logixcentral training manuallogixcentral training manual per primary and secondary load unit.....per...

logixcentral Training Manuallogixcentral Training Manuallogixcentral Training Manuallogixcentral Training Manual

logixcentral Training Manual

ContentsContentsContentsContents IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1111

Getting StartedGetting StartedGetting StartedGetting Started ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2222 Logging InLogging InLogging InLogging In............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2222 User OptionsUser OptionsUser OptionsUser Options............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2222 Projects and ProfilesProjects and ProfilesProjects and ProfilesProjects and Profiles ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4444 Profile ManagerProfile ManagerProfile ManagerProfile Manager ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................5555

Creating a New ProjectCreating a New ProjectCreating a New ProjectCreating a New Project ...................................................................................................5 Creating a New ProfileCreating a New ProfileCreating a New ProfileCreating a New Profile ....................................................................................................6

Main logixcentral ScreenMain logixcentral ScreenMain logixcentral ScreenMain logixcentral Screen ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8888 Summary BarSummary BarSummary BarSummary Bar..................................................................................................................8 Shortcuts BarShortcuts BarShortcuts BarShortcuts Bar ..................................................................................................................9 Main Viewing PaneMain Viewing PaneMain Viewing PaneMain Viewing Pane .........................................................................................................9

HelpHelpHelpHelp.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10101010

Profile ManagerProfile ManagerProfile ManagerProfile Manager ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11111111 Opening Profile Opening Profile Opening Profile Opening Profile ManagerManagerManagerManager..............................................................................................11 Activating a ProfileActivating a ProfileActivating a ProfileActivating a Profile ........................................................................................................11 Renaming a ProjectRenaming a ProjectRenaming a ProjectRenaming a Project .......................................................................................................11 DeletinDeletinDeletinDeleting a Projectg a Projectg a Projectg a Project .........................................................................................................12 Copying a ProfileCopying a ProfileCopying a ProfileCopying a Profile ..........................................................................................................12 Renaming a ProfileRenaming a ProfileRenaming a ProfileRenaming a Profile........................................................................................................13 DeletiDeletiDeletiDeleting a Profileng a Profileng a Profileng a Profile ..........................................................................................................13

ParametersParametersParametersParameters............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 14141414 GeneralGeneralGeneralGeneral ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 15151515

Company NameCompany NameCompany NameCompany Name...........................................................................................................15 Distance UnitDistance UnitDistance UnitDistance Unit................................................................................................................15 Speed VariationsSpeed VariationsSpeed VariationsSpeed Variations...........................................................................................................15 Min Time Between Calls & Min DistaMin Time Between Calls & Min DistaMin Time Between Calls & Min DistaMin Time Between Calls & Min Distance Between Callsnce Between Callsnce Between Callsnce Between Calls....................................................15 Open DaysOpen DaysOpen DaysOpen Days ..................................................................................................................15

MapMapMapMap.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15151515 Auto OptionsAuto OptionsAuto OptionsAuto Options.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16161616

Cluster ModeCluster ModeCluster ModeCluster Mode ...............................................................................................................17 Cluster RadiusCluster RadiusCluster RadiusCluster Radius ..............................................................................................................17 DeviationDeviationDeviationDeviation .....................................................................................................................17 Cluster ControlCluster ControlCluster ControlCluster Control .............................................................................................................17 Weighting FactorsWeighting FactorsWeighting FactorsWeighting Factors.........................................................................................................17 PenaltiesPenaltiesPenaltiesPenalties ......................................................................................................................18 Multi DepotMulti DepotMulti DepotMulti Depot ..................................................................................................................18

DepotsDepotsDepotsDepots .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19191919 Creating a New DepotCreating a New DepotCreating a New DepotCreating a New Depot ..................................................................................................19 Renaming a DepotRenaming a DepotRenaming a DepotRenaming a Depot........................................................................................................20 Deleting a depotDeleting a depotDeleting a depotDeleting a depot...........................................................................................................21 Viewing DepotsViewing DepotsViewing DepotsViewing Depots.............................................................................................................21 Location TabLocation TabLocation TabLocation Tab ................................................................................................................22 Opening TabOpening TabOpening TabOpening Tab................................................................................................................22 Advanced TabAdvanced TabAdvanced TabAdvanced Tab ..............................................................................................................22 ThroughpuThroughpuThroughpuThroughput Tabt Tabt Tabt Tab............................................................................................................23 Costs TabCosts TabCosts TabCosts Tab.....................................................................................................................24

LoadLoadLoadLoad ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 24242424 PrimaryPrimaryPrimaryPrimary ........................................................................................................................25 SecondarySecondarySecondarySecondary ....................................................................................................................25 Decimals to DisplayDecimals to DisplayDecimals to DisplayDecimals to Display ......................................................................................................25


Load RoundingLoad RoundingLoad RoundingLoad Rounding .............................................................................................................25 Fixed Time Per CallFixed Time Per CallFixed Time Per CallFixed Time Per Call .......................................................................................................25 Min and Max Call TimeMin and Max Call TimeMin and Max Call TimeMin and Max Call Time.................................................................................................25 FlagsFlagsFlagsFlags ...........................................................................................................................25

ProductsProductsProductsProducts ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 26262626 Creating a New Product TypeCreating a New Product TypeCreating a New Product TypeCreating a New Product Type ........................................................................................26 Renaming a Product TypeRenaming a Product TypeRenaming a Product TypeRenaming a Product Type ..............................................................................................27 Deleting a Product TypeDeleting a Product TypeDeleting a Product TypeDeleting a Product Type ................................................................................................27 Changing the Product Type List orderChanging the Product Type List orderChanging the Product Type List orderChanging the Product Type List order .............................................................................27 Number PerNumber PerNumber PerNumber Per..................................................................................................................28 Loading TimeLoading TimeLoading TimeLoading Time ...............................................................................................................28 Unloading TimeUnloading TimeUnloading TimeUnloading Time............................................................................................................28 Depot Load TimeDepot Load TimeDepot Load TimeDepot Load Time ..........................................................................................................28 Depot Unload TimeDepot Unload TimeDepot Unload TimeDepot Unload Time ......................................................................................................28 Revenue Per Product TypeRevenue Per Product TypeRevenue Per Product TypeRevenue Per Product Type..............................................................................................28 Create a New VehicleCreate a New VehicleCreate a New VehicleCreate a New Vehicle ...................................................................................................29 Renaming a VehicleRenaming a VehicleRenaming a VehicleRenaming a Vehicle ......................................................................................................29 Deleting a VehicleDeleting a VehicleDeleting a VehicleDeleting a Vehicle.........................................................................................................30 Primary and Secondary CapacityPrimary and Secondary CapacityPrimary and Secondary CapacityPrimary and Secondary Capacity....................................................................................30 Depot Start, Turnaround and End TimeDepot Start, Turnaround and End TimeDepot Start, Turnaround and End TimeDepot Start, Turnaround and End Time...........................................................................30 Loading RateLoading RateLoading RateLoading Rate ................................................................................................................30 SpeedSpeedSpeedSpeed ..........................................................................................................................30 Allow OvernightsAllow OvernightsAllow OvernightsAllow Overnights ..........................................................................................................31 Attached ShiftAttached ShiftAttached ShiftAttached Shift ...............................................................................................................31 Attached HoursAttached HoursAttached HoursAttached Hours.............................................................................................................31 Access GroupAccess GroupAccess GroupAccess Group...............................................................................................................31 Running CostsRunning CostsRunning CostsRunning Costs ..............................................................................................................31

Driver ShiftsDriver ShiftsDriver ShiftsDriver Shifts ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 32323232 Creating a New ShiftCreating a New ShiftCreating a New ShiftCreating a New Shift .....................................................................................................32 Renaming a ShiftRenaming a ShiftRenaming a ShiftRenaming a Shift...........................................................................................................32 Deleting a ShiftDeleting a ShiftDeleting a ShiftDeleting a Shift .............................................................................................................32 Earliest Starting and Latest Finishing TimeEarliest Starting and Latest Finishing TimeEarliest Starting and Latest Finishing TimeEarliest Starting and Latest Finishing Time .......................................................................33 Minutes at Basic RateMinutes at Basic RateMinutes at Basic RateMinutes at Basic Rate ....................................................................................................33 Basic RateBasic RateBasic RateBasic Rate ....................................................................................................................33 Overtime RateOvertime RateOvertime RateOvertime Rate ..............................................................................................................33 Minimum Shift CostMinimum Shift CostMinimum Shift CostMinimum Shift Cost.......................................................................................................33 Overnight AllowanceOvernight AllowanceOvernight AllowanceOvernight Allowance.....................................................................................................33 Attached HoursAttached HoursAttached HoursAttached Hours.............................................................................................................33

Driver HoursDriver HoursDriver HoursDriver Hours........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 34343434 Creating an Hours RecordCreating an Hours RecordCreating an Hours RecordCreating an Hours Record .............................................................................................34 Renaming an Hours RecordRenaming an Hours RecordRenaming an Hours RecordRenaming an Hours Record ...........................................................................................34 Deleting an Hours RecordDeleting an Hours RecordDeleting an Hours RecordDeleting an Hours Record..............................................................................................35 Max Daily DrivingMax Daily DrivingMax Daily DrivingMax Daily Driving Time Time Time Time .................................................................................................35 Max Continuous DrivingMax Continuous DrivingMax Continuous DrivingMax Continuous Driving................................................................................................35 Rest From Driving RequiredRest From Driving RequiredRest From Driving RequiredRest From Driving Required............................................................................................35 Shortest Legal BreakShortest Legal BreakShortest Legal BreakShortest Legal Break......................................................................................................35 Max Duty PeriodMax Duty PeriodMax Duty PeriodMax Duty Period ...........................................................................................................35 Max Continuous Duty PeriodMax Continuous Duty PeriodMax Continuous Duty PeriodMax Continuous Duty Period .........................................................................................35 Min Off Duty At BaseMin Off Duty At BaseMin Off Duty At BaseMin Off Duty At Base ....................................................................................................35 Min Off Duty Away From BaseMin Off Duty Away From BaseMin Off Duty Away From BaseMin Off Duty Away From Base .......................................................................................35

RevenueRevenueRevenueRevenue................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 36363636 Fixed Revenue Per OrderFixed Revenue Per OrderFixed Revenue Per OrderFixed Revenue Per Order ...............................................................................................36 Fixed Revenue Per CallFixed Revenue Per CallFixed Revenue Per CallFixed Revenue Per Call..................................................................................................36 Per TripPer TripPer TripPer Trip ........................................................................................................................36 Per Km/MilePer Km/MilePer Km/MilePer Km/Mile .................................................................................................................36 Per Hour WorkedPer Hour WorkedPer Hour WorkedPer Hour Worked..........................................................................................................36


Per Primary and Secondary Load UnitPer Primary and Secondary Load UnitPer Primary and Secondary Load UnitPer Primary and Secondary Load Unit .............................................................................36 Advanced OptionsAdvanced OptionsAdvanced OptionsAdvanced Options .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 37373737

Extended OpeningExtended OpeningExtended OpeningExtended Opening ........................................................................................................37 End At DepotEnd At DepotEnd At DepotEnd At Depot................................................................................................................37 Depot CostsDepot CostsDepot CostsDepot Costs .................................................................................................................37 Dynamic DepotsDynamic DepotsDynamic DepotsDynamic Depots ...........................................................................................................37 Tramping .....................................................................................................................38 Obey Obey Obey Obey SequenceSequenceSequenceSequence............................................................................................................38 Booking Time ToleranceBooking Time ToleranceBooking Time ToleranceBooking Time Tolerance................................................................................................38 Consolidate OnConsolidate OnConsolidate OnConsolidate On............................................................................................................38 Paid BrePaid BrePaid BrePaid Breaksaksaksaks ..................................................................................................................38 PrePrePrePre----Break LimitBreak LimitBreak LimitBreak Limit .............................................................................................................38

The Import FileThe Import FileThe Import FileThe Import File .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 39393939 Introduction to ImpIntroduction to ImpIntroduction to ImpIntroduction to Importingortingortingorting.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 39393939 Field HeadersField HeadersField HeadersField Headers ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 39393939 Field Header NotesField Header NotesField Header NotesField Header Notes ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 42424242

Tramped PairsTramped PairsTramped PairsTramped Pairs ..............................................................................................................42 Ban DaysBan DaysBan DaysBan Days .....................................................................................................................42 Loading baysLoading baysLoading baysLoading bays................................................................................................................42

Creating an Import FileCreating an Import FileCreating an Import FileCreating an Import File ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 43434343

Importing DataImporting DataImporting DataImporting Data .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44444444 Settings TabSettings TabSettings TabSettings Tab ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 45454545

Confidence LevelConfidence LevelConfidence LevelConfidence Level ..........................................................................................................45 Automatically Zone Orders and CallpointsAutomatically Zone Orders and CallpointsAutomatically Zone Orders and CallpointsAutomatically Zone Orders and Callpoints......................................................................46

Import TabImport TabImport TabImport Tab ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 46464646 Importing a FileImporting a FileImporting a FileImporting a File ............................................................................................................46 Correcting Import ErrorsCorrecting Import ErrorsCorrecting Import ErrorsCorrecting Import Errors ................................................................................................48 Purge Existing Data Before ImportingPurge Existing Data Before ImportingPurge Existing Data Before ImportingPurge Existing Data Before Importing..............................................................................49 Selective Data PurgeSelective Data PurgeSelective Data PurgeSelective Data Purge .....................................................................................................49 Current Import FileCurrent Import FileCurrent Import FileCurrent Import File........................................................................................................49 Manual Address EntryManual Address EntryManual Address EntryManual Address Entry....................................................................................................49

Results TabResults TabResults TabResults Tab................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 50505050

Order ViewerOrder ViewerOrder ViewerOrder Viewer................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 51515151 Order Details WindowOrder Details WindowOrder Details WindowOrder Details Window ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 53535353

AAAAddress Tabddress Tabddress Tabddress Tab .................................................................................................................54 Information TabInformation TabInformation TabInformation Tab............................................................................................................54 Restrictions TabRestrictions TabRestrictions TabRestrictions Tab.............................................................................................................55 Products TaProducts TaProducts TaProducts Tabbbb ................................................................................................................56

Creating a New OrderCreating a New OrderCreating a New OrderCreating a New Order................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 57575757 Deleting an OrderDeleting an OrderDeleting an OrderDeleting an Order........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 59595959 Data Purge OptData Purge OptData Purge OptData Purge Optionsionsionsions ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 60606060 New RouteNew RouteNew RouteNew Route ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 60606060 Order DisplayOrder DisplayOrder DisplayOrder Display................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 60606060 Search FunctionSearch FunctionSearch FunctionSearch Function .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 60606060 PrintPrintPrintPrint .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 61616161 DownloadDownloadDownloadDownload .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 61616161

Map ViewMap ViewMap ViewMap View ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 63636363 Map ControlsMap ControlsMap ControlsMap Controls ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 64646464

Zoom FactorZoom FactorZoom FactorZoom Factor ................................................................................................................64 Zoom In/OutZoom In/OutZoom In/OutZoom In/Out................................................................................................................64 Jump ToJump ToJump ToJump To.......................................................................................................................64


CentreCentreCentreCentre .........................................................................................................................64 Direction PadDirection PadDirection PadDirection Pad ...............................................................................................................64 Route DisplayRoute DisplayRoute DisplayRoute Display ...............................................................................................................64 FiltersFiltersFiltersFilters...........................................................................................................................66 Icon PaletteIcon PaletteIcon PaletteIcon Palette ..................................................................................................................67 Reset MapReset MapReset MapReset Map....................................................................................................................67 PrintPrintPrintPrint.............................................................................................................................67 Map SizeMap SizeMap SizeMap Size......................................................................................................................67 OpacityOpacityOpacityOpacity........................................................................................................................67 Box ZoomBox ZoomBox ZoomBox Zoom ....................................................................................................................68

Manual PlanningManual PlanningManual PlanningManual Planning ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 69696969 Creating a RouteCreating a RouteCreating a RouteCreating a Route................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 69696969

Route Route Route Route NameNameNameName.................................................................................................................69 DepotDepotDepotDepot ..........................................................................................................................70 VehicleVehicleVehicleVehicle.........................................................................................................................70 ShiftShiftShiftShift .............................................................................................................................70 Start dayStart dayStart dayStart day ......................................................................................................................70 Start TimeStart TimeStart TimeStart Time.....................................................................................................................70 DescriptionDescriptionDescriptionDescription...................................................................................................................70

Adding Orders to a RouteAdding Orders to a RouteAdding Orders to a RouteAdding Orders to a Route ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 71717171 Add From ListAdd From ListAdd From ListAdd From List ...............................................................................................................71 Add From MapAdd From MapAdd From MapAdd From Map.............................................................................................................71

Edit Route WindowEdit Route WindowEdit Route WindowEdit Route Window .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 73737373 Location ColumnLocation ColumnLocation ColumnLocation Column ..........................................................................................................74 Add DepotAdd DepotAdd DepotAdd Depot ...................................................................................................................75 New LocationNew LocationNew LocationNew Location ...............................................................................................................75 Insert ItemInsert ItemInsert ItemInsert Item ....................................................................................................................76 DeleteDeleteDeleteDelete..........................................................................................................................76 ResourcesResourcesResourcesResources.....................................................................................................................77 TotalsTotalsTotalsTotals ..........................................................................................................................77 OptimiseOptimiseOptimiseOptimise......................................................................................................................78 UndoUndoUndoUndo...........................................................................................................................78 Map ViewMap ViewMap ViewMap View.....................................................................................................................78 PrintPrintPrintPrint.............................................................................................................................79 DownloadDownloadDownloadDownload ....................................................................................................................79 WarningsWarningsWarningsWarnings .....................................................................................................................79 Saving a RouteSaving a RouteSaving a RouteSaving a Route .............................................................................................................80 CancelCancelCancelCancel.........................................................................................................................80

Route ViewerRoute ViewerRoute ViewerRoute Viewer .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 80808080 DetailsDetailsDetailsDetails .........................................................................................................................80 TotalsTotalsTotalsTotals ..........................................................................................................................81 RenameRenameRenameRename .......................................................................................................................81 DeleteDeleteDeleteDelete..........................................................................................................................81 Delete AllDelete AllDelete AllDelete All .....................................................................................................................81 Select All/DeselectSelect All/DeselectSelect All/DeselectSelect All/Deselect ........................................................................................................81 EditEditEditEdit Route Route Route Route ....................................................................................................................82 PrintPrintPrintPrint.............................................................................................................................82 DownloadDownloadDownloadDownload ....................................................................................................................82 ClearClearClearClear ...........................................................................................................................82 CloseCloseCloseClose...........................................................................................................................82

Auto ScheduleAuto ScheduleAuto ScheduleAuto Schedule ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 83838383 Scheduling ParametersScheduling ParametersScheduling ParametersScheduling Parameters................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 83838383

Planning DayPlanning DayPlanning DayPlanning Day................................................................................................................84 Scheduling PeriodScheduling PeriodScheduling PeriodScheduling Period .........................................................................................................84 Max Nights AwayMax Nights AwayMax Nights AwayMax Nights Away ..........................................................................................................84


