CD-NMCRL Enhancements starting with
October 2003 release
The new version
of NMCRL should have been ready in August, but last minute testing
revealed some minor problems and it was decided to postpone the launch
until October to make sure that the product performed as well as
possible.
- What is New?
- Better Functionality
- New Information
- Search on Multi-Lingual Supply Groups and Classes of Materiel
- More Practical Picklists
- New Connectivity
- A Multi-Lingual Product
- More Data
- What is Being Enhanced?
- What is Being Developed?
- NMCRL Goes Internet
- Revised Subscription Prices
1. What is New?
The
installation procedure has not changed but if you have ordered a DVD
instead of a CD, you will of course only have one disk with all the data
and programmes.
When you start
the NMCRL you will see a few changes on the search criteria entry
screen. You may have to change the screen settings of your computer to
see the whole screen or you may have to use the scroll bar on the right
of the screen. The blue icon you see on the top left of the screen has
no function associated with it but only serves as a screen identifier.
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2. Better Functionality:
With the
introduction of new search criteria it has been necessary to divide the
screen in two logical areas. You will see two tabs on the screen � one
marked NSN, the other NCAGE. The NSN sub screen will let you enter
search criteria related to the NSN and your search result will be
presented in the form of a picklist of NSN�s. The NCAGE sub screen
contains search criteria related to the NCAGE and the resulting search
result will be a list of NCAGE meeting this criteria.
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3. New Information:
You will find
some new search criteria for the NCAGE related to international service
codes like the UNSPSC, NACE, NAICS and CPV codes. These codes have only
recently been introduced to the NATO Codification System and initially
you will not find many �hits� for these codes, but over time the use of
these codes will increase and you will find more cross references
between these codes and the NCAGE codes.
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4. Search on Multi-Lingual Supply Groups and Classes of Materiel:
The browse
buttons for NSC and INC has changed functionality. The sub screens
provide multi-lingual access to the ACodP-2/ACodP-3 products (Supply
Classes and Approved Item Names). For the NSC you will be able to search
on the NSG, the NSC, the NSG description or the NSC description. For
the INC you will be able to search on the INC, the FIIG or the Item
name. Depending on the setting on your language parameter you will be
able to search the Item names or the descriptions in a language of your
choice. The sub screens also contain a new option called "Details". When
using the "Details" button on the sub screens you will be presented
with the exact definitions of the INC/NSG/NSC in the language of your
choice as defined in ACodP-2 and ACodP-3 respectively.
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5. More Practical Picklists:
In the old
NMCRL version the NSN picklist screen showed the NSN and one (the first)
corresponding reference. This information could be misleading, as it
did not represent the correct complete information. The new picklist
screen shows the NSN, the corresponding INC and the item name as it is
found in the national data segments and the approved item name
corresponding to the INC. The approved item name will be shown in the
language of your choice. The NCAGE Picklist screen has only had the �U�
column removed. The picklist screen also shows the settings of the
language parameters and the query that produced the picklist.
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6. New Connectivity:
Where provided,
the NCAGE detail screens show the email addresses and the websites of a
manufacturer or service provider as hyperlinks. If your computer has
email and web access you will be able to make contact directly from your
NCAGE detail screen.
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7. A Multi-Lingual Product:
The language
settings in the File>Properties screen has been changed. There are
three parameters to be set - the first decides in which language the
buttons, menus and labels are being displayed. This will make it easier
for non-English/French speakers to use the NMCRL. The second language
parameter decides how the item names and the NSG/NSC names from
ACodP-2/3 are being displayed. The third one will only come into force
if a translation for an item name, NSC or NSG is missing, in that the
case the display will default to the language selected by the third
parameter. Only English and French are possible choices for default
language.
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8. More Data:
The NMCRL will
show data from either NATO/Tier 2 countries or from Tier 1 countries or
both according to your choice. The data from Tier 1 nations will always
be colour coded.
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9. What is Being Enhanced:
We are working
on an update for all the Help area. The manual and the tutorial are
being re-written and the screen help and the context sensitive help is
being updated.
Even if the
product for most parts has the same functionality as before, it has
undergone a substantial revision. There are a few "bugs" we are aware
of, but like in all new products you may encounter some "bugs" we have
not registered. If you come across errors in the product we encourage
you to contact either the technical contact at OPTIMUS, which can be
found using the HELP menu or to contact NAMSA at the address mentioned
below.
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10. What is Being Developed:
Network (LAN)
Version: As announced earlier the NMCRL is now available both as a set
of two CD�s or a single DVD. The subscription price is the same for the
two versions and if you would like to change your subscription to DVD
you only need to fill in the form below and send it to NAMSA.
The NMCRL was
originally meant to be a single user product and the prices were set
accordingly. Many users would like to install the NMCRL on a network in
order for more users to use the application. As of next year AC/135 will
introduce versions of NMCRL for installation on networks. Besides the
single user versions there will be a version for 2 � 5 concurrent users
and one for more than 5 concurrent users.
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11. NMCRL Goes Internet:
AC/135 will
also develop an Internet version of the NMCRL with a planned launch in
the beginning of 2004. The Internet version will be distributed together
with the CD/DVD version free of charge. It will mean that the users
will have access to more up-to-date data. The Internet version will be
distributed free of charge together with the CD/DVD subscription.
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12. Revised Subscription Prices
The new price structure for subscriptions will be as follows:
| |
NATO Government organisations |
Non-NATO Government and Private users |
| Stand alone CD/DVD |
525 EUR |
650 EUR |
| Network version 2-5 users |
1100 EUR |
1350 EUR |
| Network version > 5 users |
2100 EUR |
2600 EUR |
These prices will only come into force when you renew your subscription.
If you would
like to receive the DVD version of NMCRL (available from Oct. 2003) or
would like to subscribe to a network version (available next year),
please notify us by email on nmcrl@namsa.nato.int. If you do not notify us of your wishes, your subscription will continue as a single user version on two CD�s.
For further information, you can also contact us at:
NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency
Codification Services Branch (LZ-C)
L-8302 CAPELLEN
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Phone : +(352) 3063-6748
Fax : +(352) 3063-4748
E-Mail: nmcrl@namsa.nato.int
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