Setting up the Management Reporting System (MARS)

After the MARS software has been installed, but before actual creation of log records can begin, the MARS System needs to be configured. This setup process involves selecting and setting the desired Master Directory Special Options, modifying the ABS.INI file, if necessary, and defining the terminology for the MARS secondary key field. Specifically, these steps are as follows:

The Master Directory program has four Special Options (1, 13, 26, and 42) that must be set accordingly. Activate program “A” (Directory Editor) from the main ABS menu to change these Special Options:

Special Option #1 (Mix - Build History Record when Heat Reserved) should be set to YES if you want the MARS System to store the actual charge, intermediate, and/or final additions aims that were used when the calculation was performed. If you desire intermediate or preliminary chemistry reports, this option must be set to YES.

Special Option #13 (Mars - Maintain Melting Data Base) must be set to YES. This informs the ABS Inventory Control program that you desire material consumption information to be stored for each heat/blend/cast produced. When you have completed entering usage information, you will be asked if you want to update the history file.

Special Option #26 (Usage - Compute Elemental Recovery Factors) should be set to YES if you want the MARS System to compute and store the elemental pounds actually used. This information is derived from the actual usage weights recorded. This option must be set to YES if you desire to receive the elemental recovery reports. If this option is set to YES, then Option #1 must also be set to YES.

Special Option #42 (MARS-User has Custom Developed Enter program) must be set to YES if you have a custom-developed “ENTER” program (the standard MARS System does not include this program). The “ENTER” program is a separate program which is custom-developed for each client. This program permits you to capture various operating variables and data for each heat/cast/blend made and store this information in the detailed log record. Typical data entered might include start and stop time, furnace ids, energy consumed, etc. Contact Keystone Systems for more information about the “ENTER” program.

Next, activate the ABS Utilities program (choice “U” from the main ABS menu) and select choice “G” (View/Set ABS.INI Values). The standard MARS System requires the folder \ABS\ LOGS for storage of log records; the default location is drive C. If you want to store the log records on another drive (i.e., D or E), you must change the drive designator. Refer to ABS User Configuration for complete details on the ABS.INI file settings.

The MARS System supports six key data fields per heat/cast. Key fields are heat number, grade code, grade family, furnace id, melt date, and one 10-character user defined field. You may specify the terminology desired for the user defined key.

The actual terminology for this field name is contained in the User Defined Variables, option V within the ABS Utilities. Item #16 (on page 2) contains the text that will be used within the MARS System. Typical uses for this additional data field are “Traveller”, “Order No.”, “Campaign”, etc.:

The MARS System is now ready to create log records, providing the previous information has been properly entered.