Max Trips Per RouteMax Trips Per RouteMax Trips Per RouteMax Trips Per Route ......................................................................................................84 Collection At EndCollection At EndCollection At EndCollection At End..........................................................................................................84 Fixed Fleet SizeFixed Fleet SizeFixed Fleet SizeFixed Fleet Size .............................................................................................................84 Route Name PrefixRoute Name PrefixRoute Name PrefixRoute Name Prefix ........................................................................................................85 Trailer SwappingTrailer SwappingTrailer SwappingTrailer Swapping...........................................................................................................85

Advanced ParametersAdvanced ParametersAdvanced ParametersAdvanced Parameters .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 86868686 Auto ScheduleAuto ScheduleAuto ScheduleAuto Schedule ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 87878787

ReReReRe----ScheduleScheduleScheduleSchedule .................................................................................................................87 PrePrePrePre----Allocated RoutesAllocated RoutesAllocated RoutesAllocated Routes .....................................................................................................87 Continue SchedulingContinue SchedulingContinue SchedulingContinue Scheduling.....................................................................................................87 Add To ExistingAdd To ExistingAdd To ExistingAdd To Existing.............................................................................................................87 New Routes Only Preserve AllNew Routes Only Preserve AllNew Routes Only Preserve AllNew Routes Only Preserve All ........................................................................................87 ReReReRe----Optimise RoutesOptimise RoutesOptimise RoutesOptimise Routes.......................................................................................................88 ExtendExtendExtendExtend..........................................................................................................................88 SpreadSpreadSpreadSpread.........................................................................................................................88 PPPPerformance Scaleerformance Scaleerformance Scaleerformance Scale ........................................................................................................88

Route Scheduling ActionRoute Scheduling ActionRoute Scheduling ActionRoute Scheduling Action .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 89898989 ContinueContinueContinueContinue......................................................................................................................89 AddAddAddAdd .............................................................................................................................89 PreservePreservePreservePreserve .......................................................................................................................89

Auto Schedule ProgressAuto Schedule ProgressAuto Schedule ProgressAuto Schedule Progress............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 91919191 Resolving Unallocated OrResolving Unallocated OrResolving Unallocated OrResolving Unallocated Ordersdersdersders........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 93939393

ReportsReportsReportsReports ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 94949494 Jasper ReportsJasper ReportsJasper ReportsJasper Reports ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 94949494

KPI TabKPI TabKPI TabKPI Tab........................................................................................................................94 Summary TabSummary TabSummary TabSummary Tab ...............................................................................................................95 Load Detail TabLoad Detail TabLoad Detail TabLoad Detail Tab............................................................................................................95 Orders TabOrders TabOrders TabOrders Tab ..................................................................................................................95 Parameters TabParameters TabParameters TabParameters Tab ............................................................................................................95 Report FormatsReport FormatsReport FormatsReport Formats .............................................................................................................95 Emailing ReportsEmailing ReportsEmailing ReportsEmailing Reports...........................................................................................................96 Produce ReportProduce ReportProduce ReportProduce Report.............................................................................................................96

Basic ReportsBasic ReportsBasic ReportsBasic Reports .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 97979797 Default Profile ReportDefault Profile ReportDefault Profile ReportDefault Profile Report ....................................................................................................97 Generate New ReportGenerate New ReportGenerate New ReportGenerate New Report ...................................................................................................98

Report ContentsReport ContentsReport ContentsReport Contents ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 100100100100 Default Profile Report ListDefault Profile Report ListDefault Profile Report ListDefault Profile Report List.............................................................................................100 Summary ReportSummary ReportSummary ReportSummary Report .........................................................................................................101 Full ReportFull ReportFull ReportFull Report .................................................................................................................102

Speed TableSpeed TableSpeed TableSpeed Table ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 103103103103 Building a Local MatrixBuilding a Local MatrixBuilding a Local MatrixBuilding a Local Matrix .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 104104104104

Current Speed TableCurrent Speed TableCurrent Speed TableCurrent Speed Table ...................................................................................................104 Enable/DisableEnable/DisableEnable/DisableEnable/Disable...........................................................................................................104 Upload Speed TableUpload Speed TableUpload Speed TableUpload Speed Table ...................................................................................................104 Speed UnitSpeed UnitSpeed UnitSpeed Unit .................................................................................................................104 Vehicle Speeds TableVehicle Speeds TableVehicle Speeds TableVehicle Speeds Table ..................................................................................................104 Vehicle SizeVehicle SizeVehicle SizeVehicle Size ................................................................................................................105 Vehicle TypeVehicle TypeVehicle TypeVehicle Type...............................................................................................................105 IncludeIncludeIncludeInclude ......................................................................................................................105 From FileFrom FileFrom FileFrom File ...................................................................................................................105 CloseCloseCloseClose.........................................................................................................................105 BuildBuildBuildBuild..........................................................................................................................105

Viewing Matrix PointsViewing Matrix PointsViewing Matrix PointsViewing Matrix Points ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 107107107107


Site LogiXSite LogiXSite LogiXSite LogiX............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 110110110110 Opening Site LogiXOpening Site LogiXOpening Site LogiXOpening Site LogiX............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 110110110110 Location MethodsLocation MethodsLocation MethodsLocation Methods.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 111111111111

AUTO: Locate AnywhereAUTO: Locate AnywhereAUTO: Locate AnywhereAUTO: Locate Anywhere .............................................................................................111 DEPOTS: Locate at DepotDEPOTS: Locate at DepotDEPOTS: Locate at DepotDEPOTS: Locate at Depot ...........................................................................................111 ORDERS: LocaORDERS: LocaORDERS: LocaORDERS: Locate at orderste at orderste at orderste at orders ...........................................................................................111 Depots RequiredDepots RequiredDepots RequiredDepots Required .........................................................................................................111 Depot PrefixDepot PrefixDepot PrefixDepot Prefix................................................................................................................111 Retain ExiRetain ExiRetain ExiRetain Existing Depotssting Depotssting Depotssting Depots .................................................................................................111 StartStartStartStart...........................................................................................................................111 Preferred Depot SummaryPreferred Depot SummaryPreferred Depot SummaryPreferred Depot Summary............................................................................................111

Running SRunning SRunning SRunning Site LogiXite LogiXite LogiXite LogiX................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 111111111111 PrintPrintPrintPrint...........................................................................................................................113 DownloadDownloadDownloadDownload ..................................................................................................................113

1 logixcentral Training Manual

IIIIntroductionntroductionntroductionntroduction

Welcome to the logixcentral Training Manual. This document details all the functionality of logixcentral, from the logging in process through to scheduling your orders successfully and generating reports. In this guide every feature, button and option is explained, enabling you to have detailed knowledge of all the tools available to you in logixcentral. This manual can therefore be used as a reference guide for users of all levels of expertise. This manual not only describes each function but it also provides you with valuable hints and tips that will help you become a better user of the software and help you avoid any potential mistakes that may negatively affect your scheduling process. The manual is split into chapters that each concentrate on a different section of logixcentral. Each chapter begins by providing an overview of the topic being covered and introduces you to any new terms or concepts you need to be aware of before explaining all the functions in detail. The following ‘Getting Started’ chapter details the steps to complete when you log into a new user account for the first time and introduces you to the basic concepts that you will need to understand as you work through this training manual.


Getting StartedGetting StartedGetting StartedGetting Started logixcentral is a web based software system meaning it can be accessed from any PC with an internet connection that uses Windows Internet Explorer 6 and above. No software or add-ons need to be downloaded and installed prior to use, all you need is your username and password to log in to the website and start the scheduling process.

Logging InLogging InLogging InLogging In Open a web browser and type www.logixcentral.net into the address bar and press enter. This takes you to the log in screen:

Input your username and password and click Continue or press return. You may also tick the Remember Me check box so logixcentral remembers your username and password on subsequent visits to the website. Please note that it is not advisable to tick the Remember Me check box if you are using a public computer to access logixcentral.

User OptionsUser OptionsUser OptionsUser Options When you log in to a new user account for the first time a dialog box appears notifying you that you will be required to change your Password:


Click Continue to proceed to the Account tab of the User Options window.

Enter your Current Password and then enter a new password in the two text boxes provided. Note that your new password needs to be at least 6 characters long. Then click on Save Changes. A ‘Settings Saved’ message will appear and an email will be sent notifying you of the password change. After you click OK you will be taken to the Preferences tab.

From here you can make the following changes to your Preferences:


Time ZoneTime ZoneTime ZoneTime Zone By default this is set to Greenwich Mean Time and the current time displays to the right. This can be changed by clicking on the Drop Down Menu and choosing from -12 hours to +12 hours. LanguageLanguageLanguageLanguage The default is English but you can change this to German, Norwegian, Swedish or Sales-English. Default Reports LanguageDefault Reports LanguageDefault Reports LanguageDefault Reports Language In addition to the languages above you can also choose from Danish, Dutch, French and Italian. Any reports produced will then be in this chosen language. Default Map SizeDefault Map SizeDefault Map SizeDefault Map Size Options here are Small, Large and Maximum. Please note that some users may find that parts of the map are missing if you choose Maximum due to your screen resolution settings in Microsoft Windows. For this reason the default size is Large. Default Map OpacityDefault Map OpacityDefault Map OpacityDefault Map Opacity This is how bright and clear the map appears, if you reduce the value from the default of 100 you will notice the map becomes lighter in colour and less pronounced. You will find that this makes the icons stand out more on the map. The opacity decreases by 10 from 100 to 0 with each click of the down arrow. Shortcut Bar StyleShortcut Bar StyleShortcut Bar StyleShortcut Bar Style Here you can choose how the icons on the left hand side of the main logixcentral screen are displayed. By default they are Large icons, you can choose to change them to a List or to have them displayed in Sections (similar to the default Plan LogiX view). Default ViewDefault ViewDefault ViewDefault View This is the view you wish to display when you log in. By default the screen is Blank, but you can change this so that the Map displays on start up. It will then display the orders and depots relating to your active Profile. Show Tips on Log InShow Tips on Log InShow Tips on Log InShow Tips on Log In By default tips display on log in, you can choose to turn this off. Click on the View Tips button if you wish to view any of the tips while in this window. Click on the Save Changes button to confirm and save any changes you may have made. A dialog box appears confirming the save, click OK to close it. If you wish to return to the default settings and discard any changes you have made click on the Default button. Click on Close when you are finished. Once you close the User Options window the Profile Manager automatically displays. Prior to looking at this in detail the concepts involved need to be explained.

ProjectProjectProjectProjectssss and Profiles and Profiles and Profiles and Profiles Projects are folders that you use to store your Profiles in. Profiles are made up of all your company’s static data such as the shift patterns, vehicle fleet and depot locations. It also contains your variable order data that concerns your collections and deliveries. It is these two forms of data that are required for you to be able to complete the scheduling process within logixcentral. You can create as many Profiles as you need and these can be stored in as many Project folders as you wish to create. How often you create a new Project or Profile will largely depend on the time


period you schedule for. It may be on a daily or weekly basis, but whichever method you choose, the Profile Manager is the function you use to organise the save locations of your data.

Profile ManagerProfile ManagerProfile ManagerProfile Manager After the User Options window closes the below screen displays:

On the left is the Project Box that displays all available Project folders. On the Right is the Profile Box which will display the Profiles contained once a Project folder has been highlighted with a single click. No Projects or Profiles exist in a new user account so they must be created from scratch. As a Project must be created first only the ‘New’ button under the Project box is active, all other buttons are greyed out and therefore unusable. For the purpose of the Getting Started chapter only creating a Project and Profile will be explained here. All other functions of the Profile Manager are discussed in the following chapter. Creating a Creating a Creating a Creating a New New New New ProjectProjectProjectProject Click on the New button and the following window will appear:


The new Project has been given a name by default. You can choose to use this name or click in the Project Name text box and type your own. The Project Type is ‘Private’ by default meaning it’s only accessible from within your user account. If you choose to click on the ‘Public’ radio button anyone with a logixcentral user account will be able to access the Project. Click on Create once you have defined your Project Name and Type.

Your Project now displays in the Project Box and the ‘Rename’ and ‘Delete’ buttons are now active. Creating a New ProfileCreating a New ProfileCreating a New ProfileCreating a New Profile The New button under the Profile Box becomes active once a Project has been created. Click on this to create a new Profile.

Either use the default name given or click in the text box and enter your own name. You then need to select the map to use by clicking on the drop down menu arrow and making your choice from the list provided. By default the ‘Include Default Parameters’ checkbox is ticked. This means that certain sections of the Parameters will be given default values, which is useful if you wish to start scheduling as soon as possible. If you wish to start from scratch and input all your parameter settings manually then un-


tick the checkbox with a single click. All default parameters can be edited or deleted, as explained in full during the Parameters chapter. Click on ‘Create’ once you have defined your new Profile. Your Profile Manager window will now look similar to this:

The statistics box has become active and shows the name of the selected Profile along with the map it uses. As no orders have been imported yet some of the stat boxes remain at zero while Products and Vehicles are at 2 as the ‘Include Default Parameters’ checkbox was ticked. With a Project and Profile created click on the Close command button at the bottom of the window.


Main logixcentral ScreenMain logixcentral ScreenMain logixcentral ScreenMain logixcentral Screen The Profile Manager will close leaving you with the following screen:

This screen contains the Summary Bar across the top and the Shortcuts Bar down the left hand side with the Main Viewing Pane in the centre. Summary BarSummary BarSummary BarSummary Bar This provides you with statistics of the data in your active profile. Across the very top are the Options and Help menus on the left with the user account name and Log Out option on the right. Click on Options to log out or to access the User Options window described earlier.

Click on the Help menu to either open the logixcentral online help feature, to go to the logixcentral website or to contact support.


The online help and logixcentral website will open in a new web browser. Clicking on contact support will create a new email addressed to [email protected]. Beneath this is the active Project and Profile name, the Profile type (public or private) and the map in use. The next level is a series of boxes containing statistics regarding the orders and parameters of the active workarea. These will change from zero as Parameter settings are defined and orders imported and allocated to routes. Finally at the bottom of the Summary Bar is the Status bar that advises you of the condition of the active workarea. Anytime logixcentral is asked to perform a function the Status bar will update. Any error that occurs will display here in red text. You can view historical status summaries by clicking on the down arrow on the right hand side of the Status bar.

Shortcuts BarShortcuts BarShortcuts BarShortcuts Bar These icons allow you to quickly access the different functions of logixcentral that you will use to complete the scheduling process. By default the Shortcuts Bar displays in Large Icons view. Click on the small format button to the left of the word “Shortcuts” to toggle through the views. The three view options are:

MainMainMainMain Viewing Pane Viewing Pane Viewing Pane Viewing Pane This takes up the majority of the main logixcentral screen and is where any of the functions you access using the Shortcuts Bar will open and display.


HelpHelpHelpHelp This can be accessed at any point by clicking on the ‘logixcentral Help’ option in the Help menu of the Summary Bar. The following screen then displays:

This is a similar format to a Microsoft program’s help file with a Navigation Pane on the left listing all the help sections and the main viewing pane showing the information of the highlighted section. The Help file uses a blue book icon to signify a section that can be opened (expanded) to reveal the contents or a sub-section. Information pages are represented by a question mark icon, a single click displays the information in the viewing pane. You can close any expanded section by clicking on its open book icon. At the top of the Navigation page you can choose how to view the information, by default it is set to Contents but you can change this by clicking on the Index, Search or Glossary buttons. Help is also available within every function window that opens in the main viewing pane. This small question mark button is located just to the left of the close window cross on the right hand side as shown below in the Profile Manager window.

This Help option is context sensitive and will therefore open straight to the help section for the function you are currently using.


Profile ManagerProfile ManagerProfile ManagerProfile Manager

How to create a Project and Profile was explained in the Getting Started chapter, aimed at those logging in to a new user account for the first time. This chapter looks at all the other functions available to you. Opening Profile ManagerOpening Profile ManagerOpening Profile ManagerOpening Profile Manager After the initial log in, Profile Manager is opened by clicking on the Select Profile icon from the Shortcuts Bar. An example of a well used account is shown below highlighting the existence of different Project folders and the various Profiles within them.

From the above screenshot you can see ‘Public Projects’ and ‘My Projects’ sections within the Project box. This shows where a new Project is saved to depending on whether you chose to make it a Public or Private Project upon creation. Activating a ProfileActivating a ProfileActivating a ProfileActivating a Profile Clicking on a Project will bring up the stored Profiles in the Profile box. From here you can single click on a Profile to view its statistics below. Note that on the right hand side of the Statistics box ‘Use This Profile’ displays in blue text as shown above. This confirms that it is not yet the active profile. Either double click on the profile or click on the ‘Use This Profile’ text to activate the profile, the text then changes to show it is now active:

Renaming a ProjectRenaming a ProjectRenaming a ProjectRenaming a Project To change the name of a Project click on Rename and the below window will display:


Click in the text box, delete the existing text and input your new name and then click on Rename to complete the action. Click on Cancel if you wish to exit without renaming. Deleting a ProjectDeleting a ProjectDeleting a ProjectDeleting a Project Highlight the Project you wish to delete with a single click and click on the Delete button.

A dialog box appears asking you to confirm your action. To proceed with deleting click OK, to return to the Profile Manager without deleting click Cancel.

Copying a ProfileCopying a ProfileCopying a ProfileCopying a Profile Highlight the Profile and click on the Copy button, the following window displays:

First, choose how much of the Profile to copy.

• Parameters only: Means just that, no other data will be copied.

• Parameters and Tasks: All parameter settings and order data will be copied.


• Parameters and Unallocated Tasks: The Parameters and those orders that aren’t allocated to routes will be copied.

• Parameters, Allocated Tasks and routes means everything but unallocated orders will be copied.

• Copy All: Copies everything making it an exact copy of the original Profile. Callpoints: By default all callpoints are copied and it’s recommended that you leave it on the default setting. However if you wish to change it you can select to copy only those callpoints that have been used or you can choose to copy none at all. Copy To: This is the name of the copied Profile. By default the name will be ‘<File Name>_Copy’. If you wish to change this click in the text box, delete the current name and enter your own. Project: Choose which Project you want to save this to. By default it will list the current open Project, if you wish to change this click on the drop down menu arrow and make your selection from the list. You can choose to copy it to a Public or Private Project. Click on Copy to complete the process. The new copied Profile will then become the active Profile. Renaming a ProfileRenaming a ProfileRenaming a ProfileRenaming a Profile Highlight the Profile you wish to rename and click the Rename button underneath the Profile box. The following box will display:

Click in the text box and enter your new name and then click Rename. The renamed Profile will then become active. Click Cancel to abort the command and return to the Profile Manager. Deleting a ProfileDeleting a ProfileDeleting a ProfileDeleting a Profile Highlight the required Profile and click on the delete button. The following dialog box will then appear:

Click OK to confirm deletion or Cancel to abort the command and return to the Profile Manager.


ParametersParametersParametersParameters This is one of the most important sections within a Profile as it’s where you enter details specific to your company, making the Profile specific to your resources. Here you input data concerning your vehicles, depots and products along with information such as shift time and working time directives. You must accurately define your Parameters so that they reflect your available resources and practices as failure to do so could lead to unexpected or inaccurate scheduling results Once Parameters have been inputted it is extremely important to spend time testing and checking the effects the settings have on the resultant planning schedules. This process is called Calibration and needs to be undertaken extensively before logixcentral is used in a Live-planning environment. Remember, logixcentral can only work with the information it is given so if wrong information is passed in, inaccurate information will be passed out. This chapter covers all definable Parameter settings, describing the sections from a new user perspective using screenshots of a newly created Profile that includes default parameters. To get underway click on the Parameters icon in the Shortcuts Bar and the following screen will display:

On the left you have the list of sections; this is referred to as the Sections Menu. The main viewing pane of the window displays the information and available settings for that section. Navigate between sections by clicking on the word in the Sections Menu. The Reset and Save Changes buttons are ever present along the blue bar displaying the sections name. It is important to remember to click the Save Changes button before moving on to another section. If at any point you wish to undo the changes you have made to the current section click on Reset.


