Will we have a tool to convert company data from the current Consulting Nutritionist to CN.Dalex?We do have an automated process for moving data from the current Dalex version to CN.Dalex and with this being said, it is our intent to work with each corporate customer to convert previously developed models and reports to their new corporate CN.Dalex program. Dalex will also provide the corporate customer with a conversion process which will automate when possible and assist them in migrating nutrients, rates, templates, feeding programs, prices, ingredients, custom pre-mixes and product data to their new enterprise database. Use of an automated testing framework will also be made available to assure equivalence between the existing Windows version and the new CN.Dalex application.
Will we have a tool to move customers and rations from our current version of the Consulting Nutritionist to CN.Dalex?Will we have a tool to move customers and rations from our current version of the Consulting Nutritionist to CN.Dalex?
We do have a process for moving producer data from the current version of Dalex to CN.Dalex.
Can we run CN.Dalex side-by-side with our current version of the program during the conversion phase?Yes, you can run both versions simultaneously for up to one (1) year if you’d like.
What species and nutritional models will be available?On initial release we anticipate having all models currently available for beef, dairy and swine. We will also offer the new CNCPS 6.1 nutritional model from Cornell. The equine species and model will not be included in our initial release.
Can we add nutrients to the CNCPS 6.55 model?If these added nutrients do not affect the 6.55 calculations, then no problem. If they do; however, affect the calculations of the model you would need to work with Dr. Mike Van Amburgh at Cornell University to get approval.
How will iNET be implemented in CN.Dalex?It will function the same as it does currently.
How do you set up a producer for multiple species?A producer is specific to a specie. To setup a producer with multiple species, you will need to add a producer for each additional specie.
Can we give a custom look to any and all reports?All reports will generate using a common report engine that builds a report based on a Rich Text Format (RTF) template. These templates can be customized by the user.
Will the custom reports render more quickly than in the old program?The custom report engine has been optimized to improve performance. However, complex reports or reports containing large amounts of data will still require some time to render.
Will reports from the Beef and Swine Profit Projection Module be more customizable i.e. will they work the same as all other reports in the program?All reports will be implemented using the same custom reporting tool. In addition, identical report elements will behave similarly, regardless of which reports are being used.
Will model calculations be correct when working with rations that contain sub- rations?Every model is developed using a model software development kit (SDK) developed specifically for this purpose. This SDK has been carefully constructed to assure that a model is complete and adheres to specific development rules. The models Dalex puts together utilize automated and unit testing to ensure reliable, repeatable results. It is our intent to have correct calculations.
Will we still be able to hide the prices for certain ingredients like we can now?Yes, this is done by selecting the Ingredient Type authorization. This is exactly the same as with the current Windows version of the program.
If we can hide prices for certain ingredients, will the program still do least costing even though the user can’t see the prices?Least costing will not be affected by the security on the ingredient prices. Even if hidden, the price is still factored into the optimization.
Will the program recognize an ingredient as dairy vs. beef vs. swine?Each enterprise will have a common set of ingredients. From this common set, each species can choose which ingredients and nutrients it wants to use. There are different values for different species for the same nutrients in the same ingredient.
How do you go about selecting the ingredients and their respective values for the different species and models so you make sure you have the right ones for the specific specie/model?The Generic version of the program for Independent Nutritionists will be pre-mapped to the respective nutrient values. When working with larger organizations we will work with then to select the correct nutrients during the initial setup. These will be selected for the enterprise and everything below the enterprise (feed plant, consultant and producer). As new ingredients are added over time, there should be no need for the selection of additional nutrients. This should take care of the list of nutrients.
How does the program know an ingredient and its associated values for one specie or model from another?How does the program know an ingredient and its associated values for one specie or model from another?
All ingredients derive from a common master. The ingredient analysis can be unique by enterprise, plant, consultant and producer. If for any reason a specie needs to have its own values for a nutrient, we can simply make a new nutrient for that specie. Models with similar nutrients, but with different definitions within the same specie will be differentiated by nutrient name as is done in the current Consulting Nutritionist.
