Kenwood FleetDispatchPRO User guide

User’s Manual
Functions and Features of the
Fll
F
VVeerrssiioonn 11..1100
ett
Dii
D
p
p
att
h
h
P
P
R
R
O
O
Version: Last Updated:
1.03 Jan 12, 2004
1. General Information ......................... 4
1.1. Software License Notice ........................... 4
1.1.1. Software License Agreement .............. 4
1.2. Introduction................................................ 5
1.3. Software Package ..................................... 5
2. Installation ........................................ 6
2.1. Minimum System Requirements ............... 6
2.2. Software Installation.................................. 6
2.2.1. Installing FleetDispatchPRO................ 6
2.2.2. Installing System Driver....................... 8
2.3. Mobile Radio Requirements...................... 9
4.3.2. Define a Short Text Message ............21
4.4. FleetDispatchPRO Settings..................... 21
4.4.1. Select Communication Port ...............22
4.4.2. Change Password.............................. 23
4.4.3. Skip Password ...................................23
4.4.4. Define System Name......................... 23
4.4.5. Select Base Radio .............................23
4.4.6. Select Base Radio Model ..................24
4.4.7. Specify Radio Identifiers .................... 24
4.4.8. Adjust Response Timeout.................. 24
4.4.9. Message List Display Option .............25
4.4.10. Specify an Alternate Database ........25
4.4.11. Message Alert Options ....................26
4.4.12. Select an Alternate Alert Sound.......26
3. FleetDispatchPRO Basics ............. 10
3.1. Before Starting FleetDispatchPRO ......... 10
3.2. Starting FleetDispatchPRO ..................... 10
3.3. User Interface Quick Tour ....................... 10
3.4. Menus, Buttons and Status Bar .............. 11
3.4.1. Title Bar ............................................. 11
3.4.2. Menu Bar ........................................... 11
3.4.2.1. Selecting a Menu or Menu Item... 11
3.4.2.1.1. Using the Mouse .................... 11
3.4.2.1.2. Using Keyboard Shortcuts ..... 11
3.4.3. Toolbar (Shortcut) Buttons ................ 11
3.4.4. Status Bar.......................................... 11
3.5. Online Help.............................................. 11
3.6. Modes of Operation................................. 12
3.7. Communication between PC and Base
Radio .............................................................. 12
3.8. General Usage of Grid Window .............. 12
3.8.1. Data Records..................................... 13
3.8.2. Editing in Grid .................................... 13
3.8.3. State of Current Data Record, and Saving Modifications
3.8.4. Adding New Data Record .................. 13
.................................... 13
4. Configuration.................................. 14
4.1. Enter/Exit Configure Mode ...................... 14
4.2. User Administration................................. 14
4.2.1. Define a Fleet .................................... 14
4.2.2. Define a Radio Unit ........................... 16
4.2.3. Define a Supervisor ........................... 18
4.3. Define Messages .................................... 19
4.3.1. Define a Status Message .................. 19
5. Operation ........................................ 28
5.1. Select Shortcut List.................................. 28
5.2. Radio Units Docking Window .................. 29
5.3. Connect to Base Radio............................ 29
5.4. Disconnect from Base Radio................... 29
5.5. Send a Status Message ..........................30
5.5.1. Using Status Message List ................30
5.5.2. Using Quick Status List...................... 31
5.6. Send a Text Message.............................. 31
5.6.1. Using Text Window............................ 31
5.6.2. Using Quick Message List .................33
5.7. Request Status ........................................ 34
5.8. Display Messages ...................................35
5.8.1. Full Screen.........................................35
5.8.2. Exit Full Screen..................................36
5.8.3. Full Screen on Startup ....................... 36
5.9. Clear Messages....................................... 36
5.10. Recall Messages ...................................36
5.11. Export Messages...................................37
5.11.1. Export Currently Active Database.... 37
5.11.2. Abort Export ..................................... 37
5.11.3. Export Alternate Database............... 37
5.11.4. Specify Alternate CSV Name........... 38
5.11.5. Use Default CSV Name ................... 38
5.11.6. Specify Date and Time Criteria........ 38
5.12. Make Calls.............................................39
5.13. Volume Control......................................41
5.14. Turn Off Emergency Alert...................... 41
5.15. Launch Online Help............................... 41
5.15.1. Using Context-sensitive Help Button41
5.15.2. Using Help Topics Menu Item.......... 42
5.15.3. Green Underlined Help Links........... 43
6. Software Functions ........................ 44
6.1. Menus...................................................... 44
6.1.1. System Menu..................................... 44
6.1.1.1. Configure Command.................... 44
6.1.1.2. Alarm Off Command .................... 44
6.1.1.3. Connect Command ...................... 44
6.1.1.4. Disconnect Command.................. 45
6.1.1.5. Exit Command ............................. 45
6.1.2. Edit Menu........................................... 45
6.1.2.1. Undo Command........................... 45
6.1.2.2. Cut Command.............................. 45
6.1.2.3. Copy Command ........................... 45
6.1.2.4. Paste Command .......................... 46
6.1.2.5. Delete Command ......................... 46
6.1.2.6. Select All Command .................... 46
6.1.2.7. Mark as Unread Command.......... 46
6.1.3. View Menu......................................... 46
6.1.3.1. Message Dispatch View Command
.................................................................. 47
6.1.3.1.1. Message List .......................... 47
6.1.3.1.2. Voice Call List......................... 47
6.1.3.1.3. Dispatch Control Panel........... 47
6.1.3.2. User Administration View Command
.................................................................. 48
6.1.3.2.1. Define Fleets Tab ................... 48
6.1.3.2.2. Define Units Tab..................... 49
6.1.3.2.3. Define Supervisors Tab.......... 50
6.1.3.3. Define Messages View Command50
6.1.3.3.1. Status Messages Tab............. 50
6.1.3.3.2. Predefined Messages Tab ..... 51
6.1.3.4. Settings View Command.............. 51
6.1.3.5. Clear Messages Command ......... 53
6.1.3.6. Recall Messages Command........ 53
6.1.3.7. Full Screen Command ................. 53
6.1.3.8. Full Screen on Startup Command 53
6.1.3.9. Toolbar Command ....................... 53
6.1.3.10. Status Bar Command................. 53
6.1.4. Tools Menu........................................ 54
6.1.4.1. Export… Command ..................... 54
6.1.5. Help Menu ......................................... 54
6.1.5.1. Help Topics Command ................ 54
6.2. Toolbar .................................................... 54
6.2.1. Toolbar Buttons ................................. 55
6.2.2. Connect/Disconnect Base Radio....... 55
6.2.3. Configure FleetDispatchPRO ............ 55
6.3. Status Bar................................................ 55
6.4. Shortcut Docking Window ....................... 56
6.4.1. Select View Shortcut Buttons ............ 56
6.4.2. Quick Status Message List ................ 56
6.4.3. Quick Message List ........................... 57
6.5. Radio Unit Docking Window.................... 57
7. Troubleshooting............................. 58
3
1. General Information
1.1. Software License Notice
The copyright for the software is owned by Kenwood U.S.A. Corporation. The software must not be used or copied except as authorized in writing by Kenwood U.S.A. Corporation. Kenwood U.S.A. Corporation accepts no responsibility for the damages, consequential or otherwise, caused by the use of the software. The specifications of the software are subject to change without notice. The software has been carefully designed; however, after reviewing the given descriptions, if you have questions, encounter difficulties, or need additional information, please contact Kenwood U.S.A. Corporation.
IBM is a trademark registered by International Business Machines Corporation. Microsoft, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and the Windows logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other product names referenced herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers.
1.1.1. Software License Agreement
The following are the terms of use and other conditions for the copyright and the Products which consist of the Software and related documents including manuals attached to the Products, and for which Kenwood U.S.A. Corporation (hereinafter "Kenwood") owns the right to grant license to the users. Any user is required to agree with the terms and conditions provided in this License Agreement to use the Software. Upon the user's first use of the Software, this Agreement shall be deemed as entered. (Any user who does not agree with the terms and conditions herein is requested to return the Products unused to the place where he/she purchased the Products, within 30 days from the purchase of the Products.)
Article 1: Definition.
The term "Software" means all computer programs offered together with this Agreement. They are offered to the users as a package and may not be divided and used by more than one user. Any copyright owned by a third party, and incorporated in or combined with the Products under the license agreement between such third party and Kenwood, shall be included in the term
"Software" and subject to this Agreement unless otherwise provided separately from this Agreement. The term "Use of Software" means the acts to install the Software in RAM and other devices in the computer, or the execution and use of the Software on the computer.
Article 2: Ownership of Rights.
Kenwood shall own all copyrights and other intellectual properties for the Products and all manuals and documents attached to the Products. The user shall be hereby allowed to use, not sell, the Software packed in the Products by Kenwood. While the disc in which the Software is stored is possessed by the user, the ownership for the Software itself shall be reserved for Kenwood.
Article 3: Terms of Use.
Any user may use the Software by installing it in one computer. As far as the Software is installed in the computer that is in the possession and under the control of the user, the user may let a third party use the Software installed in such computer.
Article 4: Prohibited Matters.
Any user may not be engaged in the following acts:
To install the Software in more than one computer;
To assign, rent, lease, resell or distribute the Software or establish a network with the Software; To copy part or all of the Products without the consent of Kenwood, for the purpose other than a back-up file; and
To revise, change, edit, merge, de-compile or reverse engineer the Software.
Article 5: Scope of Warranty.
In case any physical defect is found in the Media within 90 days from the date of purchase of the Products, such Products shall be replaced with another one at no charge. THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PRODUCTS SHALL NOT WARRANT THE APPLICABILITY TO THE PURPOSE OF ANY USER. KENWOOD SHALL NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR THE DEFECT, OR WARRANT ANYTHING OTHER THAN EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THE AGREEMENT. THE SELECTION AND INTRODUCTION OF THE PRODUCTS AS WELL AS THE RESULTS THEREFROM SHALL BE UPON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE USERS. THIS ARTICLE SHALL WARRANT THE PHYSICAL DEFECTS OF THE PRODUCTS.
ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE USE OR NON-USE OF THE PRODUCTS SHALL NOT BE WARRANTED.
Article 6: Duration.
This Agreement shall remain effective from the entering of this Agreement until the user's termination of use of the Products. In case any user did not comply with the terms and conditions herein or infringes the copyright of Kenwood, the Agreement may be terminated without notice from Kenwood. Upon termination of the Agreement, users must immediately destroy the Products and all copies thereof on their own cost. Any user may terminate this Agreement at any time by destroying the Products and all copies thereof.