GeneralGeneralGeneralGeneral Company NameCompany NameCompany NameCompany Name Input the name of your company here by clicking in the text box and typing. The text entered here appears on report headers and can be up to 20 characters long Distance UnitDistance UnitDistance UnitDistance Unit Choose whether you wish to measure distances in Kilometres or Miles. It is set to KM by default and can be changed using the drop down menu. Speed VariationsSpeed VariationsSpeed VariationsSpeed Variations On any given journey a vehicle’s road speed is not constant. Therefore logixcentral has four user definable time periods that allow you to vary your fleet’s road speed as a percentage of the standard road speeds defined in logixcentral’s time and distance matrix (refer to the Speed Table chapter for more information). This enables you to reduce road speeds during peak time periods and increase it during off peak periods, thus improving the route time calculations. First set the percentage for each time period and then set it’s corresponding From and To time using the 24 hour clock. Use the up/down arrows to increase or decrease the time and percentage values or double click in the box and type it in manually. Min Time Between CallsMin Time Between CallsMin Time Between CallsMin Time Between Calls & Min Distance Between Calls & Min Distance Between Calls & Min Distance Between Calls & Min Distance Between Calls This setting is useful when you have multiple orders at the same location, for example when you are delivering to different companies on the same site or office building. As they are at the same location logixcentral might judge the distance between the orders to be minimal or even zero and not add any travel time between them even though time would be needed if the orders were on different floors of the same building. For this reason the time and/or distance value that you define here is added to the journey if the calculated time and distance on the route falls below the values set here. Use the up/down arrows to set a time and distance value or click in the numeric box and type over the existing value. By default both of these are set to zero, the time is measured in minutes and the distance is measured in the unit (km or miles) you defined above in the Distance Unit setting. Open DaysOpen DaysOpen DaysOpen Days Here you can set global opening times for all the orders that you import. However any open and close times specified in the import file will override the times set here. By default all checkboxes are ticked meaning orders are open 7 days a week. To change this simply click on the box to remove the tick.

MapMapMapMap This lists the current map in use and also the boundaries of the map. This is simply for information as the settings will be greyed out and un-editable as shown by the screenshot below:


Auto OptionsAuto OptionsAuto OptionsAuto Options The Parameters settings in this section are specific to the use of Auto Schedule and greatly affect the routes Auto Schedule produces therefore we strongly urge you to spend time calibrating these settings to find the values that give you the optimal scheduling result for your scenario. During the calibrating process it’s wise to alter one setting at a time to observe the individual affects on your schedules.


Cluster ModeCluster ModeCluster ModeCluster Mode During the route building process Auto Schedule puts orders that could be on the same route together into groups called clusters. Auto Schedule forms these clusters in one of three ways, or modes, that you can define: By Call Point: Builds clusters based on all orders for each call point reference. By Map Reference: All orders for a map reference are put in the same cluster By Radius: All orders within a circle of a set radius are clustered together. The Cluster Mode drop down menu is greyed out in the Auto Options section. This is because the mode is defined by the Performance Scale in Auto Schedule, therefore the mode used depends on what scale value you use. Level 1, basic but fast scheduling, uses By Call Point, level 2 uses By Map Reference and levels 3-5 use By Radius. From this you can determine that By Radius is the best mode to use as it produces the most optimum scheduling results. As this mode performs more calculations to get the most optimum results it should be noted that By Radius will also take the longest of the three modes to complete the schedule process. Cluster RadiusCluster RadiusCluster RadiusCluster Radius This setting can only be defined if the Cluster Mode in use is By Radius. It lets you set the radius of the circle used to form clusters during the route building process. All orders that fall within the circle are then considered for the same route. Auto Schedule must then work out the best sequence on the route for all the orders so every possible combination is tried until the most optimal sequence is found. That is, the order sequence that takes the least amount of time to complete. By default the Cluster Radius is set to 20, this can be increased or decreased by using the up/down arrows or by clicking in the numeric box and typing in the value. This is one of the most important settings to calibrate as the bigger you make your radius the more orders are likely to fall within the circle, therefore the longer the scheduling process will take as more calculations have to be performed. DeviationDeviationDeviationDeviation This value is a percentage of the distance on a route from the depot to the order of the highest priority. If an order is within the defined percentage of that return journey then Auto Schedule will consider deviating from that journey and adding it to the route. Any order outside of the distance based on the percentage set will not be considered. It is therefore possible to include more orders on a route by increasing this value from its default of 20 using the up/down arrows or by typing in the required value. If the deviation is too low for the spread of your orders you will find that either too many routes are built to complete the scheduling process or that some orders remain unallocated. Cluster ControlCluster ControlCluster ControlCluster Control Sometimes the scheduling process might be taking longer than necessary for the mode you have set. If this is the case you can define a performance percentage that once Auto Schedule goes below it will automatically reduce the cluster mode being used by one until the performance of Auto Schedule picks up. Once it does it returns to using the Cluster Mode you originally set. Change this value from its default of zero by using the up/down arrows or by clicking in the numeric box and typing in your value. Weighting FactWeighting FactWeighting FactWeighting Factorsorsorsors These four factors are used to influence how Auto Schedule considers grouping and sequencing orders together. Increasing the value of any single factor increases the priority and importance of that factor in the route building reasoning. As each factor can be defined independently of the others you can effectively rank the factors and give each a varying priority, all the same priority, or no priority at all. To define the value of the Weighting Factors either use the up/down arrows or click in the numeric box to type the required value. All factors have a range of 0 to 100 unless stated otherwise below.


Time FactorTime FactorTime FactorTime Factor The time it takes to load and unload an order. By giving this factor a high value you are telling Auto Schedule that the longer an order takes to load and/or unload the higher in priority it is. Orders are sorted and ranked based on their loading times with the longest order being added to a route first, the shortest added last. Distance FactorDistance FactorDistance FactorDistance Factor The distance an order is from the source depot. The higher the value of this factor the higher priority you are placing on those orders that are further away from the depot. This factor also accepts negative values down to –100, which when set increases the priority of those orders that are closest to the depot. Effectively you can tell Auto Schedule to add orders starting furthest away from the depot and work back inwards or start near the depot and work outwards. Load FactorLoad FactorLoad FactorLoad Factor This refers to the size of an order’s load. The higher the setting of this factor the higher in priority large load size orders become. Auto Schedule ranks each order according to size and makes sure that the largest loads are placed onto routes first with the smallest sized order being the last to be placed on a route. Access FactorAccess FactorAccess FactorAccess Factor This is the difficulty of delivering an order based on the number of constraints placed upon it such as open/close window, book time, and vehicle bans. A high value means those orders that have the most constraints and are therefore the most difficult to deliver are given the highest priority and are added to routes first. The seemingly endless combination of settings available to you means it’s incredibly important to spend time calibrating to enable you to observe how varying each weighting factor or a combination of factors can affect the auto schedule results. PenaltiesPenaltiesPenaltiesPenalties This allows you to define the importance of inserting waiting time and overnight off duty periods into a route. Waiting PenaltyWaiting PenaltyWaiting PenaltyWaiting Penalty During route building if it conserves time or reduces costs then Auto Schedule will make the vehicle wait for a nearby call to open rather than driving to another call and coming back later. The higher the percentage value of the Waiting Penalty the less likely Auto Schedule will insert any waiting time. With a high value you may not encounter any waiting times at all but you may find that vehicles travel further as they look to find orders that are open. Conversely if you lower the value and allow waiting times, these may be present in your routes but they will save travelling time and could therefore reduce the overall distance of the route. Night PenaltyNight PenaltyNight PenaltyNight Penalty LogiX will consider the cost of taking an off-duty period while waiting for a closed order to open. The higher the value, the less likely it is that should the decision arise, LogiX will decide to go off duty. Multi DepotMulti DepotMulti DepotMulti Depot This allows Auto Schedule to create routes that originate from more than one depot. If you have created more than one depot and wish for them all to be used then you should tick this checkbox. If this remains un-ticked then only the first depot in the list will be used as a start depot.


DepotsDepotsDepotsDepots Here you need to create and locate your source depots from which all your routes will begin.

The screenshot above shows that when a new Profile is first created no depots exist and so they need to be defined. This is one of the key Parameter sections, without any depots orders cannot be scheduled onto routes as all routes must have a start depot. The Depot window also has additional tabs that contain different types of information that can be accessed by clicking on the required tab. Creating a New DepotCreating a New DepotCreating a New DepotCreating a New Depot Click on New to create a depot, type your depot name into the text box of the resultant window as shown below:

Click on OK to confirm the creation of the depot. The address Locator screen then automatically appears, here you must locate your dept so that it has a fixed position on the map and can be used as the start point for routes.


Enter each line of the Depot’s address in a separate Address text box, using the last box for the Post Code. Once the address is fully entered click on Search. Logixcentral will then locate the depot and display the address along with the coordinates and location as shown below:

Click on OK to return to the parameters window. If you have more Depots to create then repeat the above process until all have been created and located. If you incorrectly locate a Depot then you can click on the Reset button to delete the coordinates and re-enter the depot address. Renaming a DepotRenaming a DepotRenaming a DepotRenaming a Depot Click on the Rename button to rename a depot at any point and the below window will display.


Type the new name of the depot into the text box and click OK to confirm the change. Click Cancel if you wish to abort renaming the depot. Deleting a depotDeleting a depotDeleting a depotDeleting a depot Once a depot has been created the Delete button will become active. Click on this button and the below dialog box appears asking you to confirm deletion.

Click OK to confirm the command or click Cancel to abort deletion and return to the Parameter window. Viewing DepotsViewing DepotsViewing DepotsViewing Depots If you have created more than one depot you can view the different depots and all the specific settings by clicking on the Depot Name drop down menu and selecting from the list provided.


The details for that depot will then display. Location TabLocation TabLocation TabLocation Tab This is the tab that displays when you first click on the Depots section which allows you to quickly enter and locate a depot by clicking on the Find Address button. You can also input the Depot’s telephone number into the Phone text box. Opening TabOpening TabOpening TabOpening Tab

Here you can define two separate open windows for the depot and also define which days the two opening windows apply. Window 1 & Window 2Window 1 & Window 2Window 1 & Window 2Window 1 & Window 2 To set the opening times use the up/down arrows to change the time from the default of 00:00 or click in the box and type in your times using the 24 hour clock. Make sure that the From/To times for the two windows do not overlap each other, there must be at least a minute between the closing of window 1 and the opening of window 2. If the windows are left at 00:00 then it is assumed that the depot is open 24 hours a day. OpeningOpeningOpeningOpening By default a depot is open 7 days a week, to change this simply un-tick the box with a single click. The days of the week are displayed across the top; the first checkbox refers to window 1 the second to window 2. Advanced TabAdvanced TabAdvanced TabAdvanced Tab


Depot GroupDepot GroupDepot GroupDepot Group This setting is used when you have orders that can only be served by a specific depot or group of depots. You can assign each of your depots to a group by clicking on the drop down menu and choosing a group letter from ‘A’ to ‘O’ giving you up to 15 different groups. You must then specify which depot group can serve an order in the import file using the field header DEPGROUP and adding the letter of the group against each order. When Auto Schedule is run logixcentral will choose the most appropriate depot from that specific group to serve the order. If you do not need to use this feature leave ‘No Group’ displayed. CategoryCategoryCategoryCategory This function is used to set up Dynamic Depots and is greyed out by default until the Dynamic Depots checkbox has been ticked in the Advanced Options tab. Once activated the boxes will display as below:

You can then define the functions that your depots are able to perform. By default depots are all three categories therefore un-tick the checkboxes for each depot as required. A trip is defined as the journey made from a depot to make collections and/or deliveries and the return journey back to the depot once the deliveries/collections have been completed. A single route can therefore be made up of multiple trips. Garage: This is a location where a vehicle is stored but not necessarily where it loads up before starting to make deliveries/collections. A depot that is defined as a Garage must be the start and end point of a route. Trip Start: This is a depot that vehicles can depart from to make collections and/or deliveries. Trip End: This is a depot that vehicles can return to having completed its collections and/or deliveries. Throughput TabThroughput TabThroughput TabThroughput Tab

This allows you to limit the quantity of product allowed through a depot either within a Planning Period (number of days up to 7 defined in Auto Schedule) or per Day using the user defined Load Unit(s). Set the weight values by using the up/down arrows or by clicking in the numeric boxes and typing in the required value. By default all values are set to zero meaning there is no throughput limit. If you wish to set the limit to mean zero rather than infinite then you must change at least one value to be greater than zero. Zero then takes on its true meaning.


Costs TabCosts TabCosts TabCosts Tab

This tab is used in conjunction with the Depot Costs checkbox in the Advanced Options section. With this option ticked you define the cost to supply a product in terms of the Driver’s hourly wage, the cost per distance measurement and the cost of the product in terms of its load unit(s). Auto Schedule then takes these costs into account when deciding which depot is best to serve an order. To set a monetary value, use the up/down arrows or click in the numeric boxes and type the required value.

LoadLoadLoadLoad The orders you want to schedule are made up of products that need to be expressed as a unit of measurement. You use this unit of measurement to quantify the size of each order and also to define the capacity of your vehicles. The Load section allows you to create two units of measurement meaning orders and vehicle capacity can be expressed in one of two ways or both if required.


The screenshot above depicts a Load section of a profile created with default parameters included meaning the Primary and Secondary Load Units are already defined. Primary Primary Primary Primary Entering a primary unit is mandatory as logixcentral requires this as a necessity to schedule. This unit is how you will measure the product sizes of your orders and will be specific to your company. You may measure orders by weight or volume or perhaps a set dimension such as pallets or cages. Click in the text box and type the name of your Primary Unit, it can be up to 6 characters long. SecondarySecondarySecondarySecondary A second unit is optional and only need be added if, for example, you have different product types that are measured in different units. It should be noted that a Secondary Unit is by no means less important than the Primary Unit it is just an alternative means of measurement should your company require it. Decimals to DisplayDecimals to DisplayDecimals to DisplayDecimals to Display For each load unit of measurement you can define how many decimal places to display. The order quantities are then displayed to the set number of decimal places throughout logixcentral such as on routes and any reports you generate. You can display up to 5 decimal places by using the up/down arrows or by clicking in the numeric box and typing in your required value. LoLoLoLoad Roundingad Roundingad Roundingad Rounding Here you can define how logixcentral chooses to round the primary and secondary load unit. The three options are shown below:

Standard means .0 to .4 is rounded down, .5 upwards is rounded up. Round up means any decimal is rounded up to the nearest whole number, Round Down means any decimal number is rounded down to the nearest whole number. Make your choice for the load units by clicking on the arrow of the drop down menu and choosing from the list. Fixed Time Fixed Time Fixed Time Fixed Time PPPPer Caller Caller Caller Call This allows you to define a length of time in minutes that a vehicle must remain at a call and is a good way of allocating time for any administrative duties the driver may have such as obtaining PDA signatures etc. As this setting is ‘per call’ the time is only applied once when a driver stops, no matter how many orders he is stopping to collect or deliver within that call. This time is in addition to any time specified in the Product Parameters tab for loading and unloading of Product Types. Set a value by using the up/down arrows or by typing the minutes required into the numeric box. Min and Max Call TimeMin and Max Call TimeMin and Max Call TimeMin and Max Call Time This allows you to set a minimum and maximum amount of minutes that a vehicle is allowed to remain at a call for. Both of these values are optional but if set then any call on a route that takes less than the minimum or more than the maximum is automatically overridden and the Minimum/Maximum Call Time value set here is applied. This setting enables you to limit lengthy calls and also set a realistic minimum call time for the driver. FlagsFlagsFlagsFlags Here you can define whether loading and unloading time is included in the shift. These are optional settings and can be on or off independent of the other. If loading or unloading time is included then the time defined for the loading and unloading of products at the depot in the Products Parameter tab are added to the time spent at the depot at the start and end of a route. Please note that switching these functions on means more time will be spent at the depot meaning less time available for orders to be delivered or collected.


ProductsProductsProductsProducts Here you need to list your Product Types and define their size in relation to the Primary and Secondary Load Units. You don’t list the individual products more the category of product such as box, carton or barrel. It might be the case that you products are packaged to a certain size and can therefore be defined by your Primary or Secondary Load Unit(s), meaning you can use the same names for your Product Types as you do for your Load Units.

The screenshot above shows the Product Types included in a Profile created with default Parameters included. Creating Creating Creating Creating a New Product Typea New Product Typea New Product Typea New Product Type Click on the ‘New’ button underneath the Product Type box and type the name into the text box of the resultant window as shown below:

Click on OK to confirm the new product or click Cancel to exit without creating it. The new Product will then display in the Product Type.


As the screenshot shows the New, Rename and Delete buttons remain inactive directly after creating a product. You must therefore save it by clicking on the Save Changes command button in the top right of the Parameters window. A dialog box will then appear confirming the new product has been saved. The buttons will then become active confirming the product has been saved. Please note that if you click on another product type before saving, the new product you have just created will be deleted and you will have to start the process again. Renaming a Renaming a Renaming a Renaming a PPPProduct Typeroduct Typeroduct Typeroduct Type Highlight the product you wish to rename and click on the Rename button. When the rename window appears delete the existing name and type in the new name. Click OK to confirm or Cancel to exit without renaming. Deleting a Product TypeDeleting a Product TypeDeleting a Product TypeDeleting a Product Type Highlight the Product you wish to delete and then click on the Delete button. The following dialog box will appear.

Click OK to confirm the deletion or Cancel to return without deleting. Changing the Changing the Changing the Changing the PPPProduct Type List orderroduct Type List orderroduct Type List orderroduct Type List order It’s possible to change the order in which the Product Types appear in the box. Highlight the product you wish to move and click on the up or down arrow to move the product in the desired direction.


Number PerNumber PerNumber PerNumber Per You need to define the number of product per each of the Load Units. For cases where your Load Unit and Product Type are the same the ratio will be 1. To change the value you can either use the up/down arrows to increase and decrease the number or you can click in the numeric box and type in the value manually. Please note that although you can use decimal places in this section only whole numbers are accepted in the import file. If you intended to use decimal places in your import file then you will need to work out the conversion ratio. Loading TimeLoading TimeLoading TimeLoading Time It is possible to define the time it takes in minutes to load each of your product, this time is then incorporated into the time spent at an order. As the loading time is per item of product the overall time spent is the number of minutes multiplied by the product quantity of the order. This setting applies to Collection orders Unloading TimeUnloading TimeUnloading TimeUnloading Time As above the unloading time is per item therefore the product quantity is multiplied by the defined unloading time to calculate the total time spent unloading the order. This setting applies to deliveries. Depot Load TimDepot Load TimDepot Load TimDepot Load Timeeee You can also define how long it takes to load and unload products at the depot. This setting refers to how long it takes to load deliveries onto the vehicle at the depot and is measured per item in minutes. Depot Unload TimeDepot Unload TimeDepot Unload TimeDepot Unload Time This refers to the amount of time it takes to unload a product type at a depot. Again this is per item and refers to unloading Collections. Revenue Per Product TypeRevenue Per Product TypeRevenue Per Product TypeRevenue Per Product Type This optional setting allows you to define the revenue generated per single item of each of the Product Types.


