ShapeNest for Windows Release Notes		Page 
ShapeNest for Windows		Release Notes
CES ShapeNest for Windows
Release Notes
This document contains details of enhancements and fixes made to the ShapeNest for Windows suite of programs since 1st March 1993 (release of version 1.12). It is compiled in reverse date order, so the most recent update appears first. Read through the document until you come to your own current version to see what is new as far as you are concerned.

Version 2.11 ( 08/09/2010)
	JobQueue Manager has Tape View
	Tape View covers more formats
	DigiSaf added
Version 2.10 ( 2010)
	Post Processor changes	
Version 2.09 ( 2009)
	USB Dongle
Version 2.08 (16/10/2008)
	14 day Evaluation version.

Version 2.07 (18/02/2008)
	Nest:	Development Library Right Cylinder - developed length of plane - part perimeter.


Version 2.06 (25/04/2007)
	Nest:	Farley PP Line Marking



Version 2.05 (18/07/2005)
	Nest:	Analysis Export to CSV file


Version 2.04 (30/04/2001)





 Design:	Edit>Auto Trim: A new function has been added to assist with trimming Point, Line, and Arc elements. Hopefully users will find this easier to use than the Trim & Extend function. Simply click on a portion of an element that you would like to delete. The system will delete the section upto the nearest real intersections either side of a pick. The only exception is an infinite line where you must pick on the portion to keep and the system will trim the line to its maximum intersection points. If no intersections are found the whole element will be deleted. You may only auto trim elements that are not members of a profile or component.

Nest:	Post Processor: Pre-Piercing has been enhanced to pierce and cut a small anticlockwise circle at the point of a blow-in. This was done as some machines ignored the pierce, due to the fact that no movement was occuring. Pre-Piercing now works for groups and custom cutter paths. Note that a custom cutter path that starts without a lead-in will not be pre-pierced. The following parameters have been added to the post processor configuration.
	
	[PostProc?]
	PrePierceRadius=1.00               ;Radius of Pre-Pierce circle.
	PrePierceKerf=0                       ;Kerf Application 0=Centre, 1=Left, 2=Right. 
	LowPowerPrePierce=0             ;Set to 1 if Low Power Pre-Pierce is always required.
	LowPowerPrePierceCutting=0  ;Set to 1 if Low Power Pre-Pierce cutting is always req'd.

System Manager:	Material Database Location: A bug has been rectified that restricted the material database to the "\nestlite" directory. This path to the database root directory has now been resolved and only affected users whose root directory was not "\nestlite". 

Version 2.03b (21/03/2001)





 Nest:	Custom Cutter Path for Groups: Three minor bugs have been rectified. The first is the handling of circular major profiles that are mirrored. It was found that in this case the shortest route around the profile was not taking into account the mirror effect of reversing the route direction. The manifestation was that the longest route would be used instead of the shortest. The second fault occured when a group contained multiple instances of the same component at differing angles and/or mirror status. This made it difficult to bridge between like components because the two were seen to be at the same angle by the system. The third and final fault was simply to limit the search for custom path points to those only on major profiles. It was possible to pick hidden ICMs and minor profiles.

Version 2.03a (19/03/2001)





 Design:	DXF Import: Additional dxf entities MTEXT and LWPOLYLINE have been included. These two entities are a condensed equivalent of the basic entities TEXT and POLYLINE.

Nest:	Custom Cutter Path for Groups: The application of low power modes is now supported.
	Clearance Checking: When clearance checking was used with groups, the system may on occasion hang while closing a nest. This has been resolved.

Version 2.03 (22/02/2001)





 Nest:	Analysis: The cutting analysis has been rewritten in order to calculate the cycle times of components that are chain-cut and/or custom cut. Line marked vector text is also included in component time. The time for text marking is associated with the next component in the cutting order. Component cycle times are individually calculated for each instance on the nest, this allows special cutting features such as chain/common line to be correctly resolved. The custom flame path of a group has its time is divided by the total perimeter of all major profiles in the group. This value is then multiplied by the individual perimeter of each major and added to that component. This is the fairest way to distribute the cutting time of the path to each component in the group. There is now consideration of unallocated time. Time that cannot be pinned to a particular component. Examples of unallocated time are First/Last Rapid moves, Chained Inter-Component Minor to Minor Rapid, Chained Inter-Component Minor to Major Rapid, and Chained Inter-Component Major to Major Feed. Unallocated chain time is spread evenly over the entire chain sequence. Any other unallocated time is spread evenly over the entire nest. At the end of the analysis, like components are added together to yield the total cutting time for each component, and further divided by the total number of like components, including ensalved ones, to give the one off time.
	Reorder: Line Marked Text is now considered when reordering a cutting path.
	Line Marked Vector Text Naming: Using the Name facility with Line Marking automatically inserts the text before the named component in the cutting sequence.
DNC Server:	Burny Upload: Modification to the protocol has been done to allow correct upload functionality on all DNC Configurations. Programs uploaded are now saved even in the event of a timeout.
	General: DNC Server has been made to appear as a System Tray Icon, next to the time on the Task-bar. Click on the icon to view DNC Server, or right click on the icon to select options from a menu. DNC Server only appears on the Task-bar while it is visible.

