Edison Computer Systems, Inc. - School Transportation Command Central FAQ

Home > Edison Computer Systems Index > School Titles > Command Central FAQ

School Transportation Command Central
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Current Version is 2.10	How can I import Student data from another database? With version 2.10, you can import student data in a CSV file (a comma delimited ASCII file, the type you can import and export to/from a spreadsheet). Before doing this, BACK UP your data. In the software, select File... Import Student data. A dialog will open up, asking you to specify the CSV file name and location. Once you have specified the CSV file, another window displays the Import fields (showing the first record's actual data values) and the Target fields. You simply match an Import field to a target field and press the Assign button. For example, click on the Last Name field in your Import file, click on the STU:LastName field in the Target, and click the Assign button. Do the same for every other field that has a match. When you've finished assigning fields, select the school from the drop down list. Now click on the OK button, and every record in your CSV file is imported. Obviously, some fields won't match up. Do the best you can, then edit the Student records to touch things up. Notice that you have to import only one school at a time; this is necessary in order to correctly code the school in each student's record.

	*How do I upgrade?* First, backup. Second, make sure you backed up. Then, download the current package and install it, but do not install the TPS files (they contain the sample data) when asked - you'll be prompted to replace each file, so you should replace all files except for the TPS (data) files.

	*Once in a while, the student list on the Browse Runs window seems confused; instead of showing all of the students, it repeats just a few of the students on that run, over and over again. Why?* Our mistake. Download version 2.01 or later. That should cure the problem. (Be careful to backup your data before installing the new version, and do not install any TPS files when asked. The TPS files hold your data, and you don't want to replace your files with the sample data.)

	*I select Help... Contents, but the help file is missing. [or] When I select Help... Contents, I get the print out help instead of the main user help. Why?* The program ships with two help files, one for the main program and one for the print out features. The first time you run the program, the help file information is stored in the INI file. If you ask for print out help before you ever look at the main help, Windows gets confused. Simply delete the INI file and restart the program, and your problem will go away.

	*Why do my Sequences sort in a strange way?* The Sequence field is not numeric; it can contain letter and other characters. It sorts from left to right, so that 20 follows 2, but it comes before 3. To simulate a numeric sort order, pad the numbers with leading zeros: 01, 02, 03... 20.

	How do I get rid of the sample data? Delete the Passengers from a Run, then delete the Run. Delete the Students, then delete the Schools, Contractors and Vehicle Types. The order of deletion is important, because the software will not let you delete a School, for example, that is still in use by a Student record.

	*How do I backup the data?* *Copy all TPS files (.tps) to your backup media. Always backup your data before installing a new release of the software. Backup early and often...**

	Is the package Y2K compliant? Yes. The dates are displayed in the 2 digit format (YY), but are internally represented as numbers that sort properly, and so on. The software knows that 2/1/00 comes after 12/15/99.

Return	Send a question about the use of the School Transportation Command Central software package

Last updated
10/30/2000
by J Halpin.