PC-Topp.NET News (en)

Attention: Effects of Microsoft Browser Choice on PC-Topp.NET

PcTopp — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:20:11 +0100

In March 2010 Microsoft will release a Windows update including a browser choice screen that asks you to select your preferred web browser. (Microsoft does so to comply with the settlement with the EU in autumn 2009.) When that Windows update is run on your computer this is what you will see. (Click to enlarge.)

Screen 1	Screen 2

PC-Topp.NET is designed exclusively for Internet Explorer (version 7 or higher) and is not supported under any other browser.

Selecting a standard browser other than Internet Explorer will start PC-Topp.NET in an unsupported browser. This will lead to serious malfunction of PC-Topp.NET!

Therefore we strongly recommend not to select a browser in the browser choice screen but to inform your system administrator!

It might even be advisable for him to disable the browser choice screen altogether.

How to Block the Browser Choice Screen (Microsoft Education Partner Network)

Trigger Special Actions for Individual Orders with Production Control Codes

PcTopp — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:21:00 +0100

Now you can assign special instructions to individual orders that describe what should be done when this order runs on a specific machine. This functionality can be used e.g. for marking orders whose production is to be controlled by a supervisor or orders that require special quality checks.

You can do so by defining so called production control codes in the new Production Control Codes page (to be found in the PC-Topp.NET Settings section). Each production control code has a description where you can enter an instruction how to treat the order(s) marked with this code. Production control codes can be assigned to any conversion step of an order via the order data transfer.

At the Machine Terminal, in Conversion Machine Scheduling, and in the Order Summary orders with a production control code appear as follows:

They are marked with a colored icon so you immediately recognize them.
Their description text is displayed in a tooltip (Conversion Machine Scheduling and Order Summary) resp. on the General Tab of the Machine Terminal.

New PDF Material List with Bar Codes

PcTopp — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:02:00 +0100

As of now any application that can access the PC-Topp SQL Server database can print bar codes. The first example of this new option is the new PC-Topp.NET corrugator material list. It is now available as a Crystal report in a standard as well as a personalized version that supports bar codes.

The new material list displays the actual program sequence, i.e. the sequence at the corrugator (not the sequence in Program Memory). Much like the classical material list but in a clearer structure, both versions of the PDF material list show

The required quantities per program and paper code in meters and kilograms, organized by outside liner resp. single facer,
The total quantity to produce per flute type,
The roll size distribution per paper.

If subsequent programs require the same paper and roll size on the same single facer then the required quantity for this paper code is totalled in the first program where this paper is used.

Additionally, the personalized extended version of the new material list supports paper bar codes for reading with a bar code scanner. The paper bar codes are displayed next to the respective paper codes in a large font size so they are easily scannable with a pistol bar code reader.

New Engineer Log at PC-Topp.NET Machine Terminal

PcTopp — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:48:00 +0100

The Personnel tab of the PC-Topp.NET Machine Terminal has been equipped with the password-protected possibility to sign in as an engineer (provided the user is marked as engineer in the Personnel Numbers page).

With this new functionality, an engineer can leave comments on the problems he has attended to that will be displayed in the shift report. Besides he can make sure that the time spent fixing a problem will be registered as such.

Extended Comment Functionality at PC-Topp.NET Machine Terminal

PcTopp — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:00:00 +0100

The dialog for entering comments on articles available in the General Tab of the Machine Terminal has been enhanced to allow entering more than just article comments. It now offers the following options:

Article Comment
As before, comments are saved for the article in question and will be displayed at each run of this article.
New: Production Comment
Comments are saved in the statistics for this order and will be displayed in the shift report.
New: Internal Complaints
Internal complaint comments are saved in the statistics along with their complaint cause and will be displayed in the Internal Complaints report. (This comment type only is available if there is at least one internal complaint defined in the Downtime Causes page.)

In the future another machine specific Post It-like comment type is planned to be implemented.

Corrugator Article Performance Report

PcTopp — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:19:00 +0100

The Article Performance Report which used to be available only for the conversion machines has now been released for the corrugator(s), too.

As its conversion machine counterpart, the report lists orders by article. It shows information on produced vs. waste quantity, production time, speed, and trim for the individual orders as well as the totals of the article they belong to. (Partial runs are greyed out.)

Backup Functionality Improved

PcTopp — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:08:00 +0100

The PC-Topp.NET backup functionality now better ensures that in case of data loss there is a current backup available.

If a backup has failed a warning message is displayed throughout the system.
The system checks for the last successful backup and, if necessary, prompts the user to run backup more often.

Define a Default Waste Reason and Downtime Cause

PcTopp — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:13:00 +0100

As of now PC-Topp lets you define default reasons for downtimes and waste. This feature prevents unaccounted-for downtimes and waste in the statistics. (You have to use the Detailed Waste functionality for this feature to be available for waste.)

In the Waste Reasons page and the Downtime Causes page there is a new option to mark the default reason in the detailed view of each waste reason resp. downtime cause. If this is checked the default reason is marked with an asterisk in the overview. Setting a default reason has the following effects:

Default Waste Reason
If Detailed Waste Entry is enabled and a default waste reason is defined PC-Topp automatically assigns this default waste reason for waste quantities below a certain customizable limit.
Default Downtime Cause
All downtimes the user doesn’t specify a cause for are automatically assigned the default downtime cause.

