The WhiteBoard 'Matrix'
This is the Core feature of 'Chartist' enabling users to view and manipulate bookings, both Spot and Contract, all from this single source. TheWhiteBoard 'matrix' presents the Bookings scenario for the complete current Vehicle stock.
Each booking, of whatever type, for the vehicle, which falls wholly or partly within the currently indicated date range, and which is not excluded by any filter currently in force is indicated by a colour-coded graphic.(Colour Coding is user-defined and is arranged by appropriate settings in the System Control parameters)
Matrix 'Filtering'
Allows the current Matrix display to be restricted to only those vehicles satisfying selection criteria as indicated below. The criteria may be used in any combination. Show a selected vehicle Group or ALL Groups, may be Multiple 'Tag' selected Show vehicles at a selected operating location or ALL Locations, may be Multiple 'Tag' selected Exclude any vehicle having a booking which 'fills' the matrix (left to right) for the date range currently in view Show only the indicated 'Type' or enter 'blank' for ALL types Show only vehicles whose Regn.No (or Fleet No.) matches characters keyed, 'Blank' for All Regn. Nos The 'Search String' feature. Any string or phrase entered will extract ALL those vehicles, whose 'Comments' field, or ANY of the 30 possible User-Defined ALPHA fields, holds characters matching the search topic. The search is NOT case-sensitive, An extension to the bland search string is to search for multiple words, part-words, or phrases.
LeftClick on the Regn.No button displays salient specification details of the vehicle including all equipment, extras, and user-defined values. RightClick presents a ListBox of ALL current bookings for the vehicle presented in 'Date Out' order
In 'View' mode LeftClick on the Booking Graphic presents that Booking for amendment. Again in 'View' mode where the MousePointer dwells on a Booking Graphic then the name of the Customer is displayed in the Window 'status' area (at the extreme bottom edge of the Window)
LeftClick on a Date Literal (not the numeric) allows the user to view the 'Daily Action List' enquiry for the selected day. This enquiry is available whatever the current Mode. 'Paging' buttons allow the user to navigate the Matrix a 'Page' at a time.
In a multi-user environment the user may opt to have the matrix automatically and dynamically updated reflecting the activities of all networked users, or alternatively to be automatically notified of any changes made by other users. If set to update automatically the user may use a 'toggle' button to suspend or re-activate dynamic updating
The Bookings window is liberally furnished with helpful tooltips, activated when the mouse pointer dwells on related fields. Experienced users may want to dispense with these tooltips permanently (by arrangement in System Control Parameters), or by using this 'toggle' button to turn tooltips ON or OFF at will at runtime
The matrix Date Range by default is a 21-day spread from Today's date. User-defined weekend days and Public Holidays are Colour-Coded for visual impact. The Date Range may be dynamically changed or restored. Changing the date will cause the Bookings area of the matrix to scroll laterally and to refresh according to the Bookings relevant to the new Date Range.
Date Manipulation buttons may be used to :- (i) Reset the Matrix to begin at Today's date and from first qualifying vehicle; (ii) Set Number of days ('n') by which to laterally move the Matrix; (iii) Move the Matrix 'n' days left; (iv) Move the Matrix 'n' days right
The user may 'toggle' between two Matrix modes 'View' and 'Change'. Filtering and Date Manipulation remain in force and available whatever the current Mode. In 'View' mode LeftClick on the Booking Graphic presents that Booking for amendment. Any changes made will be automatically reflected in the Matrix on return to the 'WhiteBoard'.
The user may 'Insert' a new Spot Hire Booking or effect a simple Date change to an existing booking. To Insert a Booking - LeftClick on the matrix line (bookings segment) against the desired vehicle and under the desired start date then RightClick under the desired end date. The user is taken to the (New) Bookings procedure. Certain fields are primed including 'Date Out' and 'Date In', together with the 'Number of days' implied. The Booking Type defaults to a 'Reservation' but as with all other values may be changed as desired. If Insert is confirmed the matrix is updated to reflect the new booking
Simple Date change - The Bookings Graphic may be re-sized or moved using Drag and Drop techniques. The Graphic may be 'Dragged' to a completely new range of dates or may be extended Left or Right to a new 'Start' or 'End' date.