Version 2.02 (15/12/2000)





 Nest:	Custom Cutter Path for Groups: It is now possible to apply a custom cutter path around a Group of components. The custom path may only follow the major profiles of the components. This feature makes possible Common Line Cutting, Stitching and Bridging. To use the feature first create a Group, then with the group activated pick 'Group>Edit Path' from the menu. You can now use the mouse to define a path around the group, see the status bar for instructions. Use Options>Component to alter any preferred leadin/out styles while defining the path. Note that when this group is post processed, all minors in the group will be cut first, followed by the custom path last. Pick 'Group>Delete Path' from the menu to delete a defined path.
	Bounce and Boundary: In order to assist placement of components with Kerf width separation, two new variants of Bounce and Boundary have been added while dragging. Press TAB to apply a Kerf Width Boundary to the component. Press # to throw a component with Kerf width clearance.
	Line Marked Vector Text: Line Marking of a vector text font is now possible using a standard Line Marking head. Previously, only machines with a dedicated Text Marking Head were supported. Add 'VectorTextMarking=1' to your post-processor configuration to enable this feature. Only applicable with the Line Marking Option.
General:	Min/Max Extents: Minimum and Maximum extents of the system were preset to 999999.9999mm this has been lifted to 1e+20mm. This should cure problems encountered with components that contain extremely large arc radii.


Version 2.01 (26/10/2000)





 General:	Printing through the Dongle: Efforts have been made to minimise problems while printing through the dongle. This was most noticeable with GDI printer drivers. Note that these drivers are not supported by Windows. If you still encounter problems while printing it is advised that you install a second printer port to your PC and use this for printing. 
	Application Close: System Manager, Job Queue Manager, DNC Server, and Tape Viewer were not terminating correctly if the close button of the window was pressed. This resulted in the above applications reporting that the application was already an active task if they were re-run. This has now been resolved.
Design & Nest:	Open/Save: Now saves updated drive references for designs and components that have been moved from a different drive due to a system configuration change. 
Nest:	Post Processing: A new post processor has been added for the Quantum Laser with a NUM-1060 controller. 
	Post Processing to Psion: If this option was conditionally used, the comms parameters Databits and Parity were being altered by the system. This is now cured.
DNC Server:	View Log: Caused an overflow error. This is now rectified. 
	TNC-246 Protocol: This protocol was omitted from version 3.00 and has now been re-introduced.

Version 2.00e (15/08/2000)





 Design:	General: GPF occasionally occured while closing a design file. This became more likely when profiles were copied on a design. This has now been resolved. 
Nest:	Cutting Analysis: The cutting analysis printout has been modified to show full component names and full component descriptions. 

Version 2.00d (07/07/2000)





 Design:	File Import: GPF occured while creating a new component from an Imported file with a long file name. This has been fixed.
	DXF Export: This created an empty file with no content. This has been fixed.
Design & Nest:	File Dialogs: Various problems resolved with regard to file dialogs not showing directory lists or file list correctly. All reported cases have been fixed.
	Dialogs General: Many dialogs have been slightly adjusted to compensate for larger field values.
	Plate Types: Plate types for production directories with long names were not being shown. This has been resolved.
	Graphics: The graphics rendering has been improved to show lines/arcs/circles accurately while at high zoom levels. This was a problem mainly with poor quality accelerator graphic cards. Results were different from manufacturer to manufacturer. Symptoms were lines appearing at the wrong angle, or not at all. Arcs could appear elliptical, or slightly offset from its true location. A new technique is now implemented that should resolve this problem across the board.
Setup:	Dongle Driver: Setup now installs the latest dongle driver automatically. A problem with the old driver was that it would not allow multiple instances of Design or Nest to run at the same time.
	OLE Automation: Early versions of Windows 95 did not have the correct version of the OLE Automation file 'OLEAUT32.DLL'. This prevented System Manager, DNC Server, Jobqueue Manager, and Tape Viewer from running. This has now been included as part of the setup proceedure.






 Version 2.00 (22/06/2000)





 General:	The ShapeNest for Windows suite has been converted to 32 bit Windows applications. Supported platforms are Window95, Windows98, WindowsNT4, and Windows2000.
	File and Directory names can now be upto 50 characters long (inclusive of extension). You will notice that many dialogs will have a new appearance, this is many due to the long filenames. Support for the Pentuim family of processors increases the software efficiency and reduces processing time. Thousands of internal improvements have been made, a list that is too long to be included here. Below are the main points to note.

