About
Productivity Software:
Since 1984 Productivity Software has marketed our
pattern cutting optimization software; first as the "Lineal
Optimizer", then came the "Cut Optimizer", and lastly Sheet
Layout © Versions 1 through 9. Virtually ALL the current
features of Sheet Layout including the new part drawing CAD
and CAM features have been requested by our customers in over 50
countries. We listened, asked more questions, refined the
product, and delivered improvements year after year for 20+
years.
First our customers want SL to be so easy you don't need
a manual. Second, make it powerful. Third, allow users to
customize it by changing the data entry order and designing your
own custom label content. And last, keep it affordable by offering
several versions starting with a smaller but complete product
sized for the Hobbyist and then offer larger versions with
special add on features such as CNC machining required by larger
manufacturing shops. So now you have exactly what you want
in Sheet Layout © Version 9. Take a look at our
screen shots, feature list, and
product selection.
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How do I
know if Sheet Layout is right for me?
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How do I install
Sheet Layout?
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Is Sheet Layout sold under a different product names?
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How do I register
or purchase Sheet Layout?
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How do I
get and install my password?
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Can I use a Credit Card?
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I registered, but my
password doesn't seem to work.
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Is registering required?
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Can I print out
the help manual?
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How is the Commercial level different from the Evaluation
level?
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Can I use
millimeters instead of inches?
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How do I change the
default measurements for my project list?
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How do I calculate the
layout diagrams?
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How do I change the Saw Kerf
thickness?
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Can SL tell me what materials to order for a job?
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Can I print part labels?
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Can I
use different stock sizes in a job?
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Can I specify the Grain Direction
for each part individually?
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Can SL estimate the cost of
my
project?
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Can I
print the diagrams in Color or Black & White?
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How do I install
Sheet Layout Version 9?
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How
do I reinstall Sheet Layout on my computer.
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My
computer Crashed. How do I reinstall SL?
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How do I make a backup of my
data?
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I have lots of stock
materials but I keep getting an "Insufficient Stock Warning"
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How do I save my data
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My part dimensions are not
the same as the dimensions I entered, why?
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Is my Version 8 data compatible with Version 9?
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Can I merge or combine
projects together to eliminate mistakes and save time?
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I'm
having trouble importing an ASCII file.
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How
do I export from EXCEL to SL?
An evaluation level of Sheet
Layout is available for free downloading from this web page. The
best way to determine if SL is for you is to use it.
Sheet Layout (SL) is distributed as Shareware and allows you to
evaluate SL prior to making a financial investment.
- Only you can decide if SL
has the right set of features for you. Over the years
many features have been added to meet the needs of more
powerful users, yet, we've kept the price of the hobbyist
version very affordable.
- The Evaluation version has
most of the features available in SL, however, the output is
restricted to one sheet of material
- It is your responsibility as
a user of software distributed as Shareware to evaluate the
product to verify that SL meets all your requirements. Please
refer to our
Shareware and Warranty policies.
- SL has been distributed as
Shareware since 1984.
- We know how we compare to
the competition. We want you to know and we encourage
you to evaluate sheet layout against other products.
Download and save the automated installation
program to your computer. Then click on the install file,
SL9Setup.exe to install Sheet Layout. Sheet Layout will run
properly only after being installed from the installation program.
No. Sheet Layout is a product that has been exclusively
developed, copyrighted, and sold by Productivity Software as
such for more then 10 years. Productivity Software has
sold various optimizing products since 1984.
A competitor offers a different product and has a web page
titled "Sheet Layout Woodworking Software . . ." Their
product has nothing to do with Productivity Software.
Please do not be confused by the obvious. Please compare
us, we are confident you'll chose the original Sheet Layout
software based on features, functionality, and especially ease
of use.
You can only purchase Sheet
Layout on our web site using a credit card. Please visit
our secure online store.
Your password is provided to you
after you purchase SL at our online store, AND, after you email your
"Registration
#" to us so that we can generate your password for you.
This is explained fully at the online store.
Productivity Software has accepted
credit cards online since 1998 and uses a secure online store for all transactions.
Please visit our secure online store.
We could have made a mistake, or, something on
your registration may have been changed.
- First make sure the
REGISTRATION # shown on the Registration Form matches the
one you provided with your registration. Select
Help/Registration from the Sheet Layout program menu to view the
registration form.
- If the REGISTRATION # is not
the same then you may have changed the Registration
information thus changing the required password.
- Please record the new
REGISTRATION # and email it to us. If you do not have a
recent registration, then also include the approximate date
of purchase, and which level you have (Hobbyist, Small Shop,
Small Shop Plus, Commercial)
No, registering SL is completely
voluntary and based on your assessment that SL features completely
and fully meet
your requirements. SL is a great product but it is not perfect.
We are committed to continuously upgrading features and
otherwise improving SL as we have been since 1984.
You can continue to use the evaluation copy
of SL without registering. If you register, you will receive the benefit of
being able to run larger projects and some additional features.
Yes, you can print it directly
from the online help manual.
There is no difference in the
software, however, different features are enabled based on
different registration levels. Registering Sheet Layout
will permit you to enter larger jobs or projects and have
access to advanced features when you need them.
Generally, larger
registered levels allow larger projects as well as some
extra features. Please see the
Product page for more information.
From the main menu select:
Setup / Diagram Setup. Then chose the Dimensions tab and
make your selection. Your default selection will automatically be inserted
for you as you enter cut list items in the Project Window.
- You can use any
measurement unit with SL, even at the same time.
- You can use inches, mm, cm,
M, or feet.
