Version: 3.3.02 (2010-06-02)
Scripter: Lucike
Abbreviation: the CLS MK2
Thread for development version
Bonuspack index
Overview
This software allows the pilot to plan a route. The pilot is instructed to follow a given route and the corresponding commodity transfer orders for each intermediate stop entered. This enables the pilot to fulfil special tasks within the company or even at different stations. The route entered will be followed repeatedly until the pilot receives new orders.
Over time the pilot will learn to use this software more efficiently, because nobody starts out as an expert. Additionally, he might participate in special training courses. Those training courses are offered in the pilot's homebase at certain time intervals.
The software was originally developed by an Argon software engineer and as such is being sold in every Argon Equipment Dock. It is also available in the trading station located in Herron's Nebula.
- Instruct the pilot to follow a given route and set the corresponding commodity transfer orders for each intermediate stop. This enables the pilot to fulfil special tasks within the company or even at different stations. The route will be followed repeatedly until the pilot receives new orders.
- The pilot will use the Jumpdrive technology, and even take care of his/your ship.
- The pilot will communicate with other pilots, paying close attention to the commercial radio network and will not enter any sectors in which enemy ships have been reported.
Quick Start
- Equip a TS class transporter with Navigation Software MK1 and Commodity Logistics Software MK2
- Define a route for the ship via ``Waypoints'' submenu
- Choose in the ships Trading Menu ``Start external commodity logistics''
Pilot qualifications
Apprentice
The apprentice is able to use up to 4 stops in total in the tour. The apprentice is carrying out his probationary period in your enterprise and doesn't get a salary during this time.
Courier
The courier is able to use up to 6 stops in total in the tour. Additionally, he will be able to deliver commodities to equipment docks and trading stations. The courier gets a wage of 20 credits per Mizura flown, paid after completing each trip.
Supplier
The supplier is able to use up to 10 stops in total in the tour. Additionally, he will be able to supply large ships. He will also equip his ship with more speed and agility and fighter drones, if they can be purchased in the current sector. The supplier gets a wage of 25 credits per Mizura flown, payable upon completion of each trip.
Cargo Messenger
The cargo messenger is able to use up to 15 stops in total in the tour. He is also able to use modern Jumpdrive technology to move around more quickly. The cargo messenger is paid a wage of 30 credits per Mizura flown, paid after each trip.
Forwarding Agent
The forwarding agent is able to use up to 20 stops in total in the tour. Furthermore, he pays close attention to the commercial radio network and will not enter any sectors in which enemy ships have been reported. The forwarding agent is paid a wage of 35 credits per Mizura flown, paid after each trip.
Logistician
The logistician is not restricted in the amount of stops in his tour. Furthermore, he will repair his ship on his own by visiting a shipyard if necessary. The logistician is paid a wage of 40 credits per Mizura flown, payable after each trip.
Instructions
The main command is initiated over the Trade Menu. The command ``Start external commodity logistics'' is visible when you install Commodity Logistics Software MK2 and Navigation Command Software MK1 in the ship. The command ``Start external commodity logistics'' also includes the possibilities of configuration.
Important: The command is visible only when there is a pilot on the vessel or the ship is docked, in order for a pilot to enter the vessel.
Equipment and Prerequisites:
- A fighter, bomber, corvette or transport ship (M3, M4, M5, M8, M6, TM, TS, TP or TL)
- Navigation Command Software MK1
- Commodity Logistics Software MK2 (10,752 cr)
- Pilots of TL-class ships must be at least 'Cargo Messenger'
- Fight Command Software MK1 (optional: change the behaviour at contact with the enemy)
- Fight Command Software MK2 (optional: changes, additional to Fight Command Software MK1, are made to the pilot's the behaviour at contact with the enemy)
- Jumpdrive (optional: can be utilized after a special training course)
- Transporter Device (optional: used if big ships like TL class transporters are chosen as a destination and the transporter may not dock at the ship)
All of the settings can be entered from here.
Trader settings
In the menu Trader Settings you can change settings, additionally you can see information about your pilot -- not only his Status and homebase, but also Time of duty, Total time, Payment rolls and his achievements.
Delete accounting information
With this option you can delete your pilot's accounting information. (NB. Once done, there's no possibility of undoing this, therefore you will be asked to confirm this step again.)
Take trainings
Normally, all the pilots will participate in special training courses enabling them to use the software more efficiently. If you don't want this facility, you can change it here.
Trader salary
The pilot's wages are paid from your main-account. You can change this here.