Design:	Upgraded to a 32 bit application, and support for long filenames added.
	DXF Import: Support has now been added to handle the new DXF Release 2000 files.
	Edit>Trim & Extend: This function on occasion did not perform correctly. This fault has been rectified. The addition of Double Clicking on a line/arc segment will make the entity infinate.
	Text: Multiline text can now be rotated.

Nest:	Upgraded to a 32 bit application, and support for long filenames added.
Component>Add: The Add Component dialog has been enhanced to show a preview of the highlighted component.
	Group: A new feature to ShapeNest is the Group. A group is a collection of Components, ICMs, Stops, and Text. These can be saved and loaded from Nest and have the same behaviour as a single component. Dragging a group moves all its consituent entities.
	Group>Add: Adds a group that has been previously saved. A preview of the highlighted group is also shown.
	Group>Dissolve: Dissolves a group back to its consituent entities. The saved group remains unaffected, and can be added again at any time.
	Group>Create: This will create and save a new Group based on the entities that are currently activated. Note that the datum for a new group is the absolute datum.
	Cutting>Analysis: A minor fault in the calculation of the rapid distance has been fixed.

System Manager:	
	Upgraded to 32 bit application, and support for long filenames added.

DNC Server:	Upgraded to a 32 bit application, and support for long filenames added.

Jobqueue Manager:
	Upgraded to a 32 bit application, and support for long filenames added.

Tape Viewer:	A new application to graphically show the cutting path contained in Post Processor output files (*.tap). See Help>About in the viewer for a description of the keys, they are very similar to Design & Nest.


Version 1.67 (06/01/2000) - Final 16 bit Release





 Design:	DSTV Import: If you import a DSTV file and you do not have any drilling options enabled, then drilled holes will be elaborated to circles and slotted/rectangular holes will be shown as basic line arc entities.
	Import in General: When you import a file the default name of the design file created is the same as the name of the source file from which the import came.
	Additional Drilling Post Processor: An additional Post Processor for a Heidenhain control is now available. This is an extra cost option. Please contact CES if you feel that you may have a requirement.



Version 1.66 (29/10/1999)
Design:	Support for Multi Spindle drilling. The Ficep Plate Drill is capable of drilling up to three holes simultaneously at a programmable spacing. The drilling option has now been enhanced to cover this type of optimisation, and the system will now handle any machine of this type. Consult CES on 01937 585127 if you have a requirement for the drilling add-ons for ShapeNest.
Nest:	Post Processing. By default, post-processors take their codes to start the cutting head(s), from the setting of process in a particular nest (gas, plasma, laser). If you want to ensure that a plasma-only machine will (obviously!) only use plasma codes, regardless of the process set in the nest, then you should set the following line in nestcfg.ini for that particular machine:
	[PostProc...]
	...
	PlasmaOverride=1
	PlasmaOnCode=....     ; Specify the actual start code that you require
	PlasmaOffCode=....     ; Specify the actual stop code that you require
	...

 Version 1.65b (03/09/1999)
Design:	Components with pre-cut elements on Major Profile. A bug in the proximity check (introduced in 1.64e) has been resolved.
Nest:	Laser Post Processor. Modifications to the output for pre-piercing.

Version 1.65a (28/07/1999)
Design & Nest:	General fix for File name comparison on networked installations having multiple Windows platforms. This was case sensitive and under certain circumstances restricted the functionality of the Component>Select dialog. This has now been rectified.

Version 1.65 (26/07/1999)
Design:	DSTV File Import Function. DSTV is a German standard file format. It is used for the transfer of Structural Steel data between CAD and CAM systems. ShapeNest is only capable of importing a small range of the available section types (for plate work. Note that the full range of sections is supported by our "BeamDrill" product).
	For plates, it will import the profile information for internal and external contours, as well as any hole data for drilling. To use the hole data, you will need to have the drilling options available for ShapeNest.
	Note that this is an extra cost option, and not available in the basic system. Consult your dealer, or CES, for details of how to upgrade your system if you require this option.

Version 1.64e (01/07/1999)
Design:	Component Definition with Line Marking. If the start point for a marked open profile lay on the major profile of a component, the software would previously select the major profile in preference to the marked profile. This made it impossible to select the marked profile, without editing it to make its end points longer or shorter. Open profiles now have a more generous gravity field associated with them to make things easier.
Design & Nest:	Offset Profiles / Kerf Compensation.  (see version 1.64c) When using a large value for MinArcOffsetLength, there were problems with non-tangential arc intersections. This has now been resolved, including cases containing Pre-cut elements.
Nest:	Line Marking Option. The line marking tool offset value was being called for each marked profile, rather than once at the beginning of the marking section. This bug had been introduced in version 1.64, but is now cured.
Nest:	Post processing. "Mark Plate First" option was being disabled, even though there was line marking. The problem occurred when there were no minor profiles in the components involved. These conditions were also generating superfluous rapid traverse moves. This is all now fixed.