- You will need to chose
one measurement unit for diagrams and reports. You
can of course change this to suit your needs.
Highlight the project name you
want to layout (or optimize) by clicking on it, then click the Layout Tab.
SL's optimizer will be activated and produce the layout diagram.
Click on the Material Tab.
Saw Kerf thickness is one of the inputs in the Material window.
There is a "Pick
List Report" that lists all materials used in a Project.
This includes not only materials such as plywood or MDF Board,
but it can also include finishes, screws, fasteners, edge
banding materials, and many other items.
SL can print individual part
labels for your cut lists. There is a standard
collection of Avery labels to chose from. Advanced
registration levels have the ability to custom define the
label content and appearance.
Yes. You can use many
different size stock materials in a single job. You can
also use different materials in a single job, plywood and MDF
Board for example.
Sheet Layout has a
very flexible grain control system. You can specify the grain
direction for each individual piece.
Yes. If you
enter accurate material costs, SL can accurately (and in
detail) calculate your project costs.
SL can easily change
between Color and B&W by clicking the Color icon on the toolbar.
SL provides you the ability to specify Screen and Printer
colors and cross hatching. Save ink by specifying a high
level of cross hatch for printing.
How do I install Sheet
Layout
The first thing
required is to download the installation file.
Click
here to download SL9 if you haven't already.
Make sure you know
where your internet browser saves the installation file.
After downloading the installation file, SetupSL9.exe, browse to
it using your browser and click on the file SetupSL9.exe.
This will start the
automatic installation process. Just follow the on-screen
prompts to complete the installation.
Download the installation to your
new or repaired computer.
- Make sure you download the
same Version of Sheet Layout that you currently have from
our web page, version 7, 8 or 9.
- Install Sheet Layout using
the downloaded installation file as you did originally.
- If you have a data back up
....... then just copy the backup data file "SLXdata.mdb" to
the sub-directory where you have SLX installed.
Note: SLX represent SL7, SL8, or SL9.
If you don't have a back up, you
have to complete the following steps. (You will make a back up next time right?)
- Please fill out the
registration form on the program (not our web page). Fill
it out exactly as you did before. If you do, the
REGISTRATION # may remain the same and your old
password will work. You still have it right?
- If the REGISTRATION # is the
same, enter in your old password, save the password and you
should be registered correctly.
- If your REGISTRATION # is not the same, then
- Please forward the
following information so that we can get you operational
ASAP.
- Approximate date
purchased
- Version, i.e., Version 8, or 9
- Password resets are no
longer available for version 7
- Registration level,
i.e., Hobbyist, Small Shop or Commercial.
How do I backup my data. Simply copy the file
"SL9data.mdb" as a back up. This file contains all project data
that you entered including your registration and password data.
This is one of our most common
questions, and it can have the following answers.
- You simply may have run out of
the stock
that you entered in the Material screen. Increase the
quantity of materials available and run the layout again.
- You may have specified a
part length and grain direction that exceeds the length of
the stock material in the direction of the grain you
specified. The part may fit if you allow the part to
be rotated by checking the "Allow Rotate" check box for that item.
- You entered a Saw Kerf of
125, you really meant to enter 0.125. Or you entered a Saw
Kerf of 4.5 ( inches ) and you really wanted 4.5
millimeters. Please verify your Saw Kerf units.
- You meant to enter a stock size of
4' x 8' and a the part want to cut is 12" x 24".
Again, incorrect units are the most likely problem.
- The most common
mistake is that you may have entered 4 x 8 millimeters, or 4
x 8 inches as your stock sheet size
- Of course, a 12" x 24"
piece will not fit. Please verify your units.
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In the SL9 sub-directory there is a file
named SL9data.mdb. This is a Microsoft Access database
that contains all your data. Simply make a copy of this file
to backup your data.
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In the event of a crash you
will lose all your data and you will likely have to reinstall Sheet Layout. AFTER
you complete the reinstallation, use your backup file to
replace the SL9data.mdb file that was reinstalled by SL's
automatic installation.
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You can always download a
fresh installation file from our web site thus you do not need
to make a backup of the installation file.
How do I save
my data?
- Your inputs are automatically and frequently
saved as you make data
entries. However, to comfort all users there is a
File/Save menu selection and a Save icon that will "force" an immediately
save your data.
The parts sizes entered in the
Project List are a little smaller (or bigger) than I entered.
Why?
- If the printout on the
layout diagrams does NOT match the entries in the Project
window then you have "Edge Banding" specified that
either increase or decrease the final cut size of the part.
- Open the Project window and
look under the "Edge Banding" column to see what, if any,
edge banding is specified.
- Note that edge banding is
NOT available on all versions of SL.
Data Files are NOT compatible
between different versions of SL. That is, Version 8 data will not work with
Version 9.
One of SL's extremely powerful
features is its ability to easily merge two or more separate
projects together, or,
increase the quantity of one individual project.
For example. You may make 2
different cabinet designs, however, both cabinets use the same
shelves and drawers. Define the drawers as individual
projects, then, just add them to the cabinet design using the
merge feature. Thus, you don't have to add the same drawer
components to each cabinet project manually.
Sheet Layout has a very flexible
import feature. Because of it's flexibility it must be
configured to match the data you wish to input. Refer to
the import chapter in the help file for detailed information.
Save your Excel
data using the CSV format (comma delimited format)
available in Excel. Then use the menu
"File/Import" command to import the data file.
There are sample import files in the "datafiles" sub-directory
to assist you.
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Sheet
Layout
Version 9
by Productivity
Software 
