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REMIT User Manual

The abbreviated REMIT User Manual is below. The full REMIT User Manual (NUREG/CR-6050) is also available. The full REMIT User Manual is a PDF file and is 8.6 Mbytes in size.

Table of Contents

• 1. REMIT System
  • Operating System
  • Data Screen
  • Licensee Information Menu Items
  • System Configuration
    • Multiple Users on a Network
    • Setting Up REMIT on a Network
• 2. Dose Information
  • Dose Distribution Report
  • Blank Form 4 and 5
• 3. REMIT Tips
  • Try This First
  • Record Order
  • Generating the Data File for Submitting to NRC
  • REMIT and Windows
  • Monitoring Years
  • Use for Multiple Licenses
  • Importing Data
  • Expanding the Data Fields
  • Printers and Reports
  • Source Code
  • Many Subdirectories With Data

1. REMIT System

Operating System

REMIT 5.1 is a Windows version of REMIT and it will run under Windows 95 (or higher). This includes Windows NT, Windows 98, or Windows 2000. It will not run under the DOS operating system or 16-bit operating systems.

If you need to continue using the DOS version of REMIT, continue to use version 3.7. For support for version 3.7 or to get a copy of the files, contact technical support. However, keep in mind that the DOS version will no longer undergo software updates.

Data Screen

Most of the features in REMIT for Windows are similar to the DOS version. However, the functionality of the main screen (called the DATA screen in the DOS verion) has been changed. The data screen is now visible at all times with the upper section of the screen containing the employee information, and the lower section containing dose records. The control buttons in the top section are used to manipulate the employee records, and the control buttons in the lower section are used for the dose records. In this way the user can move through employee records and dose records to find a desired record more quickly.

Licensee Information Menu Items

All of the functions under Licensee Information have been broken down into separate submenus. Each submenu functions the same as previous versions of REMIT.

In previous versions of REMIT, "affiliated licenses" were referred to as "associated licenses". These are license numbers that will be reporting with the primary licensee. For example, a company can have several NRC licenses and all of them may be maintained together in REMIT. The list of affiliated license numbers should include only those license numbers that will be reporting together to the NRC.

"Other Licenses" represents a list of licensees that are recorded among the dose records but will not be reported with the primary license records. Typically these licensees have no organizational relationship with the primary license. This list simply speeds the entry of dose records into REMIT by entering the licensee name automatically.

System Configuration

A menu item has been added under System Configuration, called Configuration Settings. This feature displays many of the current system settings for the user.

Multiple Users on a Network

REMIT for Windows has been designed to function in a multi-user environment on a network. This feature allows multiple users to access the information in the REMIT data tables concurrently. For example, the data files and executable can be located on a network, and multiple users can run the program from their PC workstations on the network. Users can view the data concurrently. Updates can be made to the data tables, but two users cannot edit the same record at the same time. Certain features, such as data importing and reindexing, require exclusive use of data tables and cannot be run when multiple users are accessing the data tables.

Users can set up their own working directories and default file locations. This allows users to personalize their REMIT configuration for their network and PC. The first time a user uses REMIT, select Setup, System Configuration, File Locations:

You will be presented with a screen to define the directories for the data tables, the reference data files, and your user-specific working directory.

Data Files contain the exposure records for monitored individuals. You can change this directory in order to look at data in other directories, such as the TEStdATA directory. You can also designate the directory to use as your default directory that will be accessed first each time REMIT is launched. To establish a directory as the default, click in the "Save as Default" check box to the right of the directory.

Reference Files contain lookup and reference data, such as configuration files, support files, and the dose conversion factors from EPA-11. The reference files should be in the same directory as the REMIT executable.

Working Files contain temporary files that REMIT sets up when users are editing and manipulating the data. Each user should set up their own working files directory.

Setting Up REMIT on a Network

To set up REMIT for multiple users on a network, install REMIT on the network server, or in a directory accessible to all users. Each user will run the REMIT application from this common directory. When new users run REMIT for the first time, they should establish the approprite file locations. The data files should reside in a shared area accessible by all users. The reference files should reside in the same directory as the REMIT program. The working files should reside on the user's PC and must be a unique directory for each user.

