Set up dispatch automations

Automations are small rules that run by themselves when something happens in the CAD. For example: when a structure fire call is created, add a note listing the fire units that are free. Or when a panic is raised, send a message to the police department.

Each rule does one safe thing. Rules never attach units to a call or change the call itself, so dispatch stays in control.

Before you start#

You need the Set up the CAD: call types, statuses, penal code, designs and AOP permission.
Automations are switched off for every community to start with. You'll turn them on in the last step.

Open the automations#

Open your control panel and click CAD settings in the sidebar.
Click Dispatch along the top, then Automations.

Load the starter rules#

If you have no rules, click Load starter at the top of the Rules list. The starter rules come switched off, so nothing happens until you turn them on.

Rule	When	Then
Priority 1 tone	A call is created at P1	Play the Alert tone for dispatch.
Fire calls suggest fire units	A Structure fire call is created	Suggest available Fire units.
Medical calls suggest EMS	A Medical emergency call is created	Suggest available EMS units.
Shots fired reminder	A Shots fired call is created	Add the note "Consider a Signal 100 and a perimeter."
Panic alerts police	A panic is raised	Alert your first law enforcement department.

A starter rule is left out if you don't have the call type it needs, or, for the panic rule, a law enforcement department.

Add a rule#

In the Add a rule box, type a Name so you can recognise it, like Fire calls suggest fire units.
Pick When: A call is created or A panic is raised.
Pick a Call type to only run for that type, or leave it on Any.
Pick a Priority to only run for urgent calls, or leave it on Any. P2 or higher means P1 and P2 calls.
Pick what happens under Then (see the table below) and fill in the box that goes with it.
Tick On.
Click Add rule.

The Automations page, with the Load starter button and the Add a rule form

Then	What to fill in	What happens
Add a note to the call	Note or alert text	The note is added to the call, written by AUTO.
Alert a department	Department to alert, and optionally Note or alert text	A broadcast goes to that department with the call number, what it is and where, followed by your text.
Play a tone for dispatch	Tone	Dispatch hears that tone when the call comes in.
Suggest available units	Units to suggest	A note is added listing up to six units of that kind who are free right now, for example "Suggested Fire units: E1, M2".

A unit counts as free when it's on duty, not attached to a call, and on a status with the meaning Available.

Turn automations on#

Rules marked On only run once automations are switched on for the whole CAD.

Click Dispatch along the top, then Dispatch underneath.
Tick Dispatch automations.
Click Save settings.

While it's off, the Automations page says so at the top.

Edit or delete a rule#

Click Edit next to the rule.
Change what you need and click Save, or click Delete and confirm.

To pause a rule without deleting it, untick On and save.

Rules and limits#

Rules run in the order they were added.
A panic opens its own priority 1 call. A panic rule with a Call type runs when the unit was on a call of that type when they raised the panic, for example a panic during a Traffic stop. Leave it on Any to run for every panic.
Panic calls don't run A call is created rules.
911 calls and /quickcad calls from the game run A call is created rules too. They come in with the Ungraded call type, so a rule with Call type on Ungraded runs only for them. You can pick a different type, or none, with Call type for game calls on the Game resource tab under Status & servers.
A panic rule with Call type on Ungraded runs when a unit raises a panic while on a 911 call from the game.

Something not working?#

My rules don't do anything. Check Dispatch automations is ticked on the Dispatch settings page, and that the rule shows On in the list.

It says "Write the note to add." You picked Add a note to the call with no text. Fill in Note or alert text.

It says "Pick the department to alert." You picked Alert a department but left Department to alert empty.

A suggest rule says "No Fire units free to suggest." (or another kind) Nobody of that kind was on duty, free and on an Available status when the call came in.

A panic rule never runs. If the rule has a Call type, it only runs when the unit was on a call of that type. Set Call type to Any to run it for every panic.