







                                 Custom Software


                                    Ver. 1.02


                                 Operating Manual

























                                 Distributed By


                                 Custom Software












                                    CONTENTS:


           Introduction ............................................1


           Getting started .........................................1


           Setting up zones ........................................1


           The search routine ......................................2


           F1 - Help screen ........................................2


           F1 - Viewing information ................................2


           F5 - Stopping the program ...............................3


           F6 - Logging drivers and zones ..........................3


           F7 - Toggeling the screen ...............................4


           F8 - Entering a new call ................................4


           F9 - Editing an existing call ...........................5


           F10 - Turning alarm on or off ...........................7


           F11 - Setting lead times for time calls .................7


           F12 - Changing files ....................................7


           Time calls ..............................................7






            Introduction

                  Custom Dispatch is a computer aided dispatch program
         for use by taxi-cab companies who use less then 50 drivers per
         day and 1000 call per file. Custom dispatch has internal
         routines such as next call search, best driver search, time call
         logging ,time call alarm and the ability to set the amount of
         lead time you would like to be notified prior to a time call, to
         name just a few. Should you have any trouble or need any
         assistance operating this program please call 717-454-5686, face
         717-454-5412 or e-mail to robberies @postoffice.pad .net.



           Getting Started

                  From the c:\>, Type     MKDIR c:\DISPATCH
         This will create a directory for your program.

         Now change directories by typing     CD C:\DISPATCH.
         You should now have a prompt     C:\DISPATCH.

         Insert the program disk into drive A:
         You will now copy the files from drive A: to this directory.
         Type    Copy A:\*.* c:\DISPATCH

         To run your program type Dis .


            Setting up zones

                  You will need to set up zones in order for the search
         routines to do their work. If you do not set up zones, when a
         driver is complete, the computer will always pick the next call
         on the list instead of the next best call and the computer will
         always pick the next driver available for a call instead of the
         best driver for the call when a new call comes in. More on this
         in the next chapter. To set up zones it is best to look at a map
         of your location and outline the geographical areas and number
         them in numerical order. In a short time you will become
         familiar the placement of the zones and not have to refer to the
         map very often. We have found the ideal number of zones seems to
         be around ten. Inserting more zones will give you a better
         search but the least amount of zones you use means less zones to
         remember. The amount of zones will depend on the area you have
         to cover and the number of drivers you have to cover it.



                                      ( 1 )
            

            The Search Routines

                  Their are two separate search routines used in this
         program. The first search will deal with drivers who are not on
         a call. These divers will be displayed on the main screen and
         below the list of calls. Each driver will be entered in the
         order in which they completed their calls. Directly behind the
         driver you will see a (-) followed by the zone he or she
         completed in. Drivers are separated by a comma and so on and so
         on. When a new call comes in the program will search these
         drivers for the first driver in that zone. If no driver is in
         that zone the program will select the driver who has been
         waiting the longest. It will then ask the dispatcher if it
         should give this driver the call. A yes answer will log the
         driver to that call.

                  The second deals with call waiting and no drivers were
         available. When a call is complete the program will search for
         the next best call to give to that driver. It will search for
         the next call in the zone the driver finished in and if they are
         none it will give the driver the call waiting the longest. In
         any case the dispatcher will always be asked first for their
         approval.


            F1 - The Help and View Screen

                  This screen is split into two parts. The top part list
         all the function keys the program has installed. The function
         keys listed at the bottom of the main screen are only the keys
         used most often so you may need to refer here for keys not
         listed but available.

                  The bottom half of the screen is a list of view and/or
         printing routines available.

                 (1) - Viewing old calls. You may need to view a call
         that has been completed earlier in the day or maybe on another
         day. You will be asked for a number to start with and the screen
         will display the next 20 calls. After you are finished press
         enter to return to the menu.

                  (2) - Reviewing Drivers Status. Selecting this option
         will display all the driver followed by the amount collected and
         the number of trips they made. this option will also show the
         number of trips waiting for calls and the number of calls
         not picked up for some reason. If a call is a no show or
         whatever you should assign a special code for drivers number,
         such as ( - ) or ( -- ), this way you can see all calls canceled
         or no shows or whatever your code is related to.

                                       (2)



                  (3) - View A Drivers Calls. Entering this option will
         allow the dispatcher to view or print calls for a certain
         driver.

                  (4) - Print Daily Report. At any time you may print out
         a complete report of all calls followed by the driver status.

