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Program ChangesThis is where we'll announce the most recent additions to the ROCS System. If you've visited us before and want to know what's changed, take a look here first. Fact Sheets As we release new products or new versions, we will try to post a fact sheet for the product. The sheets are in Adobe PDF format. If you don't have the Adobe Acrobat reader, click here. Monthly Updates SDS sends out a monthly email listing the changes to the ROCS system and any company news. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please send us an email at sfriedland@sdsrocs.com . If you click on the link below, you can view this month's update. ROCS Update January 2010 Updates - January 2009 through December 2009 Updates - January 2008 through December 2008 Updates - January 2007 through December 2007 Updates - January 2006 through December 2006 Updates - January 2005 through December 2005 Updates - January 2004 through December 2004 Updates - January 2003 through December 2003 Updates - December 2001 through December 2002 Also, please check out our Frequently Asked Questions A Note About Version Numbers The system SDS uses for its version numbers is a little cryptic, but easily explained. The first number is the year that the version is set for (i.e. 2003), then the version of the base software is shown (the current version is 2009.12A for ROCS, 2008.6 for ROCSDispatch, 2009.1F for HOSS, and 2008.3A for PET ROCS). If an intermediate release is created to fix bugs or add user requests, then a letter is used to designate the sub-release (such as 2001.1E). The current release schedule is to have two major upgrades each year, with the release dates being in the late spring/early summer and late fall/early winter. As always, there are no additional charges to the user for upgrades to ROCS, so everyone will have the most recent version of the software.Latest Additions (This section is for small changes that have been made to the current version of ROCS, and will be installed on user machines soon) In the Wings...In addition to the news about SDS, here is where we are going to list the projects we have planned for future releases of ROCS (the current release is 2009.12A for ROCS, 2008.6 for ROCSDispatch, 2009.1F for HOSS, and 2008.3A for PET ROCS). As the development process continues, we will post updates here to keep everyone up to date. Project Queue (Items on the list, but not started yet)Crew Management system.Projects In ProgressHOSS 6/28/09 - Version 1 of our Hours of Service System (HOSS) is now available. This system is meant as an adjunct to your existing paper time sheets, and it provides tools that help you comply with the new Hours of Service Laws. ROCSScan 11/24/07 - Version 1 is almost complete on our scanner interface software. The software will pair with the SLT-100 AEI scanner as part of the TRACCURATE system. 6/27/08 - The release of ROCSScan is complete. ROCSDispatch GPS Integration 3/10/07 - Work on importing data from ODBC compliant GPS manager programs, such as RasTrak. ROCSMobile8/21/04 - Currently in development and testing, ROCSMobile is a version of ROCS that is designed to be used by train crews in the field. The system can be used with a Tablet PC or a notebook. Click here for more information about ROCSMobile Communications Manager8/21/04 - The basic automatic communications system has been built, and is a part of Version 9. It can be activated at the customer's request. 2/26/06 - The automatic download and transmit functions are now a standard option on Version 10, and can be combined with automatic trace scheduling at the customer's request. Car Hire Data Exchange (CHDX) Messages7/4/04 - Construction of the message system is now complete, and testing is underway. System will be included in Version 9. 9/6/04 - Testing is completed on the messages, and the system has been activated in Version 9. 12/12/04 - Reclaim through Transfer of Liability messages is now underway. TRAIN08 messages are built, and TRAIN28 and 58 message reception construction is underway. 2/26/06 - Use of the CHDX system is standard in Version 10, with automatic transmission waiting on Railinc creating a FTP reception system for the messages. 6/27/08 - We have added Reclaim message generation to the CHDX system, and now working on CHDX correction messages. 12/01/08 - Complete revision to car hire message creation has led to a 500-700% improvement of processing times. Deployed to customers as part of the Version 11B revisions. Revised Car Hire Summary8/3/03 - The first part of this report is now complete. It is a "short" summary, showing Parent and Reporting Mark, but not the individual car data. 5/12/07 - A new summary payable report is available. EDI Compliance8/3/03 - Changes have been made, and the wide release will be in Version 7 2/26/06 - All versions are EDI 5010 compliant. 12/1/06 - All versions are EDI 5030 compliant. 12/01/08 - All versions are EDI 5050 compliant. In-house Car Hire processing4/14/02 - Scheduled for implementation in version 5, due out Fall 2002 5/15/02 - See our update for May 2002 (available above) for news on the Car Hire system 12/1/02 - Data testing should be starting soon on the system, with a 1Q 2003 release possible. 