VehiclesVehiclesVehiclesVehicles In order for Auto Schedule to create routes and allocate your orders it must know what vehicles are available to use. The most important information that needs to be inputted in this section is the different types of vehicles you have in your fleet and the capacity of each of these types. This could simply be a list of the different sized vehicles that’s also used to distinguish between internally owned vehicles and those that are hired or sub-contracted.

Create a New VehicleCreate a New VehicleCreate a New VehicleCreate a New Vehicle Click on the New button underneath the Vehicle Name box and the following window will display

Enter the vehicle name in the text box and then click OK to confirm or Cancel to abort the new vehicle. After you first create a new vehicle the New, Rename and Delete buttons will still be greyed out, you therefore need to save the new vehicle first by clicking on Save Changes in the top right of the Parameters window. Once you do so a dialog box will appear notifying you of the successful creation, click on OK to close the dialog box. Renaming a VehicleRenaming a VehicleRenaming a VehicleRenaming a Vehicle Highlight the vehicle you wish to change and click on the Rename button. When the vehicle name window appears delete the current name and replace it with the new name. Click OK to confirm the change or Cancel to exit the window without making a change. If you click OK then the new name will be displayed in the Vehicle Name box.


Deleting a VehicleDeleting a VehicleDeleting a VehicleDeleting a Vehicle First highlight the vehicle you wish to delete and then click on the Delete button. A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm your action

Click on OK to confirm the deletion or Cancel to exit without deleting the vehicle. PrimaryPrimaryPrimaryPrimary and Secondary and Secondary and Secondary and Secondary Capacity Capacity Capacity Capacity This is where you set the capacity of your vehicle in relation to your Primary Load Unit and optional Secondary Load Unit if one has been defined.

Set the value(s) by using the up/down arrows or by clicking in the numeric box and typing in the capacity, then click on Save Changes. Repeat this process for each of the Vehicle Types you have created by highlighting each vehicle in the Vehicle Name box. Depot Start, Turnaround and End TimeDepot Start, Turnaround and End TimeDepot Start, Turnaround and End TimeDepot Start, Turnaround and End Time This allows you to set a mandatory time in minutes that a vehicle needs to spend at the depot during different stages of a route.

Start refers to the time before the vehicle leaves the depot to begin the route, Turnaround is if the vehicle is allowed multiple trips on a route and returns to the depot to refill before continuing on with the route and End is once the route has finished and the vehicle has returned to the depot for the last time. To define these depot times use the up/down arrows or click in the numeric box and type the required value. Loading RateLoading RateLoading RateLoading Rate If you have defined Load and Unload times for products in the Load section it is possible to alter the speed at which these are loaded or unloaded for specific vehicles using this setting. The percentage value is set to 100 by default so to speed up or slow down the loading rate for a vehicle simply increase or decrease the percentage value using the up/down arrows or by typing in the required value. Each click of an arrow changes the value by 1%. SpeedSpeedSpeedSpeed The vehicle speeds used in logixcentral are based on the FTA guidelines for 32 tonne vehicles, therefore this value allows you to increase or decrease the speed of vehicles smaller than this. To change the value use the up/down arrows or click in the numeric box and type in the required value.


Allow OvernightsAllow OvernightsAllow OvernightsAllow Overnights Here you can define whether a vehicle is allowed to stay away from the depot overnight or whether it must return to the depot by the end of the driver’s shift. Be default overnights are allowed, to change this click on the checkbox to remove the tick. Attached ShiftAttached ShiftAttached ShiftAttached Shift As multiple Driver Shifts can be created here you can define which shift you want to attach to each vehicle type. This setting is useful if you have day and night shifts and want to allocate different vehicle types to each shift. To select a Shift click on the arrow of the drop down menu and make your selection from the list. Attached HoAttached HoAttached HoAttached Hoursursursurs This allows you to allocate a different set of Driver Hours to your vehicle types. This function is greyed out until a second set of hours has been created. Once it becomes active chose your Driver Hours by clicking on the arrow of the drop down menu and making your selection fro the list. Access GroupAccess GroupAccess GroupAccess Group This function allows you to define any restriction that might be placed on a type of vehicle that can deliver a specific order. There are 15 access groups from ‘A’ to ‘O’ that you can assign to your vehicle types. You then use your import file to define which vehicle type or types are banned from serving an order or conversely you can specify which single vehicle type must serve an order. Auto Schedule then knows to either read the list of banned vehicle types or read the specified vehicle type when allocating the order to an existing route or creating a route for it. To select an Access Group click on the arrow of the drop down menu and choose a letter from the list. How to set up the import file is explained in the Import chapter. Running CostsRunning CostsRunning CostsRunning Costs Here you can define the different costs of a vehicle type.

You can set a monetary value for the running cost per hour, per distance measurement or per day. You can also define the CO2 value per distance measurement. These figures are then used to calculate the running costs involved for each route and for all routes in a profile. These figures are included in the Reports available to you; see the Reports chapter for details.


Driver ShiftsDriver ShiftsDriver ShiftsDriver Shifts Logixcentral needs information concerning the shift patterns of the drivers so that the routes created accurately depict those of your company’s workforce.

Creating a New ShiftCreating a New ShiftCreating a New ShiftCreating a New Shift Click on the New button underneath the Shift Name box and the following window will appear

Type in the Shift Name and then click on OK to confirm or click cancel to abort. Having returned to the Driver Shifts screen click on Save Changes to complete the creation of a new Shift. Click OK to close the dialog box that confirms the creation of the new shift. Renaming a ShiftRenaming a ShiftRenaming a ShiftRenaming a Shift Highlight the name of the shift you wish to change and click on the rename button. When the rename window appears delete the existing name and type in the new name then click OK to confirm or Cancel to exit without changing. Once you click OK the new name will now be displayed in the Shift Name box Deleting a ShiftDeleting a ShiftDeleting a ShiftDeleting a Shift Click on the Delete button and a dialog box appears asking you to confirm your action. Click OK to delete or Cancel to exit without deleting.


Earliest Starting and Latest Finishing TimeEarliest Starting and Latest Finishing TimeEarliest Starting and Latest Finishing TimeEarliest Starting and Latest Finishing Time Use the 24 hour clock to define the earliest time the shift is allowed to begin and the latest time that it’s allowed to finish. Use the up/down arrows to change the time or click in the numeric boxes and type in the required value. No work will be scheduled before the Earliest Staring Time and the vehicle will be back at the depot by the latest finishing time. Any Depot End time required is factored into the route and must be completed by the Latest Finishing Time. If a vehicle using the Shift is allowed overnights then once the latest finishing time is reached an off duty period will be inserted. The route will then continue at the earliest starting time the following day. If these times are left at 00:00 then logixcentral will choose the optimal start and end times for the shift based on the order data and any parameter restrictions that need to be taken into consideration. Minutes at Basic RateMinutes at Basic RateMinutes at Basic RateMinutes at Basic Rate This allows you to define the number of minutes that the driver works for at the basic hourly rate. The overtime rate is then applied for any route that lasts longer than this number of minutes. This is used to work out the cost of the driver for the route. Please note that this and the cost settings outlined below are optional, if no values are added then no costs will be calculated and it will be omitted from any reports generated. Basic RateBasic RateBasic RateBasic Rate Enter the Driver’s hourly basic rate using the up/down arrows or by clicking in the numeric box and typing in the monetary value. Overtime RateOvertime RateOvertime RateOvertime Rate Set the Driver’s overtime rate here. Minimum Shift CostMinimum Shift CostMinimum Shift CostMinimum Shift Cost This allows you to set a minimum amount that the driver will cost and is useful if you wish to calculate the driver’s cost per day rather than per hour. OverniOverniOverniOvernight Allowanceght Allowanceght Allowanceght Allowance If a vehicle is allowed an overnight away from the depot and one is inserted in a route you can define how much the driver receives for staying away from the base depot. Attached HoursAttached HoursAttached HoursAttached Hours Where multiple Driver Hours exist you can choose to attach a different set of Hours to each of the Shifts created. This setting will be greyed out if only one set of Hours has been created. To attached Hours click on the arrow of the drop down menu and select from the options in the list.


DriveDriveDriveDriver Hoursr Hoursr Hoursr Hours This is where you define the working time directives and driving regulation settings that apply during a driver’s shift.

If Default Parameters are included in a new profile then a ‘Default’ Hours record will already exist. This record cannot be renamed or deleted hence in the screenshot above only the New button is active. The values of the default Hours record can be altered but the Default Hours must exist for logixcentral to be able to complete the scheduling process Creating an Hours RecCreating an Hours RecCreating an Hours RecCreating an Hours Recordordordord Click on the New button underneath the Hours Record box and the below window displays:

Enter the name of your new Hours record and then Click OK to confirm or click Cancel to exit. Once the new Hours displays in the Hours Record box you need to save it by clicking on the Save Changes button. A dialog box will appear to confirm the new Hours record has been saved. The Rename and Delete buttons will now become active. Renaming an Hours RecordRenaming an Hours RecordRenaming an Hours RecordRenaming an Hours Record Click on the rename button and delete the text of the current name and type in the new name and click on OK to continue or Cancel to exit without changing. The new name will then display in the Hours Record box.


Deleting an Hours RecordDeleting an Hours RecordDeleting an Hours RecordDeleting an Hours Record Click on the Delete button and a dialog box will appear asking you to confirm your action. Click on OK to delete the Driver Hours record or click Cancel to exit without deleting. If you chose to delete the Hours record it will be removed from the Hours Record box. Max Daily Driving TimeMax Daily Driving TimeMax Daily Driving TimeMax Daily Driving Time This is the maximum amount of driving time allowed per driver, per day. This is measured in minutes. Change the value by using the up/down arrows or by typing the value into the numeric box. Max Continuous DrivingMax Continuous DrivingMax Continuous DrivingMax Continuous Driving This is the maximum amount of driving time allowed in one sitting before the driver must stop and take a break. This limit will predominantly only be reached when there are long distances between orders. Rest From Driving RequiredRest From Driving RequiredRest From Driving RequiredRest From Driving Required This defines the total amount of time a driver is allowed to have a break for during a shift. SSSShortest Legal Breakhortest Legal Breakhortest Legal Breakhortest Legal Break If a value is defined here then this is indicates the shortest amount of time a driver must take to break from driving. If this time is less that the Rest from Driving Required value then other breaks will be inserted on the route to reach the total rest time allowed. Max Duty PeriodMax Duty PeriodMax Duty PeriodMax Duty Period This is the maximum amount of time a driver is allowed to work for before an off duty period must be taken. This value is used to calculate the Worktime of a route. Max Continuous Duty PeriodMax Continuous Duty PeriodMax Continuous Duty PeriodMax Continuous Duty Period This is the maximum amount of time a driver is allowed to work for before a rest period must be taken. The Duty Period is defined as a combination of both driving time and working time, where working time is defined as time spent at calls, making collections/deliveries, loading/unloading the vehicle. Min Off Duty At BaseMin Off Duty At BaseMin Off Duty At BaseMin Off Duty At Base This is the minimum amount of time that must be taken between shifts when the driver returns to the Depot at the end of a route. Min Off Duty Away From BaseMin Off Duty Away From BaseMin Off Duty Away From BaseMin Off Duty Away From Base This is the minimum amount of time that the driver must take between shifts when he is off duty while on a route away from the depot, typically in a vehicle where overnights have been allowed.


RevenueRevenueRevenueRevenue This section is purely optional and allows you to input revenue details concerning your products. The figures inputted here are then included in any revenue reports you generate.

Fixed Revenue Per OrderFixed Revenue Per OrderFixed Revenue Per OrderFixed Revenue Per Order Enter the amount of revenue gained per order using the up/down arrows or by clicking in the numeric box and typing in the monetary value. Fixed Revenue Per CallFixed Revenue Per CallFixed Revenue Per CallFixed Revenue Per Call Enter the amount of revenue gained per call. A call is defined as a stop where there are one or more orders. Per TripPer TripPer TripPer Trip Enter the amount of revenue gained per trip. A trip is defined as a vehicle leaving a depot to make deliveries/collections and then returning once empty/full. There can be multiple trips per route. Per Km/MilePer Km/MilePer Km/MilePer Km/Mile Enter the amount of revenue gained per distance measurement. Per Hour WorkedPer Hour WorkedPer Hour WorkedPer Hour Worked Enter the amount of revenue gained for every hour a driver works. Per Primary and Secondary Load UnitPer Primary and Secondary Load UnitPer Primary and Secondary Load UnitPer Primary and Secondary Load Unit Define the amount of revenue gained per each of your load units.


Advanced OptionsAdvanced OptionsAdvanced OptionsAdvanced Options

Extended OpeningExtended OpeningExtended OpeningExtended Opening This option allows deliveries or collections to be completed after the order has closed, as long as the vehicle gets to the call before the closing time. If this option is turned off then the order will only be added to a route if the vehicle can get there and complete the order and leave before the order’s time window closes. By default this option is on, to turn it off click on the checkbox to remove the tick. End At DepotEnd At DepotEnd At DepotEnd At Depot If this option is ticked then the routes must end at the depot therefore travelling time must be factored into the route to allow the vehicle to return to the base depot before the end of the drivers shift. If End At Depot is not ticked then routes will end once the last order has been delivered, this is often used for trunked routes. Depot CostsDepot CostsDepot CostsDepot Costs With this function activated the values in the Cost tab of the Depots section will be used to calculate which depot is most optimal to serve an order. logixcentral totals the cost of the product, the cost per distance measurement to move the product and the cost per hour of the driver to ascertain the cheapest serving depot. If this box is un-ticked then any values in the Costs tab are ignored and logixcentral bases its choice of serving depot solely on time and distance. Please note that using Depot Throughput can strongly affect the scheduling results when used with this function. Dynamic DDynamic DDynamic DDynamic Depotsepotsepotsepots This function enables logixcentral to decide the best depot to refill at when turning around at the end of a trip. When using Dynamic Depots the start and end Depot of a route always remain the same, this is referred to as the Base Depot. During the Auto Scheduling process however logixcentral will constantly evaluate whether the route could save time and distance by refilling or emptying at another depot. As logixcentral builds routes and changes the orders on a route and the sequence of those orders it also re-evaluates the choice of the refill depot. Please note that results of using this function are affected by any settings defined in the Throughput tab and the Costs tab of the Depot Section.


Dynamic Depots can also be used for scheduling scenarios that aren’t as simple as load at depot, deliver, refill at depot when empty, continue delivering, return to depot, end of route. An example of this would be a waste refuse collection operation where by the vehicle leaves the base depot, picks up waste, then has to empty at a recycling plant, before making more collections, returning to a recycling plant to empty and then return to the base depot at the end of the route. For this scenario to work you need to define the category of each Depot in the Advanced tab of the Depots section.

Any depot that a vehicle starts from is a Garage. If this is the only function of a particular depot then only the garage checkbox should be ticked, this will ensure that every route starts and ends at this depot but that it has to make a trip to another depot before starting its collections. Any depot where the vehicle loads or refills before making deliveries/collections must be defined as a Trip Start Depot. Likewise any depot that is used to unload or empty should be defined as a Trip End Depot.

TrampingTrampingTrampingTramping

This function allows a collection and a delivery to be grouped together meaning that the two orders are considered as one by LogiX. This enables the collection and the delivery to be made on the same trip within a route rather than completing the collection and returning to the depot prior to making another trip to complete the delivery. Once this checkbox is ticked the two orders need to be defined as a “Tramped Pair” in the import file so that LogiX treats the Collection and Delivery as a connected pair of orders. The two ways of defining Tramping in the .CSV file are explained in the Importing chapter. Obey SequenceObey SequenceObey SequenceObey Sequence You can tell logixcentral to create a route with orders in a specific sequence using the import file. For logixcentral to follow this pre-determined sequence you must have this checkbox ticked. Booking Time ToleranceBooking Time ToleranceBooking Time ToleranceBooking Time Tolerance Here you can define how early and late the driver is allowed to be when making a call to an order that has a Book Time attached to it. Routes are built taking into account the early and late buffer times defined here. To set the value for Early and Late Tolerance use the up/arrows or click in the box to type in the required value which is measured in minutes Consolidate OnConsolidate OnConsolidate OnConsolidate On Rather than have every order delivered separately you can use this function to ensure that logixcentral places orders together if they share the same Call Reference and/or Customer Name. Any two or more orders that match are then grouped together and kept together on the same route. Paid BreaksPaid BreaksPaid BreaksPaid Breaks Here you can define whether or not drivers are paid while taking their rest break. If you are using the revenue functions of logixcentral then this setting will affect totals such as Drivers Shift costs, overall route costs and ultimately the combined cost of all routes in the Profile. PrePrePrePre----Break LimitBreak LimitBreak LimitBreak Limit This is a percentage of the Max Continuous Duty time in minutes that must have passed before logixcentral can consider inserting a rest break onto a route. After the percentage is reached (default of 50%) logixcentral will consider adding a rest break rather than insert waiting time on a route. Use the up/down arrows to change the percentage value or click in the numeric box and type in the required value.


TheTheTheThe Import F Import F Import F Import Fileileileile

Introduction to ImportingIntroduction to ImportingIntroduction to ImportingIntroduction to Importing logixcentral relies upon two sets of data to complete the scheduling process, firstly there is the static Parameter settings covered in the previous chapter and secondly there is the variable order data that needs to be imported. This data is the details of your deliveries and collections and includes such information as the address and opening times of your orders. This needs to be compiled in a file format that logixcentral can interpret and import successfully. The most commonly used file format is Comma Separated Values (.CSV), where by each piece of information for an order is separated by a comma. The benefit of using this format is that it can be created and edited using spreadsheets and databases such as MS Excel and Lotus. In this format field headers are used at the top of each column to represent a data field in logixcentral. Cells under the headers are then populated with the relevant information. Each row contains the information for one Record. A record can be a single order, an address (Call Point) or a depot. How the import file is created will very much depend on your company’s internal structure. The data might be generated by an external data source such as a Sales Order Management System or Transport Management System or you might have to personally create the import file from scratch each time you create a new Profile. Either way certain headers must to be included for logixcentral to recognise the data and import it successfully. This chapter covers how to create a .CSV import file while importing the file into logixcentral is the subject of the next chapter.

FiFiFiFieeeelllld Headersd Headersd Headersd Headers The tables below list the fields you can use for your data columns in a logixcentral .CSV import file. Columns in your import file should appear as they are written here otherwise logixcentral may not recognise them. You can include columns with different headers in your file but they will be ignored by logixcentral. As a minimum an import file must contain the ORDERREF and ORDERTYPE fields along with an address header such as POSTCODE or ADDRESS in order to locate the record you are importing. All other field headers are optional therefore they can be left out of the import file if you do not intend to use them. Some fields if included but left blank will be have their values assumed by logixcentral, an explanation is provided where this applies. Although fields can be listed in almost any order in the import file it is good practice to arrange them into a standardised format therefore the first table lists the most common headers in a logical order with the remainder of the headers listed alphabetically in the second table.


