How to Use FieldFX Schedule and Dispatch

Introduction

Schedule & Dispatch is a module in FieldFX that is a resource management app. It runs within FieldFX Back Office.

With Schedule & Dispatch you can schedule jobs, dispatch a crew or multiple crews to one or more jobs, and also dispatch equipment to one or more jobs.

To open Schedule & Dispatch, see Access Schedule & Dispatch.

Prerequisites

To use Schedule & Dispatch,

Have these user licenses Have these permissions Before continuing
complete these tasks

  • FieldFX Base Package

  • FieldFX E-Ticketing

  • FieldFX Job Scheduling & Dispatch

Navigation Bar

Use the Navigation bar to move around the app.

If there are no layouts, you won’t be able to access the Schedule or Dispatch tabs.

Here are the options on the Navigation bar:

Option Description

Schedule

Opens the Schedule Jobs layout

Dispatch

Opens the Dispatch layout

+

Opens a menu with these options:

FX

Opens a menu with options to

  • Close the app and return to Back Office

  • See the current installed version

  • Manage Dashboards

  • Refresh data

  • Reset the app to its default settings

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Layouts

A layout is a collection of panels you can use to schedule and dispatch items.

There are two default layouts:

Layout Description

Schedule

Use to schedule jobs

Dispatch

Use to dispatch crew and equipment to jobs

You can add layouts featuring your own combinations of panels as necessary.

When you add custom layouts, they are unique to your user record.

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Panels

A panel is a component of a layout you can use to schedule and dispatch items. You can add or remove panels on layouts as necessary.

When you customize the panels on layouts, the configurations are unique to your user record.

Available Panels

With the Schedule & Dispatch module of FieldFX, you can utilize these panels:

Job Contact Equipment Map

Job

Back to Available Panels

List

Use the Job - list panel to select jobs available for scheduling.

Example of the Job-list panel
A location marker indicates the job has a geolocation set.

Table

Use the Job - table panel to select jobs available for scheduling

Example of the Job - table panel
A location marker indicates the job has a geolocation set.

Calendar

Use the Job - calendar panel to schedule jobs or dispatch resources to jobs.

Example of the Job - calendar panel

Use the date controls to change the dates/times shown.

Date controls for the Job - calendar panel

Timeline

Use the Job - timeline panel to schedule jobs or dispatch resources to jobs.

Example of the Job - timeline panel

  • A location marker indicates the job has a geolocation set.

  • Jobs display in blue.

  • Crew members display in green.

  • Equipment displays in gray.

Use the date controls to change the dates/times shown.

Example of the Job - timeline panel date controls

Contact

Back to Available Panels

List

Use the Contact - list panel to select crew available for dispatch.

Example of the Contact - list panel

  • A checkmark indicates the crew member has Available for Field Work selected in their contact.

  • A location marker indicates the crew member has a geolocation set.

Table

Use the Contact - table panel to select crew available for dispatch.

Example of the Contact - table panel

  • A checkmark indicates the crew member has Available for Field Work selected in their contact.

  • A location marker indicates the crew member has a geolocation set.

Timeline

Use the Contact - timeline panel to dispatch crew to jobs.

Example of the Contact - timeline panel

  • A checkmark indicates the crew member has Available for Field Work selected in their contact.

  • A location marker indicates the crew member has a geolocation set.

Use the date controls to change the dates/times shown.

Date controls used for the Contact - timeline panel

Equipment

Back to Available Panels

List

Use the Equipment - list panel to select equipment available for dispatch.

Example of the Equipment - list panel

  • A checkmark indicates the equipment is currently marked out of service.

  • A location marker indicates the equipment has a geolocation set.

Table

Use the Equipment - table panel to select equipment available for dispatch.

Example of the Equipment - table panel

  • A checkmark indicates the equipment is currently marked out of service.

  • A location marker indicates the equipment has a geolocation set.

Timeline

Use the Equipment - timeline panel to dispatch equipment to jobs.

Example of the Equipment - timeline panel

  • A checkmark indicates the equipment is currently marked out of service.

  • A location marker indicates the equipment has a geolocation set.

Use the date controls to change the dates/times shown.

Example of the date and time controls for the Equipment - timeline panel

Map

Back to Available Panels

Map

Use the Map panel to display jobs by geolocation.

