Length Nesting - Data Import
The Romac Length Nesting program can read comma delimited
ASCII files and optionally write the nested results to a
comma delimited ASCII file. To read and write ASCII files,
the program must be run with command line arguments.
Command line syntax:
LenNest[.exe] [/a] [/ap] [/i datainfile] [/o dataoutfile]
The parts of the command line switch syntax are:
- /a Tells the length nesting program to read data from a file,
process the data then write the results to a second file.
This switch requires the additional switches /i and /o for the data files.
- /ap Tells the length nesting program to read data from a file
then diplay the length nesting user interface.
A second ASCII file is not written with this switch.
This switch requires the additional switch /i for the data files.
- /i Name of file containing input data.
- /o Name of file to write the output data.
Example command line:
C:\LenNest.exe /a /i C:\temp\sample.in /o C:\temp\sample.out
This command line would read data from the file C:\temp\sample.in,
process the data then write the results to the file
C:\temp\sample.out. The user interface will not be displayed.
The input and output file for the length nesting program are in
standard ASCII format with fields separated by commas. The first
field in each record will be an upper case character denoting the
type of record. Commas are not permitted in numeric fields.
If commas are included in alphanumeric fields,
the field must be enclosed in quotes ("field with, comma").
The double quote character is not permitted in data fields.
Input file record layout
- C , "Project Name"
Used to specify the project name.
- T , "Material Description"
Used to specify the description of the material being cut.
This line can appear as often as required.
- U , Units method
A numeric entry used to specify the unit method used. Valid entries are:
- 0 - feet, inches, and fractions. feet and inches are separated by a hypen (-),
inches and fractions are seperated by a blank space,
fractions are in 16ths. (Ex. 12-11 1/2, 0-11 1/2, 12-0 1/2, 12-11, 0-0 1/2)
- 1 - millimeters. Allows decimal entry to 1/100 of mm. (Ex. 300, 300.01, 0.01)
- 2 - inches and fractions. Inches and fractions are seperated by a blank space,
fractions are in 16ths. (Ex. 120 1/2, 120, 0 1/2, 1/2)
- 3 - decimal inches. Allows decimal entry to 1/1000 of inch. (Ex. 300, 300.001, 0.001)
If a "U" record is not used within the input file, unit method defaults to 2 - inches and fractions.
If a "U" record is not used after a "T" record, the unit method for the material description
defaults to the last unit method used.
-
K , Kerf Allowance
Specifies the cutting blade thickness or kerf. If this record is omitted, a 0 kerf allowance is used.
If a kerf is required, it must be specified for each "T" record.
-
Q , Squaring Allowance
Specifies the squaring allowance to be taken from each end of the inventory piece. For example, if a squaring allowance of 1/2 inch is specified, 1/2 inch is taken from each end. If this record is omitted, a 0 squaring allowance is used.
If a squaring allowance is required, it must be specified for each "T" record.
-
I , qty , len , ID
This line specifies an inventory (or 'cut from') piece which is the
material available for cutting. The fields are described below.
- qty - This field specifies the quantity of the particular item for cutting. It can
range from 1 to 9999.
- len - This field specifies the length of the item. Length format is based on the
specified unit method.
- ID - This is an optional description field which can be up to 12 characters in length.
- O , qty , len, ID
This line specifies the order (or 'to cut') piece which is the material to be cut.
The fields are described below.
- qty - This field specifies the quantity of the particular item to be cut. It can
range from 1 to 9999.
- len - This field specifies the length of the item. Length format is based on the
specified unit method.
- ID - This is an optional description field which can be up to 11 characters in length.
- E
Last line of the input file.
Here is a sample input file:
C,Tower Project
T,"W 8 X 21, A992"
U, 2
K, 0
Q, 0
I,16,420,I1
I,48,480,I2
I,14,600,I3
I,2,660,I4
I,38,720,I5
I,1,370,I6
I,1,306,I7
O,3,204,1B1
O,1,180 1/4,1B2
O,1,168 1/2,1B3
O,3,156,1B4
E
Output file record layout
- C , "Project Name"
Used to specify the project name.
