Available Run Parameters

Scheduler Parameters
Max Iterations	the maximum number of pairings the N-PBS Scheduler is allowed to try awarding a block the N-PBS Scheduler divides this number by the maximum possible completion attempts that can be made to determine the maximum number per completion attempt when the N-PBS Scheduler reaches the maximum number, it stops the current completion attempt and moves on to the next completion attempt for this block minimum value: 1 000 000 maximum value: 99 999 999 suggested value: 5 000 000 to 10 000 000
Max SLG Iterations	the maximum number of pairings the N-PBS Scheduler is allowed to try awarding an SLG block the N-PBS Scheduler divides this number by the maximum possible completion attempts that can be made to determine the maximum number per completion attempt when the N-PBS Scheduler reaches the maximum number, it stops the current completion attempt and moves on to the next completion attempt for this block minimum value:2 000 000 maximum value: 20 000 000 default value: 4 000 000
Max Pairing Lines	Bidder is shadow on every day of the period and all awards are shadows. Does not Count. Bidder is shadow on some days of the period (not all), but all of their pairing awards are shadow. Does not count. Bidder is shadow on some days of the period (not all), they get a mixture of shadow and non-shadow pairing awards. Counts toward Max Pairing Lines. Bidder is shadow on some days of the period (not all), all of their awards are non-shadow. Counts toward Max Pairing Lines. This will be configured for ASH only.
Max Swap Depth	the maximum length of a swap chain consisting of pairings being moved among various blocks and open pairings minimum value: 0 (zero); no swapping is performed if set to 0 and schedule quality will be lower maximum value: 5001000 suggested value: 250
Max Reserves	the maximum number of reserve blocks that the N-PBS Scheduler is allowed to award if the maximum number of reserve blocks has been awarded, Crewmembers that the N-PBS Scheduler can’t create a block for are given empty blocks if this run template is not used for parent runs, set the maximum number of reserves to more than your total number of Crewmembers if this run template is used for parent runs where Crewmembers may need to be moved to the associated child run (i.e. ICs that may need to be bumped to the FA run), only set the maximum number of reserves you need to accommodate Crewmembers who specifically bid for a reserve block; any Crewmembers who don’t receive a block are automatically moved to the child run and receive a block from that run
Min Open Credit	set a minimum open credit to be used by the N-PBS Scheduler. The value set here will be the minimum allowable credit left in open time at the end of the run.
Max Followed By Time	the maximum amount of time between pairings for the pairings to be considered followed by pairings the minimum time between followed by pairings cannot be adjusted
Use Language Assignment	check box that tells the N-PBS Scheduler to use language assignments and restrictions when awarding pairings this option is checked by default, and should remain checked; it should only be unchecked if you are certain that you want no language processing to occur
Max Stat Day Bank	maximum amount of Stat Day Bank days that are awarded per bid period.
Use Only Sys-Gen Bids	check box that tells the N-PBS Scheduler to ignore any bids submitted by Crew members and do a run using only the default bid preferences (Award Pairings and Award Line Reserve) a Use Only Sys-Gen Bids run is usually done for analysis purposes, and provides feasibility information as well as a baseline for comparison with runs using Crewmember bids

Credit Window Parameters
Normal	the minimum (low) credit value, maximum (high) credit value, and desired average (threshold) credit value for all standard Crewmember blocks
Max Credit	the minimum (low) credit value, maximum (high) credit value, and desired average (threshold) credit value for all maximum credit Crewmember blocks
Min Credit	the minimum (low) credit value and maximum (high) credit value for all minimum credit Crewmember blocks
Max Min Credit Honored	the maximum number of Crewmembers that can bid for and receive a minimum credit block any Crewmembers above this number receive a block within the regular credit window suggested value: more than the number of Crewmembers, unless you want a specific restriction
Max Max Credit Honored	the maximum number of Crewmembers that can bid for and receive a maximum credit block any Crewmembers above this number receive a block within the regular credit window suggested value: more than the number of Crewmembers, unless you want a specific restriction
Reduced Lower Limit (RLL)	the minimum (low) credit value, maximum (high) credit value and threshold for all RLL credit Crewmember blocks the High value cannot be edited, it is directly tied into the Normal high credit value, and always has the exact same value
Max RLL Lines	the maximum number of Crewmembers that can bid for and receive a RLL pairing block a value of zero means that no RLL processing will take place
RLL Cutoff (Eligible Bidders)	indicates the cutoff person - all bidders below this number will have their RLL bids ignored Senior people down to and including the cutoff person can be awarded a RLL block the cutoff person is identified by counting all eligible bidders in seniority order - a bidder flagged as Ineligible is not counted, a reduced-block bidder is counted but will not receive a RLL block
Normal Reduced Block	the minimum (low) credit value, maximum (high) credit value, and desired average (threshold) credit value for all Normal Reduced Block Crewmembers
Min Credit Reduced Block	the minimum (low) credit value, maximum (high) credit value, and desired average (threshold) credit value for all Min Credit Reduced Block Crew members
Max Credit Reduced Block	the minimum (low) credit value, maximum (high) credit value, and desired average (threshold) credit value for all Max Credit Reduced Block Crew members
Fill to Threshold with Award Pairings	check box that tells the N-PBS Scheduler to try and fill blocks to the threshold value, rather than the minimum value blocks that reach the minimum value but not the threshold value may have shuffling performed on them to get them above the threshold as long as the block is above the minimum value, Denial mode will not be triggered to get the block above the threshold value if this option is turned on