When a user changes ingredient specs in the enterprise ingredient file or at the plant level, will this change be disseminated to their producer ingredients and producer rations as well as to the enterprise ingredient file?All producer ingredients retain links to the source from which they originated. Only nutrient values that differ from the original source ingredient are maintained for a producer ingredient. When the source ingredient in the enterprise file or at the plant is updated, if that change has not been overridden for the producer ingredient, it will change for the producer as well. However, if that specific nutrient value was previously overridden for the producer ingredient, the change to the producer file or plant ingredient will have no effect on the producer ingredient.
Same question as above as it relates to price changes that are made at the Enterprise level or in the Plant ingredients.All producer ingredients retain links to the source from which they originated. When the source ingredient in the enterprise file or at the plant is updated, if that change has not been overridden for the producer ingredient, it will change for the producer as well. However, if that specific price was previously overridden for the producer ingredient, the change to the producer file or plant ingredient will have no effect on the producer ingredient.
How do you know whether an ingredient was “used” or “copied” when ingredients are selected for a specific ingredient list (ex. consultant or producer ingredient list)?The ingredient list will show the source from which the ingredient was selected. If the ingredient was “used” it will show the actual source the ingredient was pulled from (ex. from a specific plant). If it was “copied”, it will no longer show the source, but will instead identify it as a consultant or producer ingredient.
Can ingredients from a Plant be restricted to “use” only when selecting producer ingredients?Currently ingredients from a Plant can be “used” or “copied”. If companies wish to restrict Plant ingredients to “use” only, this option can be addressed in a future release.
If they delete products (ingredients), can we somehow gray out the product that is no longer in use, but leave it there due to its use in previous rations – hence it would no longer be available to use in new rations, but would still have a link to the rations that had been prepared using that product previously?Currently CN.Dalex will function the same as it does today; however, we all agree that this is an excellent request for future updates. Development believes provisions have been made to accommodate this in the future.
When an ingredient analysis and/or price is updated, do we need to update this analysis and/or price at each Plant or can we simply make this change at the Enterprise level and have this flow through to all Plants?Unless a Plant has overridden the ingredient analysis and/or price, changes at the Enterprise level will flow through to the Plants. If a Plant has overridden the analysis/price then the changes would need to be made both at the Enterprise level and at the Plant level.
What is the purpose of an Analysis tab vs. an Enterprise Analysis tab within the various ingredient analysis sections?Often an analysis of an ingredient will differ from the original analysis due to a lab analysis or from simply overriding some aspect of the ingredient analysis. The Analysis tab; therefore, allows the user to compare the analysis of any individual ingredient to the analysis of the original Enterprise ingredient(s).
Do we need to re-number our ingredients when we transition from our current version to CN.Dalex?No.
Will the new program remember the ingredients used to make a mix – will it save the mixing order that was used for this mix for a producer?Yes, the new program will remember the ingredients used to make a mix. Mix ingredient order will be saved as a property of the mix. The mix order is determined by a report settings option that applies to all producers and rations. One of the options for the ingredient order is to select the ‘Batch Mix Order’ option. If that option is selected, it uses the order that is ration specific. All other order options are NOT ration specific.
Has the sub-ration routine been improved?Yes, duplicate ingredients have been removed plus you can now go back to the analysis screen while a mix is open to improve the user’s ability to balance the mix.
Will re-ordering of lists work the same way in the Beef and Swine Profit Projection Module as it does in the rest of the program?Yes.
To what extent will Dalex offer customization for the CN.Dalex program?CN.Dalex is intended to be an open framework supporting considerable extensibility and customization, allowing our customers to adapt the program to their unique requirements. Explicit areas of customization include:
Custom Reports – All reports in CN.Dalex will be implemented as customizable, allowing our customers to include their own logos, their own formatting, and their own design. In addition to customizing base reports, development of proprietary reports will also be supported.