- T , "Material Description"
Used to specify the description of the material being cut.
This line can appear as often as required.
- X , Error number
A numeric entry used to report an error condition (if any). Error numbers are:
- 1 - Balance of 'to cut' lengths are longer than available lengths.
- 2 - All available 'cut from' lengths used.
- 3 - System capacity reached.
- 4 - Undefined processing error.
- 6 - 'to cut' entries not specified.
- 11 - Input file not found.
- 12 - Command line error.
- 13 - Problem with kerf or squaring allowance.
- 14 - Excessive 'to cut' or 'cut from' entries.
- 15 - Incomplete or invalid data.
- 16 - Output file not valid.
- 99 - Unspecified error.
- U , Units method
A numeric entry used to specify the unit method used. Valid entries are:
- 0 - feet, inches, and fractions. feet and inches are separated by a hypen (-),
inches and fractions are seperated by a blank space,
fractions are in 16ths. (Ex. 12-11 1/2, 0-11 1/2, 12-0 1/2, 12-11, 0-0 1/2)
- 1 - millimeters. Allows decimal entry to 1/100 of mm. (Ex. 300, 300.01, 0.01)
- 2 - inches and fractions. Inches and fractions are seperated by a blank space,
fractions are in 16ths. (Ex. 120 1/2, 120, 0 1/2, 1/2)
- 3 - decimal inches. Allows decimal entry to 1/1000 of inch. (Ex. 300, 300.001, 0.001)
-
K , Kerf Allowance
Specifies the cutting blade thickness or kerf.
-
Q , Squaring Allowance
Specifies the squaring allowance to be taken from each end of the inventory piece. For example, if a squaring allowance of 1/2 inch is specified, 1/2 inch is taken from each end.
-
I , qty1 , qty2 , len , ID
This line specifies an inventory (or 'cut from') piece which is the
material available for cutting. The fields are described below.
- qty1 - This field specifies the quantity of the particular item for available for cutting.
- qty2 - This field specifies the quantity of the particular item actually used for cutting.
- len - This field specifies the length of the item. Length format is based on the
specified unit method.
- ID - This is an optional description field.
- O , qty1 , qty2 , len, ID
This line specifies the order (or 'to cut') piece which is the material to be cut.
The fields are described below.
- qty1 - This field specifies the quantity of the particular item to be cut.
- qty2 - This field specifies the actural quantity of the particular item which was cut.
- len - This field specifies the length of the item. Length format is based on the
specified unit method.
- ID - This is an optional description field.
- P , rep , inv , dlen, p1,....,pn
This line is the pattern line which describes how the material was actually cut.
Each pattern line describes one pattern.
The fields are described below.
- rep - This field is the repeat count or the number of times this
pattern is to be cut.
- inv - This field specifies the inventory item to be used to produce this
particular pattern. The value will be in the range from 1 to n, where n
is the number of inventory lines listed above.
- len - This field specifies the remnant or drop length of the inventory item.
- p0,p1,....,pn - These fields represent the parts produced by the pattern in the
order they are to be cut. Each part number is in the range 1 to n,
where n is the number of order description lines listed above.
- E
Last line of the output file.
Here is a sample output file:
C,Tower Project
T,"W 8 X 21, A992"
U, 2
K, 0
Q, 0
I, 16, 0,420,I1
I, 48, 0,480,I2
I, 14, 0,600,I3
I, 2, 0,660,I4
I, 38, 2,720,I5
I, 1, 0,370,I6
I, 1, 0,306,I7
O, 3, 3,204,1B1
O, 1, 1,180 1/4,1B2
O, 1, 1,168 1/2,1B3
O, 3, 3,156,1B4
P, 1,5,0,1,1,4,4
P, 1,5,11 1/4,1,2,3,4
E