Field Header Field Header Field Header Field Header NameNameNameName

Character Character Character Character LengthLengthLengthLength

Description & Permitted ValuesDescription & Permitted ValuesDescription & Permitted ValuesDescription & Permitted Values

TYPE 1 Record type. A - Address, T - Task (Order), D - Depot. If omitted or left blank a combined address and task record is assumed

ACTION 1 Record Action. A - Add, D - Delete, C - Change, U - Update. If omitted or left blank ‘A – Add’ is assumed

CALLREF 12 Call Point reference. Must be unique for each address within the Profile and can use both numbers and letters.

ORDREF 12

Order Reference, must be unique for each order within a profile. If duplicate order references exist the second record and its data will overwrite the first.

ORDERTYPE 1 Order Type. C - Collection, D - Delivery, B - Both (used for Tramped Pairs)

CALLNAME 40 The customers name

ADDRESS_1 30 First line of address

ADDRESS_2 30 Second line of address

ADDRESS_3 30 Third line of address

ADDRESS_4 30 Fourth line of address

ZIPCODE 10 Postcode

OPEN1 4 Opening time of first window. In 24 hour clock format

CLOSE1 4 Closing time of first window. No open/close window is taken as open 24 hours

OPEN2 4 Opening time of second window. Must not overlap Close1 value

CLOSE2 4 Closing time of second window. Open2/close2 values can be omitted if not required

PROD1 5 Quantity of Product 1 as displayed in Product Type list in Parameters

PROD2 5 Quantity of Product 2

PROD3 5 Quantity of Product 3

PROD25 5 Up to 25 products allowed. Quantity of Product 25

BANDAYS 8

Orders closed days. Entry must be 'P' followed by seven numbers between 0-3 to represent each day of the week. 0 - Open all day, 1 - Closed during 1st time window, 2 - Closed for the 2nd time window, 3 - Closed all day.

BANVEH 15

Vehicles banned from serving order. Requires vehicle types to be assigned a group from A-O in Parameters. List the group letters of banned vehicles without spaces, e.g. ‘ADFH’

PREFDEP 20

Name of Depot or Letter of Depot Group that order must be served by. If using Depot Name then must be the exact same as defined in Parameters. A group letter must be assigned to depots in Parameters in order to use the Depot Group

BOOKDAY 1 Day of the week the order must be delivered on. 1-7 used for Mon-Sun.

BOOKTIME 4 Time of day order is booked for using the 24 hour clock.

ZONE 4 An orders Zone number, used to run Auto Schedule in Pre-Allocated mode.

SEQUENCE Sequence of an order within a route. Used for Pre-Allocated routes.

PAIR 4 Used for Tramped Pairs. Pair number must be the same for each tramped pair. Ties the Collection and Delivery together.


Field Header Field Header Field Header Field Header NameNameNameName

Character Character Character Character LengthLengthLengthLength

Description & Permitted ValuesDescription & Permitted ValuesDescription & Permitted ValuesDescription & Permitted Values

ADDRESS 40

The address of the call point or order. An alternative address field to ADDRESS_1-4. This field can include all lines of the address, just the postcode or coordinates of the address such as Lat/Long.

BAYS 2 Number of loading bays at a customer site. Can be used in conjunction with SHADOW.

CATEGORY 1

The Depot Category defined in the Advanced tab of the Depot Parameters Section. 1 - Garage, 2 - Trip Start, 4 - Trip End. Add numbers together if more than one is true. If omitted depot is assumed to be all three types (value = 7)

CUST_INFO1 40 Customer information/Comments



CUST_INFO4 40 Customer information/Comments. Used for Loading Bays function.


DEPCAP1 12 The maximum throughput of Load Unit 1 per shift (when TYPE = D)

DEPCAP2 12 The maximum throughput of Load Unit 2 per shift (when TYPE = D)

DEPGROUP 1 Depot Group. Use letters A-O (When TYPE column = D)

DEPNAME 20 Name of Depot (when TYPE = D)

DEPOTSECS 6 Imposed work time at the Depot in seconds

DEPTIME 4 Work time at the depot in 1/10ths of a minute

ETC_HOUR 11 Estimated Transport Cost per hour

ETC_KM 11 Estimated Transport Cost per distance measurement

FIXEDSECS 6 Fixed time at a Call Point in seconds

FIXTIME 4 Fixed time spend at a Call Point in Minutes

GROUP 4 Group number. Used to group orders together so they are scheduled on the same route

PHONE 20 Customer phone number

POSITION 1 Imposed position on trip. 1- first, 2 - last, 0 or blank - any

PRIORITY 1 Order priority ranging from 1-9 where 1 is the highest priority. If blank or omitted default is set at 5

REVENUE 10 Imposed revenue of an order

SHADOW 6 Length of time in minutes before a vehicle can re-use a loading bay. Time starts from the departure of the previous vehicle.

SHELF_LIFE 3 The shelf life of a product is measured in number of shifts/days

STOCK 26 Product Types in stock

SUPP_COST1 11 Estimated Transport Cost per primary Load Unit

SUPP_COST2 11 estimated Transport Cost per Secondary Load Unit

TOTCAP1 12 maximum throughput total of Primary Load Unit

TOTCAP2 12 Maximum throughput total of Secondary Load Unit

UNINTERRUP 1 T - Calls within a group cannot have other calls between them. F - Calls within a group can have other calls between them

VEHICLE 1 Vehicle Type that must serve the order, based on group letter assigned in Parameters (A-O)

WORKSECS 6 Imposed work time at a call point in seconds

WORKSPEED 3 Percentage adjustment applied to work time

WORKTIME 4 Imposed work time at a call point in minutes


Field Header NotesField Header NotesField Header NotesField Header Notes This section provides further explanation for any headers outlined above that need further clarification due to the function(s) they perform. Tramped PairsTramped PairsTramped PairsTramped Pairs There are two methods for defining tramped pairs in the import file. One is to use the PAIR header and make the number the same for the collection and delivery you want to put together. This requires two separate lines in the import file, one for the collection, one for the delivery, linked together by the value in the PAIR column. The second method is to import using a B type record. With a ‘B’ in the ORDERTYPE column the data under the normal headers represent the delivery part of the tramped pair. You then need to add new headers for data that relates specifically to the collection. These new headers must have a ‘C’ at the end, for example ‘ADDRESS_1C’ and ‘OPEN1C’. Headers that relate to the tramped pair as a whole such as ORDERREF and PROD1 do not need to be duplicated. BanBanBanBan D D D Daysaysaysays There are two methods for defining which days an order can be served. The first method is to use a number to represent each day of the week, (Monday = 1, Tuesday = 2 etc) and then list the days the order is banned from being served on. This means the number(s) omitted are the days when the order can be served, so if an order is only open on a Friday the entry under the BANDAYS column would be’123467’ The alternative method is more precise as it allows you to define what time windows an order can be served during based on the OPEN1/CLOSE1/OPEN2/CLOSE2 times. The entry is prefixed with a ‘P’ and the values 0-3 are inputted for each day where: 0 - Open all Day 1 - Closed for the first time window 2 - Closed for the second time window 3 - Closed all day So for an order that’s open Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings but closed all day Sunday the entry would be ‘P0000023’. This method only works if the ‘P’ is present and all seven days must be represented by a number. Loading baysLoading baysLoading baysLoading bays It is possible to define the number of loading bays you have at a customer’s site using the BAYS column. The time between one vehicle departing and another vehicle using the same loading bay is known as the Shadow Time. Use the SHADOW column to define the length of time that must be taken between one vehicle leaving and another vehicle using the same loading bay. Alternatively you can use the CUST_INFO4 column to define both the number of Loading Bays and the Shadow Time. Enter the number of loading bays followed by a comma followed by the shadow time. The two values must be identical for each order at the same call point.


Creating an Import FileCreating an Import FileCreating an Import FileCreating an Import File Start by opening a new workbook in MS Excel. Input the field headers you require across the top of the workbook, using a different cell for each header. Now enter the data for your orders working from left to right filling in the corresponding column with the order data. The below screenshot is an example of a section of an import file.

Once your import file has been created you need to save it into .CSV format. To save the workbook in this format click on File then Save As. Input a filename and then click on the ‘Save As Type’ drop down menu, scroll down through the list and click on ‘CSV (Comma Delimited)’.

Choose where a location to save the file to (local PC or network drive etc) and then click on the Save command button. The below dialog box will then appear:

Click on OK and another dialog box will appear:

Click on Yes and your import file will have been successfully saved as a .CSV file. Once you close the file you are ready to import it into logixcentral. The next chapter explains this process in detail.


Importing DataImporting DataImporting DataImporting Data Once your import file has been created and saved you need to import it into logixcentral. To do this click on the Data Import icon from the Shortcuts Bar and the Data Import Manager will display:

Currently within the Data Import Manager are two tabs – the Import tab from where you choose your file and import, and the Settings tab where you make choices regarding the accuracy of the data for import. Before you select and import your file it is best practice to set the conditions under which the import process will be completed.


Settings TabSettings TabSettings TabSettings Tab

ConfidencConfidencConfidencConfidence Levele Levele Levele Level This refers to the lowest level of address information in an import file that logixcentral will accept as a valid address. You can set levels from 2 (lowest amount of address information) to 10 (highest amount of address information). If an order’s address in the import file is lower than the Confidence Level set in the Data Import Manager then logixcentral will not import the order. By default it is set to Post Sector, to change this click on the down arrow of the drop down menu and make your selection from the list shown below:

The higher the confidence level, the more detailed and accurate the address information needs to be for the order to successfully import. A higher Confidence Level therefore increases logixcentral’s ability to accurately locate an order based on the address information provided. Confidence Levels are defined as follows:

• 2-Post Zone: The first section of a British Post Code e.g. B62

• 3-Major City-Known but vague: A major city which is recognisable but does not provide an accurate location e.g. Liverpool or Paris


• 4-Unsupported unique one-word place name: A unique single-word place name with the county name assumed e.g. Margate.

• 5-Supported unique one-word place name: A unique place name supported by a county e.g. Plymouth, Devon.

• 6-Unique multi-word place name: A unique multi word place name e.g. Bishops Stortford • 7-Reinforced unique place name: A unique place name that is reinforced by a further

place name, typically a suburb of a major town or city e.g. Newtown, Birmingham

• 8-Post Sector: The first section of a British post code plus the first digit of the second section e.g. B62 8.

• 9-Full British Post Code: A full British postcode such as B62 8AN

• 10-Grid Reference: Either OS national grid reference, lat/long or DPS coordinates. These definitions are displayed beneath the Confidence Level drop down menu for reference. Automatically Zone Orders and CallpointsAutomatically Zone Orders and CallpointsAutomatically Zone Orders and CallpointsAutomatically Zone Orders and Callpoints Ticking this checkbox results in the orders and callpoints (addresses) you import being given zone numbers based on their location. By grouping the orders into zones you can utilise the Pre-Allocated mode of Auto Scheduling described in a later chapter. This function will only work s for subsequent import files once you have already imported a file with zone numbers attached to the orders. Any changes that are made should be saved by clicking on the Save Settings command button. Click on OK to close the resultant dialog box that appears notifying you of the successful save.

Import TabImport TabImport TabImport Tab Importing a FileImporting a FileImporting a FileImporting a File Click on the Browse button under the New Import File section to find the file you wish to import. Once you have found the file click on Open and the path of the file will display in the New Import File text box as shown below:

To import the chosen file click on Import. The Data Import Progress window will then display:


This allows you to visually track the progress of the import. As the process runs you can manually update the progress by clicking on the Manual Refresh button. Above this button you can also choose the rate at which the window automatically refreshes. To change it click on the down arrow of the drop down menu and make your selection from the list as shown below:

Once the process is complete if all orders import you will see the following dialog box:

If some of the orders were not imported successfully you will see the following:

Click OK to close this box. The Data Import Progress window then displays the results of the import.

The summary box lists the number of callpoints, orders and depots that have been added, changed and/or deleted. The above screenshot shows a completed import that has led to 6 orders being added to the Profile.


Correcting Correcting Correcting Correcting Import Import Import Import ErrorsErrorsErrorsErrors If your import completed with errors then the Data Import Progress window will look similar to this:

The summary box will outline the number of each type of record in error. The Download Error File link allows you to open or save the file that gives you the information regarding the orders that failed to import and why. Click the link and the following dialog box appears:

From here you can choose to Open the file in another web browser or Save the file to a location on your computer and then open it. When you open the file it will look similar to this:

Across the top row are all the possible import field headers. Those that contained data in your import file will be populated. If you scroll across to the far right of the wlierror.csv file you will see a header called ERRS_TOT. This field lists the number of errors per record and what the error is. The most common reason for orders not importing is that the address falls below the Confidence Level


set in the Settings tab. The screenshot below provides an example of this where an order failed to import because logixcentral could not recognise the location.

The address for this order would therefore have to be corrected and the file re-imported so that the order is included in the logixcentral Profile. If errors are not corrected and re-imported then they will simply not be included in the Profile. Purge Existing Data Before ImportingPurge Existing Data Before ImportingPurge Existing Data Before ImportingPurge Existing Data Before Importing This checkbox enables you to automatically delete all current data in the profile when you run the Data Import function. By default this setting is disabled, tick the checkbox to activate. Selective Data PurgeSelective Data PurgeSelective Data PurgeSelective Data Purge This button enables you to delete large sections of variable data from the Profile. Please note that Parameter settings cannot be deleted from this section. Click on the button and a window displays outlining your delete options:

• Delete all Callpoints: Deletes all imported address records. • Delete all orders: Deletes all imported task records and combined task/address records

• Delete Unreferenced Callpoints: Deletes callpoints that are not referenced to any imported orders

• Delete all Routes, Callpoints and Orders: Deletes all routes, callpoints and orders. • Delete all Routes and all Orders: Deletes all routes and orders.

• Delete all routes and Allocated Orders: Deletes all routes and orders assigned to those routes leaving only unallocated orders in the Profile.

• Delete selected Routes and Allocated Orders: Choose which routes to delete and in turn deletes the orders assigned to those routes.

Current Import FileCurrent Import FileCurrent Import FileCurrent Import File When you return to the Import tab after importing a file, the name of the file will be displayed in the text box of this section:

Here you can choose to view it or re-import it by clicking on the relevant button. You can hide this section by clicking on the up arrow to the left of the section heading. The arrow then points down, clicking on it now reveals the section. Manual Address EntryManual Address EntryManual Address EntryManual Address Entry An alternative method to importing a .CSV file is to simply input the addresses of your orders in the Manual Address Entry section of the Data Import Manager. Add each address on a new line and click import once you have inputted all the addresses you require. The Data Import Progress window will appear and notify you when it’s complete and let you know if there have been any errors which need correcting. This method is an extremely quick alternative to get addresses into logixcentral though it should be noted that as only the address is imported extra manual input of data relating to each order may be required.


Results TabResults TabResults TabResults Tab This tab only displays once you click on Close to exit the Data Import Progress window and return to the Data Import Manager after a completed import. This provides an overview of the number of orders that imported at each of the different Confidence Levels.

Confidence Levels of 0 and 1 exist but because these are the lowest forms of address detail these are not selectable from the confidence level drop down menu in the Settings tab.


OrderOrderOrderOrder Viewer Viewer Viewer Viewer

To open the Order Viewer click on the Orders icon from the Shortcuts Bar of the main logixcentral screen. The following window then displays:

The orders are arranged in a list format showing certain import field headers. From left to right they are the order reference, the call point reference, the customer name, the address of the customer, the postcode, the PROD1 and PROD2 names and quantities and details of whether the order is assigned to a route or not. You can highlight orders by single clicking on them, the orders are then deemed to be ‘selected’. The bottom left indicates the number of orders in the profile and the number of orders currently selected. To deselect orders click on the ‘Clear’ blue text. The bottom right indicates how many pages of orders there are along with the ability to cycle through these pages using the First, Previous, Next and Last options, or alternatively, by clicking on the page number. You can also look at the orders in more detail while remaining in list view by either ticking the Expand All or Expand Selected checkboxes. ‘Expand All’ shows all the orders in more detail:


‘Expand Selected’ shows only those you have selected:

The expanded view shows the order type, the depot and vehicle it’s assigned to (these will be blank when the order is unallocated), any vehicle bans, the open and close windows and the full address.


You can close the expanded view by un-ticking the checkbox or by de-selecting the order with a single click.

OrderOrderOrderOrder Details WindowDetails WindowDetails WindowDetails Window Here you can view an order in greater detail and add or edit its data as required. There are four ways to open the Order Detail window:

• Double click on the order • Single click on the Order Reference • Select an order and then click on the View Detail button above the Order column

• Click on the View/Edit button when an order has been expanded The Order Details window then opens for the highlighted order:

Along the top of the window are the function buttons, beneath which is the customer name, order reference and order type (collection or delivery). Below this the order’s data is split across four tabs which you can access with a single click. The function buttons from left to right are as follows:

• First: Jumps to the first order in the order list

• Previous: Moves to the previous order in the list • Next: Moves to the next order in the list • Last: Jumps to the last order in the order list

• New Order: Creates a blank new order • Delete Order: Deletes the order you are currently viewing

• Save Changes: Saves any changes you have made to the current order • Save and Create New: Saves changes you’ve made to the current order and then creates a

new order


Address TabAddress TabAddress TabAddress Tab This is where the full address displays along with the location and the phone number. The Find Address button enables you to locate an order and is discussed in greater detail in the Creating a New Order section. Information TabInformation TabInformation TabInformation Tab

Customer Information: If any of the five CUST_INFO field headers were used in your import file then the 5 Customer Information text boxes is where this data will display. You can manually input text by clicking in the boxes and typing the required text. Trip Position: This is where you define where you want the order to appear on a trip within a route. If the POSITION field header was used in your import file than the data will display here. Alternatively click on the drop down menu arrow and choose from First, Last or No Preference. Group: Here you can assign a group number to the order. If the GROUP field header was used in the import the data will display here Sequence: Here you can define where on a route you want the order to appear. If the SEQUENCE field header was used in the import file the data will display here. Uninterruptible: This relates to the UNINTERUP field header. If un-ticked then calls within a group can have other non-group calls between them, if ticked then orders in a group must be sequenced consecutively on a route.


Restrictions TabRestrictions TabRestrictions TabRestrictions Tab

Arrive: These two boxes are populated with the date and time of the arrival of the vehicle at the call once the order has been allocated to a route. Fixed Time: Displays the amount of time in minutes that must be spent at the call. This is set in Load Parameters section or via the FIXTIME import field header. Open/Close: This displays the two time windows for the order that is set using OPEN1/CLOSE1/OPEN2/CLOSE2 field headers. To manually edit the times set use the up/down arrows or click in the numeric box and type in the times. If ‘0000’ is set in both time windows the order is considered to be open 24 hours. Opening: This displays which days and which time windows the order is open for. This can be imported using the BANDAYS field header and the ‘P’ prefix method as explained in the Importing Data chapter. To manually edit the open times click on the relevant checkbox to remove the tick to signify a closed period. By default if no opening days are specified in the import file the order will be open for both time windows seven days a week. Book Day: Any day of the week specified via the BOOKDAY field header in the import file will display here. To manually edit this setting click on the drop down menu and choose the relevant day of the week. Booktime: This time can be imported using the BOOKTIME field header. You can manually edit this setting by using the up/down arrows or by clicking in the numeric box and typing in the required Booktime for the order. Serving Depot: This setting is used to define which specific depot must serve the order. The depot name can be imported using the PREFDEP field header in the import file or you can manually edit this setting by clicking on the drop down menu and choosing from the list of depots.


