From Create & edit jobs menu - Option 1, Create another bar to cut

This option enables creation of another bar to cut, that is then attached to the current job. The current job is always shown at the bottom of the screen. If this option is chosen when there is no current job, then logic prevails and it is assumed that you wish to Start a brand new job.

 

Current job loaded

If a job is currently loaded, the bottom of the Create and edit jobs screen shows abbreviated details thus.

No current job loaded

Alternatively, if no job is loaded then it looks like this.

Creating a new bar to cut, involves setting the following

  • The name of the part. (Select from the drop down list or use free text)

  • It's colour/finish. (Choose from standard options or free text)

  • The angle of cut or end preparation; Square cut; Mitred cut; etc. (Choose from standard options or free text)

  • The stock length size. (Accept default length or use free numeric text)

  • The portion of the bar that might be unusable if applicable. (Accept default length or use free numeric text)

  • The loss of the saw cut (kerf). (Accept default length or use free numeric text)

  • An optional text line for any additional message

These seven questions must be answered in sequence and can only be edited after all the questions have been answered

The name of the part. (Select from drop down list or use free text)

Choose a part to cut

Use the cursor arrows to reach the part to cut, then press Enter. Pressing Enter when the cursor is on CHOOSE THIS FOR FREE TEXT NAME enables free text to be directly typed into the part description. For this example, 90mm structural element is used.

Colour/finish. (Choose from standard options or free text)

Choose colour/finish

 

 

Choose one of the standard options 1-4 or option 5 to use free text directly typed into the Colour/Finish. For this example option 4 is used.

The angle of cut or end preparation; Square cut; Mitred cut; etc. (Choose from standard options or free text)

Choose end preparation

 

 

Choose one of the standard options 1-3 or option 4 to use free text directly typed into the Cutting end prep. For this example option 3 is used.

The stock length size.

The portion of the bar that might be unusable

The loss of the saw cut (kerf)
Free text message for the bar

 

Set length of bar etc

For these three questions either press Enter to accept the default size offered, or type a numeric value directly into the appropriate cell. Finally, for the FREE TEXT MESSAGE, either press Enter (a blank line) or type a message. For this example, all defaults will be accepted and the message "SEE DRAWING L37A FOR ANGLE CUTS" will be used.

Now that all of the bar details have been set, the input focus (cursor) moves to the quantity column of item 1. Notice that the colours while inputting are usually cyan text on a black background, with the answer to it being yellow text on a red background. Then, when you are no longer editing the bar detail, it switches to cyan text on a blue background. These colours are generally a good indication of where the current input focus is. See how the colour schemes vary between the screen above and below.

Editing the bar set up details

To edit any of the bar set up detail, press F3 and see the colour scheme change back. Cursor to the line to amend. If it's the first three lines press Enter and answer the Yes/No question. Simply type a new value in any other lines, then press Enter. When finished editing, press ESC to return the input focus back to the Qty column.

Input Quantity, size and Reference text

Quantity (Type the number then press Enter)
Size (Type the number then press Enter)
Reference text (Type text then press Enter)

These three questions must be answered in sequence. They can only be edited when the cursor is in the Qty column. For this example, we will use the following data

 

Qty Size Reference Text

Ready to start the quantity and size listing

50 4987 REF V1 SQUARE SQUARE CUT

80 1245 REF H1 SQUARE SQUARE CUT

 9 698 REF H2 SEE DRAWING FOR END PREP

Reference text is not necessary, though in this instance it will provide extra detail to identify the angle of cut.

Entry of cutting sizes

After entering the above data, the input screen will look like this.

How to Edit either quantity length or reference text

To edit any of this data, press F2 (or cursor Up arrow), navigate to the cell, type new value then press Enter. Continue until all changes are made then press ESC to return the input focus back to the Qty column. As an example, lets change the 698 length to 675mm.

Here is the entire screen before editing. Notice the Function keys operative in the right hand column on this screen.

Entire screen in standard input mode for quantity length and reference text

Press F2 or the cursor Up arrow to change to edit scan mode. Notice that the colour scheme changes to Magenta to indicate Edit Scan Mode. This is also reflected in the mini help in the right hand column.

If you press the "DEL" key on a quantity, this starts the delete line process.

Here, the Qty, size or reference text can be changed

 

Use the cursor arrow keys to navigate to the 698mm dimension cell that we wish to change and type 675. Notice that the mini help on the right, shows the last value that was in the cell.

Now press Enter to confirm the change. Other changes can be made in the same fashion and when complete, press ESC to return the input focus back to the Qty column.

Changing the dimension from 698 to 675

View the optimised cutting list on screen, now

While the input focus is in the Qty column, press F9 and use the cursor keys to view the optimised cutting list. Here is a portion of the report, generated from the above data.

To leave this screen and return the input focus back to the Qty column, press either ESC or Enter.

 

The on screen optimised cutting report

How do we leave this bar to cut?

While the input focus is in the Qty column, press zero then Enter. This action returns to the Create edit jobs menu.

and remember, while the input focus is in the Qty column, F2 starts Edit scan mode or F3 starts Edit bar details.

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From Create & edit jobs menu - Option 2, Edit an existing bar

Provided that a job is already loaded, the screen here shows a brief listing of all the bars attached to the current job.

Use the cursor arrows to navigate to the bar to edit, then press Enter. In the example below record 2 was selected.

Choose a bar to edit

In addition to being able to edit any of the details, additional items can also be added in exactly the same manner as, when the bar was originally created.

