status for Circuits
• Fields added to the Circuit Master file
• Cross-linking of Master Rate and Inventoried Spares file maintenance
• Enhanced directory integration option
• Interfaces to third-party directory assistance systems
• Inventoried Spares by Warehouse and Transaction detail functions updated

Switch Interface

The PR/CR Inquiry function is now integrated with the Switch Interface module (if installed).  This puts a myriad of additional information (line, set and button features/options, groups, etc.) a mouse click away.   View more details about the new Switch Interface module.

Cable Number field expanded

A version of TMS has been developed that expands the Cable Number field from 6 characters to 12.  This was a significant effort that involved many files, maintenance functions and reports.  Note that some cosmetic compromises were necessary when reformatting screens/forms and reports.  These changes impacted the Telephone Service Requests/Trouble Calls module, too.

New fields added to Cable-Terminal records

The following fields have been added to the Cable-Terminal record:

• Node – 3 byte alphanumeric (uppercase)

• Type – 2 byte alphanumeric (uppercase)

• Pressurized – Y/N field

• Distance – Numeric (5 digits)

These new fields appear on the file maintenance form, on the file list output, and in PR/CR Inquiry when displaying the terminals on a cable.

New field added to the Building Master record

A new field allows the user to store a second line of remarks in the Building Master record.  The new field appears on the file maintenance form, on the file list output, and in PR/CR Inquiry when displaying a building record.

'Suspended' Status for Circuits

The one-byte OUT-FLAG field (often labeled “Status”) in the Circuit Master record was originally intended to contain one of three values – “Z” for disconnected, “O” for out of service, and blank for neither of these.  As a result of a comment made during the 2006 TMS Users' Workshops round-table discussions, another status for circuit records – “S” for “Suspended” - has been defined.  Most circuit record displays and reports have been modified to show “*SUS* or “SUSPENDED” for circuits with that value set.  To exclude suspended circuits when running relevant reports, users can set limits for the Status or OUT-FLAG field during sort setup.

View a sample of the 'Suspended' status for a circuit record.

Fields added to the Circuit Master file

One of the hottest topics during the 2006 TMS Users' Workshops round-table session was the desire to store a “jack number” in the circuit records.  In response to the request, a new 8-byte alphanumeric (uppercase only) JACK field has been added to the Circuit Master record.  At the same time, two additional Remarks fields were added to the Circuit Master record, doubling the number of lines available for free-form comments.

Both of these changes rippled to several reports and displays, and to the Telephone Service Requests/Trouble Calls module. 

Cross-linking of Master Rate and Inventoried Spares file maintenance

As a result of a suggestion made during the 2006 TMS Users' Workshops, the file maintenance functions for the PR/CR Master Rate File and Inventoried Spares File have been cross-linked to simplify operation, as follows -

If you add an equipment (Category E) record or an expendable item (Category X) record to the Master Rate File, an option is offered to add an Inventoried Spares record for the item.  If you select the option, the record is added with the Item #, Nomenclature and Unit Price set from fields in the Master Rate record, and Unit of Issue set to "EA".

Similarly, if you edit an equipment or expendable item record and change either the Description or Unit Cost field, an option is offered  to update the corresponding Inventoried Spares record for the item (if it exists).  If you select the option, the Nomenclature and Unit Price fields are updated.

After you add or change an equipment or expendable item record, an option is provided to edit the Inventoried Spares record.  If you select the option, the Inventoried Spares maintenance function appears in change mode.  The Item # defaults to the one just added or updated.  When you exit the Inventoried Spares maintenance function, you are returned to the Master Rate file maintenance function. 

Enhanced directory integration option

One or more telephone directories can be maintained using PR/CR and TSR/TC functions.  If desired, the directory or directories can be used to update corresponding directories in the TMS Electronic Directory (ELDIR) module.  View more details.

Interfaces to third-party directory assistance systems

Recent projects have involved exporting data out of the Electronic Directory (ELDIR) module to update other directory assistance systems.  This type of export is now available from the PR/CR Directory Listings file without going through the ELDIR module.  The Enhanced directory integration option, is highly recommended for this scenario.

Inventoried Spares by Warehouse and Transaction detail functions updated

Special programming associated with tracking Inventoried Spares by warehouse and with recording transaction detail for Inventoried Spares has been converted to GUI mode recently.  For more information on this optional capability, please contact us at sales@krcs.com.