For sites that use the popular ViaNet and/or Troubles programs (either LAN or web versions), the users responsible for importing the submitted requests into TMS will appreciate a recent enhancement.  Now when reviewing the list of submissions, you can preview the submitted information by merely clicking on a submission file.  View a sample of this option.

Another enhancement is the capability to customize the field labels on the submission review form.

Log Book Comments field added to TSR Work Order hardcopy

As a result of a request made during the 2006 TMS Users' Workshops round-table discussions, the Comments field from the Log Book record was added to the TSR Work Order hardcopy if the Log Book Key has been entered into the Work Order record.  The intent is to show information from the Log Book record (such as the investigator’s name).

Jack numbers and additional circuit remarks added to work orders

Several customers present during the 2006 TMS Users' Workshops round-table session were interested in the ability to store a “jack number” in the Circuit records and to update that field from a work order.  Now two new 8-byte alphanumeric (uppercase only) JACK fields (“present” and “proposed”) have been added to the TSR Work Order.  At the same time, additional fields were added to allow users to update the newly expanded Remarks fields from the Circuit Master record.

These new fields appear on the work order and trouble ticket hardcopies and  on several reports.  The fields were added to the Work Order History record, as well.  View Fields added to the Circuit Master file for more details.

Work Orders without permanent circuit records

One of the topics discussed at length during the 2006 TMS Users' Workshops round-table session was the need for an easy way to handle TSR Work Orders that do not involve a permanent circuit record.  For example, one particular user needs to handle work orders for LAN drops, but does not need/ want to create a unique circuit record for each LAN drop.  Consequently, enhancements have been developed for the TSR Work Order subsystem to support the following scenario: 

The user needs to:

• Identify the work required (on a work order),
• Route the work order through Work Flow Control (if used),
• Close out the work order, capturing CLINs and other expenses, and
• Retain the work order history.

The user does not need to:

• Maintain a specific circuit record as a result of the work order,
• Assign cable-pairs to the circuit, or
• Assign line equipment to the circuit.

The enhanced version of the software allows the user to specify that the work order being entered is to be treated differently from normal work orders.  This is done by entering a Circuit # beginning with an asterisk (e.g., *LANDROP).  When a work order is entered with a circuit number that begins with an asterisk, TMS will now: