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Short Line Data Systems Inc. – ROCS Update, August 2002
Website – www.sdsrocs.com
Greetings –
I hope you are all staying cool. In New Jersey, this is the hottest summer that I can remember, and for some reason Morristown has decided to be the hot spot in the New York area, with temperatures at, near, or above 100F. So, as I sit here in my air-conditioned living room, here’s the current goings on at SDS.
New Customer
We are pleased to announce that the Raritan Central Railway has decided to join the SDS family. They are located in central New Jersey, and we anticipate that installation will take place in the middle of September.
New Version
Normally we try to release the new versions of ROCS in April and October. Version 4 has been in use a little over six months, and a number of factors have led to the decision to bring out Version 5 a little early: the first is the upcoming installations at the Adrian & Blissfield and Raritan Central left us with a situation of them possibly starting with V4, using it for a month or less, and then having to upgrade to V5; the second is the development of the FTP communications system, but more on that later.
So, what’s going to be new in Version 5?
FTP Communications -
We have talked a lot about this over the last six months, but now it is coming to reality. We are currently in the process of programming the system that will allow the user to use the new RAILINC FTP(File Transfer Protocol) system for data transmissions and receiving. The system uses any existing internet connection that you have now, and unlike the current dial-up system that uses outside software and a communications script, there is no special communications software used (there is some special code, but not a whole software package). Another advantage of this system is the speed of the transfer is limited only by the speed of your internet connection, instead of the 19200 baud of a dial-up.
We should be testing the new system by the end of the month, and it will be a major new part of Version 5.
Improved Car Hire Data Transfer, Backup, and Version Upgrades –
The original versions of ROCS used PC Anywhere to transfer data and new versions between the user and SDS. For V5 we have added the ability to transmit your car hire data via email with a single click in ROCS. A similar system is available for the off-site data backup.
In addition to the above systems, we have added a feature to upgrade your software without transferring the data to us first. While this is not exactly Install Shield, it will get the work done.
Multi-Car BOLs and Multiple Single BOL/WBs -
We have finally integrated a new Multi-Car BOL system into the Block Select functions in Customer Status. Once the user selects the cars in the bill, they set the weights and movement information for the head car they then set the weights for the trailers. The BOL is converted just like a single car bill, and the full bill can be printed by viewing the lead car.
If you need to create a number of reverse-route BOL/WBs, a function is now available in Block Select. The single car BOLs will be created individually, and can be viewed in the normal fashion.
ETA Report –
A new feature using the SmartArrive function has been added to V5. The ETA report shows all cars on the user’s Advance List, organized by arrival date.
Service Matrix –
The idea for this came from John Kraemer at NS and a marketing initiative that they are doing in New Jersey. With their Thoroughbred Operating Plan, they have created a matrix showing the travel times from NS origin. With the SmartArrive function, we have created our own service matrix, which shows O/D pairs, travel time from WB to interchange, and what the originating RR is.
Improved Ergonomics –
We have looked at all of the menus in ROCS, and have rearranged some of them to make it easier for you to work.
In addition to the above features, we will be adding the first parts of the in-house car hire system as we move into the fall, leading to the LCS system near the end of the year.
We will start putting up revised web pages over the weekend, and a new demo will be available in the next few weeks.
Try to stay cool –
SHORT LINE DATA SYSTEMS INC
Steven Friedland President |
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