

                                                                   HELP SECTION

This is the HELP section for the Connecticut Department Of Transportation (ConnDOT) Traffic 
Count Locator Application.  This WINDOWS application was developed by ConnDOT's Bureau of Policy 
& Planning with help from the Office of GIs-Computer Systems and Development.  Questions pertaining to the application 
should be directed to James R. Spencer at (860) 594-2014.  Questions pertaining to the traffic count data 
should be directed to the Traffic Monitoring Unit at (860) 594-2093.  All of the information provided 
below as well as more detailed information about the application and installation is contained in the 
Traffic Count Locator "READTMS.TXT" file under the "TMSADT" directory on the CD-ROM.

This document can be printed by clicking the Print item in the menu.

The following HELP TOPICS give an explanation of how the application works, how to search, printing
search results and saving search results to files.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW DOES THE APPLICATION WORK?

The Traffic Count Locator application contains traffic count data for the years 1990 through the current year.  The 
application was developed to give the user a fast and efficient method of obtaining traffic count data from
a personal computer.   The purpose of the application is to locate traffic count data  based on search 
criteria and print the results in several formats.  The user selects or enters criteria displayed on 
the window and initiates a search of all traffic count records in the system.  Traffic count 
records that meet the search criteria are displayed in the "Traffic Count Data" area in a summary format.
If counts for multiple years are displayed, the latest year will always be displayed first.  If an
individual 24-hour count sheet is desired, double click  a record.  The separate 24-hour count format 
window allows the user to copy the 24-hour data to the clipboard.  If this data is pasted into a word 
processor software,  change the font to "Courier" to insure proper alignment and display of the data.

There are three menu options available at the top of the window:  
-CLEAR:  there are three clearing options:
        -All:  this will clear the results, criteria selected or entered, and deselect any criteria selected.
        -Results:  this will clear only the results located as a result of a search.
        -Station Numbers:  this will only clear a list of station numbers entered for a search.
-HELP:  this option will display the help section.
-EXIT:  this option allows the user to exit the program and return to a main window.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEARCHING

Searching is accomplished by clicking the "SEARCH" button.  If you click "SEARCH" without doing 
anything else, the system will locate all traffic counts in the system.  This is not recommended as it 
will probably overload the system.  It is highly recommended that the user selects or enters at least one 
search criteria and preferably more than one.  The more criteria selected the more refined the results will be.

This Traffic Count Locator application can be used in conjunction with the ADT maps also provided on 
the CD-ROM.  See the "READADT.TXT" file in the "Mapping/ADT" directory in the CD-ROM for 
information about these ADT maps.  An ideal workflow would include both the ADT maps and the 
Traffic Count Locator application.  In many cases the ADT maps can provide the information required, 
especially if the user requires only an ADT value.  The ADT maps show the traffic count locations and an 
ADT value with corresponding year. This ADT value corresponds with the ADT value displayed in the 
Traffic Count Locator for that station. 

A good initial search is to select the town that the user is interested in.  Select the latest cycle year and 
perform the search.  This search will locate all the traffic counts taken in that town in the specified year.  
Print the search results in a Summary Format (see PRINTING below).  By examining the descriptions, the 
user can quickly locate the information or determine whether or not traffic counts are available in an area 
of interest.

The following section explains the available search criteria.

Town Number/Name
----------------

All 169 Connecticut town names and corresponding 3-digit town numbers are listed in the "Town Number/
Name" list box.  A town is selected by moving the cursor over the town number/name and clicking 
the mouse once.  The town number/name becomes highlighted and remains highlighted unless it is 
deselected by moving the cursor to the town number/name and clicking the mouse once.  More than one 
town can be selected.  
 
Key in 3-Digit Town No.
-----------------------

The user has the option of entering the appropriate 3-digit town number for a town instead of scrolling 
through the list of town numbers/names.  Keying-in a 3-digit number will produce the same results as 
selecting a town number/name from the town number/name list.

Town #/Names Selected
---------------------

The "Town Selected" box displays the town numbers and corresponding town names for the towns which 
were selected in the "Town Number/Name" box or as a result of keying-in a town number in the "Key in
3- digit Town No." box.  This box is for display only and was included so the user would not have to scroll 
back and forth through the town list in order to see which towns were selected.