UnStacking Parameters
Use Unstacking	check box that tells the N-PBS Scheduler to force pairings onto blocks as a result of stacks if this option is turned off, the N-PBS Scheduler considers stack height when awarding pairings, but won’t force pairings on to blocks
Max Passes	the maximum number of passes through the data that will be attempted by the system in order to achieve acceptable results this number is dependent on the size of the base and the parameters set for stack height, threshold, etc. the first pass is usually the slowest, and subsequent passes are much quicker than the first pass suggested value: 20 to 30
Max Stack Height	maximum allowable number of mutually exclusive open pairings in any given critical period, at the end of the run this value is also used as the maximum number of mutually exclusive open pairings requiring any specific language (language pairing stack height), and the maximum number of total lines-worth of open pairings requiring any specific language (language credit stack height) minimum value: 2 suggested values: 4 for categories with less than 300 people 8 for categories with 500 to 1000 people 12 for categories with more than 1000 people larger max stack height values result in faster runs, but more pairings left in open time
Priority Stack Date	check box that lets you set the triggered stack that is forced onto blocks first, before any other triggered stacks the priority stack date only affects the order that pairings get forced onto blocks after the stack associated with that date is triggered this option helps to ensure that seniority for a specific date isn’t violated by unstacking
Min Open Credit Percent	minimum allowable open credit (TFP) at the end of the run this value is a percentage of the original open credit (TFP) at the start of the run
Min Open Credit Time	minimum allowable open credit (TFP) at the end of the run this value is a percentage of the original open credit (TFP) at the start of the run

Language Unstacking Parameters
Language	a list of languages that use max stack height values that are different from the standard max stack height languages listed here are usually those languages that have either a very small number or a very large number of qualified Crewmembers, and need an adjusted max stack height in order to be processed most effectively by the N-PBS Scheduler
Max Stack Height By Language	maximum allowable number of mutually exclusive open pairings requiring the selected language in any given critical period, at the end of the run
Disallow language credit unstacking for all languages	select to turn off credit unstacking for all languages
Disallow language credit unstacking for selected languages	select to turn off credit unstacking for a language or languages selected using the drop-down menu below the radio button Show Screen ShotShow Screen Shot

Suggested Formula for Setting AM/PM/ER Reserve Parameters

To calculate your reserve parameters, multiply the number of reserve line holders by the maximum reserve days an FA can be awarded, divide this number by the number of days in the period and subtract 25 percent from this total.

You will need to use this calculation twice, once for AM/PM coverage, and once for ER coverage.

Values

Pairing Rule Parameters FAR 117_11

Enforce Max Block From Exceptions Table

when checked, the N-PBS Scheduler will enforce the max flight time from the Exceptions Table - a pairing that is subject to an exception value and has been constructed illegally to exceed that exception value will be illegal to award in N-PBS

when unchecked, the N-PBS Scheduler will not enforce the max flight time from the Exceptions Table - a pairing that is subject to an exception value and has been constructed illegally to exceed that exception value will be legal to award in N-PBS

Enforce Max Block For Augmented Duties

when checked, the N-PBS Scheduler will enforce the max flight time from the Exceptions Table - a pairing that has been constructed to exceed the maximum on an augmented duty will be illegal to award in N-PBS

when unchecked, the N-PBS Scheduler will not enforce the max flight time from the Exceptions Table - a pairing that has been constructed to exceed the maximum on an augmented duty will be legal to award in N-PBS

Suggested Formula for Setting Reserve Parameters

You will need to use this calculation twice, once for AM/PM coverage, and once for ER coverage.

Values

Reserve Parameters
Weekday Minimum / Maximum	the minimum and maximum default values for weekday reserves
AM/PM/ER Min and Max Reserves Per Day	minimum and maximum AM/PM/ER reserves per day
Weekend Minimum / Maximum	the minimum and maximum default values for weekend reserves
Priority Stack Date	check box that lets you set the triggered stack that is forced onto blocks first, before any other triggered stacks the priority stack date only affects the order that pairings get forced onto blocks after the stack associated with that date is triggered this option helps to ensure that seniority for a specific date isn’t violated by unstacking
Use Unstacking	check box that tells the N-PBS Scheduler to force pairings onto blocks as a result of stacks if this option is turned off, the N-PBS Scheduler considers stack height when awarding pairings, but won’t force pairings on to blockslines
Unstacking Method	Stack Legal Combos or Individual Stacks
Max Passes	the maximum number of passes through the data that will be attempted by the system in order to achieve acceptable results this number is dependent on the size of the base and the parameters set for stack height, threshold, etc. the first pass is usually the slowest, and subsequent passes are much quicker than the first pass suggested value: 20 to 30
Customized Min and Max Reserves Per Day	minimum and maximum reserves per day that are different from the default values the minimum and maximum reserves can be customized for each day in the bid period
Number of Day Off Blocks	maximum number of day off blocks allowed in a bid period
Number of Reserve Days in a Row	minimum and maximum reserves days in a row
Number of Days Off in a Row	minimum number of reserve days off in a row