Article 7: Export Regulations.
Any user is required to agree and certify not to export or re-export, whether directly or indirectly, the Software, or any direct Products thereof, outside the user's country without first obtaining the appropriate government approvals.
Radio Status Request
Short / Long Text Messaging
Selective Calling
Call Logging / Message Logging
Emergency Display & Alert
Send/Receive KDS-100 FleetSync™
Messages
Export database to CSV File
1.3. Software Package
The FleetDispatchPRO product package includes the following components:
FleetDispatchPRO CD-ROM
FleetDispatchPRO User’s Manual
Hardware Key
1.2. Introduction
This manual describes the use of the FleetDispatchPRO application.
The FleetDispatchPRO software uses a standard Windows interface. This manual assumes you have a basic knowledge of working in Windows and using a mouse. If you are familiar with Windows, you should find the instructions easy to understand.
All instructions assume you are using a mouse. However, some keyboard shortcuts are available to perform the same functions as the mouse.
FleetDispatchPRO is computer aided dispatcher software designed to enable radio dispatchers to send and receive data messages, communicate with field radios, and monitor voice traffic.
FleetDispatchPRO is stand-alone software that runs on a single computer; it does not operate across a computer network.
Key features include:
User-friendly Graphical User Interface
Radio ID List in Tree Format
PTT ID Display
Status Messaging
5
2. Installation
2.1. Minimum System Requirements
Pentium II 450 MHz or newer
64 MB RAM
10 MB hard disk space for installation,
additional space for message log
CD-ROM drive
1 Serial Port
1 Parallel Port (for hardware security key)
Mouse
Sound card and driver
Speakers
Super VGA color monitor or better
1024x768 or higher resolution
Microsoft Windows 98 or later
The Setup program begins.
2.2. Software Installation
FleetDispatchPRO software package is contained on one CD-ROM. Use this CD-ROM to install the:
1. FleetDispatchPRO application, and
2. Sentinel System Driver.
They both have their own Setup programs. The FleetDispatchPRO’s Setup installs all necessary files for FleetDispatchPRO application to run properly, and the driver’s Setup program only installs the driver. Sentinel System Driver is required for the hardware key to work.
2.2.1. Installing FleetDispatchPRO
To install FleetDispatchPRO application:
1. Insert the FleetDispatchPRO CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.
2. Select the Start button on the Windows taskbar, then select Run… menu item.
3. In the Run dialog box, type D:\SETUP (if your CD-ROM drive is not on “D”, substitute the letter of your CD-ROM drive for “D”). Press
Enter key or select OK button.
Note: While stepping through the InstallShield
Wizard screens, at any time, you may select the Back button to return to a previous screen or select the Cancel button to cancel the installation.
4. Follow the instructions on the Welcome screen of the InstallShield Wizard. Click Next when ready to continue.
5. The InstallShield Wizard displays the Information screen to inform you of the second part of the installation process. Read the information and click Next to continue.
6. The next screen displays the default destination folder.
To accept the default Program Folder name, click Next.
To use a different name, type it in the “Program Folders:” field, and click Next.
To use an existing Program Folder, select one from the “Existing Folders:” list, and click Next.
8. The next screen lets you review all the installation settings you specified. To change any settings, click Back. When ready to copy files, click Next.
To accept the default folder, click Next. We recommend that you use this folder.
To install to a different location, click Browse, select the folder you want to use, and click Next.
7. The InstallShield Wizard displays the next screen.
9. The InstallShield displays installation in progress.
10. Once the setup program finishes copying all files, it displays the final screen. Read the instructions, and select Finish to complete the FleetDispatchPRO portion of the installation.
7
Now that you have finished installing the FleetDispatchPRO application, the next step is to install the Sentinel System Driver.
2.2.2. Installing System Driver
The driver's Setup program is located in \Sysdrvr directory on your FleetDispatchPRO CD-ROM. The driver's Setup program is provided by Rainbow Technologies.
To install the system driver:
While the FleetDispatchPRO CD-ROM is still in the CD-ROM drive:
1. Select the Start button on the Windows taskbar, then select Run… menu item.
2. In the Run dialog box, type D:\Sysdrvr\setup (if your CD-ROM drive is not on “D”, substitute the letter of your CD-ROM drive for “D”). Press Enter key or select OK button.
mouse cursor briefly turns into an hourglass and back to an arrow. Therefore, the only way to verify whether the driver is installed is to run the "Add or Remove Programs" program in the Control Panel menu (or program folder) of your operating system, and then check to see if "Sentinel System Driver" is in the list of "Currently installed programs".
To verify that the driver is installed, do one of the following:
A) If you are NOT running Windows XP:
1. Select the Start button on the Windows taskbar, select Settings, and then select Control Panel. Depending on the version of Windows running on your computer, a Control Panel window similar to the following opens up:
Double-click on the icon labeled “Add/Remove Programs”.
2. Depending on the version of Windows, a dialog box similar to one of the following opens up:
The driver's Setup program will detect the version of the Windows operating system, and launch the correct version of Sentinel System Installation program in the background.
NOTE that the driver's Setup program runs in quiet mode in the background and it only takes a few seconds, you will only see that the
or
8
You have completed the entire FleetDispatchPRO software installation. For information on how to start using FleetDispatchPRO, please refer to section 3 FleetDispatchPRO Basics.
2.3. Mobile Radio Requirements
80-Series Mobile Radio (Version 2 or later)
FleetSync™ Enhanced Enabled (already
factory installed except for 800/900 MHz products)
Installed KCT-31 PC Serial Interface Cable
KMC-9C Base station Desktop Microphone
recommended
Scroll down the list box to see if "Sentinel System Driver" is in the list.
3. After you have verified the driver is installed, click Close or Cancel to close the dialog box.
4. Close the Control Panel window.
B) If you are running Windows XP:
1. Select the Start button on the Windows taskbar, select Control Panel, and then select Add or Remove Programs. The Add or Remove Programs window similar to the following opens up:
Scroll down the list box to see if "Sentinel System Driver" is in the list.
2. After you have verified the driver is installed, click Close to close the window.
9
3. FleetDispatchPRO Basics
This section provides an overview of the user interface of the FleetDispatchPRO software. It describes the types of windows and controls used within the main window, the operational modes, and the communication between the software and the base radio.
For detailed descriptions of each software function, please refer to section 6 Software Functions.
The FleetDispatchPRO software uses a standard Windows interface. This manual assumes you have a basic knowledge of working in Windows and using a mouse.
3.1. Before Starting FleetDispatchPRO
In order to run FleetDispatchPRO, you need to attach the hardware key to your computer’s parallel port. The parallel port is a 25-pin connector typically located in the back panel of the computer, also known as the printer port.
3.2. Starting FleetDispatchPRO
To start FleetDispatchPRO, do one of the following:
If you are NOT running Windows XP:
1. Select the Start button on the Windows taskbar.
2. On the Start menu, point to Programs, point to FleetDispatchPRO 1.10, then select FleetDispatchPRO.
OR
If you are running Windows XP:
1. Select the Start button on the Windows taskbar.
2. On the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to FleetDispatchPRO 1.10, then select
FleetDispatchPRO.
3.3. User Interface Quick Tour
At the top portion of the software’s main window, there are a title bar, a menu bar, and a toolbar. The status bar is located at the bottom.
The main window contains several child windows designed to allow easy access to information and dispatch control.
When you start FleetDispatchPRO, it displays three child windows in the main window. The Shortcut docking window and the Radio Units docking window are on the left, and there is always a view window displayed on the right.
The Shortcut docking window contains three shortcut list bars:
Select View
Quick Status
Quick Message
For more information on view windows and docking windows, please refer to sections:
6.1.3 View Menu
6.4 Shortcut Docking Window
6.5 Radio Unit Docking Window
The only view window available in Run mode is Message Dispatch view. In Configure mode, Message Dispatch, User Administration, Define Messages, and Settings views are accessible. However, the Message Dispatch view is read-only in Configure mode, meaning that it is viewable but the user cannot send or receive messages.
Note: System configuration is allowed (and thus Configure mode is available) only when FleetDispatchPRO is not connected to the base radio.
3.4. Menus, Buttons and Status Bar
3.4.1. Title Bar
The title bar displays the software title, followed by the name of the currently visible view window.
The three buttons at the right end of the title bar are:
Minimize button allows you to minimize the main window of the software.
Maximize or Restore button resizes the main window.
Close button closes the software.
3.4.2. Menu Bar
The menu bar displays several pull-down menus, and menus provide access to most FleetDispatchPRO commands. The pull-down menus are:
System - allows you to configure the software, connect to or disconnect from a base radio, and exit the software.
Edit - provides useful functions for editing text messages or data records.
View - allows you to change screen views.
Tools - provides additional data utilities.
Help - contains an on-line help system and
FleetDispatchPRO version information.
3.4.2.1. Selecting a Menu or Menu Item
You can use the mouse or the keyboard to select menu commands.
To select a menu item on the pulled down menu, move the mouse pointer to the desired menu item and click the left mouse button.
3.4.2.1.2. Using Keyboard Shortcuts
To pull down a menu, press <Alt + the underlined letter of the menu item>. For example, to pull down the “S
To select a menu item on the pulled down menu, use the arrow keys to highlight the desired menu item and press <Enter>.
ystem” menu, press <Alt + S>.
3.4.3. Toolbar (Shortcut) Buttons
The toolbar contains shortcut buttons for some of the items in the pull-down menus; this provides a one-click access to some of the most-frequently­used commands. If a button is not available (disabled), its picture appears in gray color.
To execute a command, position the mouse pointer on a button and click the left mouse button once. For more information, see 6.2 Toolbar.
3.4.4. Status Bar
The status bar displays the program status and error messages, serial communication traffic status, menu item information, and toolbar button information. For more information, see 6.3 Status
Bar.
3.4.2.1.1. Using the Mouse
To pull down a menu, move the mouse pointer to the desired menu and click the left mouse button.
3.5. Online Help
Online Help provides useful guidance on how to use FleetDispatchPRO software. There are two ways of getting help information:
A. Enter Context-sensitive Help mode:
From within the FleetDispatchPRO main window, the user can click on the Context­sensitive Help toolbar button to place the application into “Help mode.”
11
While In Help mode, the mouse cursor changes to a Help cursor (an arrow with a question mark), and the user can use that Help cursor to click any window, or button to summon help information specific to the item. Help mode ends when Help main screen is displayed.
