Executive Dashboard Enhancements
Based on the large number of requests from clients familiar with the v5 Dashboard functionality, we have added several enhancements to the v7 Dashboard. This results in a v7 Dashboard that has the best of v5 and the ease of use from v7.
Responsive Content. The contents grow or shrink with the size of the box and are centered within the box. Previously, the font was difficult to read because of the smaller size, and it had too much unused white space.
Pie Chart Legend. The legend was moved to the bottom from the right side. This allows the font to be larger and eliminates the cutoff that occurred with some configurations.
Ability to Create Wider Dashboards. If you want to display more controls on a single row and take advantage of larger monitors/screens, the Dashboard now provides a way to set the number of columns to display. This allows you to maximize the dashboard area and reduce or eliminate blank spaces on the right. To use this new feature, click Manage Tabs on the Action Menu and enter a number in the Columns in Layout column on the Tab Manager flyout. One column equals 150 pixels (px).
Bar Chart Labels. Bar chart labels are now displayed vertically by default. This eliminates the way horizontal labels overlapped, and many became impossible to read. With the move to vertical, we realized that large labels caused the label area to compress the bar chart area. To prevent this compression, we have set the maximum label length displayed to 20 characters. In the near future, we will add a configuration option that allows you to configure the label orientation (horizontal, vertical, diagonal).
Segment Color Highlights for Digital Controls. You can now define different colors based on the number returned in the control. This provides a quick visualization to let you know if everything is running optimally in your organization or if an area needs attention. As an example, if you have a control that displays the count of past due work orders, you can specify green for readings of 0-10, yellow when readings are between 11-50, and red for readings between 51-999,999. For the final range, be sure to select a value that can never be attained.
Refresh Frequency. With the last release, we introduced automatic refresh for Dashboard tabs that were checked. In the 4/30/2024 release, the refresh frequency was automatically set to every fifteen (15) minutes. In the current release, the refresh frequency has been changed to every five (5) minutes. In a future release, we will add configurability where you can better control the frequency of the refresh rate. While it does not auto-cycle through the tabs, this will be added in a future release.
Alert Based Work Orders with Smart Building Integration
WebTMA 7 now integrates with BACnet to communicate with Building Automation Systems (BAS) or Business Management Systems (BMS).
The Smart Building Integration additional module is required to utilize BACnet integration.
For TMA clients that have BAS or BMS in use, BACnet monitors the readings and can communicate alerts to TMA to trigger work orders when a BAS or BMS alarm occurs.
Landing Page Revision
The Landing Page has two Tabs: Work Orders and Active Tasks. The Work Orders Tab is useful for Supervisors, but not other users. With this revision, only Technicians marked as Supervisor and selected as Supervisor for a Trade or Trades will see the Work Orders Tab.
The change makes it faster for logged-in Technicians to see their Tasks without using extra clicks and ensures they do not have access to mass update functionality.
If the logged-in user has the Supervisor check box marked on their Organization > Repair Centers > Technician record, the Work Orders Tab is visible.
The work orders that display on the landing page are limited to Trades that the logged-in supervisor manages as designated in the Organization > Repair Center > Trade record.
If the Supervisor wants to assign work from the Landing Page, they must have the assigned Privileges "Allow to schedule work to others" found in Admin > User Management > Records / Preferences Tab.
Parts Available List Refined for Landing Page
Material Costs can be posted to a Task from the Active Tasks Tab on the Landing Page, and, by default, the parts list includes unavailable parts.
The selection list that displays when you click the + Add Part button now offers an option to remove from view the parts that have an available count of 0.
Default View - Include Unavailable Parts
We have added an Include Unavailable Parts check box on the Post Material for Task popup window. The box is marked by default.
When you clear the check box, parts that show an available quantity of 0 are removed from the list. This is a toggle action. If you mark the check box once more, the zero quantity lines reappear.
The screenshots at left illustrate the location of the check box and the different views.
If you have a long list, it may take a moment to revise the page.
Mass Import Template for Equipment Enhanced
The Mass Import Template for Equipment has new columns that accommodate users of the Make/Model feature. Make/Model makes it easy to establish records and add PM Schedules when you add large quantities of items of the same make and model.
For example, if you purchase a quantity of identical air conditioners, you can establish the PM Schedule in Make/Model and assign it when you import the new item information. Subsequent purchases of that same make/model can be imported and automatically receive the same PM Schedule. If changes are needed, you can update the Make/Model record, and the change is reflected on all records associated with that Make/Model.
New columns in Template
If you want PM schedules to be created for the Make/Model Equipment being added, the following columns need to be present and valid. If any are not valid or not populated, the equipment is added but no PM Schedules are associated.
- One of the combinations below is needed. If Manufacturer, Model, and Equipment Type are present in the template, then the lookup for the Equipment Make/Model is based on Manufacturer and Model.
- Make, Manufacturer, and Model
- Make, Type and Sub-Type (if Sub-Type is used), or Type only
- Base PM Date
- Trade (if M/M PM schedule does not have a Trade, the Trade from the template is used)
- Repair Center
Time & Attendance New Criteria
To allow you to review labor hours by Work Order Types or by Priority, new criteria have been added to the Time & Attendance query for WO Type and Priority.
When you add these new criteria, you can do the following:
- Click the Display Column sub-tab.
- Select Add Column.
- Check any of the boxes in the Display Column Selection.
- Save the Query with a unique name.
You can use the saved Query in a Dashboard based on labor lines, for example, ‘Number of Hours Completed by WO Type’.