Banned Vehicles: This is a list of the vehicles that are banned from serving the order. This can be defined using the BANVEH field header in the import file or by manually typing in the group letter(s) of the banned vehicle(s). Priority: This is the priority of the order measured from 1 (most important) to 9 (least important). If the PRIORITY field header is used in the import file then the value will display here. The value defaults to 5 if not used in the import file. To change this click on the drop down menu and select the priority value from the list. Load Adj: This setting allows you to adjust the percentage of the loading speed for a specific order. By default no value is included therefore 100% is assumed. To increase or decrease the loading speed click in the numeric box and type the percentage value which can be up to 3 digits long. Zone: If the ZONE field header was used in the import file then this information will display here. You can manually enter a zone number by clicking in the box and typing the numeric value. Shelf Life: The value for the SHELF_LIFE field header is displayed here. Alternatively you can enter a numeric value to depict the number of shifts the order is allowed to remain undelivered for. This setting effectively gives the order a due day by which it must be delivered. Veh. Pref: If you have indicated a preference for the vehicle type to serve an order using the VEHICLE field header then the group letter of that preferred vehicle type will display here. Products TabProducts TabProducts TabProducts Tab

The box on the left displays the Product Types created in the Products Parameter section along with the quantity of the order imported using the respective PROD1, PROD2…PROD25 value. To alter the quantity of the order use the up/down arrows for the relevant product type. The total quantity for each Load Unit is then displayed on the left, along with the calculated revenue and time spent at the order. The settings on the right only populate once the order has been allocated to a route. Revenue data will only be included if the Revenue Parameters section is


complete and the calculated time at the call will depend on any time settings defined in the Parameters such as fixed time per call and/or loading and unloading time.

Creating a New OrderCreating a New OrderCreating a New OrderCreating a New Order A new order can be created from within the Order Details window by clicking on the New Order button or by clicking on the New Order button along the top of the Order Viewer screen. Either way a blank order displays as shown below:

The order is given a default Customer and Order Name and is originally assumed to be a delivery. If you click on the Restrictions tab you will also notice by default the order is open 24/7. Start by changing the default Customer Name, click in the text box, delete ‘New Customer’ and insert your own name. Next click in the Order Name text box, delete the existing text and replace with your own Order Name, if the order is a collection click on the Collection radio button. Then enter as much of the customer address as you know using a different address text box for each line of the address. Enter the Postcode in the correct box and then click on the Find Address button. The Address Locator window will appear and begin searching its database for the address you inputted. When it finds the address it will display as follows:


The Address Locator displays the full address along with its Northing and Easting coordinates, the Confidence Level at which the search took place and the location of the order in relation to the nearest population centre (a town or city). From here you can now either choose to complete the search again by clicking the Reset button or click OK to confirm the location of the order. Clicking on Reset will take you to the following window:

Here you can input a different address and then click on Search to locate the order again. Once you have located your order correctly click on OK and you will return to the Order Details window, the Address tab is now populated with the search result as shown below:


You can then go to each of the other three tabs and input the data as required. Once complete click on the Save Changes button. The Order Update dialog box will then appear confirming the creation and save of the new order:

Click on OK to close this dialog box. Clicking on the OK button at the bottom of the Order Details window will close it and return you to the Order Viewer.

Deleting an OrderDeleting an OrderDeleting an OrderDeleting an Order Individual orders cannot be deleted from the Order Viewer window so you need to open the Order Details window for the order you wish to delete and then click on the Delete Order button. A dialog box asks you to confirm deletion:


Click OK to delete the order or click Cancel to return without deleting the order

Data Purge OptionsData Purge OptionsData Purge OptionsData Purge Options This is the same function that’s found in the Data Import Manager, described in the previous chapter. Click on the Data Purge Options button next to the View Details button along the top of the Order Viewer window. The Selective Purge window then appears, select you option using the radio buttons and then click on OK to confirm the deletion or cancel to exit without deleting.

NNNNew Routeew Routeew Routeew Route It’s possible to create a new route by highlighting orders and then clicking on the New Route button along the top of the Order Viewer window. This process is explained in full in the Manual Planning chapter.

Order DisplayOrder DisplayOrder DisplayOrder Display When at least one order has been allocated it is possible to change the Order Viewer to display All Orders, Allocated Orders or Unallocated orders. Click on the drop down menu and make your selection from the list as shown below:

Search FunctionSearch FunctionSearch FunctionSearch Function It’s possible to search the Order Viewer for a specific order rather than finding it manually by scrolling through the pages. Type your text into the Search text box then click on the Search button. The Order Viewer will then return all results for your search as shown below:

You can return to the order list by clicking on the ‘Back To List’ button that appears after search results have been displayed.


PrintPrintPrintPrint The print button is located on the right of the order viewer toolbar and allows you to print off the list of all the imported orders. Click on the Print button and a dialog box appears:

Click OK to confirm printing the order list or click cancel to return to the Order Viewer without printing the order list.

DownloadDownloadDownloadDownload This allows you to create and download a CSV file of all your orders. Click on the Download button, the far right button on the order viewer toolbar. The following window appears:

Click on the blue text to download the file or click on Cancel to abort the download. If you choose to download the CSV file then the following dialog box appears:


Click on Open to open the file in Excel, you can then click on File, Save As to save it to your computer. If you click on Save you will have to specify a location to save the file to. Once the file has been saved you then have the option to open the file. If you click on Cancel the download will be aborted and you will return to the Order Viewer window. The file (orderlist.csv) will look similar to the screenshot below:


Map ViewMap ViewMap ViewMap View This chapter looks at the features and functions available to you when using the map. To do this click on the Map View icon from the Shortcuts Bar and the following screen displays:

Down the left hand side is the Map Control toolbar with the map itself in the main viewing pane. Across the bottom is the Latitude and Longitude which changes as you move the mouse pointer around the map. Notice how the mouse pointer becomes a crosshair when moving around within the map. When orders have been imported icons will display marking the location of the order. Yellow icons represent single orders; red icons indicate more than one order at the location. As the text in the bottom right corner suggests, hovering over an icon will cause a window to appear listing details of that order.

When you hover over a red icon the mouse pointer will change to a hand, click on the icon and a new window opens listing the orders at the location as shown below:


You can open the Order Details window by clicking on the specific Order reference. The features of the Order Detail window are then available to you. Click on Close to exit the Order Detail window and Close again once you wish to return to the map.

Map ControlsMap ControlsMap ControlsMap Controls Zoom FactorZoom FactorZoom FactorZoom Factor This controls the factor at which you zoom in and out of the map. Click on the button and make your choice from the list provided. It’s set to ‘x 8’ by default.

Zoom In/OutZoom In/OutZoom In/OutZoom In/Out Used in conjunction with Zoom Factor this function allows you to zoom in and out of specific areas of the map. Choose Zoom In or Zoom Out by clicking on the relevant radio button, and then choose your Zoom Factor. With the crosshair (mouse pointer) over the specific area of the map right click your mouse to perform the desired zoom function. You can also zoom in and out using the plus and minus buttons located beneath the Centre radio button.

Jump ToJump ToJump ToJump To This allows you to zoom into a specific part of the map. Click on the Jump To radio button then right click on the part of the map you want to zoom into. CentreCentreCentreCentre This lets you centre the map on a specific area. Click on the Centre radio button and then right click on the map that you want to centre on. Direction PadDirection PadDirection PadDirection Pad This allows you to pan the map north, south, east and west by clicking on the corresponding directional arrow. Route DisplayRoute DisplayRoute DisplayRoute Display This function only becomes active once routes have been created. This allows you choose how to display the routes on a map. Clicking on the Route Display button brings up a list of the routes along with buttons for Icons, Route, Itinerary and Close.


Choosing All Routes means only the Icons button is active. Click on this and the map will display each order using a different coloured shape for each route as shown below:

It is also possible to display the orders for selective routes. To do this hold down the Ctrl key and highlight the routes you wish to view with a single click.

Click on Icons and selected routes will be displayed. Click on any single route from the Display Options and the Route and Itinerary buttons become active. Clicking on Route means a snail trail of the route is displayed on the map as shown below:


With any single route highlighted clicking on Itinerary causes a new browser window to open and lists the directions taken to complete the route.

The itinerary can also be created in the Route Viewer window when viewing the route details and is therefore covered in greater detail in the Manual Planning chapter. To close the Route Display click on the Close or Route display buttons. FiltersFiltersFiltersFilters This function enables you to display different types of information on the map. Click on the Filters button to reveal the menu:

To change the Filter display, highlight the required option and click OK. The display options are:

• All Orders: This displays all the orders in the default view with the yellow and red order icons.

• Orders by Route: This is the same view as the All Orders option in the Route Display button described above.

• Allocated: Shows only the orders that are allocated to routes. • Unallocated: Shows only the orders that aren’t allocated to a route.

• Depots: Displays all the Depots, as defined in the Depot parameter section. • Callpoints: This option is only available if you have imported Call Points (address records).

• Orders by Depot: Displays the orders based on the Depot their route is assigned to. • Orders by Zone: Displays the orders based on the zone they are allocated to. • Orders by Prefdep: Displays the orders based on the depot that has been assigned to serve

the order.

• Collections/Deliveries: Displays all the orders and divides them into Collections and Deliveries.

To close the Display Options box either click on Close or the Filters button.


Icon PaletteIcon PaletteIcon PaletteIcon Palette Here you can chose which colours to allow the routes to be displayed in. By default all colours are used. To change this un-tick the checkbox of the corresponding colour and click OK to confirm any changes made.

To close the Route Colours box either click on Close or the Icon Palettes button. Reset MaReset MaReset MaReset Mapppp This returns the map to the default view which is the same as when you first open the Map Viewer. This means that the map changes zoom level to fit all orders on screen and displayed them as red or yellow icons. PrintPrintPrintPrint This allows you to print a picture of the map in the current view. Map SizeMap SizeMap SizeMap Size This allows you to change the size of the map window inside the main viewing pane. By default this is set to Large but can be changed by clicking on the drop down menu and selecting from the list as shown below:

This is a useful option as it allows you to change the size of the map if you use a different computer that has a different screen resolution. Please note that you may find that with the map set to Maximum the Vehicle Fill Dashboard is missing when adding orders from the map during manual planning. This will depend on the screen resolution of the PC you are using. OpacityOpacityOpacityOpacity This allows you to change the strength of the map in relation to the order icons. Be default it is set to 100, this can be reduced in tens down to zero, at which point the map isn’t visible, only the orders are. Below is a screenshot of the opacity set to 50, notice how the order icons stand out more compared to when it’s set to 100.


Use the up/down arrows to change the opacity, the map will update immediately allowing you to see the change instantly as you decrease the opacity. Box ZoomBox ZoomBox ZoomBox Zoom As well as using the Zoom In/Out function you can also zoom in on a specific area of the map by drawing a box over the part of the map using the crosshair. Simply click and hold the left mouse button and then draw your box over the area you wish to zoom in on. When you have the size box you require release the left mouse button and the new map view will generate.


Manual Manual Manual Manual PlanningPlanningPlanningPlanning This enables you to completely control the scheduling process and create your own routes from scratch by choosing how to group orders together and decide what route to put them on to. It allows you to bypass the restrictions you have placed upon your orders giving you full control of how each route is built but still ties you to the Parameters you have defined. To start manual planning click on the Routes icon in the Shortcuts Bar of the main logixcentral screen and the Route Viewer window will display:

This screenshot shows a Profile with imported orders but currently all are unallocated. As a result the ‘No routes found’ message displays when you first open this window and the only option available to you is the ‘+ New Route’ button.

CrCrCrCreating a Routeeating a Routeeating a Routeeating a Route Click on the New Route button and the Route Options will display as shown below:

This is where you set the planning resources of the route: Route NameRoute NameRoute NameRoute Name A default route name is provided, but if you wish to enter your own click in the text box, delete the existing text and type in your route name.


DepotDepotDepotDepot Choose the depot the route will start from and end at by clicking on the drop down menus and choosing from the list. The depots listed will match those that exist in the Depot Parameters section. VehicleVehicleVehicleVehicle Choose which vehicle to use on the route based on those defined in your Vehicle Parameter section. Click on the drop down menu and make your selection from the list ShiftShiftShiftShift Choose which shift pattern to use from those defined in Parameters. If only one shift was created then this is automatically used and the drop down menu will be greyed out. Start dayStart dayStart dayStart day Choose what day you want the route to start on. Use the drop down menu to choose from between Monday to Sunday. Start TimeStart TimeStart TimeStart Time By default this will be set to the Earliest Shift Start time defined in Driver Shifts. If this time is kept logixcentral will decide on the best start time as orders are added to the route. If you want to set a specific start time then use the up/down arrows to set the time accordingly. The time increases or decreases in 5 minute increments. If you want more accuracy with your start time then click in the numeric box and type in the required start time. DescriptionDescriptionDescriptionDescription You can add a brief description of the route here to help you differentiate between them at a glance. Click OK once you are happy with your chosen planning resources or click Cancel to exit without creating the route. Once you click OK the Edit Route window will display:

A route has now been created containing the Start Depot and it will also include an End Depot if the End At Depot checkbox is ticked in the Advanced Options section of Parameters.


Adding Orders to a RouteAdding Orders to a RouteAdding Orders to a RouteAdding Orders to a Route There are two ways to add orders to the route, either from the order list or via the map. To begin, click on the Add Item button at the top of the Edit Route window. This presents you with a list of options as shown below:

Add From ListAdd From ListAdd From ListAdd From List Choose the first option as shown in the above screenshot and the order list will display:

Highlight the orders you wish to add to the route with a single click as shown below:

You can use the page navigation to highlight orders located on different pages or utilise the search function to find specific orders. If you want to view an order in greater detail before highlighting it click on the Order reference and the Order Detail window will appear. When you have finished highlighting orders click on the ‘+Add Orders’ button along the top or the ‘Add’ command button at the bottom of the window to add them to the route. AddAddAddAdd From Map From Map From Map From Map Click on the Add Item button from within the Edit Route window and click on Add from Map as shown below:


The map screen will then display:

On the map single unallocated orders at an address are indicated by a triangle. If two or more orders are at the same address this is indicated by a square. A green triangle or square indicates a delivery, yellow is a collection. Any orders already allocated to a route display as a coloured circle, a different colour for each route. The Vehicle Fill Dashboard is located in the top right of the Map Viewer and indicates the vehicles capacity as you add orders to the route. Hovering over a single unallocated order causes details of the order to appear as shown below:

To tag a single order from the map click on it using the mouse pointer (crosshair) and the triangle will then turn red to indicate it has been highlighted. To tag an order with a square icon you must click on the square to bring up the list of orders at the location as shown below:


From here you can select each order individually with a single click or click on the’ Select All’ blue text to highlight them all. You can also view the Order Details from here by clicking on the Order reference. Click OK to close the order list box. Once you have finished highlighting orders from the map click on the Confirm button at the bottom of the Vehicle Fill Dashboard to return to the Edit Route window. Click on the Cancel button to exit the map without adding the highlighted orders. Creating a RCreating a RCreating a RCreating a Route oute oute oute UUUUsing the Order Viewersing the Order Viewersing the Order Viewersing the Order Viewer A route can be created from within the Order Viewer. Start by clicking on the Orders icon from the Shortcuts Bar of the main logixcentral screen. Then highlight the orders you want to add to the route and click on the New Route button. The Route Options window displays allowing you to define the planning resources. Once you click OK the route will load taking you to the Edit Route window.

Edit Route WindowEdit Route WindowEdit Route WindowEdit Route Window Once you confirm the orders to add to a route you are returned to the Edit Route window:

As there are now orders on the route all the function buttons across the top of the window have become active. Beneath the function buttons is the summary section that displays stats concerning the route including the number of collections and deliveries on the route, the shift and vehicle in use, the time and distance of the route, the load unit quantity of the route and the work and driving time of the route. The main viewing section consists of columns that display information regarding the contents of the route. From left to right the columns are:

• The sequence number of the route

• The order reference • The name of the depot, order or rest type


• The location of the order or depot

• The day of the entry on the route • The arrival time

• Time spent at the entry • The distance travelled

• The amount of each load unit of the entry An ‘entry’ is defined as a line on the route that can be a depot, an order or a time period such as a rest break, waiting time or an off duty period. The orders display on the route in the sequence you highlight them in, collections in red writing, and deliveries in black. Depots are green in colour and any rest time displays in grey as the screenshot above shows. Rest breaks, off duty periods and waiting time are added automatically by logixcentral based on your defined Parameter settings. Location ColumnLocation ColumnLocation ColumnLocation Column This column describes the location of the order or depot in relation the nearest major populated area, usually a town or city. However it is possible to choose what information to display in this column, this is evident by the arrow just to the right of the ‘Location’ header. Click on this and the following list appears:

Click the radio button of the information you wish to display and the Edit Route window will automatically update and display the chosen field. Click on Cancel to return without changing the column header. Below shows the column displaying the Postcode rather than the Location:


Add DepotAdd DepotAdd DepotAdd Depot This is the third option from the Add Item list:

Click on this and the following dialog box appears:

Choose the Depot you wish to add using the drop down menu and then click OK to confirm or Cancel to exit without adding a depot. Once you click OK the depot is added just before the End Depot. New LocationNew LocationNew LocationNew Location This is the fourth option available from the Add Item list:

This allows you to create and insert a new order using the Find Address function shown below:

You can insert as much of the address as you like or you can simply enter an Order Name and then click the Find Address button. The Order Details window will display, creating a new customer and automatically opening the Address Locator window. Locate the order, enter any information you


wish into the Order Details window and then save before closing. The order will be added before the end depot. You can cancel this function using the cross to the right of the Find Address button. Insert ItemInsert ItemInsert ItemInsert Item Click on this and the route view changes to the following:

Use the mouse pointer to expand the newly created gaps in-between entries. Click in the white space and the following option box appears

These options repeat those in the Add Item list and are another way of adding to the route. Click cancel to return without inserting an item into the highlighted space. To cancel the whole process click on the Insert Item button again. DeleteDeleteDeleteDelete This allows you to delete an order or depot from the route. Highlight the required order or depot with a single click and then press the Delete button. A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm your action. Click OK to confirm or Cancel to return without deleting the highlighted entry. MoveMoveMoveMove This allows you to move an order to a different sequence in the route. Highlight the required order and then click on Move. White spaces will appear in-between each entry, click in the space you wish to move the order to. A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm your action, click OK to proceed, Cancel to abort.


ReverseReverseReverseReverse This function allows you to reverse the sequence of the orders on the route, the start and end depots will stay as they are. ResourcesResourcesResourcesResources This brings up the Route Options window as shown below:

Make any changes to the planning resources and then click update to confirm or Close to exit without making any changes. Once you click on Confirm the changes are applied to the route. TotalsTotalsTotalsTotals This displays the Route Evaluation window that contains various calculations and facts regarding the route. These are broken down into five tabs – Totals, KPI, Vehicle, Driver and Financial. A screenshot of the totals tab is shown below:


Click on Close to exit the Route Evaluation window and return to the Edit Route window. OptimiseOptimiseOptimiseOptimise As the orders are added to the route in the order which you highlight them in the list or on the map, this function analyses the sequencing of the orders and re-arranges them so that they are in the most optimal sequence in terms of time and distance. Click on the button and logixcentral will evaluate the route and then display the following information box detailing the before and after results.