Click here to review editing the bar setup.

Click here to review editing Quantity, Size or Reference text.

Entire screen in standard input mode for quantity length and reference text

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From Create & edit jobs menu - Option 3, Load a previous job

Choosing this option presents a list of all jobs currently stored. A typical example screen is showed below.

Use the cursor arrows to navigate to the job to load, then press Enter.

Load a previous job

In this example, JOB 00 (sample data) was selected. The Create edit jobs menu, shows this current job at the bottom of the screen.

Current job loaded

Now, all bars attached to this job will be available to you, to view edit or print.

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From Create & edit jobs menu - Option 4, Start a brand new job

Creating a brand new jobs involves answering five sequential questions which are all text based. Type the text that is relevant to the field, then press Enter to move to the next field. Notice how the colour scheme for this window is the standard for input, ie. yellow text on a red background. This helps indicate where the current input focus is.

Notice the mini help in the right hand column that confirms that you are creating header (job) text. Whilst a random part description is displayed in the top window, this will be replaced as you progress through to set the details for your first bar to cut.

Text entry for new job

For this example, the following text will be used for the text fields for this brand new job.

K2598
A BUILDING COMPANY LTD
EASTERN ESPLANADE CONTRACT
ANDREW SMITH
FABRICATE DURING WEEK 32

This screen extract shows the last line being entered before pressing Enter. Notice that the current line being typed in is cyan text on a black background.

Anwering the questions

Once Enter is pressed, to complete the last line, we move to the drop down box to choose or define a bar to cut. This screen shows all the text for the job header that we just entered, together with the new bar creation dialogue.

Click here to review adding a new bar.

With new job text completed, now define the car to cut

Any of the text in the job header can be edited, but only when the cursor (input focus) is in the Qty column. With the input focus is in the Qty column, press F4, navigate to cell with the cursor arrows, then type new text label, followed by Enter. Press ESC when all changes have been made to return the input focus to the Qty column.

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From Create & edit jobs menu - Option 5, Delete job

From here we have the opportunity to delete an entire job containing bars.

If you change your mind, pressing ESC returns to the Create jobs menu. Otherwise, use the cursor arrows to navigate to the job to delete, then press Enter.

Use cursor arrows to reach job to delete

In this example the third job (JOB02) was selected providing a Yes/No confirmation box.

Pressing "Y", followed by Enter will delete the job. "N" followed by Enter will return you to the Create edit jobs menu.

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From Create & edit jobs menu - Option 6, Show optimisation on screen

At the bottom of the Create & edit jobs menu, it displays the currently loaded job. An example might look like this

Current job loaded

Use the cursor arrows to navigate to the bar to view, then press Enter. Alternatively, pressing ESC returns to the Create edit jobs menu.

Choose bar to view optimised report on screen

Now use the cursor keys to view the entire report. As well as the up and down cursor arrows, you can also use Home (top), End (bottom), Page up & Page down.

To leave this screen and return to the Create jobs menu, press either Enter or ESC.

The on screen optimised cutting report

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From Create & edit jobs menu - Option 7, Print optimisation reports

At the bottom of the Create & edit jobs menu, it displays the currently loaded job. An example might look like this.

Current job loaded

Use the space bar to select which bars are to be printed. Use the Up and Down cursor arrows to navigate. When a bar to print is selected, by pressing the space bar, a tick is added to that item. For this example, both bars have been selected by pressing the space bar twice. (If the space bar is pressed on a line that is already ticked, it becomes unselected.) To cancel printing, press ESC.

Select bars to print by pressing the space bar

Please notice the two blue ticks confirming that both bars have been selected for printing.

When all bars to be printed are selected, press Enter.

Both bars have been selected to print

The Yes/No dialog, gives the opportunity to additionally print a single summary sheet of all the materials that would need to be procured, to cover the selected cutting lists. This is very useful as either a procurement list or stores requisition. Furthermore, each time that a summary sheet is printed, the last copy remains available to view (and or print) on screen from option 9 of the Create edit jobs menu.

A chance to include printing a summary report

Here is a typical on screen summary report, identical to its printed counterpart. This summary also shows the wastage percent, the loss per saw cut and the length of the unusable portion of the bar. If either waste, tong or loss are showing a high value, this should ring an alarm bell to check that the details have been setup correctly.

Typical on screen or printed summary report

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From Create & edit jobs menu - Option 8, Delete a bar

Deleting a bar from the current job, presents a screen showing abridged bar details. If you change your mind, pressing ESC returns to the Create jobs menu. Otherwise, use the cursor arrows to navigate to the bar to delete, then press Enter.

Use cursor arrows to reach bar to delete

Please notice the Yes / No box to confirm deletion of the bar.

In this example the first item was selected. Pressing "Y", followed by Enter will delete the bar or "N" followed by Enter will not. Either way, you return to the Create & edit jobs menu.

Yes/No confirmation box

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From Create & edit jobs menu - Option 9, View/print last summary report

The Autolaunch Lineal Optimiser retains a copy of the last summary report that was printed. This is available to be viewed on screen and printed again. It's useful if more than one copy of of the summary report is required.

Here is a typical on screen summary report.

Typical on screen or printed summary report

Please notice the Yes / No box to confirm printing of the summary.

Pressing "Y", followed by Enter will print the summary or "N" followed by Enter will not. Either way, you return to the Create & edit jobs menu.

Print summary report, Yes/No

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