Also, while still in Help mode, pressing the ESC key or switching away from the FleetDispatchPRO application and back also ends Help mode.
B. Using Help Topics menu item:
Selecting the Help Topics menu item invokes the Help Topics dialog box. From the Help Topics dialog box, you can jump to instructions for using FleetDispatchPRO and various types of reference information.
For more information, see 5.15 Launch Online
Help.
3.6. Modes of Operation
At any given time, FleetDispatchPRO operates in one of the two modes: Run or Configure mode.
The software executes in Run mode when it is started. In this mode, by selecting the appropriate System menu items or toolbar buttons, the user is able to configure the software, connect to a base radio, or disconnect from the base radio.
Note: If this is the first time FleetDispatchPRO is started, it is necessary to configure the software before you attempt to connect to the base radio.
In Configure mode, FleetDispatchPRO allows the user to configure the software to work with Kenwood’s FleetSync™-enabled radios. The user, in this case, is typically an authorized personnel such as an administrator.
Note: System configuration is allowed (and thus Configure mode is available) only when FleetDispatchPRO is not connected to the base radio.
For more information on FleetDispatchPRO configuration, see section 4 Configuration.
3.7. Communication between PC and Base Radio
FleetDispatchPRO connects to the base radio through the PC’s serial communication port. The user/administrator can select a desired communication port in the Settings view. Connecting to or disconnecting from the base radio is as easy as selecting the appropriate System menu items or toolbar buttons.
While connected, the user is able to send messages to and receive messages from mobile/portable radios in the field through the base radio. The user can also control some essential radio command buttons (PTT, volume, etc.) on the base radio through the Dispatch Control panel. See section 5 Operation for help on sending and receiving messages, and radio controls.
3.8. General Usage of Grid Window
The User Administrative view and Define Messages view in FleetDispatchPRO contains several tab windows. Each tab window has a grid for data entry. The following shows the grid in the Define Fleets tab of the User Administrative view:
12
3.8.1. Data Records
The rows in a grid represent data records in the database; a data record typically consists of a number of data fields. These data fields are organized into columns of cells in the grid. For example, as illustrated in the Define Fleets tab window, a data record (a row of cells) consists of Fleet Number, Fleet Name, Fleet Description, and Include data fields.
3.8.2. Editing in Grid
To enter a new data in a particular cell:
1. Click on the cell to activate it.
2. Start typing.
To modify existing data in a particular cell:
1. Click on the cell to activate it and a flashing vertical caret appears. Depending on where you click, the caret may appear in the beginning, the end, or somewhere in the middle of the existing data.
2. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to position the caret to the right of the character(s) you want to delete.
3. Press the “Backspace” key on your keyboard one or more times until the unwanted character(s) is/are deleted.
4. Position the caret at where you want to add the new data and type it in.
When a cell in the grid is active, the user can move from that cell to another by pressing the arrow keys.
If the current row is modified, the user has to click on a different row to save the new changes. After the changes are saved into the database, the pencil symbol on the row header column changes back to an arrow.
3.8.4. Adding New Data Record
Note: This feature applies only to Define Units
tab and Define Supervisors tab because they contain variable size grids.
The grids in Define Units tab and Define Supervisors tab allow the user to add a new data record (row) at the bottom. The last row at the bottom of the grid (marked with an asterisk in the row header) is where the user adds a new record to the grid. When the user enters data in the last row, the asterisk turns into a pencil symbol, and a new row is appended to the grid for future addition.
3.8.3. State of Current Data Record,
and Saving Modifications
The very first column of a grid is a row header, which shows the state of the current row. An arrow symbol indicates the current row (or data record) as unmodified, while a pencil symbol indicates that the current row has been modified.
13
4. Configuration
For FleetDispatchPRO to operate properly, it is necessary to configure the software before you attempt to connect to the base radio.
This section provides a step by step procedure of configuring the FleetDispatchPRO software. For detail descriptions of configure-mode view windows and how to use a grid window, please refer to sections:
6.1.3.2 User Administration View Command
6.1.3.3 Define Messages View Command
6.1.3.4 Settings View Command
3.8 General Usage of Grid Window
Note: The User Administration, Define Messages, and Settings views are available only in Configure mode.
3. Note: The FleetDispatchPRO software is shipped with this password set to “Kenwood”, we recommend that you change it to something only you can remember. You can change the password in the Settings view, the maximum length of the password is 8 characters long.
Enter your password in the text box next to the “Password:” label, and click OK. FleetDispatchPRO is now in Configure mode, as the status bar indicated.
To exit Configure mode, click on System menu, and then click on Configure menu item. FleetDispatchPRO is now in Run mode.
4.1. Enter/Exit Configure Mode
The Configure menu item under System menu works as a toggle switch. It switches the FleetDispatchPRO in or out of the Configure mode.
To enter Configure mode:
1. Click on System menu, and then click on Configure menu item.
2. An “Enter password” dialog appears.
4.2. User Administration
User configuration consists of at least two stages, the third stage is optional:
Define Fleets
Define Units
Define Supervisors
The next three subsections illustrate how to add a radio to the system with this example radio:
Fleet number: 150 Fleet name: Fleet 150 Unit ID: 1500 Unit Name: Mobile2 User Name: Bobby Serial Number: 0000000003
4.2.1. Define a Fleet
1. While FleetDispatchPRO is in Configure mode, to access the User Administration view, either click on the “User Administration” button in the Select View shortcut window:
Or, you can select the User Administration menu item under the View menu:
The bold-text tab label under the grid indicates which tab window you are looking at; in this case, it is “Define Fleets”.
3. Scroll down the grid to look for fleet number 150, click on the cell to its right (under the Fleet Name column) to make the cell active, and enter the fleet name “Fleet 150”.
2. When the User Administration view is displayed, the first tab window you see is Define Fleets tab:
Notice that when you enter the first letter in the Fleet Name cell, the arrow symbol in the row header column (the first column of the grid) turns into a pencil symbol, which indicates that the current row has been modified.
4. Check the Include checkbox in the same row.
15
4.2.2. Define a Radio Unit
1. If the “Define Units” tab label is not currently in bold-text, it is not on top of the other tabs. Click on the “Define Units” tab label to bring it on top. The tab label turns into bold text, which indicates you are looking at Define Units tab window.
5. Click on a different row to save the new changes. For example, click on the Fleet Name cell of row 151.
Notice the pen symbol changes back to an arrow symbol indicating that the data has been saved. The arrow symbol also points at the row (151) that has the active cell (Fleet Name cell).
Now that you have a new fleet number, you can add new radios to it.
Note: Instead of creating a new fleet number, you can modify the existing fleets. For example, you can rename “Fleet 100” to “Service”.
You can also remove a fleet of radios from the system without deleting the entire fleet by unchecking the Include checkbox. This allows you to keep the configuration data in case you need to place the fleet group back into the system in the future.
The last row at the bottom of the grid (marked with an asterisk in the row header) is where you add a new record (or row) to the grid.
The cells in the Fleet Number column are actually combo boxes that list all allowable fleet numbers.
2. Click on the Fleet Number cell in the last row to make the cell active, and a down arrow button appears on the right end of the cell.
3. Click on the down arrow button causes a dropdown table to appear right below the active cell. The dropdown table lists exactly the same information as that in the Define Fleets tab.
16
4. Scroll down the dropdown table to look for fleet number 150. Click on the row that contains fleet number 150.
5. After the fleet number is selected, the dropdown table closes and the fleet number is inserted into the active Fleet Number cell. Notice that the asterisk in the row header turns into a pencil symbol and a new row is appended to the grid for future addition.
6. Click on the Unit ID cell in the same row and enter “1500”.
8. Similarly, enter the information for the User Name and Serial Number cells:
“Bobby” for User Name cell “0000000003” for Serial Number cell
9. If this radio is able to display long messages, that is, if it is connected to a KDS-100 terminal, click on the Long Message checkbox.
7. Click on the Unit Name cell in the same row and enter “Mobile2”.
10. Click on a different row to save the new changes. For example, click on the Serial Number cell of the row above. The pen symbol in the header row changes back to an arrow symbol indicating that the data has been saved.
17
2. Click on the Supervisor ID cell in the last row to make the cell active, and a down arrow button appears on the right end of the cell.
You have just completed the procedure of adding a new radio to a fleet group. The new radio will be available in the Radio Units docking window, and you can select this radio in the docking window as a message recipient or a call recipient.
If you want to make this radio a supervisor radio, proceed to the next section.
Note: Not all radios are supervisors.
If you need to define messages for FleetDispatchPRO, proceed to section 4.3 Define Messages.
If you are done with configuring FleetDispatchPRO, exit Configure mode.
4.2.3. Define a Supervisor
To define a supervisor:
1. Click on the “Define Supervisor” tab label to bring the tab window on top. The Define Supervisor tab displays as the following:
3. Click on the down arrow button causes a dropdown table to appear right below the active cell. (The dropdown table lists unique unit IDs defined in the Define Units tab.) Click on unit ID 1500.
4. After unit ID 1500 is selected, the dropdown table closes and the unit ID is inserted into the active Supervisor ID cell. Notice that the asterisk in the row header turns into a pencil symbol, and a new row is appended to the grid for future addition.
only
The last row at the bottom of the grid (marked with an asterisk in the row header) is where you add a new record (or row) to the grid.
The cells in the Supervisor ID column are actually combo boxes that list unit IDs that you can specify as supervisor IDs.
5. Click on the Supervisor Name cell in the same row and enter a name, for example, “Assistant supervisor”.
18
6. Click on a different row to save the new changes. For example, click on the Supervisor Name cell of the row above. The pen symbol in the header row changes back to an arrow symbol indicating that the data has been saved.
You have completed the procedure of adding a supervisor to the system.
If you need to define messages for FleetDispatchPRO, proceed to section 4.3 Define Messages.
If you are done with configuring FleetDispatchPRO, exit Configure mode.
Or, you can select the Define Messages menu item under the View menu:
4.3. Define Messages
4.3.1. Define a Status Message
Status messages are associated with the FleetSync™ status code numbers.
This subsection illustrates how to add a status message to the system with the following example:
Status Number: 22 Status Message: Report to manager
1. While FleetDispatchPRO is in Configure mode, to access the Define Messages view, either click on the “Define Messages” button in the Select View shortcut window:
2. When the Define Messages view is displayed, the first tab window you see is Status Messages tab, as indicated by the bold-text tab label:
19
3. Look for status number 22, click on the Status Message cell in the same row to make the
cell active, and enter the message “Report to manager”.
