Tier 1 Notifications

Friday, November 7, 2014

SiteManager Update Canceled for this weeked

This weekend’s scheduled SiteManager update has been canceled. It will be rescheduled at a later date.

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The following is from NTTData:

The SiteManager deployment scheduled for this weekend, November 7^th – 9th, will be delayed. The LanDesk Agent currently deployed is not compatible with our SiteManager deployment package. The conflict occurred when a required LanDesk Agent rollback did not complete in a timely manner. We will send out new communications with the new deployment as soon as it is determined.

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Join us Jan. 14, 2015 as we celebrate 10 years of transportation transformation in Texas.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

2014 CMISD Satisfaction Survey

Greetings,

The CMISD branch of the Construction Division is conducting a 2014 customer service survey. To help facilitate this we have placed a link to a internet survey on the CMISD home page (internet access will be required). The survey includes ten multiple choice questions that should not take more than a few minutes to complete. Your answers to these questions will help us gauge our business performance, recalibrate our focus, and ensure that we continue to meet your standard and our goal for customer service. When you have a moment, please navigate to our home page, click on the link, and complete the survey.

To help us (CMISD) get more of our staff involved with your SiteManager and EPRS support, we have made a couple of changes to the contacts page on our website. We now ask you to contact our helpdesk by phone at (512) 416-2553 or email CST_SITEMANAGER when requesting SiteManager assistance.

SiteManager Help Desk

(512) 416-2553

Thank you,

Join us Jan. 14, 2015 as we celebrate 10 years of transportation transformation in Texas.

Monday, November 3, 2014

SiteManager DSS Reporting Database Offline Tomorrow @ 7:00 PM

Tomorrow night, Tuesday, November 4^that 7:00PM (central), the SiteManager DSS Reporting Database will be offline for scheduled maintenance.

The scheduled maintenance will take approximately six hours. This outage will affect some, but not all, SiteManager reporting found on the CMISD website. Access to SiteManager via the Citrix, Terminal Server, or the local Non-Inspector version of SiteManager will not be impacted by this maintenance.

Expect the DSS reporting options to be available again sometime after 1:00 AM Wednesday morning.

Thank you,

From: Edwards, Jay [mailto:jay.edwards@nttdata.com]
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2014 2:23 PM
To: Stewart Dewitt
Cc: Mitchell, Thane; Soutter, Thomas; Bob Dority-C; Roy, Dipankar; Edwards, Jay; Gardner, James; Ho, Michael; Shi, Chihua
Subject: DSS

We have an issue with the SMGR to DSS Streams replication. We need to re-instantiate forty of the replicated tables. The tables will have to be truncated before this can be completed. We intend to start at 7 PM tomorrow 11/4. Since we have not done this number of tables before, I’m not completely sure of the completion end time but should be completed by 1:00AM (hopefully sooner).

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Join us Jan. 14, 2015 as we celebrate 10 years of transportation transformation in Texas.

SiteManager Update This Weekend

SiteManager 3.8a tx2.013 patch scheduled for distribution the weekend of Friday, November 7^th.

Greeting,

On the evening of Friday, November 7th, IT will begin a weekend long process to distribute a SiteManager 2.013 patch statewide. This distribution will not affect the availability of SiteManager. A patch similar to this was installed on the MTS and Citrix servers several weeks back. This deployment is to sync your locally installed SiteManager application (a.k.a. Non- Inspector) to that same patch and version.

ü Please make every attempt to keep all SiteManager PC's powered on during this period.

ü Log out of any SiteManager workstations or keep the SiteManager application closed while not in use this weekend.

ü It is not mandatory for standalone users to check in their work prior to this upgrade.

ü Laptops with a local installation of SiteManager (a.k.a. Non- Inspector) must be on the network this weekend to receive the update.

ü SiteManager client access (a.k.a. Non-Inspector) on workstations and laptops across the state will not be disrupted. However, there is a chance that an active SiteManager session will miss the patch if the deployment and the active session overlap (Date & Time).

ü SiteManager access to reports and reporting tools will not be disrupted.

ü Citrix and Terminal server SiteManager access will not be disrupted.

ü Workstations and laptops that use Citrix and Terminal Servers connections exclusively do not have to be on the network to receive the update.

How to do determine if your computer received the patch?

