An air carrier dispatcher reported multiple problems with his software program that prevented him fr...

Narrative:

Flight was holding due to severe thunderstorms. The decision was made to divert to ZZZ1. The first error occurred while trying to divert to ZZZ1. I received [an aircraft performance error]. I was unable to divert the flight at all; requiring the chief to be called over to resolve the issue. The second error was far more substantial. After we diverted to ZZZ1; weather began to build over the field and other aircraft began to go around. The crew decided it was best to divert to ZZZ2. I was unable to provide a new release or landing data due to numerous [software] errors. When I tried to divert from ZZZ1 to ZZZ2 [software] said [the diversion was already entered and it needed a non-stop entry]. After entering [non-stop]; I was still unable to divert the flight to ZZZ2. Without performing the [data entry] properly; I was unable to release the flight to ZZZ2. I was not able to provide the crew with an updated release; or landing data. We were never able to get [software] to show the flight diverting to ZZZ2. The aircraft landed in ZZZ2 without any updates; or release to ZZZ2. It took numerous managers and the chief to get this issue sorted out and show the aircraft on the ground in ZZZ2.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An air carrier Dispatcher reported multiple problems with his software program that prevented him from properly handling a flight that encountered weather and diverted to another destination.

Narrative: Flight was holding due to severe thunderstorms. The decision was made to divert to ZZZ1. The first error occurred while trying to divert to ZZZ1. I received [an aircraft performance error]. I was unable to divert the flight at all; requiring the Chief to be called over to resolve the issue. The second error was far more substantial. After we diverted to ZZZ1; weather began to build over the field and other aircraft began to go around. The crew decided it was best to divert to ZZZ2. I was unable to provide a new release or landing data due to numerous [software] errors. When I tried to divert from ZZZ1 to ZZZ2 [software] said [the diversion was already entered and it needed a non-stop entry]. After entering [non-stop]; I was still unable to divert the flight to ZZZ2. Without performing the [data entry] properly; I was unable to release the flight to ZZZ2. I was not able to provide the crew with an updated release; or landing data. We were never able to get [software] to show the flight diverting to ZZZ2. The aircraft landed in ZZZ2 without any updates; or release to ZZZ2. It took numerous managers and the chief to get this issue sorted out and show the aircraft on the ground in ZZZ2.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1273333
Time
Date	201506
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Dispatcher
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

An air carrier dispatcher reported multiple problems with his software program that prevented him from properly handling a flight that encountered weather and diverted to another destination.