The Fusion Setup Assistant window has been designed to make the transition from your existing system to Fusion as easy as possible by collecting the steps needed to set up users, ration, drugs, protocols, and much more in one place. This window will automatically open each time you launch Fusion Client on an office computer until after you have transitioned. Note that most of the steps in the window can be accomplished through the regular menu system as well.
We strongly encourage you to be familiar with the concepts in Core Concepts before continuing with this topic.
| With Fusion you don't have to enter old data. Instead, we recommend that you choose a transition date that coincides with the end of a regular billing period. This way you can create a close out report with your old system and feed a few bits of key information from the close out into Fusion and then start using Fusion at the beginning of the the month. You may need to juggle two systems for a few months, but this should be easier that entering lots of old data and most people want to use both systems for a time until they are comfortable with Fusion anyway. |
Most of the setup steps can be finished previous to the transition date you have chosen. This means you have lots of time to get Fusion set up and become comfortable with it before making the switch. The final step, bringing cattle into the system, can be prepared in advance so that the morning of the transition, only a few minutes are required to finalize the transition. Once the transition is complete, Fusion is ready to be used for feeding and all other activities.
To work on a step, select it in the list of steps. The right hand side will change based on the step you have selected. Sometimes it shows a button or two that will take you to the appropriate place in Fusion to perform the step. Other times it will have some set up items directly in this window.
| Some of the steps are designed to build on each other, but you don't have to do them strictly in the order they are listed. |
If you have more than one location, each location can have a different transition date if you want. Most people find it helpful to transition one location at a time.
The Preferences window allows you set a number of global preferences. These apply to all users and all locations as well as inside the feed trucks. Preferences can be changed over time if you would like to experiment with different settings. You can learn more in the Preferences Window topic.
| If you open the Preferences window in Fusion Client, the preferences you set will apply to all computers. If you open this window inside Fusion Truck, you will only see preferences that pertain to the truck and these preferences are specific to that particular truck. |
Click the Open Preferences Window button to set up your preferences.
The settings defined in this window are specific to the individual computer Fusion is running on which means this window needs to be opened and set up on each computer. The first time you launch Fusion on a new computer, this window will automatically open as a reminder that it needs to be set up. See the Physical Computer Management Window topic for more information.
Click the Open Physical Computer Management Window button to open this window.
Each user belongs to a group which has certain permissions granted to the group. This step is where you create groups and grant each group different permissions. See the Group Permissions Window topic for more information.
Click the Open Group Permissions Window button to set up your groups.
Each person who uses Fusion will need a user account. See the Core Concepts topic for more information.
Click the Show User List button to see a list of users already set up and to edit them. Click the Add A New User button to create a brand new user.
Many areas of Fusion allow you to associate things with people or companies. You can always enter contact information on the fly as you enter other information, or you can enter most of your contacts in one shot so you don't have to break your concentration on what you are doing as often.
Click the List All Contacts button to see a list of contacts already set up and to edit them. Click the Add A Person or Add A Company buttons to create new contacts.
We run an email list where you and your employees can participate with questions, submit feature requests, and discuss things related to Fusion or the industry in general. It is also where we send announcements such as when new versions of Fusion are released.
Click the Open Feedback Window button to add more email addresses to the list.
If you feedlot has multiple locations, you enter them here. There are some technical limitations to how far away locations can be from each other. If you are unsure, please contact our support team and we will help you decide what locations can be included. Note that each location must be transitioned.
Click the Open Locations Window button to see a list of locations. From there you can add more locations.
You will need to enter all the commodities (also called ingredients) you might use in feed loads or for inventory tracking along with some information about each one. You'll also need to create at least the following ingredient attributes: dry matter, NEM, and NEG. You may also want to set up pricing attributes, although this can be done later on.
Click the Open Commodities/Ingredients Window button to see a list of commodities. From there you can edit them and add more.
Each truck or feed wagon that you used should be entered in Fusion along with some attributes so Fusion knows about the trucks it is in.
Click the Open Trucks Window button to see a list of trucks. From there you can edit them and add more.
If you plan on tempering any ingredients, you will need to set up a water meter for each one. Then you'll need to set up an ingredient attribute, the one labeled "Temper With," to associate the water meter with the ingredient it is tempering. Finally, you'll need to create a beginning water meter reading. You may also want to set up pricing attributes, although this can be done later on.
Click the Open Water Meters Window button to see a list of meters. From there you can edit them and add more.
Drugs, inputs, and chuteside jobs can be assigned billing categories. These can be entered free-form, but you can also pre-define a list of categories which will make entry easier and more consistent. Examples of typical categories are Induction, Processing, Reimplanting, and Treating.
Click the Open Billing Category Pick List Window button to see a list of billing categories. From there you can edit them and add more.
In this step you will enter all the drugs that will be used at chuteside and some information about each one. This includes implants.You may also want to set up pricing attributes, although this can be done later on.
Click the Open Drugs Window button to see a list of drugs. From there you can edit them and add more.
In this step you will enter all the inputs that will be used and some information about each one. Inputs are things that can be given to groups of animals (bedding, salt, etc.) or individual animals during chuteside jobs (tags, castration, etc.) You will need to create equivalency input attributes for each input that has a different distribution and billing unit. Also, create an inventory link input attribute for any inputs that are playing a dual role as both a commodity and input. You may also want to set up pricing attributes, although this can be done later on.