Version 1.64d (25/06/1999)
Design SDL:	Right Cylinder- There was an error in the length of the generated piece, when an offset cylindrical connection was used. This is now resolved.

Version 1.64c (11/06/1999)
Design & Nest:	Offset Profiles / Kerf Compensation. When creating an offset profile, (Kerf compensation is a special case of an offset profile) ShapeNest creates an additional arc element at each external non-tangential element intersection. See below:
As the internal angle of corner "X" nears 180 degrees, so the arc segment generated becomes smaller. If it gets very small, a problem can occur at the cutting machine which causes small (about 1mm radius) arcs to be cut.
	A new parameter has been included in ShapeNest to prevent this happening. It sets the minimum arc length that is allowed under these circumstances. It is set by default to be 0.25mm. You can change this value by adding the following line to the [System] section of nestcfg.ini (which lives in your Windows directory)

	MinOffsetArcLength=0.25     (substitute your preferred new value)
	(Note that setting a VERY high value would prevent these rads being produced under ANY circumstances)

Version 1.64b (02/06/1999)
Nest:	Post Processor - Bug fix in low power piercing routines for Laser machines. 

Version 1.64a (24/05/1999)
Nest:	Post Processor - Bug fix in arc split routine. Was not outputting arc in two segments under some circumstances. This is now fixed.
Version 1.64 (23/04/1999)
Nest:	Post Processor - Pre-Piercing option. This option allows you to do all the piercing of the plate as a first pass, before proper cutting in the second pass. This can be particularly useful with thicker plate.

System Manager:	Pre-Piercing Set up. An option within "Defaults" allows you to enable the pre-piercing function, as well as to set a plate thickness, above which pre-piercing will be selected as default.

Nest:	Bug fixes
	Cancelling a new nest was causing a system eror under some circumstances.
	Control>Copy in drag mode. Components made small moves when put down.

Design:	Bug fixes
	DXF Import. Problems with incorrect positioning of text resolved.
	Delete problem. It was possible to delete a components underlying profiles, whist leaving the component, which was causing a system error.

Design SDL:	Transformer. The bend radius feature has been temporarily disabled.

Laser Functions:	New functions have been introduced for users of laser cutting machines:
	Low Power Piercing - Access from Options>Component
	Low Power Cutting - Access from Options>Component
	Skeleton Cutting - Access from Nest>PostProcess
	Plate Reclamping - Access from Nest>PostProcess

	The following additions need to be made to Nestcfg.ini to use these functions
	
	[System]
	LowPowerPiercing=1
	LowPowerCutting=1
	SkeletonCutting=1

	[PostProcx]
	LowPowerPierceOpenMinors=1
	PlateClampIncX=4000

	An additional PostProcessor custom variable has been added:
	@PlateClampIncX@

	Consult CES for information on obtaining and using these options.
Version 1.63 (17/02/1999)
Nest:	Post Processor Enhancement - Punch marking. It is now possible to punch mark from ShapeNest. To do this you obviously need a machine with punch marking capability as well as the "Drilling Extensions" option for ShapeNest. If you need more information on this option, please contact your dealer, or CES.
	Following keywords can be used in nestcfg.ini, (if you have the "Drilling Extensions" option):

	The values shown are the default values
	
	[PostProc...]
	PlasmaCodeOn=53    ;Applies to PP Type 3 and Plasma Process only
	PlasmaCodeOff=54   ;ditto
	PunchEnabled=0        ;(or =1 to signify that this machine has punching capability)
	PunchOnCode=9        ;The following codes apply to PP Types 1,3,4 only
	PunchOffCode=10
	PunchOffsetOnCode=11
	PunchOffsetOffCode=12
	
Version 1.62d (02/12/1998)
Nest:	Bug Fix. Post Processor - Bug in HeightControlFreeze, where an overrun is used on a leadout (and that leadout spans several profile elements) is now cured.

Design SDL:	Transformation Piece: Round to Rectangle. There was a bug in cases where the rectangle had radiused corners. This is now cured.

Version 1.62c (23/10/1998)
Nest:	Bug Fix. Post Processor - Bug in HeightControlFreeze, introduced in version 1.62b is now fixed.

Version 1.62b (12/10/1998)
Nest:	Bug Fix. Post Processor - Bug in HeightControlFreeze, introduced in version 1.60 is now fixed.
Version 1.62a (08/09/1998)
Design:	Drilling Extension
Size limits added to Post Processors Use the following variables in nestcfg.ini in order to set the maximum travels available on your machine.
[DrillPP1]
MinXLimit=0
MaxXLimit=1000
MinYLimit=-50
MaxYLimit=500

Nest:	Post Processor Program ID's. Now enhanced to allow a "-" sign as well as the alphanumeric character set.

