Meter Readings |
The Meter Readings tab enables you to enter equipment unit meter readings. You can use the % wildcard character to filter the results of choice lists on this screen.
If the Mobile Software is installed, you can use hand-held devices to transfer meter reading information between the system and the hand-held devices in order to work with the data from remote locations. Refer to the related documentation for these products. When you process information on this screen, the following actions are performed on the Data -> Equipment Units -> Fleet Equipment screen.
Meter Info tab: Updates the Latest meter reading and Latest meter source fields. Refer to conditions for updating current meter readings.
Status tab: Displays a check in the Meter readings posted since last end-of-period equipment usage processing field
If there is a check in the Generate usage tickets for meter readings inserted on Meter Readings - Assignments -> Usage screen field on the Data -> Equipment Activity -> Usage -> Setup screen, usage tickets for the meter readings are generated and a check displays in the Usage tickets posted since last end-of-period equipment usage processing field. Refer to Usage tickets generated from the Meter Readings - Assignments - Usage screen.
Note: The value for the hours used on meter reading transactions inserted on this screen is not calculated, even if there is a check in the Compute usage ticket hours automatically field on the Data -> Equipment Activity -> Usage -> Setup screen. The value in the Hours used field on the Data -> Equipment Activity -> Usage -> Usage Tickets screen is always 0 on usage tickets generated automatically from this screen.
Tip: The More Info tab on the Data -> Equipment Units -> Setup -> Options screen includes options to synchronize assigned location, department, or location and department changes from the parent to all attached components.
The field in this section defines the data that displays.
Default date and time
Default for the Effective date and time field and the End date and time field on the Meter Readings tab. When you click New, the current system date displays, but you can change it.
Note: If there is a check in the Generate usage tickets for meter readings inserted on Meter Readings - Assignments -> Usage screen field on the Data -> Equipment Activity -> Usage -> Setup screen, the begin date and time is determined automatically.
Equipment ID
Identifier of the equipment unit to which the meter reading applies. This field has a list box of equipment unit IDs defined on the Data -> Equipment Units -> Fleet Equipment screen (unless there is a check in the Exclude from inventory lists field on the Authorization tab of that screen) that have a check in the Usage tickets field on the Authorization tab of the Data -> Equipment Units -> Fleet Equipment screen.
Note: You can enter equipment IDs other than those on the Assignments or Usage tab and process all three types of information from this screen simultaneously. The tabs are not related, but are grouped together on this screen in order to facilitate inserting an equipment unit's meter readings at the time you change its assignment or record its trip usage.
Year-manufacturer-model-meter readings
Year-manufacturer-model-meter readings of the equipment unit. This field is display only.
End date and time
Date and time (24-hour clock from 00:00 to 23:59) of the meter reading (or readings) in the Meter 1 and Meter 2 reading fields. Defaults to the transaction date, but you can change it.
Note: If you do not know when the meter reading was taken, consider using either the begin time or the end time of the calendar ID associated with the department. Departments are assigned calendar IDs on the Basic Info tab of the Data -> Setup -> Organization Structure -> Departments -> Primary Information screen.
Meter 1 and Meter 2 reading
Reading on the appropriate meter, to the nearest whole unit (omit tenths), at the ending date and time. An error message displays if you enter a number that exceeds the Meter edit range specified on the Meter Info tab of the Data -> Equipment Units -> Setup -> Equipment Class -> Primary Information screen.
If there is a check in the Generate usage tickets for meter readings inserted on Meter Readings - Assignments -> Usage screen field on the Data -> Equipment Activity -> Usage -> Setup screen, the values in these fields are used as the end values for the usage ticket.
If the equipment unit is assigned to an equipment class for meter types with a meter type other than NONE, this value must be greater than 0. Equipment units are assigned to an equipment class for meter types on the Meter Info tab of the Data -> Equipment Units -> Fleet Equipment screen.
Important: It is important to record that the meter has been read, whether or not it has changed. If you update information on this screen and do not change the values in these fields, the values in the Last meter date and Last meter source fields on the Meter Info tab of the Data -> Equipment Units -> Fleet Equipment screen are updated.
Note: On rare occasions, the Meter 1 begin or Meter 2 begin fields may display a negative value. This condition arises only if a meter rollover or replacement occurred after the begin date and time and before the end date and time, and is normal. Meter usage for the transaction is computed correctly.
Under certain conditions, the current meter reading for the unit is updated on the Equipment Master (EQ_MAIN) table. Refer to conditions for updating current meter readings and the Meter 1 and 2 validation fields.
Meter 1 and Meter 2 validation
Specifies whether and how meter validation is performed on the Meter 1 and Meter 2 readings. This field has a list box of EQ UPD or NO EQ UPD. See meter validation fields.
Begin date and time
Date and time (24-hour clock from 00:00 to 23:59) at which the readings for meters 1 and 2 began. When you enter an equipment ID, this field auto-populates with the end date and time from the last usage ticket generated for a meter reading entered on this screen. If there is no prior usage ticket for the equipment unit, this field is left blank so that you can enter the information manually.
Begin meter 1 and Begin meter 2 reading
Beginning reading for meters 1 and 2. When you enter an equipment ID, this field auto-populates with the Meter 1 end and Meter 2 end fields from the last usage ticket generated for a meter reading entered on this screen. If there is no prior usage ticket for the equipment unit, these fields are left blank so that you can enter the information manually. These field are required unless the equipment unit is assigned to an Equipment class for meter types with a meter type of NONE.
If the meter beginning date is 0, the meter reading is set to 0.
If there is a check in the Generate usage tickets for meter readings inserted on Meter Readings - Assignments -> Usage screen field on the Data -> Equipment Activity -> Usage -> Setup screen, the beginning meter 1 and 2 readings are determined. They also serve as the beginning values for the usage ticket.
Note: On rare occasions, the Meter 1 begin or Meter 2 begin field may display a negative value. This condition arises only if a meter rollover or replacement occurred after the begin date and time and before the end date and time, and is normal. Meter usage for the transaction is computed correctly.
Department ID
Identifier of the equipment unit's assigned department during the period between the Begin and End date and time fields. When you enter an equipment ID, the department ID assigned to the equipment ID displays, but you can change it. This field has a list box.
This field is required if there is a check in the Generate usage tickets for meter readings inserted on Meter Readings – Assignments – Usage field on the Data -> Equipment Units -> Usage -> Setup –> Options screen.
Equipment units are assigned to departments on the Assignments tab of the Data -> Equipment Units -> Fleet Equipment screen.
Account ID
Identifier of the general accounting system’s account to which the equipment unit is assigned. When the Equipment ID field is populated, this field displays the account ID assigned to the equipment ID. This field has a list box. The assigned account ID must have a status of ACTIVE.
This field is required if there is a check in the Generate usage tickets for meter readings inserted on Meter Readings – Assignments – Usage field on the Data -> Equipment Units -> Usage -> Setup –> Options screen.
Account IDs and their statuses are defined on the Basic Info tab of the Data -> Setup -> Organization Structure -> Accounts -> Primary Information screen.
Financial project code
The Financial project code choicelist allows the user to select from active Financial Project Codes or Usage Tickets. Once selected, the description of the chosen code will populate in the description field.
For more information, see Financial Project Codes.