Count Yr/Town No.
----------------------

The list for this box is displayed once a town is selected.  The box lists the years in which traffic counts 
were taken in the town with the latest years listed last.  If several towns are selected, the count years for 
each town are listed.  Regular or programmed traffic counts are taken in a town every three years.  These 
years are identified with an asterisk and a notation (*Cycle Year).  The next scheduled year for taking 
regular or programmed traffic counts in a town is identified with two plus signs and a notation (++Next 
Cycle Year).  Years that are not annotated indicate years in which other than regular or programmed 
counts were taken.  An example of this is the expressway counting program.  Expressway counts are generally
not taken in the same year as regular or programmed traffic counts.  See the "READTMS.TXT" file under the 
"TMSADT" directory on the CD-ROM for a discussion of the Traffic Counting Program.

Road Name/Location Description
-----------------------------------------

Each traffic count station record has a 40-character description identifying the station location.  If the 
station is on a local road, the local road name is given first with a further description such as 
"FLANDERS ROAD - SOUTH OF THOMPSON ROAD".  If the station is on a state route, the description identifies the
nearest intersection to the station.  For example, if the station is on Route 132 in Bethlehem, the description
might say "SOUTH OF CABBAGE LANE" with "132" listed under the "RTE" heading.

The "Road Name" criteria allows the user to enter text on which to search.  When a "Search" is initiated, 
the application searches the 40-character location description field for any occurrence of the text.  For 
example, if "Brook" is entered in the text box, entries such as "Brook St", "Colebrook Town  Line", or 
"Brookhaven Avenue" would be selected.

The "Road Name" criteria option can produce a wide variety of results.  Knowing how the descriptions are 
created will allow the user to be very creative.  For example, if the user wanted to get traffic count data on 
the Bulkeley Bridge, he would probably start a search by selecting either Hartford or East Hartford and 
then route 84 and then sift through the results.  On the other hand, if he knew that "Bulkeley Bridge" was 
part of the description for traffic counts on the bridge, he could enter "Bulkeley Bridge" in the "Road 
Name/Description" box and get the results directly.  Keying in "bridge" will produce a whole variety of 
results pertaining to bridges.  Try it.  Try keying in "town line" and see what results you get.

The primary description for a traffic count location on a state road is the State Route number.  A great 
many state routes also have local road names.  For example, in the town of Avon, US 44 is also identified 
locally as West Main St, East Main St, and Avon Mountain Rd.  There might, however, be sections of 
Avon  Mountain Road that are not part of US 44.  If "Avon Mountain Road" is keyed-in in the "Road 
Name/Location Description" box for the town of Avon, the system will locate traffic counts for US 44
as well as Avon Mountain Road because Avon Mountain Road is in a look up table which contains route numbers
and corresponding local road names. The text search on the "Road Name/Location Description" is not case sensitive.

Type of Count
------------------

ConnDOT classifies traffic counts into six types which are displayed in the "Type of Count" box on the 
application and listed below.

	- Code 0 - Regular or programmed counts taken every three years 
	- Code 1 - Loop counts
	- Code 2 - Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) counts
	- Code 5 - Classification counts
	- Code 6 - Route 15 expressway counts
 	- Code 7 - Interstate/expressway  counts

Station Number(s)
----------------------

The six types of traffic counts are differentiated by the station count number.

        - Code 0 - Regular or programmed counts (0-999) 
	- Code 1 - Loop counts (1000's)
	- Code 2 - Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) counts (2000's)
	- Code 5 - Classification counts (5000's)
	- Code 6 - Route 15 expressway counts (6000's)
        - Code 7 - Interstate/expressway counts (7000's)

The actual counting of vehicles is accomplished the same regardless of count type.  For example, 
expressway count station numbers for counts taken on Route 15 are always in the 6000 range.  Some 
station counts are designated as one type of count one year and might be designated as another type of 
count another year.  For example, a traffic count in a town might have had a station number of 12 
(regular or programmed count; the next time the station was counted, the station number might be 
identified as 2012 because it was located on a Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) section;
the next time the station was counted, the station number might be identified as 5012 because it was 
a Classification count for that particular year. 