Additional Overrun Warning at PC-Topp Machine Terminal

PcTopp — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:46:00 +0100

So far the PC-Topp Machine Terminal has warned the operator with a message in the toolbox if the ordered quantity of the current order is exceeded.

Additionally the Machine Terminal now also displays an alert in the toolbox if according to the machine counter more has been produced than fed into the machine (i.e. if for the current order the produced quantity is larger than the quantity available from the previous machine).

New PC-Topp.NET Machine Terminal

PcTopp — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:02:00 +0100

The new PC-Topp.NET Machine Terminal succeeds the PC-Topp Machine Terminal that still ran with legacy PC-Topp components in the background.

The PC-Topp.NET Machine Terminal is entirely free of any classical PC-Topp Windows programs. It has been designed to provide the full functionality of the old PC-Topp Machine Terminal plus many extra features.

Palletisation Module Integrated into the Machine Terminal
- Allows printing pallet labels with the correct quantity of products per pallet right at the machine.
- The quantity on each pallet can be entered / modified individually; likewise pallet labels can be printed for each individual pallet.
- PC-Topp.NET assigns SSCC numbers to all pallets und stores pallet information for use by a warehouse system.
Fast Order Finishing
- Smoother production flow thanks to the possibility to finish an order with one click instead of entering all its production data. The next order can be started immediately.
- Orders finished with this one-click option are collected in a list to be closed for good when the machine operator has time to spare. He can then modify quantities, times and waste if necessary.
- If the correct quantity on the last pallet is entered palletisation is updated right away and a correct label is printed for this pallet.
More Precise Machine Schedule Due to Entry of Waste and Stock Quantities During Run
- Entering waste quantities and quantities added from or transferred to stock during production allows correct calculation of order end times. The following orders’ start times are adapted so the machine schedule is closer to reality.
New Counter Software Helps Keep Production Data Up to Date Even Without Server Connection
- Thanks to a locally installed counter module production speed is recorded even when the Machine Terminal web page is closed or the PC-Topp server is offline.
- As soon as the communication with the server is re-established downtimes are recorded subsequently and statistics and performance graphs are updated.
Innovative Quality Checks
- In contrast to the predefined and limited classical quality checks the new quality checks can be defined in any desired number.
- They are fully customizable and can be defined to exactly meet your needs.
Extensive Shift Information Available at the Machine

For the current as well as for any past shift performance figures, key shift and performance data and the shift report are accessible in the Shift tab of the Machine Terminal.
Downtimes can be modified, order comments can be entered.

Display of Article Comments, Flop Ten Alerts, Internal Complaints at the Machine
- The General tab lets you enter article related comments that will be displayed at the Machine Terminal whenever an order with the same article number is run.
- Likewise, the Machine Terminal displays information on Flop Ten customers and internal complaints in the General tab so the machine operator immediately sees them.
Improved Staff Time Registration
- The functionality for signing in / out at the machine has been brushed up and shows an overview of the personnel who have signed in at the machine during the current shift along with their times of presence.
Send Messages to Any PC-Topp User or Machine Terminal
- The Machine Terminal allows sending messages to any PC Topp user or other Machine Terminal. Incoming messages are shown in the toolbox so the operator can’t overlook them.
Use the PC-Topp.NET Machine Terminal with a Touch-Screen
- If the Machine Terminal is run on a touch sensitive screen all interaction can be done with a tap of a fingertip which makes using the Machine Terminal much easier and more direct.
- All page elements are extra large for good readability and usability.

Corrugator Control Page: One Click Printing of Job Card for Selected Orders

PcTopp — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:40:00 +0100

Just as you can select programs for printout on the Corrugator Control page you can also mark one or more orders to have their job cards printed out in PDF format (via the new button Print Order button in the Action section).

Plant Summary with Quality Checks and Alert for Very Long Set-Ups / Downtimes

PcTopp — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:02:00 +0100

In the Plant Summary the performance column of the machines can now be switched to displaying the number of quality checks run during the respective shifts (total number of quality checks as well as number of failed and expired quality checks).

Besides an icon in the upper right corner of the machine boxes indicates if there have been any overly long set-ups or downtimes. A tooltip informs on the details.

Machine Settings: Option for Pallets for Linked Orders

PcTopp — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:08:00 +0100

Some plants bundle orders that consist of the same article into one large parent order that is split up into several successor orders for further conversion (e.g. customer specific printing etc). A new option has been added to the Machine Settings that allows treating pallets for orders that are the parent order of an order web and run on this machine as the last operation before the successor as external pallets on this machine.

Upcoming Orders in PC-Topp Machine Terminal

PcTopp — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:53:00 +0100

The left-hand side information panel of the PC-Topp Machine Terminal now keeps the next three upcoming orders permanently in view.

Enhanced Quality Checks at the PC-Topp Machine Terminal

PcTopp — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:43:00 +0100

The quality check functionality in the PC-Topp Machine Terminal now demands approval for failed quality checks and requests a machine stop in case of conflicting quality checks.