Navis recommends that you configure and test AutoStow when you install it. The goal is to configure AutoStow to plan the vessel so that the stow plan requires few or no adjustments. Typically, you perform the configuration and testing procedures if you are the N4 administrator or a vessel planner.
To configure AutoStow:
Configure users and groups with the necessary privileges to view and use the AutoStow Option.
Define the Stow Factor in the SPARCS settings.txt file. The Stow Factor is a composite (grouping) of the key container attributes that XPS uses to match the actual containers from the load list to projection groups.
Optionally, define stow factor filters. Stow factor filtering offers a highly configurable, online filtering mechanism.
Create one or more AutoStow strategies, each of which considers some 42 user-configurable factors. XPS applies the strategy set to manage the container loading sequence and determine an appropriate container to stow next. The best strategy depends not only largely on the type of equipment used at your site, but also on your operational philosophy and traditions. You can create multiple strategies for vessel classes and/or specific operational goals. Strategies can be saved to disk for easy transfer between test and production systems and backup progress.
For RTG sites, configure RTG lanes in the Yard file. An RTG lane is a set of longitudinally (end to end) aligned blocks that an RTG can gantry between. Lanes are defined in the "RTG Lane" field in the yard.txt file. Applicable to XPS? Do you also need to define them in N4?