Add a transfer zone association

Models Yard Models Yard Models view Actions Open Yard Editor Yard Editor view Click the Yard Path Tool Draw a path between a stack block of type Transfer Zone and a non-transfer zone stack block Transfer Zone Association form

Models Yard Models Yard Models view Actions Open Yard Editor Yard Editor view Right-click the path between a stack block of type Transfer Zone and a non-transfer zone stack block Select Update Transfer Zone Association Transfer Zone Association form

A Transfer Zone (TZ) is an area through which a unit must pass on the way to its associated stowage area. All automated and some non-automated terminals use TZs.

In N4, you can set up stack blocks of any type and make TZ associations between them. For rail TZs (also called prestage areas), N4 allows associations between the track plan and any kind of stack or non-stack block. You create a TZ association by drawing a yard path connection between two stack blocks.

Be aware that:

If you do not create a TZ association between a block used as a rail TZ and the track plan, N4 automatically creates it before it generates the XPS yard (yard.nyd) file.
If N4 automatically creates the TZ association, the Associated Location field defaults to 'None', which in the yard.nyd file, is compiled as Block End = 'Low' and Row or Column = 'Row'.
You should associate the TZ relative to the end bay of the ASC block. However, for C-ASCs using side-loading and end-loading TZs, you must associate the TZ relative to the column of the ASC block. You can associate up to four TZs to an ASC block.
For TEAMS, TZ Decker determines whether a TZ is an LSTZ (Land Side Transfer Zone) or a WSTZ (Water Side Transfer Zone) based on the TZ association. If the TZ is associated with the high end of the block row or column level, then TZ Decker considers it a WSTZ. If the TZ is associated with the low end, then TZ Decker considers it an LSTZ. To change this default configuration, you must create a copy of the system-seeded DefaultN4ToAutoDbFieldTransformer code extension and configure it to your requirements. For more information, see Configure TP position prefix and ASC block orientation in the Navis N4 Automation Administrator and User Guide manual.
TZs contain ROW_LOW and ROW_HIGH associations, and these associations must be precise:

ROW_LOW TZs must be at the end of the block that has rows with a lower numeric index.
ROW_HIGH TZs must be at the end of the block that has rows with a higher numeric index.

Do not configure TZ associations so that there are two ROW_LOW or two ROW_HIGH TZs associated with a single ASC block. N4 Automation does not perform any verification for the ROW_LOW and ROW_HIGH associations. Failure to set these associations properly can cause severe problems.

Before you begin:

Your yard model must be validated and error-free. The Yard Path tool (used to create Transfer Zone Associations) does not work when the yard model has errors.

To validate the yard model and fix any yard model errors:

In Yard Editor, click Actions Validate Yard Model (on page 1).

If the validation returns any errors, fix the errors, and re-validate until no errors exist.

To add a TZ association:

Click (the Yard Path tool). Yard Editor adds centroids (small circles at the center) to the blocks and track plans in the yard.

Click into an existing centroid on one of the blocks, draw a path between it and the centroid of the block with which you are making an association, and double-click to end the connection.

The Transfer Zone Association form opens.

N4 automatically fills in the following fields:

Stowage Bin: The block (or track plan) designated for storage.
Transfer Zone: The block set up as a TZ.

From the Associated Location list, select whether the TZ is located at the low or high end of the block row or column level.

From the Group Name field, select the group to which the TZ association belongs. You can select from one of the existing groups or you can type in a new name to create a new group that will become a part of this list when you open the same form for another TZ association.

You can assign the same group name to adjacent blocks to combine a few blocks into a zone. For example, you can group four adjacent ASC blocks into a zone by assigning the same group name.

The group names defined in this form are used to configure the advanced AGV zones for your yard. For more information on AGV zones, see Set up advanced AGV zones (on page 1).

Optionally, use the Start Index and End Index fields to specify the range of rows inside the associated stack block that can be served from the TZ.
Click Save.