batchGlossary of Terms
ACTIVE - An option that allows the user to specify whether or not a HHU Table code goes into the handheld or is just siting in the database for past tickets. Example: Officer John Doe, badge# 12345 leaves the force. The system still needs the reference to John Doe for all the tickets he wrote, but making him inactive still keeps his information around. Active means the data will be accessible on the handheld, and inactive means it will not show on the handheld. This applies to all codes under the HHU Tables.
ARRANGEMENT - A special disposition in which a citation is marked for special treatment. Not used very often. (See OPEN, CLOSED, ARRANGEMENT, PAID, and VOID)
BATCH - A temporary file that contains entry data. The data in a batch file does not show on the system until the batch is posted (See POST). Below is an example of a manual ticket entry batch.
batch
BOOK / BOOK NUMBER - The first three or four digits of a citation range. Example: citation # 00100001 on a three digit system the book number is 001, on a four digit system, the book number is 0010.
CHARGER - The charger is the black box with four slots that the handhelds sit on.
CHECK DIGIT - A check digit is the last number on a citation number. The check digit is a mathematical calculation of the first seven digits that produce a unique number. Example: Citation # 00100112, 2 would be the check digit. On a check digit enabled system, if the operator keyed in a payment as 00100114 the citation umber would fail the check digit and let the user know that that number is invalid.
CITATION MAINTENANCE - This process adds a range of citations to a handheld. Example: If you receive a new handheld unit (See UNIT), the unit will not know what citation number to print on a ticket. The process assigns a range of citations to a handheld. The system keeps duplicate citation numbers from being written by assigning a book (See BOOK) of citations to the handheld. Example: Citation 00100001 is assigned to a handheld. The handheld will write incrementing ticket numbers, 00100001, 00100002, 00100003... until 00199999. The book will be full at this point. There is most likely numerous different books on a system, 001,002,003... etc. This allows multiple handhelds to issue tickets without duplicates being issued.
CLOSED - A citation that is neither Paid nor Void but is no longer active. (See OPEN, INFORMATION, ARRANGEMENT, PAID, and VOID)
DISPOSITION - A general term for any change in the status of a citation. Example: Citation # 00100001 has just had a payment sent in for it. In order to credit the payment to the citation, the disposition must be changed from a currently open (See OPEN) citation to a paid (See PAID) citation.
FILE EXTENSION - The ending characters of a file name. Example: File MYPICTURE.BMP is the name of a file. The extension is .BMP. The extension flags the program on what the file's contents are.
HOST FILE - A file that contains pre-formatted data that is dropped out of either the databases, or the batches (See BATCH).
INFORMATION - A disposition entry that only shows in the history of a citation and not in the current disposition. (See OPEN, CLOSED, ARRANGEMENT, PAID, and VOID)
LOADALL - Similar to a sendback. (See SENDBACK) When a handheld is setup, the computer must transfer all programs and HHU Table files to the handheld in order for it to function.
OPEN - A citation is considered open if it is still an outstanding citation. An outstanding citation is one that still requires dispositions in order to be either paid, closed or void. (See PAID, CLOSED, VOID, INFORMATION, and ARRANGEMENT).
PAID - A citation is considered in paid disposition if it has a payment posting received to it. Paid disposition is considered inactive. (See OPEN, INFORMATION, ARRANGEMENT, CLOSED, and VOID)
POST - The act of posting applies all data in a batch (See BATCH) file to any associated citations in the system. Note: Some options in the system allow the user to do a "trial" posting. The trial posting prints a report for data verification prior to a "final" posting.
RETIRE - The process of removing a range of citations from a handheld unit. The unit should then display "OUT OF CITATIONS" to signify that the range has been removed.
SENDBACK - Similar to a loadall. (See LOADALL) When a handheld is setup, or a change is made to the HHU Tables, the files must be transferred from the computer to the handhelds. The sendback sends only the HHU Table files. Example: If the user adds an officer, a sendback must be done to the handheld units before the officer name will take effect.
UNIT / UNIT NUMBER - The handheld unit is actually two pieces, the printer and the handheld part. Each piece has a four digit on it. The unit number is always the number on the printer part of the handheld.
VOID - A citation is considered in void status if a void disposition has been posted to it. A void ticket is considered an inactive citation and for general purpose, a citation that should have never been written in the first place. (See OPEN, INFORMATION, ARRANGEMENT, PAID, and CLOSED)