  • You must set up the Map panel before you can use it.

  • You must set a geolocation for a job to display it on the map.
Maps Panel example

Select a job to focus in on that job.

Use the navigation controls to move around the map, adjust the zoom, and change the type of map shown.

Controls for moving around the maps panel

Displaying
Crew

  • You can display crew on the map by adding a new source for the map.

    You must set a geolocation for a crew member to display them on the map.

  • To add a new source for crew, click in the top right corner of the Map panel and select Add Source → Contacts.

    Example of adding contacts from the Maps panel

  • Use the Contact - list panel to select the crew to display.

    Selecting crew member from a list to add crew from the Maps panel
    A location marker indicates the crew member has a geolocation set.

  • The crew now display on the map along with jobs.

    Jobs display in blue and crews display in green.
    Maps panel with crew and equipment location pins

Displaying
Equipment

  • You can display equipment on the map by adding a new source for the map.

    You must set a geolocation for equipment to display it on the map.

  • To add a new source for equipment, click in the top right corner of the Map panel and select Add Source → Equipment.

    Selecting Equipment to add

  • Use the Equipment - list panel to select the equipment to display.

    Selecting from the equipment list from the Map panel
    A location marker indicates the equipment has a geolocation set.

  • The equipment now displays on the map along with jobs.

    Jobs display in blue, crew display in green, and equipment displays in orange.
    Map panel with location pins for jobs

Back to Available Panels
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Key Features

Schedule & Dispatch has these features:

Drag and Drop

To move a panel around a layout, drag and drop a panel. The panel sticks to its new position and other panels adjust accordingly.

Back to Key Features

Panel Refresh

To show the latest real-time data on panels, select FX → Refresh Data. Panels can automatically refresh by setting up real-time panel updates.

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List Views

You can select a list view to change the collection of items shown.

GIF demonstrating how to change the items shown in a collection

The list views available are the list views from the corresponding tab in FieldFX Back Office.

The list views for the Job - list panel are the list views form the Jobs tab.

Back to Key Features

Keyword Searches

You can do keyword searches on a panel to locate specific items.

Example 1. Locate specific items using a keyword search
GIF demonstrating a keyword search in a panel

Back to Key Features

Filters

You can filter by value, available resources, or qualified resources.

When using filters in Schedule & Dispatch, you can use the OR operator and the AND operator in the filter logic.

If there is no filter logic defined, all criteria is treated as if the AND logical operator is used.

By Filter Value

You can filter items based on a field value in a job, crew planning record, or equipment planning record.

When you apply a filter, the panel updates to show records matching the filter.

Example 2. Filtering a timeline to display jobs for Cirrus Oil.
GIF demonstrating filtering jobs

Display Available Resources

You can filter resources based on the Projected Start Date and Projected End Date for a job.

When you select a job with projected run dates, all crew and equipment panels update to show resources available during those dates.

Example 3. Filtering for resources available from 8 AM to 4 PM on May 3.
Filtering to resources for a date and time range availability

Display Qualified Resources

You can filter resources based on the qualification requirements for a job.

  • When you select a job with qualification requirements, all crew and equipment panels update to show qualified resources.

Example 4. Filtering for crew members that meet the job’s requirement for H2S Survival and Oilfield Safety qualifications.
Filtering crew members for the job’s qualifications

If a qualification requirement is optional, select X on the requirement to remove it.

Filter Logic Errors

The filter won’t be saved if these errors in the logic occur:

Error Displayed Error Message

The user has added more criteria in the filter logic than present in the filter

Example 5. If only 2 criteria are defined

1 AND (2 OR 3)

Your filter logic contains more criteria than defined.

The user has added less criteria in the filter logic than present in the filter

Your filter logic contains less criteria than defined.

The user has added invalid text

Example 6. Invalid text

1 AND 2 blahblahblah

You have added invalid text in your filter logic.

The user has not properly closed or opened parentheses

Example 7. Open parentheses

1 AND (2 OR 3

You have not entered the filter logic criteria correctly.

Back to Key Features

Background Colors

You can set background colors for each record that displays on a panel.

Example 8. Example of a panel background color
Example of a panel background color

With a background color set, you can quickly identify items that need attention.

