Batch Optimise

To add files to the selection, do the following:

1. Click .

2. The following window pops up:

   Browse for the file(s) you wish to add.

   Note: you can select several files by pressing and holding down either the  ⇧  key for consecutive files or the Control key for non-consecutive files.

3. Select the file(s) and click .

To add an entire folder to the selection, do the following:

1. Click .

2. The following window pops up:

   Browse for the folder you wish to add.

3. Select the folder and click .

To remove files from the selection, select the file(s) you wish to delete and click .

Note: you can select several files by pressing and holding down either the  ⇧  key for consecutive files or the Control key for non-consecutive files.

To empty the selection, click .

The following output options are available:

• Optimised Files

  • Prompt for missing materials: displays the Add Materials window if a file requires missing materials.

    Note: To apply the same rule to every file in the batch, check Do this action for all files in the Add Materials window and click either of the following:
    The members requiring missing materials will not be optimised.
    The missing materials will be added as new materials in the materials database.

  • Print materials list: sends the materials list of every optimised file for printing.
  • Save optimised file: saves the optimised files according to the options defined below.

  • Destination folder: specifies the destination path for the optimised files.

    Note: The optimised files are saved as Simple files version 2 (*.smp2).
    You can either type in the destination path directly into the field or click to browse for the destination folder.

  • File name prefix: specifies the character string to be added before the name of every optimised file.
  • Locked: The file and the embedded optimisation will be locked. It will never be possible to modify the file or run an optimisation again, except through the Batch Optimise feature.

• Results File

  • Enabled: creates a spreadsheet with the results of the batch optimisation.

  • File path: specifies the destination path and name of the results file.

    Note: The results file must be saved as a spreadsheet (*.xls).
    You can either type in the destination path and file name directly into the field or click to open the Save As window.

  • Show results when done: opens the results file once the batch optimisation is complete.

The results of the batch optimisation are summarised in a spreadsheet that consists of the following columns from left to right:

• File: path of the file the row of data relates to
• # Timber Lengths: number of timbers required
• # Members: number of members optimised
• # Stacked Members: number of members optimised in a stack formation
• % Stacked Members: percentage of members optimised in a stack formation out of the total number of members optimised
• Total Material Length: total length of material required
• Total Usable Length: total length of material used for members and offcuts
• Total Member Length: total length of the members optimised
• Total Offcut Length: total length of the offcuts produced
• Total Waste: total length of waste (reusable or not)
• Total Waste To Bin: total length of non-reusable waste
• % Waste To Bin: percentage of non-reusable waste out of the total length of material required
• Total Reusable Waste: total length of reusable waste
• % Reusable Waste: percentage of reusable waste out of the total length of material required
• Material Cost: total cost of the materials required

• All Members Optimised: indication whether all the members of the file were optimised or not

  Note: the orange-highlighted lines identify the files that could not be optimised completely.