Dial-a-Cab
Software
Q. Re the 'Clear All' button: Can you change the function to
'Clear All Read' messages? It is very annoying at present when you think
you've read all the messages, but the 'Clear All' function does not work.
You then have to then keep pressing 'next', having already seen most of them
to get to the unread message. If 'Clear All' cleared all read messages, the
unreads (!!) would be not only be easier to find, but more likely to be
read, as opposed to being skipped.
A. This is a very good idea! Why didn't I think of it! It should be
passed to the BoM.
Q. Can we get an extra line feed (or two) on the printer when
printing 'Job details'?
A. This idea has already been incorporated into the latest revision of
the software.
Q. Why not make use of the GPS facilities for the driver. A 'you
are here' on the map would be useful, especially when lost in the back
streets of Beckenham at night! It might help the driver to accept an offer.
A. The map being used does not have this capability.
Q. A 60 second countdown timer shown on a Job Offer would be
useful...
A. This idea has already been incorporated into the latest revision of
the software.
Q. Why can't we access the zones when being offered a trip?
A. All actions are locked out (except the map) when a trip is offered.
You can only view the pickup location or accept or reject.
Q. Why do I have to go through the whole 'bid' procedure when I
want to bid for a trip more than once? On the old terminal, it stayed there
and you just resent it.
A. Good idea, but you'd still have to go to the bid form to make sure the
zone was right.
Q. Will we be getting GPS dispatching?
A. There are no plans to change the way the system dispatches jobs.
Q. Why isn't the meter interfaced into the terminal?
A. The meter is interfaced to the terminal. However, not all connected
meters are working properly at this time. Drivers should contact Peter at
Roman Way to see if the meter installed in his/her taxi is now working with
the interface.
Tom Carter
DaC Software
Thanks for the positive feedback to the new mobiles. I have tried
to respond below to some of the requests that have been posted in Call Sign
and indeed some of them have now become fact. So many questions came in that
I have left the names out for space purposes.
We are always happy to receive your suggestions for improvements to the
mobile, but could you please either send them to Brunswick House or Call
Sign and not to me personally. I know my email address is on the
screensaver, but I'd appreciate it if it could be saved for business
purposes...!
Q. I don't like having to press accept or reject twice, the same
applies to many other functions.
A. Some drivers were given a choice of single or double pressing of
'accept' and 'reject' on an earlier software release. Invariably they ended
up with the 'double-press' as single pressing can be somewhat dangerous as
the keys dynamically change their captions and you could press a key while
it is changing.
Q. The screen is full of finger prints, making it more difficult
to read.
A. You can always use a water dampened cloth to clean the screen, but
please do NOT use any special cleaning fluids other than water. Peter is
acquiring special 'pens' which will be for pressing the buttons and touching
the screen without leaving finger marks. They will also make reading the map
much easier. The pens should be available by the time you read this.
Q. Your status disappears with the screen saver constantly
returning on after being set at only two minutes.
A. Your last 10 status messages are saved and can be recalled by touching
the bottom line or the last line of the 10-line display area. When the saved
status messages are shown, the time they were received is also shown. The
latest revision of the software will bring the screensaver on after three
minutes.
Q. The map, although a nice gimmick, irritatingly disappears when
the screen saver engages.
A. Sounds reasonable, you should pass the idea on to the BoM to look at.
Q. Text messages that you send to the dispatcher are not always
acknowledged...
A. Once a dispatcher message is sent, it will be seen by a dispatcher.
Since the Call Centre is very busy, the dispatcher may not always have the
time to respond to every message.
Q. Can you reduce the sound of the 'busy' beeper? It wakes Cabot
Square clients when entering the Limehouse link!
A. I have no control over the loudness (or quietness) of the beeper and
have passed this comment on to the terminal manufacturer.
Q. The Bleeping sounds are not loud enough.
A. I guess you can't please everyone - see the question above! There is a
possibility that it may be a terminal problem and it could be worth making
an appointment to see Peter at Roman Way.
Q. Can you have Zones 1, 2, 3, the 'Bid', 'Clear' and 'Next'
button on one screen? This may require a possible third screen, but it would
be worth it.
A. I like the idea and understand the reasoning and just wish I had done
it this way in the first place. It is highly unlikely that any change will
be made at this point, but suggest the idea be passed to the BoM.
Q. Details of 'rejected' jobs should automatically be cleared as
per the old terminal.
A. This idea has already been incorporated into the latest revision of
the software, which may be acquired at Roman Way (see answer 1).
Q. Can we have additional facilities such as a Calculator
function, AutoRoute, Mileage price lists, hotel details, restaurants and
club lists etc added on?
A. I agree that new functions should and can be incorporated and suggest
that this idea be given to the BoM for review.
Q. The 'Accept'' key should respond as quickly as the 'Reject'
key.
A. The response of the 'Accept' button is limited by the radio system,
while the response of the 'Reject' button is not.
Q. On Credit Card jobs, can you remove the option for a receipt
and just print every time?
A. Good idea and it should be passed to BoM for approval.
Q. The zone pages should be scrollable. They often hold more than
30 entries. The old terminal allowed this, but not the new...
A. The fact is that the new and old terminals show the same number of
entries. There are 4