Proprietary Models – Models will be implemented using MEF (Microsoft Extensibility Framework). In addition, a model SDK (Software Development Kit) will be available allowing programmers to develop custom or derived models. The University of Pennsylvania modeling sandbox further is provided to encourage the modeling community to extend current models. The end result is a rich and flexible environment for customers to extend models to meet their specific business requirements.
CN.Dalex only allows support of a single code base. Any customization request that would result in maintaining an additional code base will need to cover all expenses associated with maintaining the additional code including dedicated development resources, version control, management, support, server and other such costs. Development projects such as this would be extremely rare.
Alternatives to an additional code base for non-model or report customization is possibly using MEF technology (plug-ins). However, the initial version will only recognize model MEF extensions. Support for other MEF extensions such as reports will be provided in future releases – this will provide a significantly enhanced means of developing custom reports over what we have today.
Please note that the base install will not be privately branded. Only after logging in to a specific enterprise will that enterprise’s identity, brand or logo become active.
If customizations are desired, customers will need to submit a written request and Dalex will then assess if and how best to accommodate their request.
Can access to producers and rations be restricted so only certain people have access to looking at producer data for an individual user?Each enterprise determines if producer sharing is allowed. Every producer has a primary consultant who can choose to share a producer with another consultant. The enterprise administrator always has full access to all producers for all users. Under no circumstance can a producer be shared across enterprises.
If an administrator were to look at a producer’s ration, can he make changes to the ration and have these changes sync back to the original user?The company administrator will have access to all producer data for all users. Any change made by an administrator will synchronize back to the original user.
If a user authorizes another user to view a customer/ration, can the user only authorize certain rations for the other user to see?No, impersonation and sharing are both on a producer basis. All rations for the producer will be shared.
Can I share a customer’s ration with another Dalex user outside the Enterprise?No, sharing is only allowed within the Enterprise. Keep in mind; however, rations can still be e-mailed to whomever you wish.
How often will the program run an Auto Back-up?Auto backup functionality has been replaced with data synchronization. Every time a user is online, the program will begin a background synchronization process.
Will a Manual Back-up option be available?Backup functionality has been replaced with data synchronization. In addition to automatic background synchronization, the program will also support a “synchronize now” foreground command that can be used to force a full synchronization whenever desired.
How will we make sure users Sync to the server on a regular basis?By default synchronization will be an automatic background process that occurs without user intervention. If a user has not synchronized in the past X days, the program will not function until synchronization occurs.
Will the need for users to reauthorize the license periodically go away?Yes, plus you will have the ability to turn users on or off at anytime.
When a user syncs will his customized settings (default lists and reports) change?No, a sync will not overwrite consultant settings.
Will there be any file size issues when users are synchronizing via dial-up access?We highly recommend the use of high speed internet whenever synchronizing to the server – dial-up access is not recommended.
What is the typical size of files that will be exchanged with the server upon data synchronization?Some customers have dealers with dial-up service yet. This has not yet been determined. We are aware of this need and will provide specific guidance to dial-up users at some future time.
Will it prevent a user from using the program if they have not synchronized in a certain period of time?Program authorization will be tied to synchronization. Every time synchronization occurs, the user is first authorized. This also resets the user for a new period of time to use the program. After this, the user will need to perform a synchronization to reauthorize the program for a new period of time.
Since some users use the program seasonally, will there be an ability to set the data sync time period requirement? i.e. let the customer set the program for how often a data sync is required.No. The data synch gets invoked every time you run the program. Licensing is tied to data synch, so a user who runs the program only occasionally would need an internet connection to validate the license before they could continue using the program. At the same time, a data synch would also be invoked. Thus, the occasional user should anticipate larger data transfers whenever running the program.
Where will the server reside?The database server will be hosted and managed by VISI. This is a SAS 70 data center.
If the VISI server is down, can you still send XF1 files to one another to import products/prices (as a back-up if the server is down)?Yes.
