Hard zones won't generate

[LarryWilliams]

ArcLogistics 9.3 sp2

I created a new route and assigned hard zones to my vehicles. Generated the routes and looking at the results decided to add additional hard zones to those vehicles that didn't have enough work.

When I try to generate the route - nothing happens.

[BertYagrich]

I just checked and this is working OK for me, I may know what is going on though.

When you initially assigned zones to your vehicles, how did you go about this? 

Method #1
1. Click vehicles in Tree view.
2. Select vehicle in the List view, right click > Properties, add a zone on vehicle tab.
3. Then create a routing folder and add vehicles.

Method #2
1. Create routing folder and add vehicles. 
2. In the routing folder, right click vehicle name > Properties, add a zone on vehicle tab.

The difference above is that in method #1, you're creating a template route which will be added to all new routing folders you create.  In method #2, you're only adding a zone to a vehicle in one specific routing folder.

In your case the problem might be that you edited the properties of the template vehicle to add more zones.  This would then be reflected in any new routing folders you created, but not for existing routing folders.  You'd need to actually edit the properties of vehicles within the routing folder you've already created routes for.  When I do this, I get similar results to what you're describing and it looks like nothing is happening.

Hope this makes sense, if it's not the issue, we can look at what else may be going on.

[LarryWilliams]

I modified the vehicles in a new route and not the template.  When I say nothing happens I mean that the no orders are assigned to any vehicles, there is no indication that the system is generating routes, no error messages, control just returns.

When i set the zones i selected the vehicle(s) that I wanted to modified, right clicked on one of them and selected "Zones" and added zones to the vehicle.

I have been able to correct this problem by selecting the vehicle(s) again, right clicking on one of them and selecting "Properties" (instead of zones). 

I would suggest that this is a bug, as both ways should work.

[LarryWilliams]

It has happened again and this time I'm not able to fix it.

I'm getting an error about Zone conflicts, which I got before and ignored by clicking Yes.  See the attached image.

So what is a Zone Conflict?  All zones are covered so I don't understand what the problem is.

[BertYagrich]

I would suggest that this is a bug, as both ways should work.

I just tested this in a few projects and it does work both ways as expected, hmmm.

So what is a Zone Conflict? All zones are covered so I don't understand what the problem is.

A zone conflict usually occurs when you have some orders located in a zone currently not serviced by any vehicle.  Or you could have orders that are located in no zone at all and all vehicles have hard zones assigned so they can't leave to service those orders.  When you get the zone conflict warning, clicking 'yes' should route as many orders as possible.

Perhaps the most efficient path at this point is to send us your project files for analysis.  It should be much quicker to identify any bugs this way since our test projects can't recreate this issue.

[LarryWilliams]

Okay Bert.

ftp.esri.com?  I'll place it in a directory called "ForBert"

[BertYagrich]

If you want, sure.  You could just email also. 

You know where the project files are located?  I was just about to send you that info.

[UltramanDyna]

Hi all,

I encounter a strange thing when i want to assign hard zone to my vehicles.

With reference to the attachment
When i select my thu routing folder, I am able to choice the zone for each vehicles.

I add a fri routing folder, now i am not able to choose the zone for each vehicles.

Has anyone encounter such problem? Tried to troubleshoot for the past 2 days, but no outcome yet.

Hope to hear some advise

Rgds

[BertYagrich]

This is definitely some odd behavior.  I can't reproduce this scenario at the moment but I have a few ideas you might try.

1. Try recreating your Friday routing folder.  Move any existing orders to the Orders Inbox, delete the folder, and then recreate.

2. If your zones always apply to the same vehicles, you might try assigning zones to your vehicle templates rather than to individual vehicles within routing folders.  If you assign some zone to a vehicle this way, it will apply to the vehicle in each new routing folder you create and you won't have to manually do this for each routing folder.  See attached image.

3. Also, note that you can't add/remove zones if your vehicles already have some orders assigned to them.

[UltramanDyna]

This is definitely some odd behavior.  I can't reproduce this scenario at the moment but I have a few ideas you might try.

1. Try recreating your Friday routing folder.  Move any existing orders to the Orders Inbox, delete the folder, and then recreate.
  >>> Tried a few times, still does not work

2. If your zones always apply to the same vehicles, you might try assigning zones to your vehicle templates rather than to individual vehicles within routing folders.  If you assign some zone to a vehicle this way, it will apply to the vehicle in each new routing folder you create and you won't have to manually do this for each routing folder.  See attached image.
  >>> The scenario i have is that the customer has a few delivery zones. The vehicles does not have a fix zone as it depends on the order size and driver experience on a particular zone.

3. Also, note that you can't add/remove zones if your vehicles already have some orders assigned to them.
  >>> Yup .

One thing to note is that when i tried my scenario using the tutorial 2 exercise, it works. I just wonder could it be my own data that cause this strange event.