On Monday, November 10^th open SiteManager and from the menu choose HELP and then ABOUT ( HELP>>ABOUT) . Read the number beneath 3.8a TXDOT 2.013 version. This number will read (20141030) if your device received the patch.

Missed the patch update?

If your workstation or laptop is not on the network this weekend or for whatever reason the patch is not installed come Monday, November 10^th, you must request it through TXDOTNOW. Your request should include your computer’s name and instructions to deploy the LANDesk package “AASHTOWare SiteManager Patch 1 for 2.013 - Install (7x64, 7x32)” to your device.

What to expect from the patch?

Construction

· DWR Preview Date – MM/DD/YYYY Formatting has been restored.

Maintenance

· Estimate cost distribution no longer requires a Task Number for any PCBU.

· APPN and Activity are now filled in with default values for PCBU76.

· Pending estimate approvals due to missing task numbers can now be approved without error.

· Estimate rejections can now process uninterrupted.

· Widened the dropdown lists in columns Activity and Project in the Other PCBU’s tab in the Estimate Distribution window.

· DWR Preview Date – MM/DD/YYYY Formatting has been restored.

Join us Jan. 14, 2015 as we celebrate 10 years of transportation transformation in Texas.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Re: SiteManager Citrix and MTS patch scheduled for distribution tonight

SiteManager 3.8a tx2.013 patch scheduled for distribution tonight Thursday, October 16th

Greeting,

Tonight, Thursday, October 16^th, IT will distribute a patch to the SiteManager Citrix and Terminal Servers. This distribution will include a short interruption to the availability of the SiteManager Citrix and Terminal servers at 8 PM (all times central). For one hour, while the patch is applied, the servers will not be available. Client workstations and laptops will not update at this time and access to the SiteManager application via the client (a.k.a. Non-Inspector) will not be interrupted. An update to the local client workstations and laptops across the state will be scheduled for another time in the near future.

ü No Citrix and Terminal server SiteManager access between 8 PM and 9 PM Thursday the 16th.

ü SiteManager client access (a.k.a. Non-Inspector) on workstations and laptops across the state will not be disrupted.

ü SiteManager access to reports and reporting tools will not be disrupted.

ü The Citrix and Terminal Servers will update automatically. Workstations and laptops that use these connections do not have to be on the network to receive the update.

What to expect from the patch?

Construction

N/A

Maintenance

Estimates

Cost Distribution

ü Estimate cost distribution no longer requires a Task Number for any PCBU.

ü APPN and Activity are now filled in with default values for PCBU76.

Approval

ü Pending estimate approvals due to missing task numbers can now be approved without error.

ü Estimate rejections can now process uninterrupted.

Join us Jan. 14, 2015 as we celebrate 10 years of transportation transformation in Texas.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

SiteManager Material Test Files Update

SiteManager Material Test Files Update

Below is a list of SiteManager material test files recently distributed over the weekend statewide to your local apps drives and the TxDOT website (though the webpage dates have not yet been updated the files are the latest files). This is just a formal announcement of their distribution. These files have been in service with SiteManager for some months and test calculation should not be affected by this distribution.

Your local application drive mapping to view these files is x:\SMGR\SM3x\MSEXCELTEMPLATES. Please contact me if you fail to see these updated files listed in your directory.

It should be noted that included with this distribution is the much belated fix for the ‘failed to open Excel on the first click’ bug. Once distributed, users will no longer have to click the Excel option twice to view a test result while working on the test tab of the sample information window.

Test Method	Date	Change
Tx120-21.xls	3/10/2014	Added “part II” text to the test description
Tx248.xls	6/20/2014	New
Tx2mixde4.xls	2/3/2014	Corrected error in the “Film Thickness” sheet and modified the sieves for SS3270
Tx2mxprop.xls	3/13/2014	Added gradation for “SS3268_Type_D” mix.
TX2QCQA04.xls	1/27/2014	Added a note on the “summary” sheet that will flag if there is a high absorption for any core for each sublot.
Tx418,48.xls	2/5/2014	Added missing fracture text description in pick list.
TX4RCC.xls	2/12/2014	New
TX4HARD.xls	4/11/2014	Added new cylinder break types.
Tx600.xls	12/20/2013	Added Grade type text descriptions to pick list.
TxFBMxDes.xls	1/14/2014	Moved tester field to trial batch sheet.
TxTRStqm.xls	2/6/2014	Changed tester requirement to TXTRSTQM.
Tx244.xls	4/24/2014	Added missing format for RX sheet field IMTU..
TX101P3	4/25/2014	Add the Tx101P3 test method for tester population.
TXCC04.xls	9/2/2014	Control charts no relation to SiteManager or SiteManager calculations. A standalone xls file.
TX2Performance.xls	9/9/2014	A standalone file. It is akin to the Form 202 which is a material sample form.