Click the Open Inputs Window button to see a list of inputs. From there you can edit them and add more.
Every lot and animal can be assigned a cattle type. It is best to set these up before creating treatment protocols and lots.
Click the Open Cattle Type Window button to see a list of cattle types. From there you can edit them and add more.
You can specify a default breed for lots as well as an actual breed for individual animals.
Click the Open Animal Breeds Window button to see a list of breeds. From there you can edit them and add more.
You can specify a default color for lots as well as an actual color for individual animals.
Click the Open Animal Colors Window button to see a list of colors. From there you can edit them and add more.
This is where you set up the possible death causes for your operation. These can then be assigned to any animal who dies and is used for mortality tracking.
Click the Open Death Cause Window button to see a list of death causes. From there you can edit them and add more.
This is where you tell Fusion how you would like to treat animals in different situations. This can get quite involved since the more information you feed Fusion about how you like to treat, the smarter it will be during treat jobs in suggesting what you should do. Most feedlots ask their vet to help them enter these protocols.
Click the Open Diagnosis Definition Window button to see a list of diagnoses (each of which has a series of treatment protocols). From there you can edit them and add more.
Fusion gives you the ability to create job templates that are used at chuteside and these are created here. See the Job Definition Edit Window topic for more information.
Click the Open Chuteside Job Definition Window button to see a list of job templates. From there you can edit them and add more.
Use this area to set up your pens. These refer to the physical pens in your feedlot, not pens of cattle. Later on you will move animals into these pens. You can use the Pen Creation Assistant area to create many similar pens at a time if the pen names consist of some type of sequential numbering scheme. Or they can be added one at a time. In either case, make sure you set the drive order for the pens at each location. Fusion used this information to help make intelligent choices in the feeding areas of the application. Also, set up the display order which will be the order Fusion shows pens in lists and reports everywhere else.
Use this area to have Fusion quickly create many similar pens. It can be used several times in a row to create different groups of pens.
If the Pen Creation Assistant won't work for some or all of your pens, you can create then one at a time. Click the Show Pen List button to see a list of pens and edit them. Click the Add A New Pen button to create a new pen.
Click the Change Order… button to change the display and drive order of pens at different locations.
This is where you create each ration that will be used during feeding. See the Ration Edit Window for more information.
Click Show Ration List to see the list of rations which can then be edited. Or click the Add A New Ration button to create a new ration directly.
This is where you create feeding protocols which help drive bunk calls and ration changes. See the Feeding Protocols and Feeding Protocol Edit Window for more information.
Click Open Feeding Protocols List Window to see the list of protocols which can then be edited. You can create new feeding protocols from here as well.
You will create the lots for the cattle that will be in the feedlot when you transition to Fusion. When entering lots, there is very little information that needs to be entered before the transition date. Only the Lot Name, Cattle Type, and Default Sex fields are required. Everything else can be entered anytime before the lot closes. In addition, if you enter the Pre-Fusion information (which can also be entered when you have time, after the transition), Fusion will correctly calculate lot closeouts for lots that spanned the transition.
Click the Show Lot List to see the list of lots which can then be edited. Or click the Add A New Lot button to create a new lot directly.
This step must be done last. We recommend starting to work with this step a few days before the transition. It will also be used to actually make the transition.
To use it, choose the location you are preparing to transition in the Location field and then click the Set Transition Assistant For This Location button. This will open the Transition Assistant window which is described in more detail below. You can enter some information and save it for later which allows you to work on it over a few days time if necessary.
This window is where you can tell Fusion how many head you have in each pen, what lot they belong to, and what their current weight, ration, feeding protocol, and bunk call is. By entering this information before the transition area in a safe place, you can make changes until you are sure you have it right for transition day morning.
Each row in the list represents a pen/lot combination. For example, if you always have one lot per pen, you will have one row per pen. But if you have a sick pen with animals from 3 lots in it, you will need to create three rows for this pen—one for each lot within the pen. To create a new row, click the + button. If you need to delete a row, select it and click the - button.
With a row selected, you can use the fields below the list to enter information about the selected pen/lot combination as follows:
As you add rows, Fusion will check to see if you have any pen/lot row duplicates. If it finds more than one row with the same pen/lot combination, it will display an error to that affect. Make sure you fix these errors.
As you enter this information, you can do so over time. When you are done with a session, click the Save For Later button. When you come back, the information you entered will be waiting for you to add to or change as you need. If you click the Cancel button, any changes you made during this session will be lost.
On the morning of the transition, you will need to open the Transition Assistant window again and double-check that all the rows are correct and that no cattle are missing. It is very important that this information be correct before transitioning!
When you are sure it is correct, enter the transition code in the Transition Safety Code field. This code is to ensure no one accidentally transitions before they are ready and can be obtained by someone from our support team. Then click the Make Transition Now button. You will be asked if you are sure you want to transition and, if you accept, the transition will occur. Once that is complete, the trucks should do a full sync and then they will be able to feed and you are using Fusion live!
If you are setting up a brand new location with no cattle in it, just leave the list in this window blank and use the Make Transition Now button. Fusion will make the transition with no cattle.
You can open this window by going to Fusion Admin → Setup → Setup Assistant.