                  (5) - Exit Menu. Returns you to the main screen.



            F2 - Phone Book

                  For assistance see manual included with this module .


            F3 - About Program

                  Gives details about program and how to get help.

            F4 - Register

                  Enter here if you would like to register the program.

            F5 - Stop Program

                  Selecting this program will allow you to exit the
         program and be shure everything is save. If you find you have
         entered here in error type " CONT " and you will go back to
         where you were.

            F6 - Logging Driver

                  When a driver is given a call the driver is
         automatically logged onto the system.

                  (1) How to log a driver out. When the dispatchers
         enter this selects they will be asked to enter of the driver
         they wish to log out. Entering the number will remover the
         driver from the system.









                                       (3)



                  (2) Changing the drivers zone. It is best for the
         drivers to remain in the zone they completed in. However when
         they need to move they should notify the dispatcher and have
         their zone changed the computer knows what zone they are in.
         The dispatcher selects #2 and is asked to type in the drivers
         number to change. After entering the drivers number the
         dispatcher is then asked to provide the zone they will be in.

                  (3) Exiting this function. Selecting # 3 will return
         the dispatcher to the main screen.


         F7 - Toggeling the Main Screen

                  When viewing the main screen the dispatcher can only
         see about 18 to 20 calls depending on your program version. For
         this reason a toggle was designed so the dispatcher may view
         only the calls that are not complete. This is also necessary to
         view time calls and use the alarm. Since some time call may be
         quite old they may disappear . (Note: Time calls will only
         notify the dispatcher if they are showing.) To activate the
         compressed screen the dispatcher simply selects F7 and the
         screen is compressed showing only the first 20 calls that are
         not complete. Selecting F7 again would return the dispatcher
         back to the uncompressed screen showing they last 20 call
         received . Selecting F7 will allow the dispatcher to go from one
         screen to the other.


            F8 - Entering a New Call

                  This is the starting point when you first start your
         program. Nothing can be done until a call comes in. First we
         must explain how this feature works. When you select F8 the
         computer is looking for three things separated by two commas.
         The first thing the computer is looking for is the pick up point
         or as labeled on the screen FROM. After this is typed in a comma
         must be entered to notify the computer to look for the next
         field which is the drop off point or as labeled on the screen
         TO. Again a comma must be entered to let the computer is looking
         for comments. So whenever a call is logged into the system it
         must always ave 2 commas to separate these 3 fields .
         Failure to do this will prompt the dispatcher  with an error
         code "REDO FROM START?". This is a internal computer routine
         telling the dispatcher they have either more or less then
         2 commas.



                                       (4)




                  When a dispatcher gets a new call they select F8 and a
         prompt will instruct the dispatcher to enter the information.
         First the dispatcher will enter the FROM information followed by
         a comma and then the TO information followed by a comma and then
         the comments if any exists and then presses ENTER. For example
         lets suppose a call comes in at 645 N. Locust and wants to go to
         ABC airport. The dispatcher would select F8 and then type
                           645 N. Locust,ABC airport,
         and then press enter. Next the driver is asked to supply the
         zone number for 645 N. Locust. When the dispatcher types in the
         zone and presses enter the dispatcher is asked for the zone for
         ABC airport. After the dispatcher types in the zone number and
         presses enter the main screen again pops up.

                  Now lets take a look at what we see. Assuming 645 N.
         Locust is in zone 6 and ABC airport is in zone 4 and the call
         cam in at 9:30am your screen should look like this.

         FROM         Zone TO           Zone  # Cab Called  In Out Amount
         645 N. Locust 6   ABC Airport   4     1     09:30

         What you see is a c coming from 645 N. Locust which is in zone 6
         going to ABC airport going to zone 4. As You look across you
         also see this is call #1 and the time the call came in.

         If the dispatcher finds they have entered this function in error
         simply enter 2 commas without entering any text.


            F9 - Editing a Call

                  This is the function you will use to change a existing
         call. Selecting F9  will produce a prompt asking the number of
         the call they wish to edit. Lets use the new call we have just
         entered. You look across to # (which is the call #) and select 1
         and press enter. Now the edit call screen comes up. At this
         point the dispatcher has a menu numbered from 1 to 10. Typing
         the Corresponding number will make that field pop out showing
         the dispatcher which number they selected. When the dispatcher
         presses enter the field returns and the computer waits for a new
         number.When the dispatcher is complete they select the forward
         slash key ( / ) to exit. Lets go thru each number to see what
         they do.





