WHAT’S NEW IN FLEX - 2024.1
We're excited to highlight some of the work that was done in this latest release to improve your Flex system and the tools you use to manage your system. For a complete list of all the new features included in this release, please review the Flex Release Notes. To upgrade your system, schedule an appointment at flex-update.appointlet.com. Customer requests for upgrades will take place in the order they are scheduled.
Flex Platform
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 certification
We are pleased to announce that Flex is now certified to run on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9! This is exciting news for any agency wanting to move to the latest version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Now, migrations and new Flex implementations can be installed on RHEL 9, which has an end-of-maintenance date of 2032.
Flex CAD
Retain unit dispatch order
We’re very excited to announce this newest feature in Flex CAD, which will retain the order of the units displayed in the CAD incident screen, and in the Units field of the call status monitor, to be the same order as what the units were dispatched in. This new functionality will make dispatching over the radio easier and more consistent, because units in the same order are easier for dispatchers to monitor.
This feature will also enable any interfaces connected to CAD to send units in the order they are dispatched. This new feature, and its impact on workflows with interfaces, will be particularly useful when dispatching fire units.
Flex GIS
Automatic unit status updates
This new GIS feature will automatically update the status of a unit based on its proximity to the unit’s assigned station, or its assigned CAD call. This can act as a backup to first responders using their radio, or mobile application, to update their unit’s status, helping dispatchers and others at the agency stay up-to-date on the latest information. For example, if responders become focused on unfolding events and forget to update their status via radio or Flex Mobile, this feature can automatically update their status, resulting in more accurate response-time reporting and increased officer safety.
To set up this feature, administrators need to enable each unit to participate in auto status changes, which can be done from a new field in the cdunit table. There’s also a new section in the tb10code table where administrators will need to set up rules regarding when the status will change, etc.
Send AVL data to CommandCentral
This update enables Flex AVL information to be forwarded to CommandCentral Location Services. This will allow CommandCentral solutions, such as Aware and CAD Viewer, to display the location of Flex units on their maps, increasing visibility for other agency personnel and command staff who may be monitoring events through these cloud solutions. This keeps Flex as the main source of information, while also allowing users to seamlessly share that information with other stakeholders.
Flex Records
Granular digital asset sync
Integration between Flex and CommandCental Evidence is now better than ever with new table-specific and bidirectional digital asset syncing capabilities. The current two-way sync between Flex and CommandCentral Evidence has been enhanced to allow administrators to select which tables in Flex they want to sync files and/or images from. In addition, there are two new sync options:
- A one-way sync from the cloud to an agency’s on-premises Flex system allows Evidence Library, CommandCentral Evidence and CommandCentral Responder users to have their files automatically linked in Flex as soon as they are tagged with an incident number and uploaded to CommandCentral Evidence. This means users can easily see all of an incident’s related digital assets in one spot, regardless of where it came from initially.
- A one-way sync from Flex to CommandCentral Evidence moves digital files such as videos, images or PDFs, to the cloud via CommandCentral Evidence. This protects agency data while also reducing server storage space requirements.
File Capture screen enhancements
With this update, a “Created Time” column has been added to the File Capture screen. This is the first of many changes coming to this screen as we create parity between the metadata captured in CommandCentral Evidence and the metadata shown in Flex. This particular update will record the EXIF Created Time data from files uploaded to Flex and the Created Time from CommandCentral Evidence for any synced files coming into Flex from Evidence. This will help patrol officers determine when an image was captured, not just uploaded, without having to go back into CommandCentral Evidence.
This new column is automatically enabled on the File Capture screen. Stay tuned for more updates coming to this screen as we improve workflow processes and user experience.
Flex Jail
Inmate lists: bonds/holds/flags
In 2024.1, Flex Jail received additional columns that display flags, bonds and holds to the Inmate List screen. By reducing the overall clicks and keystrokes it takes to check this same information, correction officers can save valuable time and keep a better visual on the information they need, right when they need it.
There are no specific settings that need to be configured for this feature. Jail personnel can enable these new columns by clicking the Customize button and selecting which columns they want to use.
Texas jail report
With this latest update to Flex Jail, jail facilities in Texas can now take advantage of the new rpjltxpop report. This report is available to help keep Texas facilities in compliance with state mandates, while deepening agencies’ investment in their existing Flex Jail solution.
Jail administrators can find this report in a new jail module in Admin Util: Module.Jail.TX. The report uses Booking Types to pull the information, so administrators will need to match the information with what the agency uses for booking types.