Changes since December 2003 release

These program changes are for Dairy Comp 305 and its variants, including DCCON Analyzer and Scout.

Be sure to check the HelpDesk at www.vas.com for details on these changes.

Automatic Backups and SAVE command

Autobackups are now performed automatically by the program. At regular intervals, the program will make zipped backups of the cowfile and arc files. See the helpdesk for details.

This also provides several options on the SAVE command :

SAVE\T to create a backup for the DHI tester

SAVE\C to create a backup file for consultants

Loops

The AgSource, Minnesota, and Dairy One Loops are now fully converted to DC Windows. We will soon be able to support expanded (Version 5) cowfiles on these Loops.

iLoop

Internet access to loop files is now available. Herds processed at Minnesota, Agsource, and Dairy One can now get their files via the iLoop – “internet Loop”. This is especially useful for consultants with broadband access. Hopefully soon we will expand this to ATA processed herds as well – the current programs already have internet capabilities for ATA but we haven’t set up the interface yet.

Call your support person if you are interested in downloading your files via the iLoop.

Axim and Server

Considerable progress has been made on the CowCard program for Axim and Pocket PC’s. It now allows some data entry, as well as list generation. Call your support person for info on using the handheld with Dairy Comp.

International IDs

Item type 31 can be used to hold the International ID’s (and related electronic IDs) such as “USA1234567890”. We are working with the processing centers in getting them to accept these ID’s. Additionally, there is a new DNL version which supports these IDs, and the current program can read these new DNL files. We expect the new DNL files to start coming out in early 2005.

Expanded Protocols

This is explained elsewhere.

Expanded Hospital Lists

This is explained elsewhere.

Miscellaneous Programwide Changes

There have been major print logic rewrites - better printer metrics to allow proper

calculation of lines per page, more columns in width possible, keep cow and

events together under \V, landscape mode possible with \O switch,

lots of \Vx options for hospitals.

- You can now right-click a menu item to edit it

- Now supports landscape printing with \O (LIST/SHOW)

- New button to send current report to NOTEPAD or Excel for editing (CSV)

- added a few more commands, and more detail to activity log (esp milk & msend commands)

- fix double prompting for ID with F2 in Scouts

- fixed purging activity logs when international dates used

- Allow redirect printing of a graph to a BMP

- fixed browser from hogging CPU time while browsing

- Prevent double clicks on ID columns leaving program confused

- Fix (improve) LTDM calculations for dim> 63 weeks

- Use International separators (comma/period switched for internationals – 3,8 vs 3.8 )

- Allow F2 and Q in Rpt view; fix Cntl-X; combine Find – ie Report and grid tabs both fully functional

- cleaner program halt on severe errors – allow re-logging to program without reboot

We have put a lot of work into internationalization. We default to international separators such as the comma and decimal for the display end entry of items. Names of days and months are displayed in the local languages. More details on the helpdesk. We also have improved and expanded the international ID support. It now handles the 15 digit numeric country coded international IDs. SETUP can be used to choose the display formats for the internal IDs. See Helpdesk Details

Changes/Fixes to individual commands

ABSORB

- ignores trashed records when mapping events

- allow "#d:/dir" to fully specify absorb filename eg ABSORB\IN1#C:/DC

- do not add arcs to original source file under \N (leave original untouched)

ADD

- fixed entry of type 22 items

- support new storage and incrementing of Type 31 reg numbers

ALTER

- [Vet] Never auto-clear VC 1 (check) and VC 6 (abort)

- [sires] released new sire cleanup; tested, ready

- [Protocols] Auto edit newly added protocols

- [Events] Allow combo event events

- [DairyInfo] ALTER can now be passworded. Use ALTER\P to enable passwording.

- [cowcards] Check box for using “stretch” display for large pictures

- [Items] Add Day of month item

- [Items] Add Tag of sire item

- [Items] Add new item type 53 DHI Date difference

- [Items] Add new item type 68 TO_DO item

- [Items] support table definitions for new type 68 items

- [Items] Add new item type 58 Day of Month

- [Items] Add new item type 68 TO_DO item

- [Items] Add new item type 53 DHI Date difference (Date-Date + 1)

- [Commands] fix display of command lists

- [Sires] fix bug in Sire Cleanup regarding nonstandard sire names

- [Items] add curr lact for types 95.x.0, also allow 9x.x.99 to match documentation

- [Pens] only reset repro for specific pen changed to bullpen; display ticker

- [Sires] allow sire shortnames for international use

- [SCOUT] recognize a command changed to be too long

BREDSUM

- Measure Insemination Risk, not Heat Detection Rate

- Graph intervals for Prost analysis

- Show abortions in normal bred_sum

- Only show cycles if \C

- Only show sires with % used over x if \Sx

- Fix Canada fresh prompts; add bredsum to SCOUT

CHKFILE

- [AtabRepair] detect and remove trashed records

CLEANUP

- support OPTIONAL setting for minimum cowfile size

- allow CLEANUP\**5000 (allow ** now)

- allow arc file sizes up to 12000 (or 25000 if V5)

