Bidding Multiple Jobs in CATS

There has been some confusion about how to bid jobs in CATS. Members are filling in job circular numbers, only to see them all disappear when updated (F5).

Printed information provided by CN has not been much help. Through trial and error, one of our members has discovered an efficient method of bidding multiple jobs. (Thanks Todd Hickey)

Please see attached screen captures for more information.

To view open yard jobs, from the main screen select 2 (Yard), then 7 (Job bulletins). Fill the fields with the wildcard character (*) as shown in cats_bulletin_eg.jpg and a list of open jobs appears. Note closing dates. For detailed information on each job, place an "X" in the box beside the job name. Job bidders for each job can be displayed by pressing F11.

Back out to the main screen (F3), and select 43 (Employee Bid Maintenance). Do not bid multiple jobs from this screen (see cats_bid_eg.jpg). Note there are no preference selection #'s next to the open circular fields.

Fill in the closing date and other fields as in the example in cats_bid_eg_2.jpg and press enter. All jobs closing on the closing date entered will now be listed, and the preference selection fields will open. Enter job circular numbers in preference order (can be copied and pasted from the screen), and press F5 to update. Print the page for your records and check bidders as above to ensure update is successful.

May 5, 2005