Instructions
If there are existing blinds in the system and wanting to start fresh, go to Load Batch and click this will clear all the reports, cutlist and uploaded blinds.
If you upload another spreadsheet without wiping all records it will just add to the existing list.
Uploading
Blinds need to be loaded into the system from a spreadsheet. Keep the same layout as the current spreadsheets have, but save the file as comma-separated values (.csv). After selecting the file, click the green "Process File" button. After a few moments the file upload should be complete and it will jump back to the home screen and the total number of blinds will be displayed.
It will split up multiple quantities into single blinds so every blind has it's own identity. Any records on the spreadsheet that do not fit the requirements will be
removed from system such as:
• records with a fabric that is not on the fabric list
• records with the fabric field blank
• records without a size in the fabric field (4 digit number with MM right after)
• records that say "NONE" in the fabric field
• records with a width greater than 3000
• records with a blind size wider than the fabric roll (not sure how these make it onto the dump file)
After uploading a spreadsheet you can see the Report page for a log of what was removed from the system.
Process a Cut List
Once there are blinds in the system, a cut list can be made. Go to the Process Blinds and you will find some options:
• Starting Amount-- When the process begins it's first cycle it will match up blinds with a maximum wastage of this amount.
• Increment-- After it has ran the initial cycle it will increase the maximum allowed wastage by this amount, and will run cycles adding this
increment amount until it reaches the limit.
• Maximum Amount-- This is the limit for the cycles to stop at.
After setting these values click and the process will start.
Depending on how many blinds to process and cycles set in the wastage amounts will affect the time taken to compile the list.
After the list has been generated it will jump back to the home page and you will see the stats have changed, the amount of blinds on the list with a percentage chart.
Reports
Time stamped reports of what action took place and when, with some stats and info to help track how the list was compiled.
Cut List
The final list of what to cut, in order of how to cut it. It's listed in fabric order, and each fabric could be cut in any order however within each fabric is the specific order of how they should be cut.
This is essentially for demonstration purposes, however is ready to use.
Fabric List
The software gets the max widths of each fabric from this list to determine what fits into each log. There are 3 columns that can be modified, they don't actually have any effect yet but
here is a description of each:
• Rev-- If marked as reversible it can be cut on the same log regardless of which way it rolls
• Log-- This list will and should include every single fabric available, and if this is checked then it includes in the process of making a cut list.
• Store-- Fabric should be stored and not discarded.
Currently when a cut list is generated, it gets the max width from the fabric if it is on this list, and if not on this list then the max width is taken from the name of the fabric in the fabric field. It is matching up fabrics against their names, but would be a lot more reliable for each fabric to have a unique ID.
Reset Lists
There is a yellow button at the top of the page This will wipe the report and the cut list but leave the uploaded blinds from the original spreadsheet.
Reset Storage
For testing purposes only, you can but once the system is in place you shouldnt be clearing the storage, unless of course you decided to throw away everything and start again.
