Specifying the "exact car length" - a new, and explicit, way of using this option

 

To use this option you set it at the customer (whose loading/unloading facility is physically limited), and set the required car-length at a waybill to/from this customer.

 

In ProTrak you have always been able to optionally specify the car length to order into a customer.  There are physical reasons for 
using this option - the doors at a customer may be spaced to fit only 40-ft cars, the hopper grate may be sized to handle only 34-ft cars, or the load may be palletized to fit only one car-length.

 

Previously this option was called by a "keyword" on the customer siding-name datafield.  Click on the siding-name datafield, then the "Special" radio-button at the lower right (below the righthand pane).  Scroll down to Hints #18 to 22 which shows you the keywords:
  - ... door
  - ...shed
  - ...warehouse
  - hopper grate
where the ... means you may add another word, but the keyword must be on the left or on the right of the keyword phrase.   For example, "First door" or "door #2" cause this "exact car length" option to be "on".

 

However you may want to use the word "door" without invoking this option.

 

Update 351 added a "checkbox" control that allows you explicit control of this option.  Open the "customer edit" window
and scroll down to see the new checkbox datafield, just below the siding-name datafield.  Clicking the checkbox turns the
option "on" or "off".  Regardless or not if you used a "keyword".

 

If the "exact car length" option is "on", the siding-name datafield has a "light green" background the name is shown in "bold".

 

Now go to a waybill to or from this customer.  If the "exact car length" option is "on" the car-length datafield will be visible, and will be shown with a "light green" background.  The car-length datafield is a dropdown with only certain car-lengths shown (as per Rule 34).  The available car-lengths and the number of available car-lengths varies with car-kind. 

 

Note that the car-lengths shown are >inside< car length, which with Kadee #5 in HO is 4 to 5 feet shorter
than the >over-coupler< car length. 

 

Also note that ProTrak applies a +/- range to the car-length.  the
ordered car may be:
   - for "H" car-kinds:   2-ft shorter to 2-ft longer
   - for cars going to an LCL Freighthouse: 0.1-ft shorter to 2.1-ft longer
   - for 34-ft cars: 0.1-ft shorter to 2.1-ft longer
   - for 36-ft cars: 0.1-ft shorter to 2.1-ft longer
   - for all other cars: 4.1-ft shorter to 2.1-ft longer

For very long cars, 60-ft and longer the length is the "bin" size (e.g. longer than 60 ft and shorter than 70 ft)

Summary:
   - an explicit control for the "exact car length": option has been added.  It is an "on" "off" checkbox,
just below the customer siding-name datafield.

Questions?

 

OK?

 

               Jim