t3 Routing
The following guide covers the basics of how to set up and manage routing in t3. The feature allows for the implementation of building routes from basic point to point to full interchange style pickup schemes (ones where multiple tours share the same routing scheme on a particular day).
Conceptually the system is a template based system, which consists of collections of points grouped into either routes or point groups, several of which form an interchange template.
Master templates are created within the main routing feature and these templates are then used to create individual instances on the required days for tours.
After assigning the template as its own instance on the specific tour, pickup points can be added/removed, point groups created and feeder routes applied, that are unique to the tour, without affecting the master template.
Creating a Routing Template
Select the template option from the routing menu to begin, the edit area for all created routing templates a displayed in the interchange/route name window.
Select 'Template' from within this window to create a new route template.
Give the template an identifiable name and select 'Save Close'. By default the end point is set to Destination, the standard for a Point to Point route template.
TIP:
When creating additional tour templates, it may be easier to clone an
existing template by going into the Update feature. Highlight the
required tour from the list
(you may need to switch to the Linear option
first) and select Clone. Rename the Template and edit as required.
When saved the template will be available in the listed template names.
Select from the list and add a Route or Point Group by Right Clicking and selecting 'Add Route' or selecting the 'Route' button from the top menu.
Give the route a name eg. Destination Point and add a seat capacity, which is usually the number of available seats in the vehicle.
When the Route or Point Group is created, Pickup Points can be added in the Points area of the template.
Right Click on the Points area or select 'Points' from the top menu
Search the list of pickups using the Search window in the pickup form and then select the 'Add to Route'
Selecting the 'Add' button will add a new point to the list of points not the route
Adding Feeders to a Route
Adding a feeder to an existing route is usually at a stage when an instance of the template is added to a tour.
The tour templates once allocated to a created tour are located from the 'Pickups' tab of the tour or from the main menu Routing > Routing > Date
To add the feeder route 'Right Click' on the Routes area or select Route from the top menu.
Using same steps as creating a new route, give the feeder route a name and add a seat capacity
However instead of leaving the Link Point as the default destination, select a Pickup Point the vehicle is feeding into from the main route.
Suppliers and Drivers can also be added from the adjacent tabs before saving, as below.
When created the icon changes from the Main Route Sign Post to a Red Feeder Arrow
Highlight the feeder and pickup points can be added in the points area of the template in the same way as the main route.
If the Home Pickup option is selected as a pickup point in the booking, then a Home Pickup Point Group will be automatically be created, as shown below.
Passengers from the point group can be allocated to feeder route by dragging and dropping onto it from the points area.
Additional feeders can be created in the same way as above. (Right Click and select Properties to edit and existing route/feeder)
Managing Pickup Routes
A copy of the route template will be added to the tour at tour creation as is available to view and edit from the tour.
Previewing passengers with allocated pickup points
From the tour select the Pickups tab, before opening the route template there is a preview window that displays the state of all passengers
Listed is each pickup point with the passengers and booking reference, that have an allocated pickup as shown.
Any passengers that do not have a Pickup allocated with also be displayed in the 'PASSENGERS WITHOUT PICKUPS' drop down
Selecting the Edit Route button opens the route template that is unique to the current tour.
(To view the return pickup route template select the 'Return Pickups' button first)
Pickup points that have passengers allocated will be shown as a green button in the points area of the template.
Points with no passengers allocated with have a blue button, as shown.
Filter points with and without passengers from the top menu, which can be useful for closing unused pickups
To close a point 'Right Click' on the unused point and select Close Point, the point will then display red with a cross in the middle
To time the available pickup points, right click on the Route and select 'Modify Route Timings'
Pickup times can be added from the template available, as below.
To quickly re-time points select the 'MENU' button at the very top left of the form.
Select the Quick Re-time tool.
A list of all the current pickups are displayed and an option to re-time the first pickup to a alternative.
When applied all the times for each pickup points are adjusted by the same margin.
To reflect the route points to the return route, 'right click' on the Interchange/Route name at the top of the template and select Reflect Routing to Returns.
When select the pickups on the outbound will be reversed for the return route template.
To switch pickup points (and passengers) between routes and feeders, left click and hold the pickup point from the points area, while holding drop the point onto the new route on the left.
Creating a Pickup List report
From the top menu select the Print button, a list of available pickup reports will be available.
These reports can be tailored to fit the requirements of any routing requests.
The basic pickup list will display all pickups and a passengers by time and a separate feeder list for each route.
ROUTING APP
An additional add on feature that compliments t4/t3 is the graphical routing interface known as the routing app.
The Routing Application is designed to provide a graphical tool to assist in the routing and timing of pickup points of tours managed from t3/t4.
Both products share the same pot of data and so changes made on one are automatically seen on the other, for example alteration of pickup point timings with the Routing Application can be seen immediately on all bookings and tours subscribing to the affected pickup point.
For more information about the routing app please contact our Support team
If you have any other questions about the above, please do not hesitate to contact our support team, who will be happy to help.
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Friday - 0900 - 1700
T: 01302 841333
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