Version 1.62 (03/07/1998)
Design & Nest:	Point-to-Point operations now available in ShapeNest for Windows.
	The facility to add point-to-point (eg Drilling, tapping, punching, centre marking) operations in ShapeNest has now been added. You must obviously have plant capable of drilling or punching. This option can be used with two different types of machine:
	For machines with both drilling and profiling capacity, a single program is produced for both the drilling and profiling of an entire nest.
	For seperate drilling and profiling machines. In this case, a single program is produced for the profiling work, and a seperate drilling program is produced for each of the different types of component required.
	In both cases, a single component definition is used, which features both the drilling and the profiling.
	This is an extra cost option. If you require more details, please contact CES.

Nest:	Bug fix.
Path Reset Leadin was causing an error under some circumstances.

System Manager:	Bug fixes. (New version 1.18a)
	Process>Thickness Data "Invalid Row" message was appearing under some circumstances. This is now resolved.
	Process>Leadout. Setting a default value of 180 degrees was causing a program error.

Version 1.61b (19/05/1998)
Nest:	Bug fix.
	PostProcessing. The first rapid move of a nest was not explicit. This only applied to a Type 3 Post Processor, and has now been rectified.

Version 1.61a (11/05/1998)
Design:	Bug fixes.
	Search Mode. If first element on a drawing was a circle, you could not search for (and find) its quadrant points in search mode (OK in quadrant mode)
	Profile>Standard>Rectangle was not checking properly for invalid input under some circumstances.
Nest:	Line Marking at Rapid Feedrate. If you set the marking feedrate (set in System Manager) to a value graeter than or equal to the Rapid feedrate for that process, then marking will take place at a rapid feedrate. (The exact nature of the output generated is machine dependent)

Version 1.61 (20/04/1998)

Design:	Bug fixes.
	ESSI Import. Under some conditions, problems were occurring when trying to make profiles using arcs created by an ESSI code import. Modifications have been made in the way that arcs are read, in order to overcome this problem.
	ESSI Import. Line marking data was being ignored if it had been carried out in rapid. (The import routines ignore any rapid moves). However if the line mark code is active (111) the lines will be displayed.
	Profile>Standard>Ellipse. At high ratios of major to minor axis size (>10:1), this routine was producing unreliable results. The routine has now been tailored to break the ellipse into more segments under these conditions to produce a more faithful shape.

Nest:	Bug fix.
	Path>EditICM. These routines prevent you from producing unnecessary ICMs by breaking an ICM into two pieces which could really be represented by the original single ICM. This routine was being a little over-vigourous under some conditions, but that has now been resolved.
	Post Processor Dialog. Accelerator keys have been added to all functions.

Nest:	Line Marking at Rapid Feedrate. If you require this, you should modify your nestcfg.ini file, found in c:\windows in the following way:
	...
	[PostProc...]
	...
	LineOffsetOnCode=5,114
	LineOffsetOffCode=12,6
	...

Nest:	Tracing Plate Outline. A new option has been added to Post Processing called "Trace Plate Outline". If this option is checked, then code is generated at the head of the program to drive the datum head around the extents of the plate, followed by a program stop, before the program proper begins. This can be useful to confirm that the plate is adequately big for the nest being cut and that the initial position and plate alignment are correct.

Version 1.60a (20/02/1998)

Design:	Bug fix.
	DXF Import. Problem with mirrored arcs appearing has been resolved.

Nest:	Bug fixes.
	Repeat>Fill was generating a system error under some circumstances if you abandoned the command part way through.
	File>Save. An incorrect warning was being generated saying that the data needed saving when in fact it was not necessary. It occurred when saving a nest with Kerf Compensation active. This is now fixed.	

Version 1.60 (22/10/1997)

Design & Nest:	Components with Pre-cut elements on the Major Profile. It is now possible to define a component where one or more elements of the major profile have been previously cut to size. For instance, a component may have been guillotined to its basic finished rectangular size, and only require profiling on one of its edges. The basic approach is to define the whole outline of the major profile, but then to designate one or more of the elements that make up the profile as pre-cut. In the example below, a profile is drawn thus...
	Some of its elements are marked as pre-cut (the dashed lines)...
	When turned into a component, each segment of major profile takes its own lead-in. 	Because these are now open profiles, the lead-ins can only go to one end or the other of each segment. Note also that the lead-ins may only be modified in the Design program, as with open minor profiles. There are no minor profiles in this example, but there is no reason why there should not be, both open and/or closed.  The final component would then look like this.
Design:	Profile>Pre-cut Element. A new option added to the Profile menu, to allow you to define one or more elements of a profile as pre-cut. It is a toggle function, so when you pick on a profile element it is turned from normal to pre-cut and vice-versa. A pre-cut element is shown by a dashed line. It is only possible to create pre-cut elements on a closed profile, and only possible to add a profile with pre-cut elements as the major profile of a component.
	Defining a Component with a Pre-cut Major profile. Start the component definition in the normal way. Pick anywhere on the major profile, and leadins and leadouts will be created using the current default styles for each segment of major profile. By picking Component>Major Profile, you can change the leadin/leadout parameters for each of the major segments individually. Note that it is only possible to start each segment at one end or the other, as with an open minor profile.

