PALLETMANAGER is being continually enhanced, frequently as a result of user feedback. As one user remarked recently - 'we have looked at other software products but PALLETMANAGER still provides the fastest and most comprehensive range of solutions and yet uses a simple and easily understood interface'. The Manual Main Menu can be accessed here.
For Release 7.8 - April 2010
This release includes a range of powerful new features . Amongst the new features introduced in this and other recent upgrades are:
The release of Windows 7 and the Explorer 8 have necessitated changes throughout the software to accommodate the new options offered in these environments, doing so in a manner which ensures compatibility with earlier versions of both browsers and operating systems. We have also made changes to try to ensure as far as possible that during both installation and running security products that the user may have installed do not generate false security alerts.
This release also includes a new optional PALLETISE report format which has been requested by some users. The new format includes all the information presented on the standard report but does so with the graphical palletisation information at the top of the report. Users can select the new format using a tick box on Screen 7 (where reports are selected), and a mechanism is in place to make the new format the default as is described in Appendix 1 of the manual.
In Collation Mode users when browsing the ranked results on Screen 5 had to select a particular entry and then select the Collation button in order to see a graphic of the case make-up. In this release, as the user moves through the the results, a miniature graphic of the case made up is displayed as users select any particular entry:
At the suggestion of a number users we recently introduced a major new function - Contfill - to both PALLETISE and COLLATION modes of operation. This allows users to see immediately the impact of a particular case design on both pallet fill and container / trailer fill. A design maximising pallet fill might produce a poor utilisation when loaded, on or off pallets, into trailers or containers. This feature is described in detail in Section 5.11 of the online manual installed with the software.
As well as the changes referenced for Windows 7 etc, we are also aware that wide-screen displays are becoming more popular (see Appendix 1). The new release contains major updates across every screen to support all of these areas, and we have also introduced a new 'calculation engine' which will speed up operation across the whole suite of software.
We have also introduced a number of changes which will further enhance the user experience. These include extending the labelling on near-square cases to assist visual recognition in CUBE, PALLETISE and COLLATION modes, an extension to the spreadsheet export capabilities of the STORE module and enhanced graphics on a number of reports.
In response to requests from a number of users you can now specify a logo to replace the standard PALLETMANAGER logo in the top left of PALLETISATION and COLLATION reports. The procedure to follow to provide this is described in detail in Appendix 1 - 17 of the online manual. Obviously this is optional and the previous small default PALLETMANAGER logo is used otherwise. The logo, when used, will be displayed on all new reports, all reports printed from STORE database and any new reports saved to the Webbase database.
The software now includes a completely new Help system, and an updated, browser based, manual display system. As with past releases Help is provided relevant to individual screens, whilst a fully searchable Manual provides help across the full application.
When displaying the tabular results of the palletisation of any given or calculated case sizes on your selected pallet PALLETMANAGER has always listed these in cost order. This takes into account not only the transport costs associated with pallet movement and storage but, for problems where case sizes have been developed as collations of primary units, the likely packaging costs associated with each design. This very powerful feature can result in the least cost solution not actually being the one fitting the most units / pallet. The latest version now provides an additional set of buttons on the tabular results screen (Screen 5), so that the display can be 'toggled' between the traditional cost based listing and one sorted according the the number of primaries fitted on each pallet.
As well as adding graphics in the form of a logo to reports we have now also added facilities to display primary images on the faces of reports produced in Collation mode. Details of how this can be achieved is detailed at the end of Section 6 of the manual.
Whilst PALLETMANAGER has always been able to deal with the packing of tote boxes or tray units, the increased use of these has resulted in us tailoring the software to meet the specific needs of such users. As well as changes to display screens we have also introduced modified report formats which are automatically output when totes / trays or slipsheets are to be used.
On computers where screen resolution allows (1024*768 or better), the Collation / Tertiary reports now provide additional numerical information including both material and distribution costs. This information was previously only available on printed reports. This can be important as in some situations the most cost effective solution to a Collation / Tertiary problem may not necessarily fit the most units on each pallet - the potential packaging costs of different case designs are considered by PALLETMANAGER in ranking solutions.
The STORE module facility to find products across the whole database of saved specifications has been significantly enhanced. The user is now able to enter a search string and is then presented with a display showing all the specifications containing the given search string. From this display specifications can be Inspected or Printed.
A fully searchable manual can now be accessed from the opening screen. This not only allows users to browse through the 150 pages of the hyperlinked manual, but also allows then to search (using an inbuilt browser) for any required search term across the whole manual and receive back a report detailed links and their relevance. (The searchable manual is only provided on CD based installations and not on trial web downloads). You should be aware that the manual installed with the application is always the first to be updated with changes and thus should be used as a primary reference source
The Webbase module enables users to quickly and easily create palletisation specifications for storage on an Intranet / Internet or a CD. In all cases those viewing / printing the specifications do so using a standard web browser. Thus it will be easy to share specifications with others in your company, or with customers and suppliers. Further details on this procedure are given in Section 14 of the manual.
As ever we would encourage users to provide feedback (ideally by email to support@goweralg.co.uk) on new features they would like to see incorporated.