CONVERT

- access to use iLoop if available

CONNECT

- allow ftechs to use simple CONNECT\S (Help|Upload To Support), send FTD etc in the ZOF

- hooks for iLoop sharing of Loop user/pass

- fix when user wants to download just a single herd (iLoop)

- process parlor files too, uploads and downloads

COWVAL

- Allow 99.99 for maintenance

- Expand allowed values for other currencies

DELETE

- Warn if deleting with a FOR statement

ECON

- Use Live_Female_Percentage

- better handling of DUDRY or DRYOF items in inventory report

- remember last used econ cull rates

- still write calves to EASY file even if dam not found (if not Canada)

- Tons of Canada teaks for electronic reg

- Show weeekly breakdown if \W

- exclude males from inventory unless \M

- only look at milk>0 scc>0 in econs scc report

- Squeeze all events on ECON\ID

ENTER

- Force Yes or No entry for pen move flagging and selling beef date cows

- Allow EC=xx \P to pick any protocol

- Ignore \R in Fresh and Abort

- Lots of hospital stuff, documented elsewhere

- enable last 5 sires for all canada versions, remove for all others

- fix activity logging - if FOR, need to be entering EC, PEN or \L

- Allow ENTER REM=DEFAULT REM; Allow ENTER REM=choide;choice;choice

- fix bname picklist reload after sold/dieds

- display all sires in F4, select by shortname where available

- [evtedit] only recalculate repro if changed event date or sire (not if only remark)

EPLOT

- Allow storing ADG as a type 8 too

EXAM (Cowcards)

- try resetting EVT/EDAY/REM after erasing last user defined event (EC>18)

- allow batch printing in arc files too

- show sold/died repro code not 'dead'; reload bnames after restore

- allow exam\7, default pageorder, print page7

- fixed \L and F3 conflict – better grabbing the correct F3 prev record

- optional Page 7 stretching/shrinking See if hi-res pictures can fit better

- fix EXAM\L (where no ID is specified, eg not 1234\L )

EVENTS

- Only count repeated events if \N

- Trap repeated events in table clicks

- Support combo events

- Allow \7S MGSID to populate MGSID

- Fix clicks if lact column (DIM>330)

- detect trashed records and skip past them without annoying AV

- \8MIecSnn erase event "ec" over "nn" days old

- display tech in two digits (V5), add space before bcode

- fix small bug in duplicate event eraser

- Allow \7S curitem previtem to grab previous lact item

- Shorten day of week to fit on printer better

- Fix clicking on DIM table

- display breeding code in bred event dumps

- Add dumping of weekly fat, ptn, and SCC

- Show lines with zeros if \Z

- Complete dump option with \C (display PREG and OPEN events literally, without adjustments)

FILEIN / FILEOUT

- Allow import BY type 31

- FILEIN allow "HERDCODE" or "?" (always prompt) in hdr file N line

- FILEIN add U for US comma formats - \U implies \C

- FILEIN Do not duplicate cows if \A and condition list used

- FILEIN Try to fix |V printing

- FILEIN: No length needed for comma files

- FILEIN : Interpret \P for DBF files; Automatically filein from DBF item:field

- fix filein type 10 items

GETCOW / PUTCOW

- if \S use last event date as eday, not EDAY item

- Enhance \S to skip if source lact is less than dest lact

- log PUTCOW\S results to PTMMDDYY.LOG }

- PUTCOW\Sxxxxx "Safe" put, skip put if destination eday > source eday

LIST / SHOW

Huge improvements in print logic.

- Clean up Lines per Page and HerdBook

- Do not double-space events; allow lines over 32767

- Ignore fresh, bred, open, preg and dry as protocols

LOGON

- allow logon drive switch up to Z (was "P") eg “LOGON\1Z*” now OK

MONITOR

- no stopping or warning under \L (unattended calculation)

OVSYNCH

- TONS of OvSynch changes, see the HelpDesk

PLOT

- Show more test dates if room

- Allow show marks by default

- Show all 64 weeks if weekly

- Toss scale stuff; always do tables

- Add \Cxx to use first xx weeks as comparison

- Interpret \R for weekly weights too

- Allow past 16 monthly test days

- If no Z, show graph else show grid/report

- If PLOT BY LGSCC, truncate

- Fix \Y distribution of infection status

- Try to stack bar percentage plots

- Add rates to Ynte option

- Reimplement \M for scales

- Redo batch printing, including tables vs. charts

- Scale weekly milks correctly

- No rates if only one test day

- Allow subsequent commands to continue when in redirected or batchmode

SETUP

- new page for automatic backup configuration (also allows Activity log enable/configure)

- remove unused/confusing/ and especially misleading Cancel button

- [Menu Edit] Add a “Clear” button to more easily clear out all menu parts

- support setting up international ID display settings

SIRES

- clean up sire display form a bit (remove extra items)

SUM

- Use line graph if one way sum; handle sires

- If Table, make big items the rows

- Handle min and max for more item types

- Handle two-way tables for type 73

- No times-ten item if IType is 1 for Totals

STATUS

- show ftech absorb details

- show hardlock expiration date

VENTER

- retain log (Review) list when jumping to then returning from exam