5. Click on a different row to save the new changes. For example, click on the Status Messages cell of row 23.
Notice the arrow symbol in the row header column (the first column of the grid) turns into a pencil symbol, which indicates that the current row has been modified.
4. If you want to include this new message in the Quick Status (most frequently used messages) list, check the Quick Status checkbox in the same row.
6. Notice the pen symbol changes back to an arrow symbol indicating that the data has been saved.
You have completed adding a new status message to the system. The new message will be available for selection in the status message list in the Dispatch Control Panel.
If you need to predefine short text messages for FleetDispatchPRO, proceed to section 4.3.2 Define a Short Text Message.
If you are done with configuring FleetDispatchPRO, exit Configure mode.
20
4.3.2. Define a Short Text Message
Predefined messages are most frequently used short text messages that you create beforehand in order to avoid re-typing.
This subsection illustrates how to add a predefined short message to the system with the following example:
Message Number: 5 Predefined Message: Meeting at 9am tomorrow
1. If the “Predefined Messages” tab label is not currently in bold-text, it is not on top of the other tab. Click on the “Predefined Messages” tab label to bring it on top. The tab label turns into bold text, which indicates you are looking at the Predefined Messages tab window.
2. Look for an empty cell in the Predefined
Message column. (In this example, Predefined Message cell in row 5 is empty.)
Click on the empty cell to activate it, and enter the message “Meeting at 9am tomorrow”.
3. Check the Quick Message checkbox in the same row.
4. Click on a different row to save the new changes. For example, click on the Predefined Message cell of row 6.
Notice the pen symbol changes back to an arrow symbol indicating that the data has been saved.
You have completed adding a new predefined message to the system. The new message will be available for selection in the Quick Message list of the Shortcut docking window.
If you need to modify FleetDispatchPRO settings, proceed to section 4.4 FleetDispatchPRO Settings.
If you are done with configuring FleetDispatchPRO, exit Configure mode.
4.4. FleetDispatchPRO Settings
All changes you make in Settings view are saved in the configuration database upon exiting Configure mode.
If FleetDispatchPRO is not in Configure mode, switch to Configure mode.
Once FleetDispatchPRO is in Configure mode, to access the Settings view, either click on the “Settings” button in the Select View shortcut window:
21
Or, you can select the Settings menu item under the View menu:
The Settings view displays as the following:
4.4.1. Select Communication Port
FleetDispatchPRO software is shipped with the serial communication port set to 1. If you prefer to use another communication port to connect to the base radio, follow the steps described below. Otherwise, skip this section.
Example: Select port number 2.
1. Click on the down arrow button of the Communication port field. A dropdown table appears and lists all available port numbers.
2. Click on number 2. The dropdown table closes and the Communication port field shows port number 2 is selected.
22
The FleetDispatchPRO software is shipped with this password set to “Kenwood”, we recommend that you change it to something only you can remember. The maximum length of the password is 8 characters long.
To change your password:

1. Click on the Change Password button.

2. A “Change Password” dialog appears.
4.4.4. Define System Name 4.4.2. Change Password
To define a system name, enter the name directly in the System name field.
To remove an existing name before entering a new one:
1. Click on the System name field, a flashing vertical caret appears. Depending on where you click, the caret may appear in the beginning, the end, or somewhere in the middle of the existing name.
3. Enter a new password in the Enter new password field, and check to make sure you typed it correctly by entering it in the Confirm password field. Select OK button to save the new password, or select Cancel if you do not want to change the password.
4.4.3. Skip Password
To bypass the password requirement, click on the Skip password for this session checkbox.
2. Press the “Delete” key and/or “Backspace” key on your keyboard multiple times until the existing name is deleted.
3. Enter a new name in the System name field.
4.4.5. Select Base Radio
A base radio is the radio that is connected to your computer through a serial cable.
To designate one of the radios in the system as the base radio:
1. Click on the down arrow button of the Base radio name field. A dropdown table appears and lists all active radios you defined in the User Administration view.
23
2. Click on the desired radio name. The dropdown table closes and the Base radio name field shows the selected radio.
The name of the radio designated as a base radio will be preceded with an asterisk when it is listed in the Radio Units docking window
4.4.6. Select Base Radio Model
To specify the model of radio connected to the computer:
1. Click on the down arrow button of the Base radio model field. A dropdown table appears and displays a list of supported radio models.
If none of the checkboxes is selected, Unit Name will be displayed by default.
To specify which identifier is to be displayed first for each radio:
1. Click on the down arrow button of the Main identifier field. A dropdown table appears and lists all the identifier types.
2. Click on the desired identifier type. The dropdown table closes and the Main identifier field shows the selected identifier type.
2. Click on the desired radio model. The dropdown table closes and the Base radio
model field shows the selected model.
4.4.7. Specify Radio Identifiers
Radio Units docking window is able to list radios with one or more of the following identifiers: unit name, user name, full ID, and serial number.
To display one or more of those identifiers, select the corresponding checkboxes (Unit Name, User Name, Full ID and/or Serial Number) in the Settings view. To not display any of them, de­select their checkboxes.
4.4.8. Adjust Response Timeout
The following example illustrates how to select a new timeout value for long message transmissions. You can follow the same procedure to modify the Other message timeout field. Other message timeout value applies to transmissions of short messages, status messages, and status request messages.
To adjust the amount of time FleetDispatchPRO waits for a response from the base radio after a long message is sent:
1. Click on the down arrow button of the Long message timeout field. A dropdown table appears and lists all the available timeout values.
24
2. Click on the desired timeout value. The dropdown table closes and the Long message timeout field shows the selected timeout value.
Warning: A template database called FDProMsgList_EMPTY.mdb is also installed in the application directory, and this is used as a template to generate new databases. DO NOT select this template database for logging messages.
A. To specify a new database by letting
FleetDispatchPRO generates a new name for it:
1. Click on the “New Name” button.
4.4.9. Message List Display Option
To display only the data messages in the Message List window of the Message Dispatch view, check the Display data messages only checkbox.
To display both the data messages and voice call activities in the Message List window of the Message Dispatch view, uncheck the Display
data messages only checkbox.
4.4.10. Specify an Alternate Database
A default message database (FDProMsgList.mdb) is installed along with the FleetDispatchPRO application. The message database is located in the directory where FleetDispatchPRO is installed, which is called the application directory. For example:
C:\Program Files\Kenwood USA\FleetDispatchPRO.
2. And the new database name is shown in the display window:
3. Upon exiting Configure mode, a message database with the specified name and path will be generated, and future messages will be stored in this database.
B. If you prefer to provide a file name of your
choice for the database:
1. Click on the “User-specified” button:
2. An open file dialog box appears:
All data messages and voice call activities are saved in the database. Although it is not necessary to create a new database or select an alternate database to log messages, FleetDispatchPRO provides the user/administrator the ability to do so.
25
Type a desired name in the “File name:” field (for example, Abc.mdb,) and click on the “Open” button.
3. The open file dialog box closes and the specified file name is shown in the display window:
4. Upon exiting Configure mode, a message database with the specified name and path will be generated, and future messages will be stored in this database.
Note:
In the open file dialog the user is allowed to select a different directory to store the database, it is strongly recommended that the database be placed in the application directory.
If the file name entered in the open file dialog is the same as the name of an existing database, new messages will be appended to the existing database.
C. If you change your mind about using a new
database, click on the “Use Current” button:
FleetDispatchPRO main window flashes with red color when it receives an emergency message.
To hear an alert when a new message is received, select the checkbox labeled Play an audible alert when a new message arrives:. To mute the alert, deselect the checkbox.
4.4.12. Select an Alternate Alert Sound
Two default wave files are installed in the FleetDispatchPRO application directory: a Siren.wav file for the emergency message alert, and a Ring.wav file for the new message alert.
Although it is not necessary to select alternate wave files for the message alerts, FleetDispatchPRO provides the user/administrator the capability to do so.
A. To use an alternate wave file for the
emergency message alert:
1. Click on the “Browse…” button below the checkbox labeled Play an audible alert when an emergency message arrives:.
Any new database name specified is discarded and FleetDispatchPRO will continue to use the currently active database.
4.4.11. Message Alert Options
To hear an alert when an emergency message is received, select the checkbox labeled Play an
audible alert when an emergency message arrives:. To mute the emergency alert, deselect
the checkbox.
Note: This setting does not affect the visual effect of the emergency alert. You will still see the
2. An open file dialog box appears:
Select a wave file, or use the “Look in:” field to navigate to the directory that contains the desired wave file and select the wave file.
26
3. Click on the “Open” button, and the selected file is shown in the display window.
B. If you change your mind about using an
alternate wave file, click on the “Use Current” button:
the new wave file name is discarded and FleetDispatchPRO will continue to use the same wave file it has been using.
The procedure illustrated above applies to selecting an alternate wave file for the new message alert, except that you should use the “Use Current” and “Browse…” buttons below the checkbox labeled Play an audible alert when a new message arrives:.
If you are done with configuring FleetDispatchPRO, exit Configure mode.
27
5. Operation
This section describes how to operate FleetDispatchPRO in Run mode.
Users operate FleetDispatchPRO through the software’s menus, buttons and child windows. The following subsections provide step by step procedures on how to carry out specific tasks.
For detail descriptions of software capabilities, please refer to section 6 Software Functions.
Note: If you have not configured FleetDispatchPRO software, please refer to section 4 Configuration.
5.1. Select Shortcut List
When FleetDispatchPRO is first started, the Shortcut docking window shows Select View button list.
To see Quick Message list, click on the Quick Message bar, and the list is displayed as the following:
To see Quick Status message list, click on the Quick Status bar, and the list is displayed as the following:
To see Select View button list again, click on Select View bar.
5.2. Radio Units Docking Window
2. Within a few seconds, FleetDispatchPRO gets connected to the base radio and the status bar indicator reflects the connection status.
When FleetDispatchPRO is first started, the Radio Units docking window shows a tree structure with the system name (e.g. XYZ Company) displayed at the root. Under the system name root item is a list of items that represent fleet groups, with the exception of “Supervisors” item.
To further expand the tree items, click on the square boxes with “+” signs preceding the tree items.
To collapse the tree items, click on the square boxes with “-” signs preceding the tree items.
To connect to the base radio using the toolbar:
1. Click on the Connect button.
2. Within a few seconds, FleetDispatchPRO gets connected to the base radio and the status bar indicator reflects the connection status.