Click on Close to exit the results box and complete the optimisation process of the route. After optimising a route you can view the results by clicking on the ‘Results’ blue text that now displays above the Print and Download buttons. UndoUndoUndoUndo This enables you to undo the last action you carried out and return the route to its former state. All of the edit route functions can be undone. Map ViewMap ViewMap ViewMap View Click on this button to view the orders in the route on the map. A new web browser will open and the snail trail of the route will be displayed.


PrintPrintPrintPrint This allows you to print the route sequence as it is shown in the Edit Route window. DownloadDownloadDownloadDownload This allows you to download the contents of the route. Click on this button and the following dialog box appears:

You can then click on the Download Route Sequence text to complete the download or click on Cancel to exit without downloading. WarningsWarningsWarningsWarnings Having built your route you may find that the word ‘Warnings’ appears above the print and download icons as shown below:

This is logixcentral letting you know that there is a problem with the route you have built, normally a Parameter setting or order restriction has been broken. To view the problem click on the blue Warnings text and a window will display similar to below:


In this example the vehicle used, 7.5T is not allowed an overnight but the route has gone into a second day hence the warning message. You can choose to rectify any errors that occur during manual planning or you can ignore them and save the route in its current state. Saving a RouteSaving a RouteSaving a RouteSaving a Route Once you have added your orders and optimised the sequence click on the Save function button on the top left or the Save Route command button at the bottom of the window to save the route and return to the Route Viewer window. CancelCancelCancelCancel Next to the Save Route command button is the Cancel button. Click on this to exit the route without saving. A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm your action, click OK to confirm exiting without saving or click Cancel to stay in the Edit Route window. Once you click OK you will return to the Route Viewer window.

Route ViewerRoute ViewerRoute ViewerRoute Viewer The Route Viewer lists all the routes you have created using columns to summarise the main information of the route. Any route saved containing warnings is displayed in red as shown below:

DetailsDetailsDetailsDetails To view the orders on a route highlight the route and then click on Details, the following screen will then display:

The contents of the route are then displayed. Across the top are more function buttons and options, beneath this the familiar summary section with the column headers and route entries below. Your options within this window are as follows: Back: Click on this button to return to the Route Viewer. Totals: This button brings up the route evaluation window with the 5 tabs of information and statistics concerning the route. Edit Route: This allows you to return to the Edit Route window and make changes to your saved route.


Left/Right Arrows: These buttons enable you to scroll backwards and forwards through the routes you have saved. Warning Sign: This will display before the route name of any route that has warnings that have not been rectified. Add Description: This allows you to add a route description that is also available to you in the Route Options window when you first create a route. Itinerary: This creates the route itinerary that opens in a new web browser. This feature is also available via the Route Display button in the Map Controls toolbar. View Route: The world button allows you view the orders of the route on the map. This opens in a separate web browsers and displays the snail trail of the route. Print: This allows you to print the contents of the route as shown. Download: This allows you to download the route sequence in a file called ‘routelist.csv.’ Location Column: The Location of an entry displays by default but like with the Edit Route window this can be changed here. Click on the arrow to bring up the list of fields you can display. Click the appropriate radio button and the Route Viewer will update accordingly. TotalsTotalsTotalsTotals This is another location where you can open the Route Evaluation window. The tabs will contain the statistics for the routes you currently have highlighted. It is therefore possible to display the stats for one route, a selection of route or all routes. RenameRenameRenameRename This allows you to rename a route. Highlight the route then click on the Rename button and the following window will appear:

Click in the text box, delete the existing name and replace it with the new route name. Click OK to proceed or Cancel to exit without changing. DeleteDeleteDeleteDelete This allows you to delete specific routes from the Route Viewer. Highlight the routes and then click on the Delete button. A dialog box will ask you to confirm deletion. Click OK to confirm or Cancel to exit without deleting. Delete AllDelete AllDelete AllDelete All This function allows you to delete all routes in the Route Viewer. Click on the button and a dialog box will appear. Click OK to confirm permanent deletion or Cancel to back up without deleting. Select AllSelect AllSelect AllSelect All/Deselect/Deselect/Deselect/Deselect This allows you to instantly highlight all routes in the Route Viewer. Once all routes are selected the button changes to ‘Deselect’, allowing you to un-highlight all the routes.


Edit RouteEdit RouteEdit RouteEdit Route This button takes you to the Edit Route window allowing you to make changes to the highlighted route. New RoNew RoNew RoNew Routeuteuteute This is explained in the Creating a Route section earlier in this chapter. PrintPrintPrintPrint Clicking on the Print button prints a copy of the routes as seen in the Route Viewer DownloadDownloadDownloadDownload This creates a CSV file of the Route List for you to download. Click on the Download button and the following appears:

Click on the text to download the route list or click Cancel to Abort. Once you click on the text you will have the option to Open, Save or Cancel the download of the CSV file. ClearClearClearClear The bottom left of the window indicates the number of routes in the Route Viewer and the number of them selected. Clicking on the blue Clear text will deselect all routes. CloseCloseCloseClose To exit the Route Viewer window you can click on the Close command button at the bottom of the window or you can switch to another logixcentral function by clicking on its icon in the Shortcuts Bar.


Auto ScheduleAuto ScheduleAuto ScheduleAuto Schedule The Auto Schedule function allows you to automatically schedule your orders based on the settings you have defined. It will look to save you time, both in terms of how long you spend planning and the actual length of time taken for drivers to complete their routes. Auto Schedule will use the least amount of resources available therefore cutting the overall cost of your logistical operation. The Auto Scheduler performs all of this while adhering to the rules and settings that you have defined in your Parameters and the restrictions you have placed upon your imported orders. It is therefore important to remember that it can only schedule within the boundaries you set. To use the Auto Scheduler click on the Auto Schedule icon within the Shortcuts Bar of the main logixcentral screen. The Auto Schedule Manager window opens in the main viewing pane:

Like the Parameters window the Auto Schedule Manager contains a Sections Menu on the left with the contents of each section displayed in the main window pane. It is good practice when you begin using Auto Schedule to set the Scheduling Parameters and Advanced Parameters first and then return to the Auto Schedule Section seen in the screenshot above.

Scheduling ParametersScheduling ParametersScheduling ParametersScheduling Parameters Here you set the Parameters by which the auto scheduling process is defined:


As with Parameters the Reset and Save Changes buttons allow you to revert to default settings or save the changes you have made in the current section.

Planning DayPlanning DayPlanning DayPlanning Day logixcentral works by days of the week so here you define what day you want Auto Schedule to start planning routes on. Monday is displayed by default, to change this click on the drop down menu arrow and select the day from the list. Scheduling PeriodScheduling PeriodScheduling PeriodScheduling Period This is the number of days starting from the Planning Day on which vehicles can depart from their start depot. By default this is set to one so currently routes will start and end on Monday. To change this click on the drop down menu arrow and choose the required number. The scheduling period can be between 1 and 7 days. Max Nights AwayMax Nights AwayMax Nights AwayMax Nights Away This is the number of overnights away from the depot your vehicles are allowed during any one route. You can choose between 0 and 6 nights. If 0 is chosen then routes will start and end on the planning day. To change the default value, click on the drop down menu arrow and select the required number. Please note that only Vehicle Types that have the Overnight Allowed checkbox ticked in Parameters will be allowed an overnight away from the depot. Max Trips Per RouteMax Trips Per RouteMax Trips Per RouteMax Trips Per Route This represents the number of times the vehicles are allowed to return to the depot to reload during a route. If 1 is set then once the vehicle is empty (or full if the orders are collections) it will return to the depot and the route will end. Defining a higher value for this setting allows more orders to be put onto a route. A maximum of 15 trips per route is allowed. Collection At EndCollection At EndCollection At EndCollection At End Tick this check box if you want all Collection orders to be completed at the end of the route, just prior to returning to the depot. This function is switched off by default. Fixed Fleet SizeFixed Fleet SizeFixed Fleet SizeFixed Fleet Size This enables you to define the number of drivers and vehicle types you have at each depot and is switched off by default, meaning no limitations are placed on the number of vehicles that


logixcentral can use during Auto Scheduling. To define the number of vehicle types and drivers tick the checkbox and the Fixed Fleet Resources appear as shown below:

Within each depot listed are the number of drivers and each vehicle type you have defined in Parameters. By default when you switch on Fixed Fleet no drivers or vehicles are available for any of the depots. You therefore need to manually configure this section. Click in each numeric box and input the number of drivers and vehicle types for each depot. To set an unlimited amount of a certain resource, click on the infinity button to the right of the numeric box. Two hash symbols display in the numeric box to denote the resource is unlimited. Below is an example of a completed Fixed Fleet Resources window:

Route Name PrefixRoute Name PrefixRoute Name PrefixRoute Name Prefix This allows you to set a four character reference that will be used for each of the routes Auto Schedule creates. By default this is set to ‘AUTO’ so once routes have been produced they will be named AUTO0001, AUTO0002…etc. To change this click in the box and add you own prefix. Trailer SwappingTrailer SwappingTrailer SwappingTrailer Swapping This setting means auto schedule will plan to swap the trailer for the onward journey of the second trip.


Advanced ParametersAdvanced ParametersAdvanced ParametersAdvanced Parameters

This section opens on the General tab that allows you to alter settings found in the Advanced Options section of Parameters. Refer to the Parameters chapter for full explanation of each of the settings. Save any changes you make before moving onto the Auto Options tab.

This tab replicates the options found in the Auto Options Parameter section along with a few settings found in the Advanced Options Parameter section. Duplicating these settings in the Auto Schedule Manager enables you to make changes before running Auto Schedule without having to re-open Parameters. See the relevant section within the Parameters chapter for a full explanation of all these settings. Again save any changes before moving onto the Auto Schedule section.


Auto ScheduleAuto ScheduleAuto ScheduleAuto Schedule

Eight different types of automatic scheduling are available to you, the first two are always available, the next four are only available once at least one route has been created and the last two are only available if they have been activated for you by DPS. Click the appropriate radio button to choose your Scheduling Option. ReReReRe----ScheduleScheduleScheduleSchedule This is the main scheduling option and involves a blanket scheduling of all orders within the Active Profile. Any routes that already exist will be deleted and logixcentral will start the route building process from scratch. PrePrePrePre----Allocated RoutesAllocated RoutesAllocated RoutesAllocated Routes Use this scheduling type if you have imported zones and wish to schedule orders by the zone number they have been assigned where by each zone is a different route. If orders have been allocated a sequence number (usually via the import file) as well then this will also be obeyed. Please note that any order not assigned a zone number will be left unallocated. Continue SchedulingContinue SchedulingContinue SchedulingContinue Scheduling This method completes the scheduling process that has already started but does not alter the existing routes fundamentally. In order words it won’t remove orders already assigned to a route but it will add unallocated orders where possible and re-sequence the orders on existing route(s) if time and distance can be saved. New routes will also be created in this mode if need be. Add To ExistingAdd To ExistingAdd To ExistingAdd To Existing This scheduling method adds unallocated orders to the routes that already exist. Orders on the routes that do exist will not be removed or substituted for an unallocated order but the sequence will be re-evaluated. New Routes Only Preserve AllNew Routes Only Preserve AllNew Routes Only Preserve AllNew Routes Only Preserve All This allows you to keep the routes that already exist exactly as they are and continue scheduling creating new routes for those orders that remain unallocated.


ReReReRe----Optimise RoutesOptimise RoutesOptimise RoutesOptimise Routes This method makes Auto Schedule re-evaluate each existing route and check to see whether any further time and distance savings can be made by re-sequencing the orders. ExtendExtendExtendExtend Unallocated orders can be added to existing routes to extend them. The settings need to be defined by DPS and can be set to specifically preserve or alter the time and distances of the existing routes by maintaining the sequence or re-evaluating it and also by adding more trips. It can also be configured to create new routes if need be. SpreadSpreadSpreadSpread This spreads the unallocated orders across the existing routes and will re-evaluate and re-sequence where necessary. PerfoPerfoPerfoPerformance Scalermance Scalermance Scalermance Scale This is used to define how much effort you want logixcentral to go through when building routes during automatic scheduling. The auto scheduling process is made up of numerous calculations, the performance of which can be reduced or in some cases cut out completely by manipulating the Performance Scale. This effectively allows you to control the amount of time logixcentral spends building routes. The scale is made up of 5 different preset modes that range from 5-Optimal, which is the most thorough and time consuming, down to 1-Basic, which is the least intense and therefore the fastest method of Auto Scheduling. Each of the 5 presets uses a fixed Cluster Mode that cannot be changed, hence why the Cluster Mode drop down menu is greyed out at all times in the Parameters and in the Auto Options tab of the Advanced Parameters section. To alter the Performance Scale click and hold the slider and move it in the desired direction. Click on the Start button to begin Auto Scheduling. If you choose one of the four scheduling options that require routes to already exist then you will see an Edit Actions button rather than the Start button:

Click on this and the following window will display:


Route Scheduling ActionRoute Scheduling ActionRoute Scheduling ActionRoute Scheduling Action

From here you can choose what action to take for each of your existing routes. ContinueContinueContinueContinue This means that the route is open for unallocated orders to be added to it but orders won’t be removed from them. Routes are listed under this column if you chose the ‘Continue Schedule’ option as shown in the screenshot above. AddAddAddAdd This allows you to add orders to the existing routes and no other routes will be created. Routes will appear in this column if you choose the ‘Add To Existing’ Scheduling Option. PreservePreservePreservePreserve Routes listed in this column will be preserved in their entirety. No orders will be added and no re-sequencing will occur, they will be left in their current state. Routes display in this column if the ‘New Routes Only Preserve All’ Scheduling Option has been chosen. To move a route from one column to another simply click in the action column you wish to move the route to. You can return to the Auto Schedule section by clicking on the Back button. Click on the Reset button to return the routes to their original columns. Use the up and down arrow buttons to scroll through your list of routes if they take up more than a single page of the box. Although you can only choose one Scheduling Option you can in fact carry out multiple actions to different routes within the same Auto Schedule:


This example shows that the fourth route has been preserved meaning that no changes will be made to it while Auto is allowed to add unallocated orders to the other three routes but no new routes will be created as a result of the auto scheduling process.


Auto Schedule ProgressAuto Schedule ProgressAuto Schedule ProgressAuto Schedule Progress Click on the Start button to begin the automatic scheduling process and display the Auto Schedule Progress window:

Once the data is loaded the Auto Scheduler begins to allocate orders and from here you can monitor its progress. The Attempted bar will fill up as it tries to allocate the orders. The Allocated bar fills up once orders are placed on a route. Once the orders are allocated the Optimised bar will fill up as it checks each route individually to make sure the orders are in the best possible sequence. The Progress window will refresh every 10 seconds by default. Click on the Manual Refresh button to update the window manually. To change the time of the automatic refresh click on the refresh drop down menu and choose from the options shown below:

Choosing the Manual option at the bottom of the drop down menu list will disable the automatic refresh feature. Click on the Stop button to end the scheduling process at its current point or click Cancel to abort the scheduling process altogether, discarding any routes created and orders allocated during the current auto schedule. A dialog box appears asking you to confirm your action to Stop or Cancel, click OK to proceed, click Cancel to exit without completing the action.


Once the scheduling process is complete if all orders have been allocated the following dialog box will display:

However when Auto Schedule was unable to allocate all orders then a dialog box similar to below will display:

The dialog box always shows the number of orders that remain unallocated. Once the dialog box appears the Summary Bar will update displaying the new Profile statistics:

Click OK to close the dialog box and view the results of the scheduling process in the Auto Schedule Progress window:


The start date and time of the auto schedule is listed along the top as well as the time taken to complete the scheduling process. On the left beneath the progress bars the number of routes, trips and overnights are displayed along with the total time taken and distance covered for all created routes. To the right of this the total number of deliveries and collections are listed, divided by the weight of each load unit used. All options are greyed out at this point; the only available option is to click on Close. This returns you to the Auto Schedule Manager where you can set up and repeat the auto schedule process or click on Close to Exit the Auto Schedule Manager.

Resolving Resolving Resolving Resolving UnallocUnallocUnallocUnallocated Ordersated Ordersated Ordersated Orders There are a number of reasons why Auto Schedule might not be able to allocate orders, below is a list of some of possible reasons that you will need to consider: Auto ScheduleAuto ScheduleAuto ScheduleAuto Schedule

• The set Planning Day might be wrong

• The Scheduling Period might not be long enough to include an order • Nights away are required but this is set to zero

• The vehicle resources set using Fixed Fleet makes completion of all orders impossible • The Cluster Radius and Deviation might not be enough to include all orders

• The Weighting Factor settings may make it impossible for auto to schedule all orders • Max Trips per Route setting is too low to allow all orders to be scheduled

ParametersParametersParametersParameters

• Vehicle speeds may be too slow to allow completion

• Depots might have restrictive opening times or be closed completely and orders have PREFDEP defined

• Depots might have a throughput limit that has been reached • Too much time spent at calls, reducing the number of orders that can be put on any given

route

• Vehicles are not allowed overnights and order can’t be reached within one day/shift • Vehicle Type capacity is restricting the number of orders that can be scheduled

• Restrictive Driver Shift start and finish times • Restrictive Driver Hours settings

Order RestrictionsOrder RestrictionsOrder RestrictionsOrder Restrictions

• The Scheduling Period is outside the orders BOOKDAY

• The orders’ opening times are too restrictive • The BOOKTIME set is too strict and unachievable

• The orders’ PREFDEP does not have enough vehicle resources • The orders BANVEH list means completion of the order is impossible • The ZONE the order is in makes completion impossible. This could be due to distance

from the other orders, time window constraints, vehicle capacity constraints, and Driver Shift or Hours limitations.

The quickest way to find out the reason is to create a route manually, and add unallocated orders to it and see what Warning message(s) you receive.


ReportsReportsReportsReports Logixcentral contains the ability to produce a number of different reports in various formats that you can view, save, edit and email as required. This chapter covers the reports in full so you can choose which reports are right for your business needs. From September 2010 the number of reports available to you will increase dramatically. Those who are familiar with logixcentral and utilising the Reports function will notice a significant change in the layout of the Reports section. There are now the new reports called Jasper Reports and the old reports which are now known as Basic Reports, both of which are explained during this chapter.

Jasper ReportsJasper ReportsJasper ReportsJasper Reports Click on the Reports icon within the Shortcuts Bar to bring up the Reports window in the main logixcentral pane:

The window opens on the Recent tab which lists the most recently generated reports. The tabs on the right hand side are the different types of reports available. Click on a tab and the list of reports display in the viewing pane. KPI TabKPI TabKPI TabKPI Tab This contains the Key Performance Indicator and Performance Summary report that can be generated in either portrait or landscape.


Summary TabSummary TabSummary TabSummary Tab

• Master Schedule: Lists all the routes organised by their start depot.

• Summary by Depot: Lists each depots totals such as number of routes, time taken, distance travelled, orders completed

• Summary By Depot and Vehicle: Lists the same information as the above report but broken down firstly by vehicle type and then by depot

Load Detail TabLoad Detail TabLoad Detail TabLoad Detail Tab

• Load Manifest Detail: A detailed list of every route and its orders including full address, order type and arrival time.

