Partner Software
 

The Partner System

Construction design interacts with other operations across the utility. These relationships are illustrated in the diagram below. Our Job Management System consists of the System Hub, Jobs Database, Partner Web, Field Designer, and Construction Manager. These components along with external software work together to provide an enterprise-wide solution. 

System Components

Partner's Job Management System includes the following components:

  • The System Hub is the "black box" of the Partner System. The System Hub program runs on a desktop PC attached to the office network and manages file transfers within the organization. The hub responds to check-ins from field computers and data changes from the Partner Web and the accounting system. It is responsible for job data integrity and generation of the job data-viewing database. It keeps track of job information and routes changes throughout the system while maintaining multiple interfaces to external accounting, customer information, or work management systems.  
  • The Jobs Database,a MySQL database generated by the System Hub, provides information to the Partner Web and other queries. For example, you can create mail merges or specialized reports and extract data using standard off-the-shelf software or your own in-house software. Both existing and historic (archived) job information are available over a standard ODBC connection.  
  • The Partner Web provides web-based access to Partner job data and reports and allows you to query, view, and edit jobs. The Partner Web consists of a web server and easily customizable web pages built to serve the various people in the utility.  
  • The Field Designer supports the field engineer in the task of construction design. The Field Designer is an automated design tool that provides a quick and user-friendly program. It reduces the time spent manually entering data, redrawing map sketches, and filling out individual staking sheets. The Field Designer includes the Map Viewer and allows staking crews to efficiently view power distribution maps, create staking sketches, and retrieve any additional information needed to complete the staking job. It automatically updates mapping and work order/accounting systems back at the office and provides viewing and editing of jobs and design information as a networked or remote application. The Field Designer program runs on a portable field or office computer. The minimum screen resolution for viewing is 800 x 600 pixels; however, we recommend 1024 x 768 pixels. 
  • Loaded on a Palm OS-compatible handheld with an optional GPS receiver, Staking Buddy is a companion for Partner’s Field Designer that serves as a data acquisition and measuring tool for distance, bearing, and span deflection. This software is designed to behave as an electronic field survey notebook where you define named groups of points, corresponding to a single site or job. 
  • The Construction Manager is designed to assist construction superintendents. It displays job locations on top of the Map Viewer. Configuration allows symbolization by job status, size, schedule dates, stake dates, easements, or any other job information. Multiple Find Items can be generated based on job header fields. The header data for the job is available by clicking on the job. This can be an excellent tool to help the construction supervisor schedule jobs based on priorities shown on the Construction Manager screen. 
  • A behind-the-scenes application, the Configuration Manager provides the interface that allows you to add, delete, or regroup items in your picklists, location units, and span units in the Field Designer, Staking Buddy, and the Partner Web. 
  • Interfaces to Other Systems are maintained by the System Hub to external accounting, customer information, or work management systems.

Mapping Support

The Map Translator converts the information from the mapping system, customer databases, and other sources into a form accessible to the Field Designer and Map Viewer.  

Map translators are available for AutoCAD-, ESRI-, and Smallworld-based mapping systems. Translating the map information provides the following benefits: 

  • eliminates the need for field engineers to learn the mapping CAD or GIS system;
  • increases pan and zoom speed;
  • allows easy seamless access to an entire service area on one laptop;
  • allows combination of information from different types of mapping systems into a single viewing package; 
  • reduces the information requests and CPU usage within the mapping department. 

Partner's Map Viewer combines any number of data sources into a single, seamless map set, which allows map viewing and redlining for all users in the utility. The Map Viewer can be operated on stand-alone computers or as part of the network. Our clients use the Map Viewer for service trucks, meter readers, operation centers, field supervision, and general map viewing. 

User Manuals

Our products feature user manuals, which can be accessed by selecting the Help button.

Sample Staking Sheets

See this page for examples of the variety of staking sheets in use by Partner Software customers. By using highly configurable software, we can provide utilities staking sheets, which are easier to read by the construction crews and office personnel but are similar to the sheets currently in use at the utility. The result is increased output from the staking department with minimal training time.

What the Industry Has to Say About Us

We appreciate the enthusiastic responses we have been receiving about our software products. Take a look at these excerpted articles and other comments our customers have made about the Partner System: 

Email info@partnersoft.com or call 800.964.1833      ©1997–2008 Partner Software, Inc.