5.4. Disconnect from Base Radio
To disconnect from the base radio using the menu bar:
1. Click on System menu, and click on Disconnect menu item.
5.3. Connect to Base Radio
To connect to the base radio using the menu bar:
1. Click on System menu, and click on Connect menu item.
2. Within a few seconds, FleetDispatchPRO gets disconnected from the base radio and the status bar indicator reflects the connection status.
To disconnect from the base radio using the toolbar:
29
1. Click on the Disconnect button.
2. Within a few seconds, FleetDispatchPRO gets disconnected from the base radio and the status bar indicator reflects the connection status.
5.5. Send a Status Message
The illustrations in the next two subsections assume that FleetDispatchPRO is connected to the base radio.
5.5.1. Using Status Message List
To send a status message to a radio:
1. Select a message recipient by clicking on the desired radio in the Radio Units docking window.
3. Click on the Status message option in the Select type group box.
4. Click on the down arrow button of the Status message field. A dropdown table appears and lists all available status messages defined in the Defined Messages view. Look for the desired status message (you may have to scroll down), and click on the message.
2. Notice the top of the Dispatch Control Panel reflects the name of the selected radio.
5. The dropdown table closes and the Status message field shows the selected message.
6. Click on the Send button.
30
7. The Send button becomes grayed-out temporarily while the message is being sent, and it returns to its normal state after the transmission completes.
8. Notice the Message List displays the message you just sent.
5.5.2. Using Quick Status List
To send a status message to a radio:
1. Select a message recipient by clicking on the desired radio in the Radio Units docking window.
2. Notice the top of the Dispatch Control Panel reflects the name of the selected radio.
4. Notice that the Dispatch Control Panel reflects the selected message and the message type.
5. Click on the Send button.
6. The Send button becomes grayed-out temporarily while the message is being sent, and it returns to its normal state after the transmission completes.
7. Notice the Message List displays the message you just sent.
3. Select a desired status message in the Quick Status list.
5.6. Send a Text Message
The illustrations in the next two subsections assume that FleetDispatchPRO is connected to the base radio.
5.6.1. Using Text Window
If the message you enter in the text window is longer than 48 characters, it will be sent as a long message. You will notice the color of the message turns blue as you enter more than 48
31
characters, which indicates that it is treated as a long message.
A. To send a short text message to a radio:
1. Select a message recipient by clicking on the desired radio in the Radio Units docking window.
5. Click on the Send button.
2. Notice the top of the Dispatch Control Panel reflects the name of the selected radio.
3. Select the Text message option in the Select type group box.
6. The Send button becomes grayed-out temporarily while the message is being sent, and it returns to its normal state after the transmission completes.
7. Notice the Message List displays the message you just sent.
B. To send a long text message to a radio:
1. Select a message recipient by clicking on the desired radio in the Radio Units docking window.
4. Click on the Enter text message window (the text window) to activate it, and enter your message.
2. Notice the top of the Dispatch Control Panel reflects the name of the selected radio.
32
a) Move the mouse cursor to pause over the message, and a pop-up window displaying the complete message appears below it.
3. Select the Text message option in the Select type group box.
4. Click on the Enter text message window (the text window) to activate it, and enter a long message (up to 1024 characters.)
5. Click on the Send button.
Or,
b) Click on the message in the Message List, and the Enter text message window in the Dispatch Control Panel will be updated with the message.
Note: If the message is very long, method b) is better because the Enter text message window lets you scroll up and down to read the entire message.
5.6.2. Using Quick Message List
To send a short text message to a radio:
1. Select a message recipient by clicking on the desired radio in the Radio Units docking window.
6. The Send button becomes grayed-out temporarily while the message is being sent, and it returns to its normal state after the transmission completes.
7. Notice the Message List displays the message you just sent. The information under the Message column is cut off and appended with an ellipsis “…” because the message is longer than the available space. To see the entire message, do one of the following:
2. Notice the top of the Dispatch Control Panel reflects the name of the selected radio.
33
5.7. Request Status
To request status from a radio:
1. Select a message recipient by clicking on the desired radio in the Radio Units docking window.
3. Select a desired short message in the Quick Message list.
4. Notice that the Dispatch Control Panel reflects the selected message and the message type.
5. Click on the Send button.
2. Notice the top of the Dispatch Control Panel reflects the name of the selected radio.
3. Select the Status request option in the Select type group box.
6. The Send button becomes grayed-out temporarily while the message is being sent, and it returns to its normal state after the transmission completes.
7. Notice the Message List displays the message you just sent.
4. Click on the Send button.
5. The Send button becomes grayed-out temporarily while the message is being sent, and it returns to its normal state after the transmission completes.
34
6. Notice the Message List displays the status request message you just sent. A few seconds later, the Message List displays a new status message sent from the radio that you requested the status of earlier.
5.8. Display Messages
Received messages are displayed with white background. Sent messages are displayed with green pastel background.
Unread received messages are in bold text. To mark an unread message as read, click on it and the text turns to regular font.
To mark a read message as unread, use the right mouse button to click on it, and a pop-up menu appears. Use the left mouse button to click on the Mark as unread menu item, then the message is displayed in bold text again.
5.8.1. Full Screen
To display messages in full screen:
1. Click on View menu, and click on Full Screen menu item.
2. The Message List window expands and fills the entire screen of the monitor.
While FleetDispatchPRO displays in full screen, there is a full screen toolbar displayed at the top left corner of the screen. It allows FleetDispatchPRO to return to the regular screen. To move the full screen toolbar so that it does not block the message list, click and hold the title bar of the toolbar, drag it to wherever you want it, and release the mouse button:
Or, the user can click on the Close button to close the toolbar.
35
5.8.2. Exit Full Screen
To exit full screen, press the Esc key of your keyboard. Or, click on the “blue screen” button in the full screen toolbar:
5.8.3. Full Screen on Startup
To enable Full Screen on Startup option, click on View menu and then click on Full Screen on Startup menu item:
If there is no item listed in the Message List window, the Clear Messages menu item is disabled.
5.10. Recall Messages
To retrieve the last 100 messages from the database and display them in the Message List window, click on View menu and then click on Recall Messages menu item:
A check mark next to the menu item indicates the option is enabled, the next time FleetDispatchPRO is launched, Message List window will display in full screen.
To disable the option, select the menu item again, and the check mark is removed.
5.9. Clear Messages
To clear out items in the Message List window, click on View menu and then click on Clear Messages menu item:
If there are more messages in the database, the user can repeat the steps to retrieve as many messages as he likes 100 at a time.
36
5.11. Export Messages
5.11.1. Export Currently Active Database
A currently active database is the database that FleetDispatchPRO is currently using to store messages.
To export messages from the currently active message database to a Comma Separated Values (CSV) file:
1. Select Tools menu, and then select Export…
menu item.
2. An Export dialog box appears:
5.11.2. Abort Export
If the database contains large amount of messages, export process may take a considerable amount of time. The user can stop the export process by selecting the “Abort” button. The “Abort” button is available only during the process of exporting messages.
3. Click on the “Export” button at the bottom to
begin, and notice that the progress bar shows the amount of messages being exported.
4. When all messages have been exported, you
can open the CSV file with any software that accepts CSV format, for example, Microsoft Excel. Or, you can open the CSV file as a text file. The following picture shows how the CSV file looks like in Microsoft Excel:
5.11.3. Export Alternate Database
Note: The message databases have a file name
extension of “mdb”.
To export messages from an alternate database:
1. While the Export dialog box is being displayed, click on the “Browse…” button near the top right corner.
2. An open file dialog appears:
Select the desired message database and click on the “Open” button.
37
3. In the Export dialog box, the “Export from:” display window shows the name and location of the selected database:
4. Click on the “Export” button at the bottom of the Export dialog box, and messages are exported from the selected database.
If the user has selected an alternate database that is empty, Export utility will display a message to inform the user and it will not open the empty database.
5.11.4. Specify Alternate CSV Name
To specify a name for the CSV file:
1. While the Export dialog box is being displayed, click on the “User-specified…” button.
2. An open file dialog appears:
4. Click on the “Export” button at the bottom of the Export dialog box, and messages are exported to the specified CSV file.
5.11.5. Use Default CSV Name
To let FleetDispatchPRO suggest a unique name for the CSV file:
1. While the Export dialog box is being displayed, click on the “New Name” button.
2. The “Export to:” display window in the Export dialog box shows the name and location of the CSV file that will be created:
Notice that part of the file name indicates the date and time the moment the file name was generated, this gives the file a unique name.
3. Click on the “Export” button at the bottom of the Export dialog box, and messages are exported to the specified CSV file.
Type a desired name in the “File name:” field and click on the “Open” button.
3. In the Export dialog box, the “Export to:” display window shows the name and location of the CSV file that will be created:
5.11.6. Specify Date and Time Criteria
When the Export dialog box is first displayed or when an alternate database is selected, the Criteria fields display the date and time stamps of the first and the last messages in the database. That is, the “From:” fields show the first message’s date and time, and the “To:” fields show the last message’s date and time:
If the Criteria fields are left unchanged, all messages will be exported.
If the currently active database is empty, the Criteria fields are disabled (grayed out):
38
If the database is not empty, the user can adjust the date and time fields to specify a smaller range of messages to export.
To adjust the “From:” date field:
1. Click on the down arrow button on the right end of the field.
2. A calendar window appears. Click on a desired date, or click on either the left arrow button or the right arrow button to select a different month.
The same procedures can be applied to the “To:” date and time fields.
Note: The “From:” fields prevent the user from setting the date and time earlier than those of the first message. Similarly, the “To:” fields disallow date and time settings beyond those of the last message.
If the user has adjusted the Criteria fields and forgotten the dates and times of the first and last messages, and he wants to export from the first message and/or to the last message, follow these instructions:
Click to clear the checkbox in the “From:” date field to indicate you want to export from the first message without having to remember what date and time to set to.
Similarly, click to clear the checkbox in the “To:” date field to indicate you want to export to the last message without having to remember what date and time to set to.
To adjust the “From:” time field:
1. Click on a sub-field (e.g. the hour, minute, second, or AM/PM).
2. Click on the down arrow button or the up arrow button on the right end of the time field to adjust.
5.12. Make Calls
The user can use the PTT and Hold PTT pushbuttons instead of the PTT button on the mobile radio hand-mic. However, in the case of a KMC-9C Base Station Desktop Microphone, the user has to press the PTT button on the Desktop Microphone to use the microphone.
