Operations Menu Controls

Window Layout

The Operations screen can be configured to have up to 4 regions. To access and use manual functions from the concealable menu, select the grey arrow, located near the top right of the Operations screen:  

If you have permission to change the layout, the following icons will appear in the menu on the Operations window:

Field	Description
	Edit Regions - enables editing of the tabs that show up in each region of the screen.
	Add Region - allows you to add a region. There is a maximum of four regions.
	Reset Layout - resets the layout to factory default.
	Save - saves the current user Default Dispatch Layout settings as the default for the user.

When you log out, the layout of the Operations tab is saved. This layout is displayed the next time you go to the Operations tab.

Edit Regions

When you select the Edit Regions icon, myAvail adds the  icon to each region on the screen. Selecting this icon on the region allows you to select the functions that you want to appear in that region. Below is an example of selecting functions for a region.

Select the functions that you want to be displayed in that region. Then, click the  icon again to update the region with your selections.

Add Regions 

When you select the Add Regions icon in the concealable toolbar, the Add Region is displayed.  

Deleting Regions

You can delete regions if, for example, you only want two regions on your second screen. To delete a region, you first need to move all the functions in that region to another region. You can delete a region only when it is empty. When a region is empty, myAvail displays a delete icon  for that region. Click this icon to delete the region and automatically resize the remaining regions.

Adding Regions

If you deleted a region and you want to add it back in, first select the Add Region icon in the toolbar and then click the Add Region button. This displays a depiction of all possible regions (4 in each of 2 windows) and allows you to add back in regions that are not currently displayed. The example below indicates that the upper left region in the second window is not displayed currently and can be added.

Resizing Regions

Resize a region by placing the mouse between the regions, either horizontally or vertically. When the mouse pointer shows a double arrow, click and drag to resize the region.

Reset Layout

Click the Reset Layout icon  in the toolbar to restore the default layout, which is just one window with four regions.

Manual Vehicle Functions

As a dispatcher, you can manually logon a vehicle, logoff a vehicle, or reset the information displayed for a vehicle when you have permission to access these functions. If you have the required permissions, myAvail displays the following icons in your Operations toolbar.

Field	Description
	Manual Logoff - allows you to logoff a vehicle.
	Reset Vehicle - allows you to reset the information displayed for a vehicle.

Manual Logon

When an operator has trouble logging in, you can log them in from the Operations tab by selecting the Manual Logon icon in the toolbar, which displays the window below.

To logon a vehicle:

1. From the Vehicle drop-down list, select the vehicle
2. From the Operator drop-down list, select the operator
3. From the WorkId drop-down list, select the work ID
4. Click Logon

myAvail does not display vehicles, operators, and work IDs that are currently logged on in the drop-down lists. After you click the logon button, the system sends a message to the selected vehicle with the logon information. The vehicle logs on and the mobile data terminal (MDT) displays the normal pre-trip screens for the operator. If you are logging in a demand response vehicle, please select the para radio button and type in the work.

Manual Logoff

If an operator forgets to logoff at the end of their shift, you can log them off from the Operations workstation by clicking the Manual Logoff icon in the toolbar, which displays the following screen.

Select the vehicle that you want to logoff in the Vehicle drop-down list, and then click Logoff. myAvail only displays vehicles that are currently logged on in the vehicle drop-down list. After you click Logoff, the system sends a message to the vehicle notifying it to log off. This process only works when the mobile data terminal (MDT) in the vehicle is on. The MDT stays on for a configurable number of minutes after the vehicle is turned off. If the MDT is not on, but the vehicle appears as logged in on the status display, reset the vehicle information using the Reset Vehicle function described below.

Reset Vehicle

As described above, the Manual Logoff works only when the MDT in the vehicle is on. If it is off, and the vehicle is logged in, use the Reset Vehicle icon to log off the vehicle. When you click this icon, myAvail displays the following window.

Select the vehicle that you want to reset in the Vehicle drop-down list, and then click Reset. myAvail only displays vehicles that are logged on in the vehicle drop-down list. After you click the Reset button, the system clears the information it displays in the status grid for that vehicle.

Block Functions

Dispatchers can manually logon a vehicle, logoff a vehicle, and reset the information that myAvail displays for a vehicle. If you have the required permissions, myAvail displays the following icons in the Operations toolbar.

Field	Description
	Set Block Delay - allows you to adjust the current schedule status delay of a block.
	Set Block Status - allows you to enable or disable schedule status calculation on a block.

Set Block Delay

Use a Block Delay to allow myAvail to calculate departure times for the public when vehicles are experiencing significant delays (breakdown, special traffic situation, accident, etc.).

Dispatchers might need to set the block delay in the following cases:

• An AVL-equipped vehicle will be significantly late in arriving at its next stop. In this case, a dispatcher should enter in minutes how late the vehicle will depart its next stop. After the dispatcher enters the block delay, myAvail automatically adjusts the schedule when the vehicle departs its next stop. Consequently, dispatchers do not need to update the block delay manually unless there are additional significant
• A non-AVL-equipped vehicle is behind schedule. In this case, myAvail has no information about the delay. Dispatchers should enter the number of minutes behind schedule the bus is currently running. However, unlike AVL-equipped vehicles, dispatchers need to make periodic block delay adjustments as the vehicle catches up with its normal schedule because myAvail cannot track its A delay of “0” puts the selected block back “On Schedule.”

When you enter a delay, it does not propagate throughout the day. Instead, myAvail assumes that layover times between trips will make-up for the delay. This is the same approach myAvail     uses when it automatically determines that a bus is behind schedule. Thus, after one or more trips, even a large delay can be eliminated by skipping layovers.

The block field contains a list of blocks for the current day’s service level. The delay is a numeric value that you enter in minutes.

Set Block Status

Use Block Status to disable and enable blocks in the schedule. The Block Status popup is shown below.
To Disable a block, select a block from the drop-down list. Choose the Disable radio button, and then click Set Status.

To Enable a Block that was previously Disabled, select the Block from the drop-down list. Choose the Enable radio button, and then click Set Status.

If your agency cannot perform a block due to driver or equipment shortage, a dispatcher must disable the block. Disabling the block removes all departures for that block from the operational schedule and allows myAvail’s departure estimation to exclude the trips and stops that occur during that block. Otherwise, myAvail assumes the block is operating normally and the system displays departures accordingly. Disabling a block is appropriate whenever a delay will cause a vehicle to miss a significant portion of its block. Dispatchers should handle minor delays using Block Delay.

Conversely, if the situation changes and a block is re-established, a dispatcher must enable the block. If the block is not enabled, assigning a vehicle to that Block has no effect on the schedule because myAvail assumes the block is still disabled. After the Block is enabled, the departure estimation will be correct after the vehicle’s first stop.

The practices described above do not depend on whether the vehicle is AVL-equipped. myAvail assumes that all enabled blocks are on schedule regardless of whether an AVL- equipped vehicle is sending updates. This behavior is an intentional design that handles non- equipped vehicles, equipment failures, radio coverage, and other issues.