Fire trader
If you have no further use for this pilot you can dismiss him. The ship must be docked at any station, without any tasks. (NB. Once done, there's no possibility of undoing this, therefore you will be asked to confirm this step again.)
Reassign trader
Your pilot needs a bigger/different vessel, you can reassign him to a new ship. Both ships, the new and the old one, must be docked at the same station. After choosing this option, you'll get a list of docked candidates. Choosing a ship which has a working pilot onboard will swap the pilots. Each pilot will take all of his existing data with him, to his new ship.
Restore defaults
This command resets these settings to their default values.
Waypoints
You can add additional waypoints in this menu. Even an overview with the different stops is included. At every stop you can assign multiple waypoints. The number of stops is limited by experience/status of the pilot.
Adding a station with waypoints
First, choose 'Add station' and then -- like always -- choose sector and station.
Then select the task for this station. Buying or selling is possible on every station, but loading or unloading is only possible on stations belonging to your enterprise. Refuelling your freighter with Jumpdrive energy is only possible on stations which are selling energy cells. You even can tell the pilot just to dock on a station -- he will wait for 1 Mizura before continuing on his route.
Once you've chosen buying, selling, loading or unloading, you choose in the next step the product to deal with. When buying or selling you can choose all products; when loading or unloading you can only choose resources.
While selecting the price, you have different possibilities. Either manually, or the minimum/average/maximum price of the product, you've chosen in the previous step.
Last step -- choose the amount of ware to transfer. Like in the previous step you have different options -- either manually input a value (also up to...), or choose from ``Full'' and ``Half cargo space'' options. While buying or selling, you cannot choose the ``Half cargo space''.
Removing a station
Select 'Cut or remove station', then 'Remove station'.
Adding a waypoint at a station/stop
You'll get this menu by choosing a waypoint. For adding a waypoint at a special station, choose the corresponding point of the menu. The other steps are similar to the inputs while adding a station (Adding a station with waypoints)
Editing a waypoint of a station
You'll get this menu by choosing a waypoint. For editing a waypoint at a special station, choose the corresponding point of the menu. The other steps are similar to the inputs while adding a station (Adding a station with waypoints)
Deleting a waypoint of a station
You'll get this menu by choosing a waypoint. For deleting a waypoint from a special station, choose the corresponding point of the menu.
Cut a station and paste it anywhere else
First, choose "Cut or remove station", then "Cut station". The station will be removed and copied to a clipboard.
A new menu item will be visible if there is a station in the clipboard. Choose ``Insert station'', and the station from the clipboard will be inserted at this position. The clipboard will be deleted.
Cut a waypoint and paste it anywhere else
You'll get this menu by choosing a waypoint. Now choose "Cut waypoint". The waypoint will be removed and copied to a clipboard.
A new menu item will be visible if there is a waypoint in the clipboard. Choose ``Insert waypoint'', and the waypoint from the clipboard will be inserted at this position. The clipboard will be deleted.
Generate waypoints
This function enables the software to generate waypoints automatically. First choose the sector from where this process should be started, and then the (maximum) number of jumps. After this step, choose the wares, task, price and the amount to transfer. Now the CLS will search for all the stations fitting your input and will add the results to the list of your waypoints.
Supply conditions
Minimum delivery amount for collecting
Pilot only flies to a waypoint if he can at least collect 5% of the wanted amount. Change this setting here.
Minimum delivery amount for delivering
Pilot only flies to a waypoint if he can at least deliver 5% of the wanted amount. Change this setting here.
Dock with ship only in the same sector
If the delivery target is a ship, and this jumps away right before the CLS-pilot reaches it, the pilot will skip his current job.
Wait for request signal
If delivery target is a TL, CLS pilot can wait for a request signal, telling the pilot if the target needs his products. The target ship must be able sending this radio messages.
Quit working in homebase
With this option, a controlled termination of CLS is possible. The pilot will stop CLS in his homebase once his job is done.
Restore defaults
This command resets these settings to their default values.
Jumpdrive settings
The pilot can use the modern Jumpdrive technology once he is at least Cargo Messenger. Here you can change the conditions under which the Jumpdrive is to be used.
Use Jumpdrive
In normal conditions, pilots don't use the Jump Drive. You can change this here.
Jumpdrive energy
If you don't change this order, the pilot will hold a Jumpdrive energy reserve of 10 percent of his cargo space. If his journeys are very short or very long, you can change his Jumpdrive energy reserve here.
Minimum jump range
To conserve jump-drive energy you can set your pilot a minimum-jump-range.