A. To make a call with the PTT pushbutton:
1. Select a call recipient by clicking on the desired radio in the Radio Units docking window.
39
2. Notice the top of the Dispatch Control Panel reflects the name of the selected radio.
Call Type
To broadcast System name root item
To call a group Fleet name item
To call a supervisor Supervisor sub-item
B. To make a call with Hold PTT pushbutton:
1. Select a call recipient by clicking on the desired radio in the Radio Units docking window.
Select
(e.g. XYZ Company)
(e.g. Fleet 150)
(e.g. Assistant supervisor)
3. Click and hold the PTT pushbutton, and talk through the hand-mic.
Notice the Voice Call List displays the call you just made.
4. When you are finish talking, release the PTT pushbutton.
The Voice Call List indicates the call ended.
The example above illustrates the procedure for calling an individual radio. To make a group, broadcast, or supervisor call, do the following when selecting a call recipient in the Radio Units docking window:
2. Notice the top of the Dispatch Control Panel reflects the name of the selected radio.
3. Click once on the Hold PTT pushbutton, and talk through the hand-mic.
Notice the Voice Call List displays the call you just made.
4. When you are finish talking, click once on the Hold PTT pushbutton.
40
The Voice Call List indicates the call ended.
5.13. Volume Control
To adjust the volume of the base radio, move the slider along the slider bar. To move the slider, you can do one of the following:
a) use the mouse to click and hold the slider,
and then drag it to the desired position.
Or,
b) click on either side of the slider.
Moving the slider towards the right end increases the volume, while moving towards the left reduces it.
Note: The Alarm Off menu item and its toolbar button are available only when an emergency message is received.
5.15. Launch Online Help
5.15.1. Using Context-sensitive Help
Button
The following example illustrates how to launch the Help main screen to display information on specific topic.
1. Click on the Context-sensitive Help button on the toolbar invokes a special “Help mode”.
5.14. Turn Off Emergency Alert
When a radio in the field sends an emergency message, FleetDispatchPRO generates an alarm to inform the dispatcher of the event. To turn off the alarm, do one of the following:
a) Click on the Alarm Off toolbar button.
b) Or, select the System menu, and then select
the Alarm Off menu item.
2. The mouse cursor turns into a Help cursor (arrow + question mark).
3. Move the Help cursor to the area of the user interface where you want to get help on (e.g. Dispatch Control Panel) and click on it.
41
4. The online Help main screen appears and displays a topic that describes the selected item.
You can use the same procedure to get help on the other parts of the user interface.
5.15.2. Using Help Topics Menu Item
To launch the online Help:
1. Select Help menu, and select Help Topics menu item.
2. The Help Topics dialog box appears. The dialog box shows two types of items, distinguished by the icons preceding the text labels. The “paper with a question mark” icon represents a help topic, while the book icon contains a list of help topics.
Note: The label of the first button at the bottom of the Help Topics dialog box changes between Open and Display depending on whether a book item or a help topic is highlighted.
3. To see the list of help topics under a book (e.g. Menus), click on the book and click on the Open button. Notice the book icon opens up and a list of topics displayed under the book label.
4. To see a help topic (e.g. System menu) under the book, click on the topic and click on Display button.
5. The Help Topics dialog box closes up, and the online Help main screen appears and displays the selected topic.
42
To open the Help Topics dialog box from the Help main screen, click the Contents button near the top of the Help main screen.
5.15.3. Green Underlined Help Links
The green underlined words that appear in help topic screens are links to help topics that further explain the green underlined words. When you move the mouse cursor to pause over a link, the mouse cursor turns into a hand cursor indicating that it is right on top of the green text. Clicking on the link takes you to the corresponding screen.
43
6. Software Functions
6.1. Menus
FleetDispatchPRO’s Menu bar contains the following menus:

System menu

Edit menu
View menu
Tools menu
Help menu
Under each menu is a list of menu items, this is where the user selects a command to carry out an operation.
To see the menu items of a menu, move the mouse pointer to the menu (for example, “System” menu,) and click on it. A drop down list appears and displays the menu items. When you move the mouse cursor to hover over a menu item, the menu item is highlighted, and the status bar at the bottom of the main window displays more information about the menu item.
Exit Exits FleetDispatchPRO
application.
The Alarm Off menu item is enabled only when an Emergency message is received, the user can then select the menu item to turn it off.
6.1.1.1. Configure Command
Use this command to turn on Configure mode. When FleetDispatchPRO is in Configure mode, select this command again will return it to Run mode.
It is necessary to properly configure FleetDispatchPRO for it to operate normally. System configuration is allowed (and thus Configure mode is available) only when FleetDispatchPRO is not connected to the base radio.
Selecting the Configure menu item will first cause a password dialog to appear. After a correct password is entered, FleetDispatchPRO switches to Configure mode, and the user/administrator will be able to access the User Administration, Define Messages, and Settings views.
Shortcut
6.1.1. System Menu
Under System menu, the user can select the following commands:
Configure Switches FleetDispatchPRO
between Configure mode and Run mode.
Alarm Off Turns off computer’s audio and
visual alerts.
Connect Connects to base radio.
Disconnect Disconnects from base radio.
Toolbar
6.1.1.2. Alarm Off Command
Use this command to turn off the computer’s audio and visual (status bar flashes in red) alerts. When a radio in the field sends an emergency message, FleetDispatchPRO generates an alarm to inform the user of the event. To turn off the alarm, select this command or the toolbar button as shown below.
The Alarm Off command and its toolbar button are available only when an emergency message is received.
Toolbar
6.1.1.3. Connect Command
Use this command to connect to the base radio.
Shortcut
The status bar displays the connection status of the serial communication port.
Shortcut
Toolbar
6.1.1.4. Disconnect Command
Use this command to disconnect from the base radio.
The status bar displays the connection status of the serial communication port.
Toolbar
6.1.1.5. Exit Command
Use this command to end your FleetDispatchPRO session. You can also use the Close command on the application Control menu.
Mouse Double-click the application's
Shortcut
Shortcut
Control menu button.
Keys ALT+F4
6.1.2. Edit Menu
The Edit menu offers the following commands:
Undo Reverse previous editing operation.
Cut Deletes data from the text window
or the grid cell and moves it to the clipboard.
Copy Copies data from the text window
or the grid cell to the clipboard.
Paste Pastes data from the clipboard into
the text window or the grid cell.
Delete Deletes data from the text window
of the Dispatch Control Panel; Or, Deletes record(s) from Define Units tab and Define Supervisors tab.
Select All Selects all data in the text window
of the Dispatch Control Panel.
Mark as Unread
6.1.2.1. Undo Command
Use this command to reverse the last editing action, if possible. The command is enabled or disabled depending on what the last action was. The Undo menu item is disabled (grayed-out) if you cannot reverse your last action.
Toolbar
Keys CTRL+Z
6.1.2.2. Cut Command
Use this command to remove the currently selected data from the text window of the Dispatch Control Panel or from a grid cell and put it on the clipboard. This command is unavailable if there is no data currently selected.
Cutting data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.
Toolbar
Keys CTRL+X
6.1.2.3. Copy Command
Use this command to copy selected data onto the clipboard. This command is unavailable if there is no data currently selected.
Copying data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.
Toolbar
Keys CTRL+C
Marks incoming data messages as unread.
Shortcut
Shortcut
Shortcut
45
6.1.2.4. Paste Command 6.1.2.6. Select All Command
Use this command to insert a copy of the clipboard contents at the insertion point. This command is unavailable if the clipboard is empty.
Shortcut
Toolbar
Keys CTRL+V
6.1.2.5. Delete Command
This command works differently under different situations:
a) Use this command to delete text characters from the text window in the Dispatch Control Panel. This command is unavailable if there is no data in the text window;
or,
b) Use this command to delete one or more selected records (rows) in a grid window. This command applies only to the Define Units tab and Define Supervisors tab.
Use this command to select all data in the text window of the Dispatch Control Panel.
6.1.2.7. Mark as Unread Command
Use this command to mark received data messages as unread. This command only applies to received “data” messages, not voice call activity messages. Data messages are displayed in the Message List of the Message Dispatch view. An unread message is shown in bold text.
To mark a received data message as unread, click on a received data message that is shown in regular text, and select Mark as Unread menu item. The message will be displayed in bold text.
You can also achieve the same result by using the pop-up menu. Use the right mouse button to click on a received data message, a pop-up menu appears and displays the Mark as Unread menu item. Then, use the left-mouse button to click on the Mark as Unread menu item, and the message will be displayed in bold text.
To select a row, click on the row header cell of the row to be deleted, the row will be highlighted in black background and white text colors.
To select multiple rows, for example three rows, click and hold the mouse button on the row header cell of the first row to be deleted and move the mouse cursor to the third row and release the mouse button. Three rows will be highlighted.
When there is a row highlighted, the Delete menu item is enabled. Selecting the Delete command deletes the highlighted record.
Shortcut
Keys Del
6.1.3. View Menu
The View menu offers the following commands:
Message Dispatch
User Administration
Displays Message Dispatch view.
Displays User Administration view.
46
Define Messages
Settings Displays Settings view.
Clear Messages
Recall Messages
Full Screen
Full Screen on Startup
Toolbar Shows or hides the toolbar.
Status Bar Shows or hides the status bar.
The user/administrator can select to display one of the views: Message Dispatch, User Administration, Define Messages, or Settings. A check mark appearing next to a menu item indicates the menu item is selected and the corresponding view is displayed.
Clear Messages and Recall Messages provide a way to control how many messages to be displayed in the Message List window.
Selecting Full Screen menu item causes FleetDispatchPRO application to display messages in full screen.
Full Screen on Startup menu item provides the user an option of starting the application in full screen.
The user can also toggle the Toolbar and Status Bar on or off.
6.1.3.1. Message Dispatch View Command
Message Dispatch view integrates data messaging capabilities and radio controls into an all-in-one screen. Message Dispatch view is actually a three-way split window that consists of:
Message List
Voice Call List
Dispatch Control Panel
Displays Define Message view.
Clears all items in the Message List window.
Retrieves the last 100 messages from the database.
Displays the Message List window in full screen.
Specifies that next time starts the program in full screen.
6.1.3.1.1. Message List
As the name suggests, Message List displays a list of incoming and outgoing messages in chronological order; the latest message is inserted at the top. It also lists voice call activities that have occurred in the field. The user/administrator can configure FleetDispatchPRO to not display voice call activities in the Message List by selecting the proper option in the Settings view. In any case, all messages are logged into a message list database.
