Variants are one of our standardised modules and are commonplace in speedikon C and have been used in various different projects in the past. These variants come into play, whenever planning processes concerning occupancy, refurbishments or moves are to be carried out based on existing data.
To begin with, a new variant is created as an object and the existing data in question, such as buildings and levels as well as their corresponding objects, are copied. The system will, of course, keep track of the internal ID of the associated existing object. Now, the user can work directly within the variant – something typically done using the graphics part of the software. Some of the usual changes made are resizing the polygons of rooms; positioning and moving furniture and fixtures as well as relocating staff to new workplaces. Upon completion and approval of the planning, the variant is then transferred into the productive database. Depending on what data is needed, either the complete variant or only selected segments may be transferred. These functions have been in place for quite a while and are in use at many of our customers.
In the course of our projects, a couple of new features were requested by our customers. With the current speedikon C release 6.2, these features have found their way into the standard software.
It is now possible to create empty variants (as a shell if you wish). For these variants, floorplans may be imported and planned with, before they are finally imported into the database. Also the import of work places and occupancies is possible allowing for the quick implementation of mass move processes.
Two additional features concerning move processes have also be implemented. During single moves, first the “old” workplace is selected, followed by the new workplace. The previous occupancy at the source is terminated and at the target a new occupancy is created. When it comes to multiple moves, the user can simply pull a fence around the desired workplaces and all employees associated with those workplaces are transferred to a list in the clipboard. Afterwards, these staff can be moved to a new workplace directly from the clipboard by clicking on the new workplace. Again, the source and the target are altered just like with the single moves.
Finally, we have also created a method for copying a variant in order to edit it further. This copy can also be transferred back to the database, independent of the original variant.
Therefore, if you want or have to reorganise and rearrange your existing occupancies, these new features will come in handy.