Thank you

Don't mess with Texas® means don't litter.

Monday, September 29, 2014

SiteManager offline this weekend for ERP update

SiteManager upgrade 3.8a tx2.013 scheduled for the evening of Friday, October 3rd

Greeting,

On Friday, October 3, 2014 IT will begin the process of updating your SiteManager application to the latest release. The new version (3.8a tx 2.013) will be made available for install through LANDesk. The upgrade process will begin at 6 PM on Friday and will proceed through Saturday and Sunday (all times central). SiteManager (Citrix, MTS and client) and SiteManager reporting will be unavailable for the duration. SiteManager is scheduled to be available again Monday, October 6^th at 8 AM or sooner.

· No SiteManager access from 6 PM Friday the 3^rd until 8:00 AM Monday the 6^th.

· Please make every attempt to keep all SiteManager PC's powered on during this period.

· Maintenance (MNT) workstations are to be included.

· It is mandatory that standalone users check in all work prior to 6:00 PM Friday, October 3, 2014.

· Remember – When users open SiteManager for the first time on Monday, October 6^th after the upgrade the user ID field on the logon screen will be blank. SiteManager user ID’s are case sensitive and 99% of these ID’s are all upper case characters.

A webinars is scheduled for Thursday October 2^nd at 2:30 PM to review the updates to the software. You may find the specific meeting details at https://txdot.webex.com by searching the calendar of scheduled meetings. The meeting password is “sitemanager”

Construction

October 3^rd is also Finance’s cutoff date for September’s Construction estimates. Payments for progress estimates approved by the end of business Friday are scheduled to disburse to the contractors on the 10^th as usual.

Maintenance

September estimates processed after the FIMS September 22^nd cutoff date. – Do not process any estimates until Monday October 6^th.

Estimates generated after the cutoff date and before the ERP SiteManager update must be converted to the ERP accounts. Holding off on until the 6^th will eliminate the number of records that must be converted.

Currently there are 31 maintenance estimates approved and awaiting payment through the new financial system. If these, or any other estimates processed before the 6^th, contain NON-segment 78 costs you must supply to the MNT Division your new ERP chart of accounts. Otherwise, the non-segment 78 costs may fail to convert and the approved estimate will have to be re-generated, the costs redistributed, and the estimate reapproved. Please provide the chart of account information to the Division before E.O.D. Friday.

Segment 78 distribution costs recorded with a DWR are not affected regardless of whether or not the costs are included with an estimate prior to the 6th. These costs should successfully convert without the District’s involvement.

Don't mess with Texas® means don't litter.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Notice of update to the SiteManager Custom Report Server

SiteManager Custom Report Server

http://smcustrpt/org/cst/smrptsvr/home.asp

This notice is to inform you that two reports have been removed from the SiteManager Custom Report Server. There is no new SiteManager content or functionality included with this communication.

The MAT Sourcing Letter (CIS.17 ) and MAT Inspection Assignment Letter (CIS.18) reports have been removed from the list of available SiteManager reports.

MAT Sourcing Letter (CIS.17 )

In October, 2013, the CMISD group merged Structural materials with the District Material Sourcing Letter to provide the contractor a single document to record material sourcing information. The merged sourcing letter renders this MAT Sourcing Letters (CIS.17) obsolete. See chapter 2 section 10 of the draft version of the SiteManager Contract Administration manual for instructions on how to access and view the merged report.

http://crossroads/org/cst/cmisd/docs/sitemgr/SiteManager_Contract_Administration_Manual.pdf

MAT Inspection Assignment Letter (CIS.18)

In the past, the MAT Inspection Assignment Letter (CIS.18) was used to notify the fabricator that CSTM inspection would be required and initiate coordination of inspection. The Structural branch has modified their operational procedures for inspection notification, therefore rendering the MAT Inspection Assignment Letter (CIS.18) obsolete.

Thank you

Stewart

Don't mess with Texas® means don't litter.