Loading ETMs and IETMs on MSDs.

Dear Editor:

Your article on maintaining the MSD (maintenance support; device) computers is good. We've found the MSD has lots of room to store data.

We have done this for two years and find that our mechanics have more information at their finger tips and they use the MSDs daily. Using the MSDs really reduces the amount of paper manuals we have to haul around, leaving room For other parts and equipment.

Another reason we load our ETMs/IETMs to the hard drive is So we don't have to use the CD drive in the field, exposing it to dust or sand. Here's how we do it:

Protect your CD-ROM drive in dusty environments by pre-loading ETMs/IETMs before deployment. That will keep your CD-ROM drive sealed until you really have to use it.

Setting up a Digital Library

Decide what info you want on the MSD. We load -10 to -30 TMs, LOs and some MWOs. Decide on the naming format for your files. For instance, we use (TM 9-2320-279-20-2 W C6 APR-87 061589). That defines the TM number, how many changes are included, date of the base TM, and the PIN of each pub.

Set up a library folder on your desktop computer; you'll make all your updates using this folder. Any file you want on the MSD should also be in this folder. It helps if you create sub-folders for each type of equipment (i.e., HEMTT, HMMWV, FMTV, MISC., etc.) The desktop library serves as a great backup to your MSDs.

[PS Note: Keep in mind damaged MSDs are sent to the manufacturer for repair. Your MSD hard drive will be erased and the latest system software installed, meaning you'll have "lost" all those great files you loaded to the old MSD. Having a complete backup on both the main office computer and on CDs can save a lot of time.]

From the desktop computer, create a CD for each folder that is being loaded to the MSD. Load each CD to the MSD.

Create a folder and sub-folders on your main computer and load all your publications, FMs and IETMs to these folders. Then save this info to CDs. Use the CDs to load info to your MSDs and then as back-ups for the MSDs.

MAINTENANCE SUPPORT DEVICES (MSDs) ARE NOT OFF-THE-SHELF LAPTOP COMPUTERS.

WE'RE RUGGEDIZED TO STAND UP TO EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS AND MILITARY DEPLOYMENTS.

READ THIS ARTICLE FOR PRACTICAL IDEAS ON USING THE CD-ROM DRIVE TO LOAD INTERACTIVE ELECTRONIC TECHNICAL MANUALS.

Protecting Info on the MSD

We protect data from being accidently erased from the MSD by placing the folders in a master folder. Then we create sub-folders matching the ones we created on the desktop computer's hard drive that are visible on the MSD's desktop screen. We create a shortcut for each TM or IETM and put the shortcuts in their appropriate sub-folders. That means the mechanics use the shortcut versions. If they accidently delete a shortcut file it can De instantly restored From the master folder on the MSD.

Updating is an easy as posting to your desktop computer's library and creating a new CD, deleting the old info and adding the new onto the MSD. Changes can be posted in minutes, not hours.

Mr. W. Olson, Ft Leonard Wood, MO

Save all the CD info to a master folder on the MSD hard drive. Then create shortcut versions to place on the MSD desktop. That will help protect the info from accidental deletion by mechanics.

Editor's note: Thanks for the practical tips on putting MSDs and ETMs/IETMs to good use!

INVEST THE TIME TO LOAD YOUR MSDs WITH ETMs, IETMS AND ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS.

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WHEN MAINTENANCE CHANGES JUST CAN'T WAIT, PS MAGAZINE GETS IT TO YOU ... ONLINE!

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