Use the Highlight Job on the timeline view to gray out all other jobs other than the selected job.

Example 9. Highlight Job option to focus on job
Highlight Job option to focus on job

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Double-Booked Indicators

A Double-Booked indicator displays to alert you when crew and equipment are double-booked.

Example 10. A double book indication
A double book indication example

Back to Key Features

Record Detail Pop-Ups

Record detail pop-ups display information about the selected record.

Example 11. Popup record
Popup record example

Back to Key Features

Step-by-Step Guides

Access Schedule & Dispatch

  1. Log into FieldFX Back Office.

  2. To access Schedule & Dispatch, open the Schedule & Dispatch tab.

  3. If you don’t see the tab,

    1. Select Salesforce App Launcher.

      • Select FX Schedule & Dispatch or in the search field, start typing sched.

      • Select the FX Schedule & Dispatch result.

  4. FX Schedule & Dispatch opens.

Manage Dashboards

You can save the current configuration as the default for a profile.

  1. Click FX and select Manage Dashboards.

  2. Use the Save your current dashboard as the default for a profile dropdown and select from a listed profile.

  3. Click Save.

Filter Records

You can filter and display jobs that appear on the Schedule or Dispatch tabs.

Click Filter to open up the modal to set the filter conditions.

Schedule Tab Filters

Job List

  1. At the Job list modal, click Filter and choose the Job field to want as the basis of the filter.

    Each field has different options based on the field type and object record. Not all filtering options apply to every job field.

    You can add multiple conditions to the filter by clicking Add Filter, choosing another field.

    As you choose fields, each one appears with a number at the end of the condition. The field that is chosen disappears from the list so you can choose it again.

  2. In the input box, you can define the custom logic of the defined conditions by their number.

    The custom logic uses both AND, OR, and () logical operators.

    • Reference the number of the condition in your custom logic.

      If the custom logic is invalid, an error is shown.

  3. Click Save.

Jobs Calendar

  1. Establish the Job Filter per the steps in Job List above.

  2. Repeat for the Crew Planning Filters and the Equipment Planning Filters.

  3. When finished, click Save.

Contact Filter

  1. Set the Contact Filter per the steps in Job List above.

  2. When finished, click Save.

Equipment Filter

  1. Set the Equipment Filter per the steps in Job List above.

  2. When finished, click Save.

Job Filter on the Dispatch Tab

Job List

  1. Establish the Job Filter per the steps in Job List above.

  2. Repeat for the Crew Planning Filters and the Equipment Planning Filters.

Jobs
Calendar

  1. Establish the Job Filter per the steps in Job List above.

  2. Repeat for the Crew Planning Filters and the Equipment Planning Filters.

  3. When finished, click Save.

Contact
Filter

  1. Set the Contact Filter per the steps in Job List above.

  2. When finished, click Save.

Equipment
Filter

  1. Set the Equipment Filter per the steps in Job List above.

  2. When finished, click Save.

Add Crew Time Off

You can add time off for a contact by creating a time off record.

  1. In FieldFX Back Office, access FX Schedule & Dispatch.

  2. Under Contacts, select the contact that you want to add the time off record.

  3. At the user’s contact record, click the Related tab.

    1. At the Times Offs heading, click New.

    2. At a blank New Time Off modal, complete the following:

      Field Description / Action

      Start Time

      Hover over the Date and Time fields to set both the date and time.

      When you hover over them, a pop-up calendar appears where you can click on the desired date. Optionally, hovering over the time allows you to set a specific time. The default time is 12:00 PM.

      End Time

      Hover over the Date and Time fields to set both the date and time.

      When you hove over them, a pop-up calendar appears where you can click on the desired date. Optionally, hovering over the time allows you to set a specific time. The default time is 12:00 PM.

      Type

      Use the dropdown to set the type for the record. Default choices are

      •  — None--

      • PTO

      • FMLA

      • Holiday

      • Absence

      • Vacation

      These options can be modified since it is a picklist. See Add a Picklist.

    3. Click Save (to save the record) or Save & New (to save the record and create a new one).

      A message appears that the ID was successfully created and the new Time Off ID appears under Time Offs.