                                       (5)




                  (1)-Change the pick up point. Used to change the from
         field . Pressing enter without typing anything and the location
         will remain the same.
                  (2)-Change drop of point. Use the same as #1.
                  (3)-Change comments. Used to set time calls and any
         other information needed to assist the driver with pick up
         instructions. (Example:Side door - ring bell.)
                  (4)-Time called. Allows the dispatcher to enter the
         correct time. The time called is automatically entered when the
         call came in and is only here in the event the call was not able
         to be entered into the computer at that time.
                  (5)-Time picked up. When the driver calls in, the
         dispatcher simply enters #5 and enter to log in the time the
         passenger was picked up. The dispatchers only need to enter the
         time if it is different .
                  (6)-Time dropped off. Operates as #5
                  (7)-Drivers number. The dispatcher enters the drivers
         number and presses enter.
                  (8)-Amount. It is very important you select this key
         last. After the amount has been entered the computer will exit
         and begin searching for another call for the driver. If the key
         is selected prematurely you will have to go back and answer the
         remaining information. The dispatcher enters the amount with out
         any puncuation's and presses enter.(Example: $4.00 would be
         entered as 400).
                  (9)-Zone From. This option is used if the zone needs to
         be changed.
                  (10)-Zone To. Same as option #9

                  A call can not be deleted but can be modified if for
         some reason it is not picked up. The following procedure is what
         we have found to very useful but you can enter anything in #5 &
         #6 and either "-" or "--" in #7 to make the call disappear from
         the screen. The computer will still keep this call but you will
         not see it in the compressed screen. #5 and #6 both can accept
         up to 4 spaces each. So you may want to select #5 and type Can
         and then #6 and type cel to spell cancel or #5 and type No and
         #6 and type show to display No show.

                  In #7 we suggest all dispatchers be instructed to
         either enter a "-" or "--" This way when you review the drivers
         stats you can also tell how many calls were lost. Also If a call
         has been deleted you can bring it back by inserting TC for the
         driver. However do not enter the drivers number till you are
         complete with the call or it will go away again.



                                       (6)



            F10-Time Call Alarm.

                  Your program has two functions to warn you of a time
         call that is coming up. First when it falls into the lead time
         the call will begin to flash and stay flashing until it is
         picked up. And second it will sound a alarm if turned on in case
         the dispatcher has to leave the desk for some reason. Selecting
         F10 will turn the alarm on or off.


            F11-Time Call Lead Time.

                  Selecting F11 will allow you to set the amount of time
         before the time call comes up.This is the point at witch the
         dispatcher is notified. Selecting this feature changes the lead
         time for all time calls and not each individual time calls.


            F12-Reloading Data

                  All the information the dispatcher does is saved
         automatically every time the dispatcher returns to the main
         screen. For this reason it is very easy to change from one day
         to another or by chance the computer goes down all that must be
         done is to turn off the computer and restart the program..

         All files are dates without any puncuation marks applied.
         (Example: March 3,1996 would be entered as 030396.) Also all
         calls have an extension .cal. If you need to delete or change
         the directory file you would be looking for 030396.cal.

         If a time call comes in for another day or you need to check on
         something from previous day you would select F12. You will be
         asked for confirmation . Select yes or no. If yes you will be
         asked to type in the file to load. You Must return the same way
         before you enter any information for the current day.


            Time Calls.

                  Time calls require some special procedures but are very
         easy after you understand how they work. Time call must be
         entered in the comments section before anything else. The
         computer looks for the first character in the comments field to
         determine if a time call exist. Any other information must be
         entered after this so the first thing it sees is a number.



                                       (7)



                  So if some one is to enter information for driver 27 it
         would have to be entered as #27 so to first character is not 2.
         If you have a time call for 930am and the driver must pick up at
         the side door, you would enter 0930 Side door. The first thing
         the computer sees is a number telling it is a time call.

                  Time calls are all entered by the use of a 24 hour
         clock. If a time call is for 3:45pm you would enter 1545. Add 12
         hours to any time after noon. (Example 12 + 3 = 15 for 1545.)

                  Also when entering the time enter the time to pick up
         not the time to send the driver. F11 will do that for you.

                  Edit the call to show the drive to be TC . This tells
         the computer not to add this call in the search routine.


































                                       (8)