Restore defaults
This command resets these settings to their default values.
Automatic naming
Renaming a lot of pilots manually can be hard work. By choosing the Auto-naming option, you enable the pilot to do this work for you, even providing you with some more information.
Configure automatic naming
Here you choose the way the pilot will rename his ship. You can see here also a description of the naming convention used.
Ship number
A ship number should appear in the ship's name. Enter the number here.
Factory number
A factory number should appear in the ship's name. Enter the number here. All the ships assigned to this station will use this number.
Restore defaults
This command resets these settings to their default values.
Configure reports
The pilot will inform you of certain events occurring during his business dealings. Some of them can be switch off here.
Promotions
The pilot will inform you when he has completed a training course successfully. You can switch this off here.
Enemy sightings
The pilot will inform you about enemy movements in the sectors he's visiting. You can switch this off here.
Acoustic signals at messages
All the pilot's messages will be sent without a sound. You can change this here.
Trade log
The pilot can write every transaction into your business log. You can switch this on here.
The log can be found in the directory where your save-games are. It's called 'log1504.txt'. Very useful to determine what your pilot is really doing the whole time.
Analysis to log
The pilot copies all his data to your business log. Also, he can report what his current activity involves.
The log can be found in the directory where your save-games are. It's called 'log1000.txt'. Very useful for analysis and why a pilot is not flying. Also, if you have any questions about CLS / about a certain pilot, cause he's not doing what you expect him to do -- please post it ...
Restore defaults
This command resets these settings to their default values.
Data storage
You want more than one pilot to fulfil a task, you can save his working data here, in order to provide it to other pilots.
Load data
Here you can choose stored data/assign stored data to a pilot.
Here you can choose stored data to assign to another pilot.
Save data
Here you can save the actual pilot's data. Also giving the data a name is possible.
Delete data
You can delete specified data.
Delete all data
You can delete all data slots.
Special notes
Note:
You can change the lists mid-flight, but the changes only become effective after the pilot has finished the current tour.
Jumpdrive:
If a Jumpdrive is installed, the pilot will supply himself with energy from the homebase. He may buy energy from other sources, too, if he is not doing a chain-supply tour.
Enemy contact:
If the freighter has the Fight Command Software MK1, then the pilot may make his ship safer. He buys fight drones in the current sector and equips his ship with more speed and agility. If the experienced pilot has a Jumpdrive, then he can venture into unsafe sectors. If the freighter has the Fight Command Software MK2 and he can download the Missile defence system Mosquito, he will also buy a number of Mosquito missiles.
Transporter device:
It's possible to load TL-transporters with your freighters even when they cannot dock, so you will occasionally need the Transporter Device, which allows the pilot to transfer cargo directly to the TL-transporter. The TL must have stopped his engines, and be standing in space. If the freighter has to load a TL-transporter, and he doesn't have a transporter device, he will wait until the TL has docked to a station and follow him in order to transfer the cargo at the station itself. Sectors located far away will be only visited if the pilot has a Jumpdrive.
Hint:
If you buy the Commodity Logistics Software at the software producer's offices at the Free Argon Trading Station in Herron's Nebula, the producer tries to provide qualified personnel. If you start the software at the trading station you might get lucky and receive qualified pilots from the very beginning.
Global Administration of CLS MK1 and MK2
The global administration provides an overview of all your CLS-Pilots. Not only can you send settings to all the other pilots, but make changes to individual pilots.
There are two ways to start global administration. You can define a hotkey, and you can reach it over the 'General' menu in your ship-commands, once your ship is docked.
Global Administration
Global Administration gives you the possibility to send one or more settings to all the CLS-pilots.
Therefore you choose the data-slot which should be sent. Of course, at least one data-slot must be stored (by any CLS-pilot). Now you can send this data-slot to all CLS-pilots with the command ``Send to all colleagues''. The command ``Send to sector colleagues'' will send the chosen data-slot only to the pilots with the same home-sector.
In the menu ``Send filter'' you'll find lots of filters, which data should be sent, and which pilots should get this information. You can filter the data-receiving pilots by type of ship, by class of ship or even by a part of the name of the ship. You also toggle between the information what should be sent. So you can define exactly what information pilots should get or not.
Even a reorganisation of all your data-slots is possible. To move a special data-slot from one position to another, first choose the slot which should be moved, then choose the new position. Slots which you can choose are shown in Yellow.
Deleting special data-slots is also possible by Global administration. Just choose the data-slot which should be deleted -- there will be no confirmation! With the command ``Delete all data'' all your slots will be deleted.