Will there be a secondary server at another location in the event of a fire, etc.?Yes, redundancy, backup, and security will be managed by the data center provider.
Can our data reside on our own server?The base pricing model assumes data reside on a shared server. An individual company can choose to have their own server or host the server and database on their own hardware, but significant additional costs will be incurred.
Will Dalex have authorization to view any producer data?Dalex will not have global authorization to all users and all producers. When a user requests technical support, the user may need to provide authorization to allow the technical support specialist to synchronize that specific producer to troubleshoot the particular issue.
Will the program license include a confidentiality agreement restricting Dalex authorization or responsibility concerning producer data?Dalex already has a data privacy statement in place regarding its policies concerning customer data. At this time, there are no plans to review or develop a new data privacy policy.
If a user is using 2 screens, can they have the ration on one screen and the evaluator on the other?Yes, you could do this to view both, but only the evaluator screen would be active.
How will security be handled to assure each company’s data is protected from others?Security is a complex question as described by the CN.Dalex security documentation. The data design provides the demarcation.
Will they need to install any type of database engine in order to run a SQL based database on their computers?Microsoft SQL Express will be installed on the client machine as part of the program installation.
How will the speed of the program change vs. the current program?There are some areas that have been improved quite a bit. There are other areas where we have a lot happening and performance improvements have proved challenging. As an example, the speed that the program takes when selecting ‘Analysis All’ is a factor of the number of ingredients and nutrients, thus this selection can take some time if there are a lot of ingredients/nutrients. We will continue to monitor these aspects of our program and will continually work to address performance concerns.
Will we have the ability to run more than 1 CN.Dalex instance on the same computer?Yes, as an example, you can run a production and test instance on the same computer.
Will each user have a different log-in?Yes, each user will be required to have their own log-in.
What are minimum Hardware and Operating System requirements to use CN.Dalex Software?CN.Dalex hardware requirements include an absolute minimum of a Intel Core I5 processor with 4 gigabytes of RAM (memory). The operating system must be Windows 7 or newer to run CN.Dalex. We do not support running the software on any operating system older than Windows 7. We highly recommend the following for better performance of CN.Dalex: Intel Core I7, 8 gigabytes of RAM or more, and a solid state drive (SSD).
How will CN.Dalex integrate with other programs such as SAP, Tags and Batching Systems?You would use the Export feature for working with legacy systems – you could also Import from Brill into Dalex.
How will CN.Dalex speak to Brill?CN.Dalex will communicate with Brill the same way it does currently – via translation tables. If you need something further, consult with Dalex to see what other solutions may be available.
How many security levels will the Corporate CN.Dalex program offer?There will be seven overall security levels. While similar to security levels in the old program, these are broader in scope and more rigid in the functions they enable. For example, the administrator security level can only perform administrator level functions. Enterprise and plant level security are specific to functions that relate to administering the enterprise or a plant. The remaining four security levels in decreasing levels of access rights are Independent Consultant, Sales Consultant, Dealer Consultant and Guest Consultant. These are more analogous to the security levels you are currently familiar with.
How will CN.Dalex updates be addressed with each corporate customer?Will customers be given an option as to whether or not they wish to accept an update?
Everyone will receive the updates; database related updates must go to all users as the client machine and server must be the same when performing a data sync.
We reserve the right to push out bug fixes that fix issues that crash the system or prevent people from getting their work done without having to seek approval/input from all parties.
Initially there will be a few updates that will need to go out from a standard functionality standpoint.
The intention is to get into a predictable release schedule that will allow us to set dates for updates. E.g.
— We announce an update
— We would communicate what the update entails
— Customers will have two weeks to give us feedback
— Based on the feedback we will fix bugs and remove/adjust features as we see fit
— We will then send out an email telling them what is in the update and that it’s coming
Will we be notified of the updates and told what the update entails? This is our intent.
How will these updates be sent to our users? The system includes a feature we call App Sync that will deliver updates to the end user.