A special feature has been built into the system to account for these numbering schemes.  For the example 
just given, if station number 12 was entered, the system would also locate stations 2012 and 5012 should 
they exist.  Although the station numbers are different, the station location and location description are 
exactly the same.  The reverse is also true.  If 2012 were entered, station number 12 or 5012 would also be located.  

To enter a station number, move the cursor to the "Station Number(s)" box and click the mouse.  A 
blinking vertical line will appear.  Type in a station number.  Multiple station numbers can be entered in 
the "Station Number(s)" box but must be separated by commas.

Route No.
------------------

To enter a route number, move the cursor to the "Route Number" box and click the mouse.  A blinking 
vertical line will appear.  Type in the route number.  Route numbers are entered without any prefixes, e.g. 
91 would be entered when searching for Interstate 91 and 44 would be entered when searching for US 44.  
Multiple route numbers can be entered as long as they are separated by commas.

Direction
-----------

The available directions are displayed by clicking the down arrow in the "Direction" box.  Click the 
appropriate direction to make a selection.  Traffic counts are usually taken in both directions on a 
roadway.  That is, the counting tubes are laid across the entire roadway.  Divided roadways are counted by 
direction.  There are seven direction codes available to select from.

	- BLANK
	- ONE WAY
	- BOTH WAYS
	- NORTH - used for counts taken on Northbound divided roadways
	- SOUTH - used for counts taken on Southbound divided roadways
	- EAST -  used for counts taken on Eastbound divided roadways
	- WEST -  used for counts taken on Westbound divided roadways

If no direction code is selected, direction is not used as a search criteria and counts meeting any other 
specified criteria will be identified during the search.  Only one direction can be selected at a time.  The 
selection can be removed by either highlighting the selection and hitting the delete key on the keyboard or 
by selecting the blank space on the pull-down list.

Search Examples
----------------------
The following are examples of common searches that can be performed with the Traffic Count Locator:

-Locate all the latest counts in a town:  select a town number/town name from the "Town No./Name" box 
or enter a 3-digit town number in the "Key in 3-Digit Town No." box.  Then select the latest year listed 
with an asterisk in the "Count Yr/Town No." box.  Select "Search" from the menu.

-Locate all counts taken in a town for all years:  select a town number/town name from the "Town 
No./Name" box or enter a 3-digit town number in the "Key in 3-Digit Town No." box.  Select "Search" 
from the menu.

-Locate all counts for a route for all years:  key in a route number in the "Route Number" box.  Select 
"Search" from the menu.

-Locate historical data for a station in a town:  select a town number/town name from the "Town 
No./Name" box or enter a 3-digit town number in the "Key in 3-Digit Town No." box.  Key in the station 
number in the "Station Number(s)" box. Mouse click the years needed for historical comparison under the 
Count Yr/Town No. box.  Select "Search" from the menu.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRINTING
--------

Prints generated from the application will be sent to the computer's default printer.

There are many print options available.  The first two options are available from the menu under "Print" 
and will generate reports in a "Summary Format" .

Summary Format/All Records: this option will print all the traffic count records listed in the "Traffic 
Count Data" box and in the same format as displayed.  The reports generated will be in a landscape 
orientation.  Pages will have column headings, page numbers, with the total number of records in the 
report listed at the end.

Summary Format/Highlighted Records: this option will print only highlighted traffic count records listed 
in the "Traffic Count Data" box and in the same format as displayed.  The reports generated will be in a 
landscape orientation.  Pages will have column headings, page numbers, with the total number of records 
in the report listed at the end.

The following is a sample of the "Summary Format":
                                                                                                                                                                            Page 1/1
TWN# STA RTE DIR      TOWN                  LOCATION      YR     ADT  COMB ADT

004   64 188   B     DERBY    NORTH OF APPLE VIEW ST      97    5500
004 7009   8   N     DERBY    NORTH OF RAMP TO LAKE RD.   97   11400 \
004 7009   8   S     DERBY    SOUTH OF RAMP TO LAKE RD.   97   12100 /   23500

End of Summary Report/All(Highlighted) Records - 1 Page(s) Printed - 3 Station Counts Located

NOTE:  The "COMB ADT" is the combined ADT value of directional volumes.