1/1/03 - Automatic Rating is being released in version 2003.5D. LCS events to follow soon 3/1/03 - LCS Car Hire is complete and incorporated into Version 6 4/1/04 - Car Hire Data Exchange (CHDX, or Exchange Tape) messages will be incorporated in Version 9. 6/1/04 - New reports added to system: LCS Interchange difference and Car Hire exposure over a user defined period. 8/7/05 - Revisions made to LCS system to comply with the Car Hire audit performed at the HRRC. 11/24/07 - System is compliant with the changes to Car Hire Rules 3 & 14 that will be going into effect in the next year. Expanded correction reporting6/16/02 - Train 31 and Train 33 messages have been incorporated into ROCS. More details can be found in the June 2002 update. Pro-forma waybill creation12/27/01 - A template system has been incorporated into the outbound waybill system. Templates can be created during the normal outbound waybill process, and then retrieved whenever they are needed with a pull-down menu and one click to seed the template. This is the first step in the expanded outbound waybill system, which will incorporate all normal waybill features. 3/1/03 - Additional data fields have been added to the stored template. FTP Data Transmission9/2/01 - Testing is proceeding with with the Railinc FTP data transmission system. The system is extremely easy to use, and requires no special software. Right now we are doing testing with just up and down transmissions, but hopefully we will be doing production transmissions in the near future. 10/20/01 - Development was on hold while the dialup package was being tested. Railinc is making some improvements to their side of the system, and tests should resume soon. 12/27/01 - Railinc has released pricing for the FTP system, and SDS should have a working FTP module for version 4, which will be released later this year. 8/15/02 - The FTP system will be in Version 5, which is scheduled for release in early September. 3/15/03 - We have incorporated an off the shelf product to handle FTP services, and replace the simple batch file that we were previously using. One of the other advantages of this new system is the ability to automatically transmit data with no user input at any time interval desired. 2/26/06 - Development of the message transmission and reception system using Railinc's NexPath data translation continues, with data testing starting soon. 5/12/07 - As a mutual decision of SDS and Railinc, development of the NexPath communications system has been terminated due to technical issues. Dispatch System10/20/01 - Development has started on a dispatch system. It will incorporate a Form D/Track Warrant section, train dispatch sheet, and a temporary restrictions section. We anticipate that a track diagram will be incorporated with the system, and there will be a graphical representation of what cars are on the various sidings and tracks. The display will not show real-time train location, but as inexpensive GPS reporting systems become available, this may be incorporated. 2/10/05 - The dispatch system has been released as ROCSDispatch. Click here for more information about this product. 5/1/2005 - New employee management features have been added to ROCSDispatch. The features include book of rules test date monitoring, qualification monitoring, and other important dates. In addition to the features above, logic has been added to prevent trains being given permission into out of service tracks. The user is warned when conflicts exist. 8/7/05 - FRA mileage recording added to system. New screen colors being tested. 2/26/06 - Both NORAC and GCOR versions of ROCSDispatch are now available. 3/10/07 - Working on new features to allow inaccessible track to be listed. Interline Settlement System (ISS)12/27/01 - ROCS will be compatible with Railinc's upcoming Concur ISS system. As Concur becomes available, more information will be released. 12/1/02 - If a user requires it, ROCS will interface with Concur. 10/13/03 - ROCS is also compatible with the RMI ISS system. Yard Status12/27/01 - This project is a major revamp of the current storage track module in ROCS. The user will have the ability to look at the contents of any track in a yard, and easily re-order or move the cars in the yard. The screen shows a line drawing of the yard, with all tracks or sidings shown. The user can access waybill or shipment information on any car, and as with the customer status screens, request for placement, at patron, or released cars are indicated with color highlighting. An additional feature is automatic re-ordering of a car that is moved to a storage track by a user in a Customer Status screen, so cars are always properly sequenced on all yard and storage tracks. The system is currently under heavy development, and the first version is in beta test for release with version 4, or as an intermediate release of version 3. The screen can be seen on this page, or as part of the tour of ROCS available on this site. 1/15/02 - The Yard Status screen has been enhanced with the capacities of each track shown, as well as the number of cars spotted and spots remaining. The auto sequencing process has been refined to improve speed and accuracy. 3/1/03 - A new, easier to use track resequence system has been developed, and is available on most of the user screens. 5/1/2005 - The Storage Track report has been revised to let the user choose which tracks to put on the report. |
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