This pilot fish’ s company provides the software program to run a backup electrical generator, and it’ s excellent stuff for the times.

“ The generator could be managed via our power submission control system, which a new nice graphical interface that will used large, color touch screen monitors, ” says seafood, who also provides a comprehensive test spec for technical engineers who install the electrical generator.

One day he gets the call from one such professional, who starts the discussion a bit confrontationally: “ Your own software doesn’ t function. ”

Fish gets the professional to explain and learns which he attempted to start the electrical generator via the touchscreen interface, however it failed to engage. So this individual walks him through the procedure over the phone. The electrical generator still won’ t begin.

Fish asks questions. And much more questions. One thing puzzles your pet: The engineer says the particular circuit breaker icon for the touchscreen is flashing yellowish. That means the control program can’ t talk to the particular circuit breaker, fish shows engineer.

That’ s not likely, engineer says — the particular electricians signed off within the installation work order since completed.

Hmm, says seafood. Can you hook up the modem so I can remotely accessibility the control system? Professional does, and now fish can observe as the engineer tries — and fails again — to get the generator started.

Yet this time fish can see a note in the status line at the end of the screen: “ Command word failed. ”

It’ ersus almost certain that the routine breaker isn’ t coupled to the network, fish says.
Impossible, engineer states.

Says fish, “ Because delicately as I could, We asked him to double-check the electricians’ work. ‘ But that’ ll consider me all day! ’ he or she said. I pointed out it had been the only way to disprove the suspicion.

“ The next day, I acquired an irate phone call through what must’ ve already been a very red-faced engineer.

“ ‘ The electricians in no way connected the circuit breaker! ’ he said.

“ Apparently they were saving this for later, so they would have a few additional troubleshooting work in order to bill for. ”

Connect with Sharky. Send me personally your true tales from it life at sharky@computerworld. com . You may also subscribe to the Daily Shark Newsletter .