Outgoing messages are color coded with light green pastel background, while incoming messages are displayed with white background. Unread incoming messages are displayed with bold text font.
6.1.3.1.2. Voice Call List
Voice Call List was created specifically to allow the user to monitor only voice call activities. Only the last 5 voice calls are displayed.
6.1.3.1.3. Dispatch Control Panel
47
Dispatch Control Panel actually consists of two control sections:
Data Messaging Control
Voice Control
FleetSync™ data messaging is the key feature of this computer aided dispatch system. FleetSync™ messages include:
Status messages
Short text messages
Long text messages
Status request messages
With FleetDispatchPRO, the user can send and receive Status, Short and Long messages.
Status request messages allow the user to request status from radios in the field.
The Voice Control provides the user the convenience of making voice calls through the same panel.
The Mon button toggles the monitor function on or off.
The PTT pushbutton on the panel works exactly like the PTT button on the mobile radio hand-mic. By using the mouse to click and hold the PTT pushbutton, the user can talk through the hand­mic until the PTT pushbutton is released.
Hold PTT pushbutton provides the convenience of not having to manually hold the PTT pushbutton on the screen. Click on the Hold PTT pushbutton works the same as push and hold the PTT button on the hand-mic. Click on the Hold
PTT the second time will release the PTT.
Note: In the case of KMC-9C Base Station
Desktop Microphone, the user has to press the PTT button on the Desktop Microphone to use the microphone.
The slider bar is a volume control. Available volume levels ranges from 0 to 31, and the default level is 8.
6.1.3.2. User Administration View Command
User Administration view is where the user/administrator sets up user and radio
information. Within this view are three tab windows that divide the task into three stages:
Define Fleets Define radio fleets or
groups.
Define Units Define radio units to be
included in the available fleets.
Define Supervisors Designate supervisors by
selecting from the available supervisor IDs. (Optional)
Each tab window contains a grid that organizes information into rows and columns of data. Please refer to section 3.8 General Usage of Grid Window for more information on how to use a grid window.
Any fleets, radio units, and supervisors defined in User Administration view will be available as message recipients or voice call recipients in the Radio Units docking window.
6.1.3.2.1. Define Fleets Tab
Typically, a radio system setup begins from creating new fleet groups. The Define Fleets tab contains a grid that displays several columns of fleet information.
The Fleet Number column lists fleet numbers that are allowed (100 to 349) in the system. The Fleet Number column is grayed out (disabled) indicating they are not modifiable. To include a fleet group in the system, look for a desired fleet number (you may need to scroll down the grid,) click on the cell to its right (under the Fleet Name column) to make the cell active, enter a fleet name (up to 20 characters), and check the
48
corresponding checkbox under the Include column. The Fleet Description field is optional; the user can enter a description up to 25 characters.
As mentioned in the General Usage of Grid Window section, the user has to click on a different row to save the new changes.
Related topics:
Section 3.8 General Usage of Grid Window
Section 6.1.2.1 Undo Command
6.1.3.2.2. Define Units Tab
After the desired fleet groups have been defined in the Define Fleets tab, the next step is to define new radio units in the Define Units tab. Within the Define Units tab is a grid that displays columns of radio unit information. Among the fields in each row, Fleet Number, Unit ID, and Unit Name are required, the rest are optional.
Every radio unit is assigned to a fleet group; therefore, a fleet number must be selected for each radio unit. The cells in the Fleet Number column are actually combo boxes that list all allowable fleet numbers.
To see the fleet number list, click on a cell under Fleet Number to make the cell active and a down arrow button appears on the right end of the cell. Click on the down arrow causes a dropdown table to appear right below the active cell. As shown in the figure above, the dropdown table lists exactly the same information as that in the Define Fleets tab. The user is able to select a fleet number from the list for the active Fleet Number cell. Notice that the fields under the Include column indicate whether the corresponding fleet numbers are included in the system. The user is allowed to select fleet numbers that are not included in the system, but only the included fleet groups are available for selection in the Radio Units docking window. After a fleet number is selected, the dropdown table closes and the fleet number is inserted into the active Fleet Number cell.
Next, click on the Unit ID cell in the same row and enter an ID number; a valid Unit ID ranges from 1000 to 4999.
Then, click on the Unit Name cell in the same row and enter a name for the radio unit; up to 20 characters are allowed.
The User Name (up to 20 characters) and the
Serial Number (up to 10 characters) are optional. User Name field can be used to assign a person’s
name or job title to a radio unit. Serial Number field is used to record the serial number on the radio.
The checkboxes in the Long Message column specify whether the corresponding radios are allowed to receive long messages.
Note: You need to click on a different row to save any changes.
Related topics:
Section 3.8 General Usage of Grid Window
Section 6.1.2.5 Delete Command
Section 6.1.2.1 Undo Command
49
6.1.3.2.3. Define Supervisors Tab
After fleet groups and radio units are defined, the user/administrator is able designate certain radios as supervisors. Define Supervisors tab contains only two columns of data fields: Supervisor ID and Supervisor Name.
Cells in the Supervisor ID column are combo boxes that list Units IDs that the user/administrator can specify as supervisor IDs. Click on a cell in the Supervisor ID column makes the cell active and a down arrow button appears on the right end of the cell.
Click on the down arrow causes a dropdown table to appear right below the active cell. The dropdown table lists only unique Unit IDs defined in the Define Units tab. Once an ID is selected, click on the Supervisor Name cell in the same row to enter a name for it.
Note: You need to click on a different row to save any changes.
Related topics:
Section 6.1.3.2.1 Define Fleets Tab
Section 3.8 General Usage of Grid Window
Section 6.1.2.5 Delete Command
Section 6.1.2.1 Undo Command
6.1.3.3. Define Messages View Command
There are two types of messages the user/administrator can predefine in the FleetDispatchPRO application: FleetSync™ status messages and predefined short messages.
6.1.3.3.1. Status Messages Tab
Status messages are messages that are associated with the FleetSync™ status code numbers. FleetSync™ status code ranges from 10 to 99, however, only status numbers 10 to 79 are user-definable, status numbers 80 to 99 are special reserved code.
Status Messages tab lets the user/administrator associate text messages with those code numbers. To define a message, look for the desired number in the Status Number column, click on the Status Message cell in the same row and enter a text message up to 25 characters. Any status messages defined here will be available in the Dispatch Control Panel.
The checkboxes in the Quick Status column specify whether to include the corresponding status messages in the Quick Status list in the Shortcut docking window.
50
To define a message, look for an empty cell in the Predefined Message column, click on the cell, and enter a text message up to 48 characters. The user can also edit existing messages.
The checkboxes in the Quick Message column specify whether to include the corresponding predefined messages in the Quick Message list in the Shortcut docking window.
Related topics:
Section 3.8 General Usage of Grid Window
Section 6.1.2.1 Undo Command
6.1.3.4. Settings View Command
Five of the special reserved code numbers are available to the user; they are status numbers 88 to 92. These numbers already have messages defined for them by the radio designers.
Related topics:
Section 3.8 General Usage of Grid Window
Section 6.1.2.1 Undo Command
6.1.3.3.2. Predefined Messages Tab
The user/administrator may need to send the same messages to field radios from time to time, the Predefined Messages tab provides a way of creating canned messages. Predefined messages are short text messages (maximum of 48 characters.)
Instead of repeating the same messages in the Dispatch Control Panel, the user/administrator can define short messages in this tab, and specify to include them in the Quick Message list in the Shortcut docking window. Messages that are included are available for the user to select and send to field radios.
Settings view consists of data fields used for general settings of FleetDispatchPRO application. Proper settings are required for FleetDispatchPRO to function correctly.
51
The user/administrator can select a serial communication port in the Communication port combo box for the connection between the PC and the base radio.
Password Groupbox
Change Password button lets the
user/administrator change his/her password. To switch FleetDispatchPRO from Run mode to Configure mode, a password is required to prevent any tampering of the system configuration. Once FleetDispatchPRO is in Configure mode, the user/administrator can change the password in the Settings view by clicking on the Change Password button.
During the process of configuring the system, the user/administrator may have to repeatedly get into Configure mode to set up the system and return to Run mode to verify. For convenience, Skip password for this session checkbox allows the user/administrator to bypass the password requirement. If the checkbox is checked, a password is not required the next time the user/administrator turns on Configure mode. As the name suggests, password requirement is skipped only for this session, which means that after FleetDispatchPRO is closed, the next time it is launched, a password is required to turn on Configure mode.
After the user/administrator is satisfied with the configuration, Skip password for this session should be unchecked before exiting Configure mode.
Radio Units Groupbox
System name field defines the root item label in
the Radio Units docking window. When the System name is selected in the Radio Units docking window, any messages sent out or voice calls initiated by the dispatcher are broadcast to all radios in the system
Base radio name combo box designates one of the radios defined in the User Administration view to be the base radio. A base radio is the radio that is connected to the computer through a serial cable.
Base radio model combo box indicates the model name of the radio connected to the computer.
Radio Units docking window lists all the active radios defined in the User Administration view. These radios are listed with one or more of the following identifiers: unit name, user name, full ID, and serial number. The user/administrator can decide whether or not to display one or more of these identifiers in the Radio Units docking window by checking or unchecking the Unit Name, User Name, Full ID, and Serial Number checkboxes in the Settings view. If none is specified, unit names of the radios will be displayed by default.
Main identifier combo box specifies which identifier is to be displayed first for each radio listed in the Radio Units docking window.
Base radio response timeout Groupbox
Long message timeout specifies the maximum
amount of time FleetDispatchPRO will wait for a response from the base radio after a long message is sent, before FleetDispatchPRO considers it as a failed attempt.
Similarly, Other message timeout specifies the maximum amount of time FleetDispatchPRO will wait for a response from the base radio after a short message, a status message, or a status request message is sent.
It is recommended that the Long message timeout and Other message timeout be set to at least 45 and 11 seconds, respectively. Depending on the base radio configuration, the user/administrator may adjust these values accordingly.
Message List Groupbox
Display data messages only checkbox specifies
whether or not to display voice call activities in the Message List window of the Message Dispatch view.
The full path and file name of the currently active message database are shown under the Display data messages only checkbox. The user/administrator can specify an alternate database for logging messages by selecting the New Name button or the User-specified… button. The full path and file name of the newly specified database will be shown accordingly.
