Sheet Layout Version 9  by Productivity Software
Features
 

General Features | Optimization Features | Data Entry | Reports | Merge/Multiply Projects

General Features - Sheet Layout Version 9 is offered in 5 different registration levels; Hobbyist, Small Shop, Small Shop Plus, Commercial, and CNC Commercial.  Please refer to the Products page for the various product options.

• All product versions of Sheet Layout offer the same, simple, graphical, interface. See Screen Shots
  • All versions offer the same optimization features.
  • Advanced versions have some additional features for convenience and managing larger projects
• Separate raw material types into different categories (material types to easily manage larger projects).  The material types available are:
  • Sheet Materials
  • Lumber Materials
  • Components  (hinges, latches, and any other hardware)
  • Finishes and Stains
  • Fasteners (screws, special fasteners)
• Interactive toolbars and menus adjust to your location in the software
  • Print what ever you are currently viewing with one mouse click
    • Viewing a layout diagram? Click to print the diagram
    • Viewing a list of your raw materials? Click to print the raw material list
  • Pull Down Menus & Toolbars are automatically adjusted
    • Job Selection
    • Material Selection
    • Part Diagram Color Selection
    • Individual Grain Selection
    • Part Dimensions
    • Part Descriptions
    • First Cut Direction Control
    • Part Drawings on the Layout diagrams
  •  Complete Color Control
    • Color or Black and White Diagrams
    • Specify cross hatching on print-outs to save money on ink
    • Reports have color indicators to match cut list parts to the layout diagram

Optimization Features

• Complete Grain Direction Control
  • Individual part grain control
• First Cut Direction Control
  • Specify major cuts widthwise or lengthwise.
• Multiple Material Optimization
  • Select from an unlimited number of materials in one job
  • Each material is optimized and displayed graphically in it's own tab. No cumbersome menus to sort through.
• Automatic Edging Banding Allowances
  • Specify trims to the width and length.  Individually specify all four edges
  • Allows positive or negative edging allowances

Data Entry  See Screen Shots

• Cut List Importing
  • Import from ASCII files with our Import Wizard (see example)
    • Works with Microsoft Excel via a file saved in the CSV format
    • Exports directly to Microsoft Excel
• Column Swapping & Sizing
  • Swap the Length and Width (X & Y) to suit your data entry preference.  Just drag and drop any data column where you want it.  SL will remember your settings
    • Swap and/or size almost any column: Color, grain, description (and almost anything else for that matter)
• Pull down menu selections for
  • Materials 
  • Colors
  • Measurements
  • . . . . and many more
• Measurements
  • Use mm, cm, meters, inches, or feet
  • Mix measurements in the same project list
  • Change the measurements used in the printed diagrams - anytime
    • SL will convert the output measurements regardless of the units you used for importing
  • Use gallons, liters, pints or quarts for liquid materials
  • Enter prices based on any measurement,  square foot, square meter, board foot, or sheet price. 
• Sort your cut list by clicking on the column "headers"
  • Description
  • Resource
  • Quantity
  • Color
  • Subassembly
  • Part # & Job #
•  Copy & Paste data to speed your data entry
•  Fast Fractions for our English users cuts data entry time in half and helps to eliminate input errors
  • Instead of 14 13/32" x 24 25/32"
  • Enter 14 13  x  24 25. Reduced key strokes and you don't have to hunt for the slash ( / ) key or the inches ( " )  key

Reports

• Graphic Layout Diagrams
  • Layout Diagrams for Sheet and Lumber Materials
  • On-sheet Part Drawings
• Material Pick List with cost summary.
  • Cost Summary
    • Including Sheet & Lumber Materials, Components, Fasteners, and Finishes
    • Price your materials by the Sheet, Sq. Ft. (or Meters), or Board Ft.
  • Stock Use Summary
    • Sheet Layout will report material use based on existing inventories
    • Sheet Layout can tell you which material sizes to purchase
• Label Reports
  • Use multiple Avery pre-defined formats
  • Design your own label including label size, data content, fonts, size, position

Merge/Multiply Projects   See Screen Shots

• Pick any or all of your projects and merge (combine) them together.  This is a very powerful feature that saves you a tremendous amount of time and eliminates mistakes
  • Define your projects in smaller assemblies.  For example,  enter three different drawers as individual projects
    • Then you could merge 2 drawers from Project  # 1
    • and 3 drawers of Project  # 2
    • and 5 drawers of Project # 3
      • and combine them all automatically into Project # 4
      • all with NO additional data entry. Sheet Layout multiplies and calculates all the required parts for you and creates the new Project # 4 
      • You can then cost the entire project out by a click of a button

Feature - Detailed Explanation Section

Import ASCII File Example

Generally each cut list part is import on a single line in an ASCII file.  You can have an unlimited number of lines in a file such as the following.

• Part One, Yellow, 2, 22 1/8, 33, Rotate, Edging #2, Drawer #1, Part # 1, Job # 1, Plywood Material
• Part Two, Red, 2, 33, 44 3/16, Don't Rotate, Edging #1, Drawer #1, Part # 2, Job # 1, Plywood Material

 For example,  a description of the first sample import line above is:

A part named Part One, will be drawn in Yellow, 2 parts are required 22 1/8" by 33", optionally Rotate the part for the best optimization since there is no grain, use the Edging #2 adjustments for edge banding, this is part of an assembly named Drawer #1, the part number is Part #1, the job number is Job #2, and it is cut from Plywood Material

Note:  This is a very general import example.  You have many import options that are described in detail in Chapter 12 in the help file.