Mobile Data Computer
A full-screen, in-vehicle dashboard for setting your status and reaching every key module from one landscape layout.
The Mobile Data Computer, or MDC, turns your tablet into an in-vehicle command screen. It locks to landscape, switches the app to dark mode for in-cab visibility, and keeps the screen awake. A row of unit-status buttons runs across the top and a panel of module shortcuts sits along the side, so you can set your status and jump between incidents, messages, the map and the rest without ever leaving the screen.
Overview
The screen is built from three parts:
| Area | Contents |
|---|---|
| Top row | Nine unit-status buttons |
| Side panel | Twelve module buttons |
| Main panel | Whichever module you last opened |
The MDC changes three things about the app while it is open, and puts them all back when you leave:
| While open | On exit |
|---|---|
| Orientation is locked to landscape | Your normal orientation lock is restored |
| The app switches to dark mode | Your previous theme is restored |
| The screen is kept awake | Your Keep Screen Awake setting applies again |
Setting Your Unit Status
Tap any button in the top row. The button lights up, every other status button goes dark, and your status is sent to the server. A short confirmation message appears when the update succeeds.
| Button | Sets status to | Button color |
|---|---|---|
| AQTS | Available at quarters | Green |
| AMDC | Available on MDC | Green |
| AVOI | Available by voice | Green |
| ENR | Enroute | Orange |
| ONS | On scene | Red |
| STAGE | Staging | Red |
| AONS | Available on scene | Green |
| TRNSPT | Transport | Red |
| ATHOS | At hospital | Red |
The color tells you at a glance what kind of state you are in: green for available, orange for moving toward a call, red for committed to one.
Status changes are sent immediately and are not queued. With no connection the app shows its "internet not available" message and your status is not updated — but the button has already changed color, so the screen can look as though the change went through. Re-tap the button once you are back online.
Opening a Module
Tap any side-panel button. It turns white with black text, every other panel button goes dark, and the module loads inside the main panel without leaving the MDC.
| Module button | Opens |
|---|---|
| INCIDENT | The incident form |
| Status | The status screen |
| MSG | Messages for your current agency |
| MAP | The reference map, in its own panel |
| GPS | The GPS screen |
| Directory | The directory, read-only |
| Weather | The weather screen |
| Translation | The translate tool |
| Cameras | Video streams |
| FORM | Nothing yet — the button highlights but no panel loads |
| CREW | Nothing yet — the button highlights but no panel loads |
| Tools | The MDC tools screen |
Each module opens with its own back button hidden, because the side panel is how you move between them. Switching modules replaces whatever was in the main panel.
Directory opens without add or edit controls, so you can look people up from the cab but cannot change records here.
The map is different
MAP replaces the main panel with a dedicated map panel and only opens once your offline map data and your map layers have both finished downloading. Until then, tapping MAP shows a Downloading progress message and nothing loads. Once the map has opened, it stays loaded so switching back to it is instant.
MDC Tools
Tapping Tools opens a tabbed set of in-cab calculators. Tabs run across the top; the active one is red with a red underline.
| Tab | What it does |
|---|---|
| Distance | Converts distances. Opens first by default |
| Weight | Converts weights |
| Timezone | Converts between time zones |
| Stopwatch | A running stopwatch |
| Sunrise / Sunset | Sunrise and sunset times |
The tools screen keeps the same landscape lock and awake screen as the MDC itself.
Exiting the MDC
- Tap the REDENES logo at the top of the screen, or use the back button.
- A prompt appears: Mobile Data Computer — "Do you want to exit from this screen?"
- Choose Go Back to leave, or Stay to remain in the MDC.
- Leaving restores your previous theme, unlocks the orientation, and stops any module still loading.
Using the back button instead of the logo skips the prompt: it cancels requests in flight, unlocks the orientation and leaves immediately.
How This Connects
- Status. Tapping a status button writes your unit status to the server for your current agency. The same status is reflected on the Status Bar and drives what dispatch and other crews see beside your unit.
- Modules. Each panel is the same screen you would reach from the tabs — Incidents, Messages, Reference Map, GPS, Directory, Weather and Translate — just hosted inside the MDC with its own navigation hidden. Data, permissions and content are identical.
- Agency. The MDC works in your current agency. Incidents, messages and the directory are all scoped to it, so switch agency before you go in rather than inside.
- Theme and screen. The MDC forces dark mode regardless of your Theme choice on App Defaults and restores it on exit. It also keeps the screen awake for the whole session.
- Map downloads. MAP depends on the same offline map data and layers that the reference map uses, and the default layers come from General Settings. Downloads must complete before the panel will open.
- Offline behavior. Status updates need a connection and are lost without one. The map panel is the opposite — it runs from downloaded data, which is why it insists the download finished first. Modules behave the same offline here as they do anywhere else in the app.
- Session expiry. If your session has expired, a status update signs you out of the app rather than failing quietly.
Troubleshooting
| If this happens | What to do |
|---|---|
| The MDC will not connect and status updates fail | Status is sent live. Check your connection, then tap the status button again — the color changed locally but nothing was saved. |
| A status button is lit but dispatch shows the old status | The update did not reach the server. Re-tap the button with a connection and wait for the confirmation message. |
| MAP shows "Downloading progress" | Offline map data or map layers are still downloading. Wait for both to finish, then tap MAP again. |
| FORM or CREW highlights but nothing loads | Expected. Both buttons are reserved and have no panel yet. |
| The screen is stuck in landscape after leaving | Exit through the logo and choose Go Back, which restores your orientation lock and theme. |
| The app stayed dark after exiting | The MDC restores your previous theme on exit. Check Theme on App Defaults and save. |
| You were signed out while setting a status | Your session expired. Sign in again and reopen the MDC. |
| The directory will not let you add or edit | By design — the MDC opens the directory read-only. |
| Buttons look cramped or overlap after rotating | Rotate once more; the panel widths are recalculated shortly after each rotation. |
| The screen dims in the cab | The MDC keeps the screen awake, but device-level auto-lock settings outside the app can still apply. Check your device's own display settings. |
| A module panel is blank | Tap another module button and then back again to reload it. |
Related Pages
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