Output Text Files  (#55, Winter 2002)

Data and reports from the Cost Information System can be incorporated into other projects or documents using various text files generated by the system.  Some files are reports which can be pasted into documents or attached to emails.  Other files include the data, which can be imported into databases or spreadsheets, for other analysis. 

·         Individual shipment input data can be loaded into a spreadsheet using the CIS Spreadsheet Editor.  This creates the file TCGSS.CSV, in the directory specified for Excel files.  TCGSS.CSV is a comma-delimited text file with all shipment input fields (weight, pieces, origin, etc.) which can also be used for other applications.  The first record is the field description header.

·         Individual shipment cost result data can also be obtained in a comma-delimited or fixed-format text file, at the user’s option, using the CIS menu option Export Summary File, found under both View Results and Print Results on the main entry screen.  This opens a screen to specify the file name, type and destination folder.  The resulting text file begins with a one record field description header followed by records for each shipment with shipment data, cost results by activity, P&D minutes, stop weights, miles, plus revenue and operating ratio.

·         The Grand Total Cost report, which appears on-screen when a file is costed or when a Traffic/CIS cost detail is run, is written to the text file TOTAL.TXT, in the user’s CIS home directory, for incorporation into other documents or email messages.

·         The cost detail report for any particular shipment can be written to the file SHIPMENT.TXT, in the user’s home directory, by clicking on the File button.  This button is to the right of the shipment information on the Individual Element Detail screen, which is accessed under View Results on the main entry screen or by double clicking on any line on the Cost Summary screen.

·         The Rate Analysis Program has an option to write the resulting output data to a text file by clicking on the File option on the Rate Analysis Results screen.  The file layout is displayed on the subsequent screen, along with a prompt for the file name.  This creates a comma-delimited text file in the user’s CIS home directory, with sets of records for each origin/destination pair.  The Rate Analysis Report itself is also written to the file RAP.TXT, in the user’s CIS home directory, for incorporating into other documents.

·         The Traffic/CIS Report Writer generates a series of reports for the data set and criteria specified by the user.  The underlying accumulated data used for the reports can be obtained in a comma-delimited or fixed format text file, at the user’s option, using the File option Create Spreadsheet File, when on the Report Writer Output screen.  The resulting text file begins with a one-record field description header.

·         The reports themselves generated by the Report Writer are written to text files in the user’s CIS text file folder for incorporation into other documents:

                            Traffic/CIS Report                             File

                            Profitability Report                         PROFIT.TXT

                            Revenue Analysis                           REVENUE.TXT

                            Cost Analysis                                COST.TXT

                            P&D Stop Report                          STOPS.TXT

                            Traffic Statistics                           TRAFFIC.TXT

                            Standard vs. Actual                      STDVACT.TXT

·         A bill listing, run with the Report Writer, generates two PC text files in the user’s home directory:  

-   BILL.LST, the report itself, with header records and data in a fixed layout, and

-   BILL.TXT, an expanded data file, also in a fixed layout, with 23 selected data items.

The formats of both files are in Appendix A of the Traffic/CIS Manual.

·         A customer listing, run with the Report Writer, also generates two PC text files in the user’s home directory:

-    CUSTOMER.RPT, the report itself, with header record and including the names of the customers in the final column; and

-    CUSTOMER.LST, an expanded data file in the same fixed record layout, but with an additional column for length of haul.

Appendix A of the Traffic/CIS Manual has the layout for these files as well.

Updated February, 2005 

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Contact TCG:
Phone: 800-328-9700
E-Mail: kmm@tcgcis.com
Address: 1355 Piccard Drive, Suite 310, Rockville, MD 20850
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