Accela Asset Management System™ 8.6

Current Version: Accela Asset Management System™ 8.6
Release Date: 06/01/06

What’s New in Accela Asset Management System 8.6? Release Recap
Included below is an overview of the major new features and issues resolved in version 8.6. For a complete list of the new features in this release, please contact the Customer Resource Center.

Feature Enhancements:
Enhanced Work Order Searching Capability – In addition to the existing search criteria, Accela AMS 8.6 now includes the ability to search for Work Orders by the following fields: Date Completed, Date Closed, Null and Not Null searches on Date fields (e.g. Work Orders with a Date Completed but not a Date Closed), Costing Data (Cost Type and Cost Item), Work Order Status.

Work Order Status – A new Status field has been added to the Work Order to indicate current status. A list of available Status values can be created in the System Tables under the “WO_STATUS” table name.

Current Usage in Schedule Asset Link tables – A new Current Usage field has been added to the Schedule Asset Link tables (Schedule_Component_Link, Schedule_Line_Link, Schedule_Node_Link). These tables are now automatically updated to include the most recent asset usage reading as the readings are entered into the system, allowing the user to view and compare the current usage reading with the next reading at which a given PM schedule is due.

Improved Error Handling – A new Error form has been added to the system to display pertinent information (current form, error description) about a runtime error when one occurs. The new form gives the user the option of printing the error message, continuing to run AMS after the error, or exiting the system.

Required Fields Indicator – All fields that must contain a value (cannot be left empty) are now indicated in data grids by a bold column header.

Grid Format Settings for Multiple Users – An administrator can now set and save a default grid layout for a selected group of AMS users at one time.

PM Schedule for Addresses – PM address links now appear in the PM Schedule Preview and Summary reports.

Ability to Expire Addresses – Address records can now be marked as Expired in the same manner as assets.

Link Files to Addresses – Files can now be linked to addresses in the same manner as assets and work orders.

User Field Searches on Assets screens – When searching for assets based on a user field (attribute), a dropdown list is displayed to select search values if the selected field has an associated validation list. User field searches now also include a wildcard search.

Dropdown list for Search values – When using the Search feature from the grid toolbar, a dropdown list is now displayed if the user selects a field with an associated validation list.

Clarification of Work Order Closed vs. Completed – All command functions to close work orders and related data now read “Close” rather than “Complete”.

Recalculate Work Order Cost when Costing and Parts are updated – The total cost of a work order is now automatically recalculated any time a costing or parts record is added or updated.

Remove Multiple Databases from the Login screen – Multiple database references can now be removed at one time by using the [Remove Database] command on the Login screen.

Edit Asset IDs on the Inspection Detail screen – A user may now edit the asset ID fields (Node, Node_From, Node_To, or Component) in an existing inspection record.

Work Order Links to Customer Service – The work order command buttons have been disabled unless the user selects a problem record first, eliminating the potential problem of a new work order not being linked to the current problem. Also, work order links can now be deleted from the Customer Service screen.

Database Changes:
Unused tables deleted: Expression_Builder, Part_Attributes, Part_Type, Part_Unit_Of_Measure, Part_Warranty, WO_Field_Notes

New Current_Usage field added to these tables to store the most recent usage reading for assets: Schedule_Component_Link, Schedule_Line_Link, Schedule_Node_Link

Obsolete fields deleted: Attribute_Validation_List.Font_Color, Critical_Notices.Other_Key, Owner.Field_Database, Preferences.Key2, Preferences.Key3, Preferences.Key4, Preferences.Key5,
Preferences.Key6

Address Table – A new field (Expired) has been added to this table to indicate an Expired address.

System_Table_List -- A new System Table name (WO_STATUS) has been added to this list.

Work_Order_Master Table – A new field (Status) has been added to store the current Work Order status.

Resolved Issues:
Assignment record linked to the incorrect PM schedule if the user clicked on a different PM schedule record before saving the assignment.

New record in a linked grid could be linked to the incorrect parent record (asset, part, etc.) if the user clicked on a different parent record prior to saving the new linked record.

Costing and Parts tabs in Work Order Template screen did not validate entries before saving a record.

PM Schedules screen appeared after a user closed the Work Order Detail screen immediately after closing the work order.

The Report Writer did not filter the list of reports by data group.

The Add Database button on the Login screen did not add the selected database to the dropdown list.

The asset type dropdown list that appeared after the clicking the Transfer button on the Assets screen included asset types that had not yet been created.

An “Invalid user name or password” message appeared when a user logged off the database and then immediately logged back in.

Clicking the Open Child Link button on the Assets screen opened the asset type, but did not search for the specific child asset.

Product Roadmap
The next release of Accela AMS is TBA..

Questions?
For additional release information, such as requesting the upgrades for your agency or obtaining a copy of the complete release notes, please contact the Customer Resource Center.