CNC Scan - Graphical User Interface

Scan_main.jpg (26423 bytes)   The main window is divided into four sections:

Directory window - showing the directory tree.
File list window - showing the files in the selected directory.
File select window - drag and drop the selected files into this window.
Text editor - results are displayed in this window

You can resize any of the windows by dragging its border.


   Toolbar - File, Edit, View, Scan, About buttons with pull down menus, plus a second toolbar with drive combo box and properties combo box. 

   File menu :

  • New - clears all selected files and text from text editor.
  • Save text - saves the text from text editor in a text file.
  • Open text file - opens text file into text editor.
  • Properties - opens Properties dialog box.
  • Print - prints text from text editor.
   Edit menu:
  • Clear files - clears all selected files from File Select window.
  • Clear text - clears text from text editor.
   View menu:
  • Table ... this will display an empty table. You can open the table of your choice from Open ... dialog box.
  • Font ... select the font for the text editor.
  • Refresh ... Refresh the file list window after moving or deleting files. (You can delete file(s) from your PC if you right click on selected files and select delete.)

   Scan menu:

  • Make Setup sheet - makes setup sheet(s) from selected files. Tool information is read as specified in the Properties dialog box.
  • Make Tool list - this makes a list of tools with parts where the tool is used. Both options can be printed into Excel
  • Make tool table - this option makes a table of tools (records) used in the selected programs.
  • Update tool table - this will update the tool table currently seleted in the Settings dialog with the CNC programs selected. All existing tool ID records matching those in the CNC programs will stay in place, redundant records are removed, new records are added to the table.
  • Make part table - this will make a part table from selected CNC programs. The table holds the file names and their file paths. You can modify the table - change the part name, add part description, fixtures. You must not change file path, this is the key reference to find the related CNC program when you make the setup sheet.
  • Update part table - this will update the part table currently selected in the Settings dialog box with the CNC programs selected. All records where the path to the CNC program matches will stay in place, redundand records will be removed, new records will be added to the table.


   Settings :

Settings are parameters for reading CNC files and printing options. All parameters are saved in a text file - you can set as many file settings (properties) as you like, save them and select one from the toolbar when you make setup sheets.

  • General page - specify a name for your set of properties, filename and path to a log file (all errors and additional information are recorded there). Specify the path to a text editor if you want the results to be loaded into this editor (for further formatting, editing etc.)

  • Editor page - specify all CNC control parameters - tool format (mostly T), offset format, comment brackets, etc.
    Note: If your CNC control has no M6 command for a tool change, specify -1 in M code for tool change.

  • Scan options page -  specify scan options. You can include part info - part name, description, fixtures from part table. Tool data - you can read tool description, tool H and D parameters from CNC program or from tool table - specify your option with the radio button (CNC program or Tool table).

  • Table page - add or remove tables to the curently active settings. There are two tabs - Tools and Parts. Tools are for tool tables, Parts are for part tables. The Add..., Remove... and Show butons are common for both pages.
  • Settings List page - displays all properties currently loaded. You can add previously saved properties, remove them, set one as current and set one as default (this will be loaded as current one on start up). The list will be saved and loaded next time the CNC Scan starts.

  • Save button -will allow you to save the current set of properties into a previously saved properties file.

  • Save As ... button - will allow you to save the current properties into a different file and thus create a new set of properties. This new properties file is automatically added to the list of properties and will be listed in the combo box on the toolbar on the user interface (main page).

  • Note: If you modify the current properties do not forget to save them (Save button). If you want to create a new set of properties, modify the current one to suit your CNC control and save them under a new file name - Save As... button.
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