Completing the Locations Tab

When entering stop locations, you may enter locations manually one at a time, copy and paste multiple locations, or use the import feature to add locations in batches. Each route must include at least 3 (minimum) stop locations and you may enter up to 200 (maximum) stop locations.

Available Locations Tab Columns

Available columns are as follows (from left to right in the above image):

  • View
  • Sort Index
  • Name
  • Address
  • Latitude
  • Longitude
  • Visit Duration
  • Time Window Start
  • Time Window End
  • Job Profit
  • Job Attributes
  • Job Missed Time Window Penalty

When entering stop locations, the View and Sort Index columns cannot be edited.

Entering Stop Locations

Entering Stop Locations Manually

Entering locations manually is often done when you have a small number of stop locations to enter in the Workbook Interface at a time.

How to Manually Enter a Stop Location:

  1. In the Locations tab, click the cell under the Name column in Row 1.
  2. Enter the name you would like to assign to the stop location.
  3. Press the Tab key on your keyboard, or click the cell under the Address column in Row 1, to move to the next cell.
  4. Enter the address of the stop location.
  5. Press the Tab key on your keyboard or click the cell under the Latitude column in Row 1.

    6. The values for the Latitude and Longitude columns automatically populate based on the address you entered.

  6. Click the cell under the Visit Duration column in Row 1 and enter the estimated amount of time (in HH:MM) that the driver is expected to stop at the stop location.
  7. Click the arrow to expand the drop-down window in the cell under the Time Window Start column.

    If you do not have a specific start date/time or end date/time for a stop location, we recommend that you leave the cells under the Time Window Start and Time Window End empty and proceed to step #13. This will allow the algorithm to determine these values through optimization.

    8. A calendar window appears.

  8. Click on the date corresponding to the time window of the job start time.

    9. The cell populates with the date value you selected and a default time of 00:00:00.

  9. Click in the cell with your cursor after the last “0,” and press Backspace on your keyboard and then enter in your time window (in HH:MM:SS) for the job start time.
  10. Click the arrow to expand the drop-down window in the cell under the Time Window End column.

    11. A calendar window appears.

  11. Click on the date corresponding to the time window of the job end time.

    12. The cell populates with the date value you selected and a default time of 00:00:00.

  12. Click in the cell with your cursor after the last “0,” and press Backspace on your keyboard and then enter in your time window (in HH:MM:SS) for the job end time.
  13. Click in the cell under the Job Profit column in Row 1 and enter the gross dollar amount to be earned at the stop location.

    You are not required to type $ before the number you enter. The dollar sign ($) automatically appears after you have clicked on a different cell.

  14. Click in the cell under the Job Attributes column in Row 1 and enter applicable stop location preferred or required details (e.g., vehicle must be equipped with tools required for Kitchen/Bathroom and Septic services, etc.). Any attributes listed must be entered in the Attribute tab of the Workbook Interface.

    If you are entering multiple attributes, separate the attributes with a comma.

  15. Click in the cell under the Job Missed Time Window Penalty column in Row 1 and enter the gross dollar amount cost associated with missing the time window start/end times entered in steps #7-#12.

    If you did not enter time window start/end times in steps #7-#12, leave this cell empty.

  16. Repeat this process until you have entered all stop locations for the route.

    If you require additional rows, click on Add Rows in the top-left corner of the Workbook Interface.

Copying and Pasting Multiple Stop Location Addresses

You may copy one or more stop location addresses and paste the addresses into the Locations Tab. Copying and pasting stop location addresses is typically done if you have a long list of addresses saved or compiled separately on your desktop (if you are not using the Workbook Interface Spreadsheet Template).

How to Copy and Paste Multiple Stop Location Addresses:

  1. Copy the addresses you would you like to paste into the Locations Tab.

    Address must be separated by line.

  2. Under the Address column, click in the first available cell.

    If you have entered addresses previously in this Locations tab, the first cell available may not be in Row 1.

  3. Use the Paste command on your keyboard to paste your addresses. If you are unsure of the Paste command on your keyboard, right-click on your mouse to view instructions specific to your computer (the product detects whether you are using a PC or Mac).

    Depending on the number of addresses you are pasting, there may be a slight delay for the addresses to load.

    4. The stop location addresses are added to the Workbook Interface for your route.

    Latitude and longitude values for the pasted addresses automatically populate.

Entering Stop Locations in Batches

You may enter stop locations in a batch process by importing data from an edited Workbook Interface Spreadsheet Template. To use the import option, you are required to download, edit, and save the Workbook Interface Spreadsheet Template provided in the GPS Insight Route Optimizer Beta Menu.

For directions on downloading and importing the Workbook Interface Spreadsheet Template, see Using the GPS Insight Route Optimizer Beta Menu.

Using the View and Sort Index Columns

The View and Sort Index columns cannot be edited but can be used while viewing the Locations Tab.

Using the View Column

You may use the Location Crosshair icon,, in the View column to focus the map on the corresponding subroute stop location and expand the Stop Location Card.

How to Use the View Column:

  1. From the View column, click on the Location Crosshair icon in the Stop Location’s row that you would like to view.

    2. The map focuses on the subroute stop location and the Stop Location Card expands. (See the Using the GPS Insight Route Optimizer Beta Map for information regarding the Stop Location Card.)

Using the Sort Index Column

To sort the the Locations Tab by the original order of stop locations entered, reverse the order of stop locations entered (to see the most recently entered stop locations first), or re-sort the order of stop locations after the Locations Tab is re-ordered after you have sorted the tab by other columns, you may use the Sort Index Column.

You may sort by any of the columns in the Locations tab. To do so, click on the header of the column to sort the column by ascending order and/or click the header once more to sort by descending order.

How to Use the Sort Index Column:

  1. Click on the header of the Sort Index Column.

    2. Stop locations are re-ordered by the original order that the stop locations were entered in the Locations Tab.

  2. Click the header again to sort the stop locations by descending order of stop location entry.