Design & Nest:	Pre-cut Elements. Reporting (Query>Entity) has been enhanced to show analysis of pre-cut elements.
	Line Marking. Reporting (Query Entity, Cutting Analysis) has been enhanced to show line marking analysis.
	Print Template. This function now supports the output of wide lines to inkjet type plotters. To set a custom line width for your plotter, say 0.8mm in this example, add the following line to the [System] section of the file \windows\nestfcg.ini that resides in your Windows directory:
	...
	[System]
	PlotLineWidth=0.8
	...

Design:	Bug Fix:
	AddComponent - It was possible to delete a component before you had properly placed it on the nest, causing a system error.
	DXF Import. DXF files involving ellipses. Prior to rel 13 ellipses in DXF files were passed as a number of small line elements. From release 13 onwards there is a specific ELLIPSE type in a DXF file. This version now imports and saves ellipses (or parts thereof ) as a standard ShapeNest 8-arc ellipse.
	Lead in to Circular Minor Profile. A line or 180 degree arc lead in whose pierce point lay on the centre of  a minor profile, generated an application error under some circumstances, if the lead in lay inside of the proximity distance (i.e. it was an illegal leadin). This is now fixed.

Nest:	Bug fix:
	Start Entity - When you added a start entity, post processing was missing out the first minor profile. (Introduced in 1.50a)
	
Version 1.50a (02/10/1997)

Nest:	Hold movement restriction in Drag Mode. This is a new option in Options>User. When dimensioning went into the Nest program (version 1.42) movement restrictions (H, V, \) were held as they are in the design program. However this is not how it had originally worked in drag mode within Nest, where the movement restriction was reset to free (\) each time you entered drag mode. Due to popular demand, this feature is back as an option, so that you can now work in either way. Uncheck this option to work in the old way; check it to work in the new way.

Nest:	Dynamic Clearance Checking has been improved so that if an active component is too close to another or the edge of the plate, it appears in a different colour, (purple by default) although it still remains active. 

Nest:	Arc Split Option in Post Processing. Some controllers can give unxpected results under some circumstances when cutting a full circular profile. There is now an option to split any arcs over 180 degrees into two parts. To use this facility, edit the file \windows\nestcfg.ini thus:
	...
	[PostProcessors]
	PostProc1=Burny,1
	PostProc2=ESAB,3

	[PostProc1]
	ArcSplitting=1
	...

Nest:	Bug Fixes
	Saving Nest. An error that occured under some circumstances in Version 1.50 is fixed.
	Cutting order when chain cutting with STOP and START entities - resolved.
	Date in print outs was appearing in American (mm/dd/yy) format.
	Form Length in print outs with fan fold paper was incorrect.
	Line Marking. The Line Marking First option in Post Processing was not being properly enabled.
	Line Marking with Line Marking First option enabled. When retuning to cut the major and minor profiles, post processing was paying a "phantom" second visit to the line marking.

Version 1.50 (02/09/1997)

IMPORTANT:	Internal file changes have taken place in this version reserved for future use. This version of the software will read all earlier data, but components created in this version of the software cannot be read by earlier versions of ShapeNest.

Design:	Profile>Fillet/Chamfer Corner. A new Looped corner type has been added. This is designed to give a sharp corner and is particularly useful with plasma cutting machines, although it can be used with all types. There are two types either using an arc (Fillet) or a straight line  (Chamfer).

Design:	Bug Fix:  In case you didn't know it, you can use <Alt> + <underscored letter> to pull down any menu (try it!). The Point and Profile menus were both using P as the shortcut key, which meant you had to press the <P> key twice to access the Profile menu. The Point menu now uses <i> as the shortcut key.

Design & Nest:	Enhanced Printing Capability. You can now enter an alternative printer font in the [System] section of the \windows\nestcfg.ini configuration file, for example:
	[System]
	PrinterFont=Times New Roman  ; Windows95 / Windows NT
	PrinterFont=TIMES            ; Windows3.x
	PostProc2=ESAB,3

Design & Nest:	Screen Background colour is now customisable. Colours appear in the file \nestlite\network\user1\nestuser.ini  The default values are shown below. The colours are stored as proportions of Red, Green and Blue. Each colour component can have a value in the range of 0-255    (0,0,0) is black.    (255,255,255) is white.
	[Colours]
	Background=255,255,255
	Element=127,191,191
	Profile=0,0,255
	Component=0,0,0
	ICM=0,127,0
	PostProc=0,127,0
	Active=255,0,0
	Those of you who have been itching to work off a black background, now is your chance!