The next print options are also available from the "Print" menu and will generate reports 
in the "24-Hour Count Format". The user has the option of two different print formats,old and new.
The information is exactly the same, only the format is different.

Old 24-Hour Format/All Records: this option will print all the traffic count records listed in the "Traffic 
Count Data" box in the 24-hour format shown below.  A separate page will be generated for each traffic 
count record listed in the "Traffic Count Data" box.

Old 24-Hour Format/Highlighted Records: this option will print only the highlighted traffic count records 
listed in the "Traffic Count Data" box in the 24-hour format shown below.  A separate page will be 
generated for each traffic count record highlighted in the "Traffic Count Data" box.

The following is a sample of the 24-hour count in the Old 24-Hour Format:


                                  0040038B1990  
 STA TYPE:0                     STA NO 004 0038 
              STATE OF CONNECTICUT              
          DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION          
        BUREAU OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH         
         PLANNING INVENTORY AND DATA            
             TRAFFIC RECORDER DATA              
 TOWN OF AVON          ROUTE   10   DIRECTION B 
 LOC NORTH OF TALCOTT NOTCH ROAD                
  DAY   SUN   MON  TUES   WED  THUR   FRI   SAT 
 DATE     0     0   102   103     0     0     0 
 TYPE                                           
 HOUR           1990 ADT =  15300   ACF=0.98    
 BEG            *****************               
 MID      0     0     0    90     0     0     0 
   1A     0     0     0    31     0     0     0 
   2A     0     0     0    17     0     0     0 
   3A     0     0     0    18     0     0     0 
   4A     0     0     0    33     0     0     0 
   5A     0     0     0   112     0     0     0 
   6A     0     0     0   505     0     0     0 
   7A     0     0     0  1508*    0     0     0 
   8A     0     0     0  1321     0     0     0 
   9A     0     0   641     0     0     0     0 
  10A     0     0   612     0     0     0     0 
  11A     0     0   664     0     0     0     0 
  12P     0     0   674     0     0     0     0 
   1P     0     0   707     0     0     0     0 
   2P     0     0   771     0     0     0     0 
   3P     0     0   947     0     0     0     0 
   4P     0     0  1294     0     0     0     0 
   5P     0     0  1431     0     0     0     0 
   6P     0     0   833     0     0     0     0 
   7P     0     0   558     0     0     0     0 
   8P     0     0   379     0     0     0     0 
   9P     0     0   308     0     0     0     0 
  10P     0     0   215     0     0     0     0 
  11P     0     0   153     0     0     0     0 
 TOT      0     0 10187  3635     0     0     0 
    24HR  13822                           G - 2 



New 24-Hour Format/All Records: this option will print all the traffic count records listed in the "Traffic 
Count Data" box in the new 24-hour format shown below.  A separate page will be generated for each traffic 
count record listed in the "Traffic Count Data" box

New 24-Hour Format/Highlighted Records: this option will print only the highlighted traffic count records 
listed in the "Traffic Count Data" box in the 24-hour format shown below.  A separate page will be 
generated for each traffic count record highlighted in the "Traffic Count Data" box.

The following is a sample of the 24-hour count in the New 24-Hour Format:


                                  0040038B1990  
 STA TYPE:0                     STA NO 004 0038 
              STATE OF CONNECTICUT              
          DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION          
        BUREAU OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH         
         PLANNING INVENTORY AND DATA            
             TRAFFIC RECORDER DATA              
 STATION 38 IN AVON      DIRECTION:  B          
 LOCATED ON RTE 10, NORTH OF TALCOTT NOTCH ROAD                
  DAY   SUN   MON  TUES   WED  THUR   FRI   SAT 
 DATE              1/02  1/03                   
 BEG HR                                         
 MID      0     0     0    90     0     0     0 
   1A     0     0     0    31     0     0     0 
   2A     0     0     0    17     0     0     0 
   3A     0     0     0    18     0     0     0 
   4A     0     0     0    33     0     0     0 
   5A     0     0     0   112     0     0     0 
   6A     0     0     0   505     0     0     0 
   7A     0     0     0  1508*    0     0     0 
   8A     0     0     0  1321     0     0     0 
   9A     0     0   641     0     0     0     0 
  10A     0     0   612     0     0     0     0 
  11A     0     0   664     0     0     0     0 
  12P     0     0   674     0     0     0     0 
   1P     0     0   707     0     0     0     0 
   2P     0     0   771     0     0     0     0 
   3P     0     0   947     0     0     0     0 
   4P     0     0  1294     0     0     0     0 
   5P     0     0  1431     0     0     0     0 
   6P     0     0   833     0     0     0     0 
   7P     0     0   558     0     0     0     0 
   8P     0     0   379     0     0     0     0 
   9P     0     0   308     0     0     0     0 
  10P     0     0   215     0     0     0     0 
  11P     0     0   153     0     0     0     0 
 TOT      0     0 10187  3635     0     0     0 
              24-hour total =      
         RECORDER #822         ACF=0.98          G - 2
       *  Highest 24-hour volume
       1990 ADT = 15300 FOR STATION 38 IN AVON

The value with the asterisk (*) is the highest hourly peak volume.

The last print option is available on the 24-hour count form which is displayed when a traffic count 
record is "double clicked".  This print option will print the 24-hour format as displayed on the window.  
The count data can also be copied to the clipboard and later pasted to another application.  If the count 
data is copied, it should be in a "Courier" font so the data appears in the correct format.

HIGHLIGHTING TRAFFIC COUNT RECORDS FOR PRINTING
-----------------------------------------------

As mentioned above in the PRINTING section, there are two options for printing highlighted data.
The extended multiple selection option is in effect for highlighting selections.  Clicking on a traffic count 
record will highlight that record.  If you click on another record, the first record highlighted now becomes 
deselected.  If you want to highlight consecutive records, click on the first record in the sequence.  Next, 
hold the SHIFT key down, then move the cursor to the last record in the sequence and click the mouse.  
All the records in the sequence will now be highlighted.  If you want to highlight some additional records, 
first hold the CTRL key down and then move the cursor to the record you want to highlight and click the 
mouse.  The original records highlighted in the sequence remain highlighted as well as the new records.  

If you have a list of traffic count records highlighted and you click on another record without first hitting 
the CTRL key, all the highlighted records become deselected except for the last record selected.  To 
deselect individual records, first hold the CTRL key down and then click on the records to be deselected.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FILE SAVING
-----------

The "File Save" menu item has the following options:
	-All Summary Records - selecting this option will save all the summary records in the summary format
	 in a file called ALLSUMRY.TXT.  A message box will indicate the location of this file.

	-Highlighted Summary Records - selecting this option will save only the highlighted summary records in 
	 summary format in a file called HISUMRY.TXT.  A message box will indicate the location of this file.

	-All Old 24-Hour Records - selecting this option will save all the summary records in the 24-hour format in
	 a file called ALL24HRO.TXT.  A message box will indicate the location of this file.

	-Highlighted Old 24-Hour Records - selecting this option will save only the highlighted summary records in
	 the 24-hour format in a file called HI24HRO.TXT.  A message box will indicate the location of this file.

	-All New 24-Hour Records - selecting this option will save all the summary records in the 24-hour format in
	 a file called ALL24HRN.TXT.  A message box will indicate the location of this file.

	-Highlighted New 24-Hour Records - selecting this option will save only the highlighted summary records in
	 the 24-hour format in a file called HI24HRN.TXT.  A message box will indicate the location of this file.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TROUBLE SHOOTING
------------------------------

If you are running the application and the system gets "hung up", hit the "Ctrl", "Alt" and "Delete" 
buttons simultaneously.   Select the "Task Manager" button which will display the Task Manager" window.  Look for the 
"tmsadt" task.  If the status is listed as "Not Responding" and you want to end the application, select the 
"End Task" button.  This will stop the application.

Should you encounter any problem with any of the data, contact James R. Spencer at ConnDOT at (860) 
594-2014.  This will ensure that the problem has been logged and will be addressed.