If the user/administrator has specified a new database name and decided to abandon it, he can discard the new database name and revert to
52
using the currently active database by selecting the Use Current button.
All incoming and outgoing data messages and voice call activities are saved in this database, up to 1.5 million items. When that limit is reached, the oldest message is deleted for every new message logged, that is, first message in first message out.
Message Alert Groupbox
The checkbox labeled Play an audible alert when an emergency message arrives allows you to enable or disable the audible portion of the emergency signal that FleetDispatchPRO generates. The display window below this checkbox indicates the file name and location of the wave file for this alert.
Similarly, the checkbox labeled Play an audible alert when a new message arrives lets you enable or disable the new message alert. The wave file for this message alert is shown right below the checkbox.
The Browse… button under each checkbox allows the user/administrator to select an alternate wave file for the corresponding message alert. And clicking on the Use Current buttons will undo the selections of the alternate wave files.
The emergency alert wave file is played repeatedly until the user clicks on the “Alarm Off” toolbar button; see 5.14 Turn Off Emergency Alert.
The new message alert wave file is played once each time a new message arrives.
Note that your computer must be equipped with a sound card and it must be properly set up to play wave files.
6.1.3.5. Clear Messages Command
Use this command to clear out all items displayed in the Message List window.
If there is no item listed in the Message List window, this command is disabled.
6.1.3.6. Recall Messages Command
Use this command to retrieve previous messages from the database (100 at a time) and display them in the message List window.
6.1.3.7. Full Screen Command
This command causes the Message List window to display in the entire screen of the monitor. This command is only available in Run mode.
6.1.3.8. Full Screen on Startup Command
This command is actually an option that allows the user to specify how the Message List window is displayed the next time the application is launched.
A check mark appears next to the menu item indicates the option is turned on. Without the check mark, it is turned off. This command is only available in Run mode.
6.1.3.9. Toolbar Command
Use this command to display or hide the Toolbar, which includes buttons for some of the most common commands in FleetDispatchPRO, such as System Connect.
A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Toolbar is displayed.
6.1.3.10. Status Bar Command
Use this command to display or hide the Status Bar, which describes the action to be executed by a selected menu item or depressed toolbar button.
A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Status Bar is displayed.
53
6.1.4. Tools Menu
6.1.4.1. Export… Command
Help Topics Offers you an index to topics on
which you can get help.
About Displays the version number of
this application.
6.1.5.1. Help Topics Command
Use this command to display the Help Topics dialog box:
Use this command to invoke the Export dialog box, which is an export messages utility. This utility allows the user to export messages from a database to a Comma Separated Values (CSV) file.
The Export dialog box provides some flexibility in allowing the user to select a database for exporting messages, to specify a preferred name for the CSV file, and to limit the amount of messages exported using a set of criteria.
The CSV files are created with a naming convention that ensures unique file names; for example, a file name,
Msg20031015_162118.csv,
indicates that the file was created on October 15 2003, at 4:21:18 PM. The military format is adopted for the time portion of the name. By default, the CSV files are stored in the same directory where FleetDispatchPRO is installed, unless the user has selected a different one. The user may open the CSV files with any software that accepts CSV format (e.g. Microsoft Excel) or with a text editor.
th
6.1.5. Help Menu
The Help menu offers the following commands, which provide you assistance with this application:
From the Help Topics dialog box, you can jump to instructions for using FleetDispatchPRO and various types of reference information.
The help information on specific topic is displayed in an online Help main screen. To return to the Help Topics dialog box from the Help main screen, click the Contents button on the Help main screen.
,
6.2. Toolbar
The toolbar is displayed across the top of the main window, right below the menu bar. The toolbar provides a quick access to a number of the menu item commands in FleetDispatchPRO.
When the mouse cursor pauses over a toolbar button, a small ToolTip window displaying the button’s command appears near the mouse
54
pointer, and the status bar displays more information about the toolbar button.
To hide or display the Toolbar, select Toolbar command on the View menu, or press the key combinations: Alt+V and then Alt+T.
6.2.1. Toolbar Buttons
The following table lists the functions of the buttons:
Click To
Configure FleetDispatchPRO application.
Turn off FleetDispatchPRO emergency
alarm. See Alarm Off command.
Connect to the base radio.
Disconnect from the base radio.
6.2.2. Connect/Disconnect Base Radio
To connect to the base radio, click on the Connect
button
Disconnect button disconnection from the base radio. While
connected, the Configure button indicating that system configuration is not allowed.
. Once a connection is made, the
is enabled to allow
is disabled,
6.2.3. Configure FleetDispatchPRO
While not connected to the base radio, the user/administrator is able to configure the system
by clicking the Configure button the Configure button will first cause a password dialog to appear, after a proper password is entered, FleetDispatchPRO switches to Configure mode, and the user/administrator will be able to access the User Administration, Define Messages, and Settings views.
. Selecting
Remove selected data and store it on the
clipboard.
Copy the selection to the clipboard.
Insert the contents of the clipboard at the
insertion point.
Reverse the last editing. Note: You
cannot undo some actions.
Context Help button.
When FleetDispatchPRO is launched, it is executing in Run mode. In Run mode, only the
Configure button are enabled, all other buttons are disabled (grayed out.) This means that the user can either configure the software or connect to the base radio.
Note: If this is the first time FleetDispatchPRO is launched, it is necessary to configure the software before you attempt to connect to the base radio.
and Connect button
6.3. Status Bar
The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the FleetDispatchPRO window. To display or hide the status bar, select the Status Bar command on the View menu.
The left section of the status bar displays status and error messages. In addition, this section shows messages that describe the functions of menu items as you use the arrow keys to navigate through menus. This section also shows messages that describe the functions of toolbar buttons as the mouse cursor pauses over those toolbar buttons.
The sections on the right provide visual indication of the connection status of the serial communication port.
When FleetDispatchPRO is not connected to the base radio, the red “connectors” indicator is shown as separated.
55
While making an attempt to connect, the “connectors” indicator is shown as above.
When connected, the “connectors” are joined and they turn into green color.
When in Configure mode, the text indicator displays “Configure”. You can only configure the software when it is not connected to a base radio.
The Tx and Rx LED lights simulates activities happening at the serial communication port; it provides visual indication of data transmission between the PC and the base radio.
6.4. Shortcut Docking Window
The Shortcut docking window contains three shortcut lists:

Select View shortcut buttons

Quick Status message list

Quick Message list (predefined short text
messages)
This shortcut list contains a list of buttons that provide a quick access to a desired view, instead of selecting a command on the View menu.
In Run mode, only the Message Dispatch button is accessible. In Configure mode, the user/administrator is allowed to select between Message Dispatch, User Administration, Define Messages, and Settings views by clicking on the corresponding buttons. However, the Message Dispatch view is disabled in Configure mode.
6.4.2. Quick Status Message List
6.4.1. Select View Shortcut Buttons
The Quick Status message list contains a list of FleetSync™ status messages that the user can select to send to a mobile radio. The purpose of this list is to provide the user an easy access to a short list of most frequently used status messages. The user can specify which of the 75 (70 user-defined and 5 special reserved) status messages defined in the Define Messages view are to be included in this Quick Status list. If desired, all status messages can be included.
The numbers enclosed in the parentheses at the end of each messages are FleetSync™ status code numbers that are associated with the defined messages.
56
6.4.3. Quick Message List
The Quick Message list lets the user send most frequently used predefined short messages without having to repeat typing the same messages. The user can specify which of the 100 predefined short messages in the Define Messages view are to be included in this list. If desired, all short messages can be included.
6.5. Radio Unit Docking Window
item can have a list of radio unit sub-items associated with it. By double-clicking a fleet group item, the user can expand or collapse the associated list of radio unit sub-items. The same can also be done by clicking the square boxes with a + or - sign preceding the fleet group items.
The “Supervisors” item is a special case, it does not represent a fleet group. It contains a list of supervisor sub-items defined in the User Administration view. The “Supervisors” item exists only if the user/administrator defined at least one supervisor.
Fleet group items and their radio unit sub-items are defined in the User Administration view. FleetDispatchPRO supports up to 4000 FleetSync™ IDs.
When an item in the Radio Units docking window is selected, the Dispatch Control Panel shows the selected unit and indicates the type of the call, that is, the panel indicates whether the FleetDispatchPRO user has selected an individual, a group, a broadcast, or a supervisor call target. Call types are determined as the following:
Selected Item
System name root item Broadcast Fleet group item Group Supervisor sub-item Supervisor Radio unit sub-item Individual
Call Type
The Radio Units docking window displays a hierarchical list of items, which provides a clear view of the organizational structure of the radio system. The tree items represent voice call or message receivers; a receiver can be an individual radio user, a fleet group, or the entire system. The FleetDispatchPRO user (e.g. a dispatcher) has to select a receiver in order to make a call or send a message.
At the root of the tree structure is a user-definable system name, e.g. Kenwood, or Sunshine Cab Company. (System name is defined in the Settings view.)
Under the system name root item is a list of items that represent fleet groups (e.g. you can define them as Fleet 100, Warehouse, etc.), with the exception of “Supervisors” item. Each fleet group
57
7. Troubleshooting
Security Key Not Found
Make sure the hardware key is attached to the parallel/printer port of your computer. The parallel port is a 25-pin connector typically located in the back panel of the computer.
Communication Link Not Established
Before you send a message or make a call, you need to electronically connect to the base radio. See section 5.3 Connect to Base Radio.
No Response From Base Radio
Error Message: “COM# received no response from base radio, please make sure it is connected and powered on.”
where # = serial port number you have selected in the Settings view.
Possible causes:
1) The base radio is not plugged in to the serial port of the computer.
2) The base radio is not powered on.
3) The base radio is plugged in to another serial port of the computer. For example, you
selected serial port 1 in Settings view, but you plugged in the base radio serial cable to serial port 2 of your computer.
4) Base radio response timeout is too short. Increase the timeout value for the Other
message timeout field or Long message timeout field in the Settings view, depending
on what type of message you are sending that causes the error message.
If the message appears when you are trying to connect to the base radio and the other possible causes do not apply, then increase the Other message timeout value.
See section 4.4.8 Adjust Response
Timeout.
Cannot Hear Message Alert
Possible causes:
1) The speakers are not plugged in to the sound card.
2) The speakers are not powered on.
3) The speakers’ volume is not turned up.
4) There is no sound card installed on the computer.
5) The sound card is muted by the Volume Control applet.
6) The wave files selected in the Settings View have been removed.
7) The audio driver is not installed.
Loading...