Office Signal Flag Code

Version 0.3.3 30 Jan 2009

Additions and suggestions to <CO149 [whirlpool] PACKETGNOMES [spot] ORG>

General Notes

The current code is quite a departure from the previous version and is based more on usage than on the International Code. I've removed the international definitions from this page; they are available here.

Fewer codes are defined and greater use of flag combinations is made. Definitions not encoded here, but still under consideration appear at the bottom.

I and L are set aside for management roles. These include project managers, technical leads and staff members having a primary area responsibility (e.g. buildmasters). These flags are meant to communicate status relating to policy and procedure and to support the added responsibilties of these roles.

Some hoists refer to a specific person. Sites are encouraged to allow members to pick a personal identifying flag, preferably from the alphabetic flags. Places and things should be defined as well, with emphasis on context.

n refers to a numeral flag, x refers to a letter flag. Usually

With the ten numeral flags and the 3 substitute flags, one can create any 4-digit number. The proof is left for the student. The Code flag is used as a decimal point when followed by another number, or takes a value of 1/2 by itself. Thus 7 CODE can mean 7.5 or 7:30 depending on context. Times are in hours (or with CODE 1/2 hours) in 24-hour time. 05 is 5am, 17 is 5pm.

It was my thought that the flags would indicate a general status rather than be a way of communicating a specific message to a specific person. TEE2 has proposed some definitions in the latter category, and I see no reason that a flag can't have a separate meaning when you hit someone in the face with it. So i've marked "status" and "immediate" below.

Definition sources are attributed where possible. Don't be afraid of overloading a flag right now, if you feel strongly about the association of flag and definition. We'll sort it out in Version 1.0 :-) (Some flags are going to be harder to overload than others. I've noted those where appropriate.

Flag blazons have been written and stored in alt tags so text browser can have a clue what the flags look like. Terms are almost standard heraldic. I've tried to keep blazons simple, omitting unnecessary points of differencing.

A B C D E F
G H I J K L
M N O P Q R
S T U V W X
Y Z S
u
b
1		 S
u
b
2		 S
u
b
3		 C
o
d
e
0 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9

A
(status) I'm working at capacity, and cannot take on additional routine tasks.

B
(status) I'm over capacity and proabaly in a panic. I can only take on emergency tasks.

C
(reserved) Yes

D
(status) Do Not Disturb. Send email or voice mail, please.

E
(immediate) Check email for an important message.

I
(manager flag) This message refers to the department (project managers and tech leads) or to areas for which I have a primary responsibility.

J
Is it just me or is the attrition really high lately? (Also see I J) (T. Obenhaus)

K
"Office Hours" -- Feel free to chat me up (IJ89)

L
(manager flag) The meeting flag. L can stand in for I L. Or it can mean "Can we have a meeting soon?" Otherwise reserved to the manager for local definition.

M
(status) The Mental/Health Mood Flag. This could be a bad idea. It is always better to leave this off than to lie about one's mood. The merest use of this flag might be construed to be an attitude problem, and may even result in legal action against you. Please discuss your moods with someone in authority before displaying them from the staff. That said...

N
(reserved) No

O
(status) I'm out of the office, normally until the beginning of my next shift or next business day

P
(status) In Progress, information not yet available. (example: a buildmaster would fly this to note that the build has not yet completed.) The expectation is that the P will be struck, and E hoisted when the build is done and information is available. One might fly K if no email report will be made.

Q
(status) I'm at the other location

R
(status)Recreation! A place of H usually refers to the home of the hoister. If place H is otherwise defined, use SUB1 to represent that place. Most activities follow the pattern espablished in R D and R P.

S
(status) I'm in a problem solving mode and keeping a lot of state in my head. Can you wait a bit?

V
(status)Physical Health

W
(immediate) I'm in need of coffee.

Y
(status) i on the first pass over my email / trying to get through the morning setting up exercises

Z
(punctuation) Local code additions. These aren't dictated by standard, local offices should define these. Following are some suggestions and examples of how to use this block. These include candidates for inclusion above.