Shift Schedule Option for Scheduler
When unscheduled events occur which impact work order scheduling (illness, vacation, holidays, etc.), you can easily change technicians’ scheduled assignments by a specified number of days or a specific date.
In the grid, check the desired technician lines and select Shift Schedule on the Action Menu.
Both Days and Dates can be moved forward or backward.
Shift By Days. Enter the number of days to move the work. A negative value shifts work to an earlier date.
Shift To Date. Select a date and time before or after the current date.
Click the Save button on the flyout, and then choose Save on the WebTMA toolbar.
Default Grid Records Returned Expanded
Many clients have requested that we increase the number of records returned in the grids to reduce the number of pages you have to scroll through to see your data.
Most grids now display 25 rows compared to the 10 records returned in the past. We limited the records returned by default to optimize system performance.
Examples of grids updated to the higher record count include:
- Work Order > Labor/Parts/Other Charges
- Quick Post Cost
- Project > Task & Resources
- Purchase Order > Purchase Order Lines
See the example below of the Work Order Labor grid
Task Code Character Length Increased
The length of Task Codes found in Organization > Task > Records has been increased from a maximum length of 14 characters to 30 characters.
Several clients requested this change to make use of ASHRAE codes which can be up to 21 characters in length. We expanded to 30 characters to assure we had ample space to accommodate future Task Code configurations.
New Simple Work Order Format
Several clients asked for a simplified Work Order that could print/render more quickly from the Work Order window. You now have the option of a Simple Work Order or the original Work Order available in the Reports panel.
The new simplified Work Order layout is easier to read for basic work orders. Also, it is optimized to render more quickly. The new report is named Simple Work Order.
It has a significantly reduced number of fields on the printout to show only the most relevant information. It is designed with Technicians in mind who print Work Orders. The report allows space for handwritten notes, hours, comments, signatures, etc. The system renders the printout in one (1) second compared to five (5) seconds for the original work order printout.
For cases where you need more details, the original Work Order report is still available.
Signature Feature Added to Several Windows
We have added the ability to capture physical signatures to several windows in the application.
This feature is now available on the Action Menu of the following windows:
- On-hand Adjustments
- Sales Orders
- Transfer Parts
- Work Orders *
Signatures can only be added in Add mode and cannot be edited or altered.
If Client Info / Preferences–Materials Management “Require Signature on Material Transaction” is granted, the following windows have a signature window on big Save.
• Quick Post Material
• Quick Post Cost
• Work Orders *
In the case of Room Inspections, line items can have a signature added using the signature icon .
- Room Inspection
* Work Order signatures can have two possibilities. The first is available from the Action Menu. The second occurs if Client Info / Preferences–Materials Management has “Require Signature on Material Transaction” Granted, then the system will force a signature after big Save when a Material Cost is added.
UFI Export Date Now Uses 24-Hour Format
Path: Accounting > UFI > UFI Export Data
The date format has been changed from HH to HH24.
Some Oracle database versions were having difficulty processing the date/time format used by the UFI application. They required the 24-hour format. If you export UFI data to an Oracle Database, the new date format will be applied. SQL Server integrations remain unchanged.
UFI Segment Validation Feature Added
Path: Accounting > UFI > UFI Segment
The UFI Segment entry now checks to confirm that the account number entered is valid. This helps avoid failures in the interface due to mistyped account numbers.
When you enter data for the account, the system checks to verify if it is a valid entry. If invalid, you are alerted.
Work Request API
A new, easier to use, Work Request API has been added to our API suite. This API is designed to accept system codes rather than database ID’s for most of the lookup fields available for the creation of a Work Request (Service Request). The current Work Request API requires multiple API calls to look up database IDs for fields like Request Type, Repair Center, Facility, Building, etc.
The new API option allows clients to pass the system visible codes instead of the database ID. This is a new API (additive) and will not replace the existing API (Requests). Any client using the current Requests API can continue to use that API as is.
WorkRequest. The new WorkRequest API is fully documented in our Swagger documentation.
This new API is easier for clients to consume and requires fewer API calls. This API is used to create (Post) and obtain status (Get) for Work Requests (Service Requests).
Go Live Date for New Repair Centers
A Go Live Date field has been added to the Repair Center / Identity Tab General Information Section. It allows you to add an effective date for Make/Model PMs when you add a new Repair Center.
This is useful for clients that set up a new Repair Center in advance of using it. When you add a new Repair Center to accommodate a new department or location, for example, a date in this field prevents PMs from being generated before they are needed.
Path: Organization > Repair Center > Record / Identity Tab
The date is only used when Make/Model creates new PM schedules. It will not be used for or impact manual entries or existing schedules.
The date selected in this field prevents PMs from being generated until after the Go Live Date. For example, if you have a monthly PM on an item and the Go Live Date is 8/1, rather than setting the PM next date to the date the record is created, the PM date is pushed to 8/1 to align with the Go Live Date. Once the date is reached, it is for information only.
Billing Review/Dispute (WebTMA Plus) Enhanced
Authorized users or requestors can review and dispute charges related to account transactions based on Department records from the Pending Charges Review/Dispute window.
The Sub-Ledger Browse form now has an additional column.
Path: Accounting > Post Charges > Pending Charges Review/Dispute
Contracts Window Department Field Added
You can award contracts to outside contractors after a bid process. Information about the Contract is recorded on the Contract window.
The Department Code, a new field on the Identity Tab, helps you identify the Department associated with the contracted work. This is an elective field.
Path: Organization > Contract > Records / Identity Tab