2. Dose Information

Dose Distribution Report

A new report was added to the REPORTS menu called a dose distribution report. This report provides a summary of the dose records for a given monitoring year. The dose ranges are the same as the dose ranges used by the NRC in the annual report of occupational exposure. Two sets of data are presented. One distribution is for the main licensee which includes all affiliated licenses, and the other distribution includes all dose records for all monitored individuals in the database for the monitoring year. The first distribution represents the set of records reported to the NRC for the year. The second one can be used to view the total doses for monitored individuals for dose tracking purposes.

Licensees are encouraged to include the dose distribution report with their annual submittal to the NRC in order to ensure correct transmittal of all monitoring records.

Blank Form 4 and 5

In addition to the ability to generate Form 4 and Form 5 reports for monitored individuals, REMIT can now generate blank forms for their own use. One use would be for incoming new employees to fill out their prior dose history.

REMIT Tips

Try This First

Whenever you experience problems with REMIT, the first thing to try is REINDEXing.

1. Run REMIT
2. From the main menu, select File, then Reindex
3. When reindexing is complete, go back and try to do what you were doing before

This is the most common fix for most of the problems users run into using REMIT. It re-builds the index files that allow REMIT to find all the data and relate the various database files together. These index files can become corrupt for several reasons. REMIT is very good at protecting the data files from corruption, so re-indexing should be all you need to do. Try re-indexing first whenever you have troubles, even if the error message does not indicate an index problem.

Record Order

REMIT now has a feature which allows the user to select the order of the employee records. Select Setup from the main menu, then Order By. You will be able to select from ID Number or Name. ID Number will order the employee records based on the individual's ID Number, typically the SSN. The Name option will order the employee records by last name and first name. By selecting Save As Default, you can determine the default order setting.

Generating the Data File for Submitting to NRC

In 2003, several licenses have had problems in submitting the data file in the correct format after generating the data file using REMIT.  The problem is not with the REMIT software.  Some users have attempted to open the data file and modify the file using Microsoft Excel or other software.  Please note that the data file is an ASCII text file that is in a specific format.  Opening this file using Excel or word processing software will change the file structure if you save the file.  DO NOT save the file after viewing.  If you need to open the file to review it, you can open the file using any application you wish, but do not save it when done viewing.  If you would like a copy of the file for your records in another format, then save a copy of the file under another file name and then format the copy.  If there are problems with the dose records in the data file, you need to correct the dose records using REMIT and then re-generate the data file.  The file that you submit to NRC should be the unmodified "NRCform5.DAT" file generated by REMIT.

Also note that you can now submit the data file on-line via this web site for expedited processing.  Click here for more information.

REMIT and Windows

REMIT 5.1 is a 32-bit Windows version of REMIT and it will run under Windows 95 or higher, including Windows NT. It will not run under the DOS operating system. REMIT 5.1 is a 32-bit application and will not run under 16-bit operating systems.

If you need to continue using the DOS version of REMIT, continue to use version 3.7. For support for version 3.7 or to get a copy of the files, contact technical support at 865-241-3615. However, keep in mind that the DOS version will no longer undergo software updates.

Monitoring Years

The entry of the defined monitoring years for your facility is crucial to the operation of REMIT. REMIT needs to know the exact dates that you define as the monitoring year in order to check an individual’s dose against the regulatory limits. The Revised 10 CFR Part 20.1003 allows you to define a “year” beginning any day in January, so long as no day is omitted or duplicated in consecutive years. (December 31st is accepted as an end-of-year date.) These dates must be entered into the Monitoring Years box on the Licensee Information screen. Select the Setup main menu option and the Licensee Info submenu option. When you first install REMIT you will see a message directing you to enter the monitoring year information. This is the first thing you will need to do when installing REMIT.

In addition to the need for REMIT to know the monitoring year dates for dose limit purposes, the earliest date entered is assumed to be the date of implementation of the Revised Part 20. All licensees were required to implement the Revised Part 20 on or before January 1, 1994. Exposure records entered after this date must comply with the new regulations concerning dose limits and exposure records. Records covering periods prior to implementation are not subject to these requirements. See the Users Manual, Section 4.1.4, page 4-13 for more information concerning monitoring years.

Use for Multiple Licenses

Some users are using REMIT to process dosimetry information for more than one independent NRC licensee. REMIT was not designed for this use. However, certain accommodations can be made to allow for this activity. Please contact REMIT technical support if you have questions concerning the handling of data for multiple licensees.