  4. Click on the Time Off tab and the new Time Off ID record appears in the table.

Back to S&D Task List

Schedule a Job

  1. Open Schedule & Dispatch.

  2. Open a layout that has the Job - list and Job - calendar / Job - timeline panels.

  3. Drag the job from the Job - list panel into a slot on the calendar/timeline.

    Dragging from Job - list to timeline panel

    • Drag the edge of the job to change the end date/time.

    • Drag the job onto a new date if you scheduled for the wrong date.

Now that the job has been scheduled on the calendar, you can now dispatch crew and equipment.

Back to S&D Task List

Unschedule a Job

  1. Open Schedule & Dispatch.

  2. Open a layout that has the Job - calendar / Job - timeline panel.

  3. Drag the job outside of the panel.

    Dragging a job out of the timeline

Back to S&D Task List

Dispatch Crew to a Job

  1. Open Schedule & Dispatch.

  2. Open a layout that has the Contact - list and Job - timeline panels.

  3. Drag the crew member from the Contact - list panel onto the timeline next to the job.

    Dragging crew member from contact list to the timeline for a job

  4. Select Add Price Book Item.

    Add Price Book Item button on a crew item on the timeline

  5. Select a labor price book item.

    • The crew member is now dispatched the job.

    • Drag the edge of the crew member to change the end date/time.

    • Drag the crew member onto a new date if you scheduled for the wrong date.

Back to S&D Task List

Dispatch Placeholder Crew to a Job

  1. Open Schedule & Dispatch.

  2. Open a layout that has the Job - timeline panel.

  3. Select the desired start date and select Schedule Crew Member.

    Selecting starting date and crew member

  4. Select a labor price book item to use as the placeholder.

  5. Select Create Placeholders.

    • The placeholder is now dispatched the job.

      Example of a dispatched placeholder crew

    • Select the price book item on the placeholder to swap it for a different item.

Back to S&D Task List

Add a Crew Member to a Placeholder

  1. Open Schedule & Dispatch.

  2. Open a layout that has the Contact - list and Job - timeline panels.

  3. Drag the crew member from the Contact - list panel onto the placeholder.

    Dragging crew member from contact list
    Change the crew member by dragging a new crew member onto the green box.

  1. If the user has missing qualifications, they appear when you hover over their name on the job timeline.

    Missing Qualifications indicator

Back to S&D Task List

Remove Crew from a Job

  1. Open Schedule & Dispatch.

  2. Open a layout that has the Contact - timeline / Job - timeline panel.

  3. Select the crew member and select Unschedule.

    Selecting Unschedule for a crew member

Back to S&D Task List

Dispatch Equipment to a Job

  1. Open Schedule & Dispatch.

  2. Open a layout that has the Equipment - list and Job - timeline panels.

  3. Drag the equipment from the Equipment - list panel onto the timeline next to the job.

    Dragging equipment to a job timeline

  4. Select Add Price Book Item.

    Example of equipment dispatched to a job

  5. Select an equipment.price book item.

    • The equipment is now dispatched to the job.

    • Drag the edge of the equipment to change the end date/time.

    • Drag the equipment onto a new date if you scheduled for the wrong date.

Back to S&D Task List

Dispatch Placeholder Equipment to a Job

  1. Open Schedule & Dispatch.

  2. Open a layout that has the Job - timeline panel.

  3. Select the desired start date and select Schedule Equipment.

    Selecting start date and then equipment

  4. Select an equipment. price book item to use as the placeholder.

  5. Select Create Placeholders.

    • The placeholder is now dispatched to the job.

      Example of a placeholder equipment dispatched to job

    • Select the price book item on the placeholder to swap it for a different item.

Back to S&D Task List

Add Equipment to a Placeholder

  1. Open Schedule & Dispatch.

  2. Open a layout that has the Equipment - list and Job - timeline panels.

  3. Drag the equipment from the Equipment - list panel onto the placeholder.

    Dragging equipment to placeholder on timeline
    Change the equipment by dragging a new piece of equipment onto the gray box.

Back to S&D Task List

Remove Equipment from a Job

  1. Open Schedule & Dispatch.

  2. Open a layout that has the Equipment - timeline / Job - timeline panel.

  3. Select the equipment and select Unschedule.

    Example 12. Removing Equipment from Job
    Example of removing equipment from job

Back to S&D Task List

Recommended Reading

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