Design & Nest:	Drag Mode. The following equivalences now exist when you are rotating in Drag Mode
	F5 = /	F7 = -
	F7 = *	F8 = +
	These keys are quite useful on notebook computers where the arithmetic operators are not normally accessible without pressing either a <Shift> or <Fn> key at the same time.

Nest:	PostProcessing. The facility to switch off Height Control during the leadout from a minor profile now exists. This is intended primarily for plasma cutting to stop the head from dropping beneath the plate level as the minor profile centre falls through.
	The following extract from \windows\nestcfg.ini shows how the system should be set up in order to utilise this feature.
	...
	[PostProcessors]
	PostProc1=Burny,1
	PostProc2=ESAB,3

	[PostProc2]
	HeightControlFreeze=1
	JobQName=newname
	...
	Note that this facility is enabled only for the ESAB range of controllers. It is also now possible to write to a custom JobQName. Your system installer will advise you if this is required.
	
Design SDL:	Transformer. The dialog for the transformation pieces has now been updated.
	Bug Fix: The Check view of the oblique cone was not correct under some circumstances. This is now fixed.

Nest:	Bug fixes:
	Text Marking. Errors in the position and size of marked text on the plate have been resolved. Marked text is now converted to upper case automatically on output to the cutting machine.
	PostProcessing. When post processing to a JobQueue for the first time, the Job was not being correctly added to the queue unless you manually added a job first. This is now fixed.

Version 1.44c (24/07/1997)

Nest:	Post Processing. Plasma cutting operations on the ESAB NCE series controllers now take the codes 53 & 54 for "cut on" and "cut off"" respectively, instead of codes 7 & 8 (which are still used for gas cutting)
Nest:	Bug fix: Select mode was being disabled under some circumstances (introduced in 1.44b)


Version 1.44b (21/07/1997)

Nest:	Text Marking Option. This is included as part of the Line Marking Option and will write text the nest for actual marking onto the plate. This obviously requires your cutting machine to have suitable facilities on it for such marking. Prefix any text with "!" and it will be marked on the plate.
	Options>Display. New option for Component Name Marking. (Only if the Line Marking option is enabled). This automatically adds the "!" prefix to component names.

Nest:	Line mark post processing. (only available with Line Marking option). The main post processing dialog box now contains an option to Mark Plate First, which will mark the entire plate (lines and text) before starting any cutting operations.

Nest:	Bug Fixes:
	Plate size Dialog. Made bigger to allow longer material names to be displayed fully.
	Nest>Open. The previously loaded nest was being displayed briefly as well as the new one. Or not so briefly, if your machine is a little on the pedestrian side.
	Remote Drive. When post processing to the remote drive, the system gets the next available program number from the remote machine, rather than the local machine.
	

Version 1.44a (07/07/1997)

Design:	Remote Drive option. ShapeNest now supports wide area networks (WANs) usually via a modem at telephone lines. Because the data transfer rates are relatively slow, when connecting a remote drive as a ShapeNest data drive, use the option
	RemoteDrive=drive:  in the [System] section of nestcfg.ini  This will stop ShapeNest from compiling a file list every time you use a file open dialog, which keeps the speed up. By presssing the Refresh button in the file dialog (this only appears if the Remote Drive option is enabled) you can manually update the list if you need to.
	Remote Post Processing. If the Remote Drive option is enabled, and you are working on the remote drive, then all post-processed jobs will be added to the remote job queue, which means that if you operate two sites, then you can centralise all your programming on one site. Contact us at CES if you need more information on these techniques. 
Design:	Bug fixes
	Spline Curves. The system crashed if you made a spline curve out of a spline curve!
	SDL 3-D viewer. Couldn't move tool bar window under some circumstances
Nest:	Bug fixes
	Dimensioning. Horizontal and vertical restrictions out of sync with setting shown in bottom right hand corner.
	
Version 1.44 (23/06/1997)

Design & Nest:	New Zoom Active Option added to the Graphics Utility Menu. The shortcut key is "Y". This options zooms you into to show just the currently active entities.
	File>Open dialogs. The double click required to change user directories has now been removed. A single click on the required directory will now immediately change to it, (or alternatively use the arrow keys to go up and down the list).
	Bug Fixes. System was not correctly handling Disk Full errors.
	Invoking Design or Nest from File Manager or Explorer now updates the recently used file list.