• Load Manifest Summary: A list of deliveries by route with address and arrival time. Similar to above but more condensed.

• Warehouse Loading Sheet: List of orders by route in reverse order from last delivery time to first.

Orders TabOrders TabOrders TabOrders Tab

• Order Export CSV: The orders listed by reference number with details of route name, delivery day, arrival and depart time. Includes customer name and postcode

• Order Listing: Same as the above report but meant for a format other than CSV.

• Unallocated Orders: A list of unallocated orders only. This will be blank if all orders are allocated.

Parameters TabParameters TabParameters TabParameters Tab

• Depot List: Simply a list of the available depots • Driver Hours: Outlines the working time regulations and other rules

• Driver Shifts: Outlines the start and finish times along with any defined shift costs • Master Parameters: Outlines Parameter settings such as vehicle speeds and defined call

times Report FormatsReport FormatsReport FormatsReport Formats

• PDF (Portable Document Format): A popular format that can be viewed on any computer with Adobe Acrobat or the freely downloadable Acrobat Plug-In

• CSV (Comma Separated Values): • DOCX: A Microsoft Word 2007 document. • HTML (Hyper Text Mark-up Language): The common format for text files that display using

a web browser.

• ODT (Open Document Text): An alternative type of word processor document not produced by Microsoft Word.

• XLSX: A Microsoft Excel 2007 document. Please note that if your version of Office is pre-2007 you will need to download the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack from the Microsoft Download Centre to be able to generate the logixcentral reports as a Word or Excel document.


Emailing ReportsEmailing ReportsEmailing ReportsEmailing Reports You can choose to email a copy of the report once it is produced. By default this is set to No. Click the Yes radio button and an extra section appears in the Reports window as shown below:

Enter the email address you want to send the report to in the text box provided and then choose whether to also send the email to your own address. This is set to No by default. Clicking the Yes radio button means an email with the report attached is also sent to the email address that your logixcentral user account is registered to. The email will be from [email protected]. Produce ReportProduce ReportProduce ReportProduce Report Once you have chosen your report and the format you want it in click on the Produce Report button to generate the report. Once it is generated you will have the option to Open, Save or Cancel it. If you chose to email a copy of the report, it will be sent straight away. When you return to the Reports window having generated a report this report is quickly accessible from the top of the Reports window via the blue text as shown below:


Basic ReportsBasic ReportsBasic ReportsBasic Reports To access the familiar reports window click on the ‘Switch to basic reports’ text in the bottom right of the window and the following window displays:

Default Profile ReportDefault Profile ReportDefault Profile ReportDefault Profile Report This is the Userout.CSV report that is automatically generated when you switch to basic reports and lists each step of each of your routes. Click on the View button and a dialog box appears giving you the option to Open, Save or Cancel. Choose Open and the file opens in a new web browser. Choose Save and you will have to choose a location to save the file to, it will then be downloaded and you have the option to open the file in MS Excel. Clicking on Cancel aborts the view/download and returns you to the above screen. Clicking the Download button option also causes a dialog box to appear asking you to Open, Save or Cancel. This time if you choose Open it will open straight in MS Excel where you can then save it. Choose Save and again you must specify a location and are then given the option to open it. Choosing Cancel aborts the download. A sample of the Userout is shown below. The complete list of the column headers used for this report can be found at the end of the chapter.


Generate New ReportGenerate New ReportGenerate New ReportGenerate New Report In this section you can choose to generate either a Summary Report or a Full report. Choose which to generate by clicking on the corresponding radio button. From the drop down menu choose which language you want the report to be in and then click on Generate Report. These reports are generated using MS Excel and consist of numerous tabs, each containing various information displayed in a particular style. The Full Report contains more tabs and therefore more information than the Summary report but many of the tabs are the same in each. See the end of this chapter for a full list of the contents of each report. The report will display in the main viewing pane as shown below:

At the moment the report is on the internet and is read-only in its current form. If you wish to edit the report in any way you will first need to download it by clicking on the blue ‘(Download)’ text at the top of the Main Viewing Pane. A dialog box appears with the options for you to Open, Save or Cancel the report. If you choose Open, the file will be downloaded and opened using MS Excel. You can then edit it and Save As when you are finished. If you chose Save you will be asked to select a location to save the file to. Once the file is downloaded to your chosen save location you will be given the option to open the file. Choosing Cancel will abort the download process. Please note that this file contains Macros and therefore you may need to alter your Macro security level in order to open the file. In Excel click on Tools, Macro, and then Security and change the level to Medium so that Excel gives you the option to allow or deny Macros. You may need to check your company’s policy on macros before doing this.


Once you have successfully downloaded the Summary or Full Report you can return to logixcentral and click on the black cross in the top right of the viewing pane to close the report. You then return to the basic reports menu window:

A second report has now been added to the Report Name section, this is the summary or full report you have just generated. It can be viewed or downloaded at any point using the buttons on the right. Every time you generate a summary or full report it will replace the existing summary or full report as it is only possible to save one or the other, the Default Profile Report (Userout.CSV) is never overwritten.


Report ContentsReport ContentsReport ContentsReport Contents Default Profile Report ListDefault Profile Report ListDefault Profile Report ListDefault Profile Report List

Column HeaderColumn HeaderColumn HeaderColumn Header DescriptionDescriptionDescriptionDescription

ORDER The order reference

CUST_NAME The name of the entry

ADDRESS_1 First line of the address

ADDRESS_2 Second line of the address

ADDRESS_3 Third line of the address

ADDRESS_4 Fourth line of the address

ZIPCODE Postcode

ROUTENAME Name of the Route

SEQUENCE Sequence number of the entry on a route

CALLTYPE Defines the type of task

TASK_TYPE

UNIT_1 Primary Load Unit total

UNIT_2 Secondary Load Unit total

CUST_INFO1 First line of customer information

CUST_INFO2 Second line of customer information

CUST_INFO3 Third line of customer information

CUST_INFO4 Fourth line of customer information

CUST_INFO5 Fifth line of customer information

LATITUDE Latitude of the entry's address

LONGITUDE Longitude of the entry's address

LOCATION The Location in relation to a nearby town or city

OPEN1 Open time for window 1

CLOSE1 close time for window 1

OPEN2 Open time for window 2

CLOSE2 Close time for window 2

PROD_A Quantity of Prod1

PROD_B Quantity of Prod2

PROD_C Quantity of Prod3

PROD_D Quantity of Prod4

PROD_E Quantity of Prod5 (can go up to PROD_Y = Prod25)

ARR_DAY Day vehicle arrives

ARR_TIME Time vehicle arrives

DEP_DAY Day vehicle departs

DEP_TIME Time vehicle leaves

DURATION Total time spent at location

TRAV_TIME Time taken to get from previous entry (in minutes)

TRAV_DIST Distance travelled from previous entry (m/km)

REVENUE Revenue of completing order

STATUS Status of the route (open, pre-dispatched, dispatched, returned etc)

DESCRIP Description of route

START_DEP Start Depot

FINISH_DEP End Depot

TOT_DIST Total distance of route

TOT_TIME Total time of route

TOT_DUTY Total shift time of route


Summary Report Summary Report Summary Report Summary Report

TabTabTabTab NameNameNameName DescriptionDescriptionDescriptionDescription

SumLand Summary Landscape Route evaluation, number of routes trips, time & distance totals

SumPort Summary Portrait Same as above but in Portrait

Sch-M Schedule-Master List of all routes similar facts displayed to Route Viewer

Sch-C Schedule-Cost List of all routes, similar to above but with cost analysis

Week Week Bar chart displaying Vehicle usage by day and time

Mon Monday Vehicle usage for Monday

Tue Tuesday Vehicle usage for Tuesday

Weds Wednesday Vehicle usage for Wednesday

Thurs Thursday Vehicle usage for Thursday

Fri Friday Vehicle usage for Friday

Sat Saturday Vehicle usage for Saturday

Sun Sunday Vehicle usage for Sunday

R-Hour Route and Hours Bar chart displaying length of routes in hours

D-Time Delivery vs Time of day Spread of deliveries/Collections across the time of day

Vehicle Vehicle Route list divided by Vehicle Type

VehPivot Vehicle Pivot Vehicle count per depot per day

Cost Cost Cost of each order per Load Unit

P&L Profit & Loss Profit/Loss per order

Del Deliveries List of Deliveries with route details

Col Collections List of Collections with route details

Userout Userout.CSV Userout.CSV

CDMaster Col/Del Master List of all Collections and Deliveries with route details

Rest Rest Breaks List of Rest Breaks for each route

Wait Waiting Time List of Waiting Times for each route


Full ReportFull ReportFull ReportFull Report

TabTabTabTab NameNameNameName DescriDescriDescriDescriptionptionptionption

SumLand Summary Landscape Route evaluation, number of routes trips, time & distance totals

SumPort Summary Portrait Same as above but in Portrait

Sch-M Schedule-Master List of all routes similar facts displayed to Route Viewer

Sch-C Schedule-Cost List of all routes, similar to above but with cost analysis

Gant Gantt Chart Time plotted for contents of each route

GantPlus Gantt Chart Plus Time plotted for each route with more detail

Week Week Bar chart displaying Vehicle usage by day and time

Mon Monday Vehicle usage for Monday

Tue Tuesday Vehicle usage for Tuesday

Weds Wednesday Vehicle usage for Wednesday

Thurs Thursday Vehicle usage for Thursday

Fri Friday Vehicle usage for Friday

Sat Saturday Vehicle usage for Saturday

Sun Sunday Vehicle usage for Sunday

R-Hour Route and Hours Bar chart displaying length of routes in hours

D-Time Delivery vs Time of day Spread of deliveries/Collections across the time of day

Vehicle Vehicle Route list divided by Vehicle Type

VehPivot Vehicle Pivot Vehicle count per depot per day

Cost Cost Cost of each order per Load Unit

P&L Profit & Loss Profit/Loss per order

Del Deliveries List of Deliveries with route details

Col Collections List of Collections with route details

Userout Userout.CSV Userout.CSV

CDMaster Col/Del Master List of all Collections and Deliveries with route details

Rest Rest Breaks List of Rest Breaks for each route

Wait Waiting Time List of Waiting Times for each route

AUTO0001 Route Number Summary data and route detail for each route individually

AUTOxxxx Route Number Number of AUTO tabs defined by number of routes in Profile


Speed TableSpeed TableSpeed TableSpeed Table The maps that logixcentral uses contains fixed points called matrix points. There are thousands of these matrix points on every map in logixcentral, and these are used to calculate the time and distances you see in a route. The Standard map matrix is called the Global Matrix. The Speed Table function allows you to create your own set of matrix points based solely on the orders that you have imported into your Profile. This means that you can build a matrix point for each order and depot that exists in your Profile resulting in greater accuracy of the time and distance calculations. Once this process is complete you will have built a Local Matrix. This function is not activated by default so it will need to be switched on by DPS. Once it has you will notice the Speed Table icon in the Shortcuts Bar:


Building a Local MatrixBuilding a Local MatrixBuilding a Local MatrixBuilding a Local Matrix Click on the icon and the Speed Table Builder displays in the main logixcentral pane:

Current Speed TableCurrent Speed TableCurrent Speed TableCurrent Speed Table This shows you whether you are using the Global Matrix or a Local Matrix. In brackets it tells you the total number of matrix points in the current Profile and the date they were created. EnableEnableEnableEnable/Disable/Disable/Disable/Disable Click this button to use the local matrix once one has been created. You then use this button to switch the local matrix on and off. Upload Speed TableUpload Speed TableUpload Speed TableUpload Speed Table This function allows you to find a previously saved local matrix and upload it to logixcentral. Click on Browse to open the ‘Choose File to Upload’ window. Use this to locate your file and highlight it then click Open. The path of the chosen file will display in the text box, you can then click on Upload to begin the uploading process. Speed UnitSpeed UnitSpeed UnitSpeed Unit This displays the unit of measurement being used for the Vehicle Speeds. This will be either KPH or MPH depending on which distance measurement you have set in the General Parameters Section. Vehicle Speeds TableVehicle Speeds TableVehicle Speeds TableVehicle Speeds Table This displays the road speeds being used for five different road types in two different surroundings. The standard speeds for kilometres per hour are shown in the screenshot above. Below are the standard speeds for miles per hour:


To change any of the speeds use the up/down arrows to the right of the speed you wish to change or click in the numeric box and type in the required speed. Vehicle SizeVehicle SizeVehicle SizeVehicle Size This is used in conjunction with road bans, where by you can restrict the use of a road based on its width, height and/or weight. For this restriction to then be obeyed during the scheduling process the local matrix needs to be built with the width, height and weight of the vehicle defined. Use the up/down arrows to set a width, height and weight. By default these are set to zero meaning no size limit is applied. Vehicle TypeVehicle TypeVehicle TypeVehicle Type Choose the category of vehicle that will be used to complete routes. This will affect the route planned by logixcentral as it will not use any roads that the chosen vehicle type cannot access. Tick the checkboxes for the types that apply. IncludeIncludeIncludeInclude This allows you to choose what address locations you want to use as matrix points in your local matrix. You can choose to use your imported orders, your depots and your customer addresses (call points). Tick the boxes of the record types you wish to include. From FileFrom FileFrom FileFrom File If you have a file or files containing the locations you wish to use as matrix points in the local matrix then you can upload this here. This is useful you haven’t created your depots or imported your orders into the Profile yet. CloseCloseCloseClose Click on this command button if you wish to exit the Speed Table Builder without building the local matrix or saving any changes you have made to the settings. BuildBuildBuildBuild Click on this command button once you are ready to build the local matrix. The following window will then appear:

This dialog box informs you how long the matrix building process will take and also displays the number of points that have been built so far and the total number of matrix points to build. Please note that the number of points you are building has an effect on the time taken to complete. Once the process is finished the following box displays:


This confirms the completion of the matrix building process, click on the cross in the top right to close the window and return to the Speed Table Builder which will look similar to this:

From the screenshot above you can see that the local matrix is now the active matrix. This is also evident from the Summary Bar where there is now a checkbox with a tick next to the map in use as shown below. This checkbox only displays when the Local Matrix is active:


Viewing Matrix PointsViewing Matrix PointsViewing Matrix PointsViewing Matrix Points To view the matrix points click on the Map View icon in the Shortcuts Bar. Once the Speed Table has been switched on by DPS an extra ‘Matrix Points’ checkbox button becomes available in the Map Control toolbar as shown below:

To view the matrix points click on the button. The box will become ticked and the matrix points will be loaded onto the map. This screenshot shows the global matrix points of a Great Britain map complete with order icons:

The global matrix points are spread throughout the country. Zoom in closer to get a better look at where they are in relation to your orders:


Although the global matrix points are near to the orders they are not at the same geographical location. If you enable the Local Matrix and view to the same zoom factor you can see that the points match the location of the orders more closely:

If you zoom in even closer you can see just how close the matrix points now match the address of the orders:


Site LogiXSite LogiXSite LogiXSite LogiX This is a strategic tool used to work out the ideal locations for your depots based on your set of order data or customer addresses. This tool can be utilised when originally deciding where to locate your business depots, as well as deciding on a location for additional depots. It can also be used to help determine which depots to keep and which to close when downsizing or relocating.

Opening Site LogiXOpening Site LogiXOpening Site LogiXOpening Site LogiX Site LogiX is not switched on by default so it will need to be activated by DPS. Once it is the icon displays in the Shortcuts Bar as shown below:

Click on this and the following window opens in the main viewing pane:

To run Site LogiX you must define the settings situated in the Locations Methods section.


Location MethodsLocation MethodsLocation MethodsLocation Methods There are three methods you can use to locate depots, each of which is based on slightly different criteria that affect how the depots are located. AUTO: Locate AnywhereAUTO: Locate AnywhereAUTO: Locate AnywhereAUTO: Locate Anywhere This method generates depots based the order data in your Profile therefore the depots can be located anywhere within the Profile Map. No restrictions are applied to how or where Site LogiX can locate the new depot(s) so they are created solely on the geographical proximity to your orders. For this reason depot locations may vary depending on the number and the distribution of orders in your Profile. DEPOTS: Locate at DepotDEPOTS: Locate at DepotDEPOTS: Locate at DepotDEPOTS: Locate at Depot This method is used to choose the optimum location for additional depots taking into account your existing depots or it can be used to decide which of your existing depots to close when downsizing. The function of this method is defined by whether the Retain Existing Depots checkbox is ticked or not. If so then it is used to locate additional depots, if not the number of Depots Required can be set to a number below the existing number and depots will be deleted based on their geographical location and cost effectiveness. ORDERORDERORDERORDERS: Locate at ordersS: Locate at ordersS: Locate at ordersS: Locate at orders Using this method, depots can only be located at the same address as an order in the Profile. Site LogiX evaluates each order location in relation to the others and through a process of elimination decides which order address would also serve as the most optimum depot location. This method is heavily affected by the number of orders in your Profile therefore the more orders you have the longer the process will take. Once complete the depot is named using the reference number of the order chosen as the optimal depot location. Depots RequiredDepots RequiredDepots RequiredDepots Required Here you define the number of depots you want to have in your Profile. The number actually created by Site LogiX will depend on whether or not you have the Retain Existing Depots function switched on. Use the up/down arrows to change the value or click in the numeric box and type in the required value. Depot PrefixDepot PrefixDepot PrefixDepot Prefix Define the beginning of the name for the created depots. Both numbers and letters can be used. Retain Existing DepotsRetain Existing DepotsRetain Existing DepotsRetain Existing Depots Here you can choose whether you want Site LogiX to keep the existing depot(s) or whether they can be deleted and replaced by the ones Site LogiX creates. Tick the checkbox to switch this function on. If you choose to retain existing depots then the number in the Depots Required numeric box cannot be lower than the number of depots that currently exist. StartStartStartStart Once you have chosen your Location Method and defined the settings listed above click on the Start button and Site LogiX will create the depots based on your defined criteria. Preferred Depot SummaryPreferred Depot SummaryPreferred Depot SummaryPreferred Depot Summary This box will be empty when you first open Site LogiX but once you run it the created depots and any pre-existing ones are listed here. The depot list in the Depot Section of Parameters is also updated.

Running SRunning SRunning SRunning Site LogiXite LogiXite LogiXite LogiX Once you have defined the settings outlined above click on the Start button to begin the process. If you have routes built in your Profile the following dialog box displays:


Choose to either delete the existing routes or keep them before running Site LogiX. Alternatively you can cancel the process completely and exit without creating new depots. When Site LogiX runs the below progress bar displays:

Once this reaches 100% a dialog box similar to below will display:

Click on OK to close this and return to the Site LogiX window where the depots are now listed in the Preferred Depot Summary box:


Once the depots have been generated the Print and Download icons can be utilised. PrintPrintPrintPrint This allows you to print a summary of the depots having ran Site LogiX DownloadDownloadDownloadDownload This allows you to download a depot summary .CSV file. Click on this and a dialog box comes up with the blue download text:

Click on the text and you can either choose to Open, Save or Cancel the download. The .CSV file will look similar to this:

The depots can be viewed in the Depot Section of Parameters and via the Map View. It is strongly advised that you re-run Auto Schedule once your depot list has been changed by Site LogiX.

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