This is not to be confused with the “Affiliated Licenses” feature of REMIT that allows several licenses to be reported together under one primary license. The Affiliated Licenses feature was specifically designed for facilities that have more than one NRC license and report all exposures under one primary license. It does not allow for separate tracking and reporting of exposure records for multiple independent licensees. License numbers that are not affiliated with the primary license are considered Other Licenses and can be added in the Other Licenses option. Contact technical support if you have any questions concerning the distinction between Other Licenses and Affiliated Licenses.

Importing Data

REMIT allows for importing data in two ways: Form 4 data, and Dosimetry Processor Data. Form 4 data consists of the summary dose information recorded on an NRC Form 4. This option was designed to allow facilities to transfer dosimetry information electronically from one facility to the next. Form 4 records do not include the information for specific intakes, but do include the totals for CDE, CEDE, TODE, and TEDE for each exposure period. The Form 4 import feature can be used to import personnel information by itself, or in combination with dose data. This feature could be used for initially loading personnel data from an existing personnel file. See Section 5.2.3 for more information concerning the Form 4 import feature.

Dosimetry Processor data can also be imported electronically. This feature is designed to accept an electronic file from your dosimetry processor and automatically update your Form 5 dose records. The feature works in conjunction with the Worksheet function of REMIT. The file format of the processor data MUST match the data structure of the Worksheet data. See Section 5.2.1 and 5.2.2 for more information. If you have any questions about this feature, please call technical support.

Both the Form 4, and Dosimetry Processor import features require that the source files be correctly formatted according to the specifications presented in the Users Manual. It may take some time and effort to set up the import files initially, but they can save time in data entry. If you inform your dosimetry processor that you are using REMIT, they may be able to provide you with the appropriately formatted file for importing.

Expanding the Data Fields

One of the most under-utilized features of REMIT is the ability of the user to modify the database structures to accomodate additional information that may be needed by the licensee. You can tailor the REMIT database (dbf) files to store additional information about your personnel, or your dosimetry results. As long as you don't modify the fields that REMIT needs, you can add any additional fields to the database files.

For example, you could add fields to EMPLOYEE.DBF to keep track of information about your monitored personnel such as home address and phone number. For the most part, REMIT will ignore this information, and it will not be reported to the NRC. But REMIT will allow you to view this information from within REMIT when you are in the Browse mode. Another use would be to add fields that record more information about your dosimetry results, such as energy readings, or badge identification information. See Appendix E of the REMIT User Manual for more information about expanding the data in REMIT.

REMIT 5.0 for Windows now supports many types of printers. The print information is sent to your Windows print manager, so you may specify the printer. The standard printer for the forms is a laser printer. Other types of printers should also work, but a comprehensive list of supported printers cannot be supplied here.

For those users who would like to generate different reports, there are other software packages that can assist you in creating tailored reports. REMIT uses X-base database files (.dbf). There are literally hundreds of commercial programs available that will access .dbf files to create reports. These packages can create any report you can think up.

Here are a few that you may have on your PC already that can produce great reports:

   Excel     Microsoft
   FoxPro    Microsoft
   Access    Microsoft
   dBASE     dBASE, Inc.

Also keep in mind the above tip about expanding the REMIT database files to track additional information. By expanding the database files and using a 3rd-party report writing tool, you can greatly expand the usefulness of REMIT. REMIT was intended as a simple NRC reporting tool, allowing users to enter and track essential information. It is designed to allow for "extra-REMIT" activities by accomodating the expansion of database files and access to the databases using other software.

The source code for REMIT is available upon request. If you are familiar with FoxPro and have Visual FoxPro development capability, you can modify the software for your own specific needs. [Be aware that custom versions of REMIT are not supported by NRC REMIT Technical Support.]

Many Subdirectories With Data

Several REMIT users have reported that they keep track of separate data files for different licensees using REMIT. While REMIT was not designed specifically for this activity, it does allow for this situation. Users may set up additional subdirectories and each subdirectory can contain data files for a separate licensee (or non-NRC licensee). To set this up, copy the contents of the \dbfs directory into a new directory. [Be sure to do this when the \dbfs directory is first installed, so the database files will be blank. Otherwise you will be making a complete copy of your existing data files and it may get confusing.]

NOTE:  If you have a version of REMIT previous to 5.1, and you have already established subdirectories for separate data files, you will need to copy one new file called "site_ord.dbf" from the \dbfs directory into each subdirectory containing data files once you install 5.1. You will find the "site_ord.dbf" file in the \dbfs directory when you install 5.1. Simply copy this file into each data directory. Contact technical support if you have questions.

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Last revised Friday, August 27,2004