Design:	Options>Profile. A new option for automatic profiling allows a single unconnected element to be turned into an open profile. (Only use this option if you have data that is meant to contain single line profiles. A poorly drafted DXF file, for instance may contain plenty of single unconnected elements, and turning them all into single element profiles would not be particularly helpful!)
	Profile>FilletAtCorner / ChamferAtCorner now have a radio button giving the option of applying the corner break to one corner only (as previously), to all unbroken corners, or to all corners on the picked profile. Try these options on a test piece. For instance if a profile has 10 sharp corners on it, one of which needs a 20mm radius on it while the rest have a 5mm radius; Use "This corner only" mode for the 20mm radius then select just one of the 5mm rads and choose "All unbroken corners" to break all the remaining corners with a 5mm rad.
	Profile>FilletAtCorner now has a Corner Relief Option, as an alternative to the usual fillet radius. Try it!
	
Design SDL:	A corner relief option has been added to the transformation pieces.
	3-D Viewer. You can press F1 key or select help from the menu bar on the 3D Viewer’s window to obtain help on how to use the 3D Viewer. Also you can have a Toolbar window which has all the controls to manipulate the 3D object. 
	Bug Fixes.
	3-D viewer was consuming a lot of memory and not giving it back!
	Problem with round-rect and round-semirect when cut in two pieces has been resolved.

Nest:	Drag Mode. When you press the space bar for boundary, the boundary now comes up immediately, whereas previously you had to actually move the component in order to see the boundary added.

	Adding of Kerf to a Nest. When you create components in ShapeNest, they are created to true size (Part Edge Data - PED). However, before a nest can actually be cut, these components must be made bigger (or smaller for minor profiles) by half the width of the cut (Kerf Compensated Data - KCD). This conversion is currently made in the controller. The up-side of this is that it is very flexible, letting the operator adjust the size of the kerf, if he needs to. The down-side is, on the very popular Burny control at least, that the process is appallingly slow, particularly if the nest is fairly complex and contains a lot of arcs.  With the advent of this release, you are now able to add kerf directly to the nest, thus leaving nothing to do on the Burny, speeding up things considerability. (If you do need to change the Kerf, it is probably still quicker to re-postprocess it on the PC and download to the machine again, than it is to recalculate the kerf on the Burny anyway).
	Options>Nest. New check box added, to say whether Kerf should be added to the nest. There is also an edit box to enter the nozzle size, which determines the amount of kerf added (NozzleSize/2 is added all around the profile). Default values for this nozzle size based on process type and material thickness can be added in System Manager, in the same dialogs that you would use to alter the default feed rates.
	If you look carefully, you will see that for KCD, all the components in the nest have "grown" slightly. Also, when you add a boundary, it is automatically adjusted (reduced) to allow for the kerf which has already been added.
	When you post-process the data is all KCD and no kerf offset codes (29 & 30 on a Burny) are output. A message on the graphics printout tells the operator what nozzle size to use.

	Nest Clearance Checking. It is now possible to check whether any components are either too close to each other, or too close to the edge of the plate. To perform a clearance check, pick Cutting>ClearanceCheck. Any components that are closer than the clearance distance to each other or the edge of the plate will be drawn in a different colour (purple, by default). You can thus move them to new positions and then perform a further clearance.
	If your PC has plenty of go and/or your nests are not too complicated, you may want to try the Dynamic Clearance Checking option in Options>Nest. Using this option, the clearances of  the nest are automatically checked every time you drag components around, thus you can immediately see from the colour of a component whether it is in a suitable position or not.
	
	Bug Fix. Cutting>Analysis printout was missing some characters under some circumstances.

System Manager:	The Backup function has now been removed. Much better back up methods now exist within Windows and you should use those.
	Defaults Button. New options added to determine whether Kerf Compensated programs are permitted. (There is a memory overhead associated with using Kerf Compensated Data, so if your PC is a bit past it's sell-by date, you may not be able to use KCD with larger nests).



Version 1.43a (23/04/1997)

Design:	Detail bug fixes
	Profile>FixEndPoint. was not letting you search for an end-point on the active end!
	Line>PointCircle. If the point you pick lies inside of the circle you pick, an error should have been generated and was not. It is now.
	Problem on Profile>Chamfer under some circumstances now fixed.

Version 1.43 (21/04/1997)

Design:	Open Profiles. It is now possible to have Open Minor profiles on a component. An Open Profile is one that does not have a coincident start and finish point. It does however have two fixed end points and two new commands have been added for this purpose. They are described below. A profile that has one or more ends free is now referred to as being incomplete, as the term open now refers to a completed profile which does not have coincident start and finish points.

	Profile>FixEndPoint. This is used to fix the active (dotted) end of the active profile. You may use any of the point select modes in order to do so. Obviously the chosen end point must lie somewhere on the element which is at the active end of the profile. When you have fixed an end point, the active end switches to the other end if that has not yet been fixed. Once both ends of the profile have been fixed, no further editing of the profile is possible unless you use the command....

	Profile>FreeEndPoint. This command performs the reverse function of the previous command. Use it to make the fixed end of a profile free again so that you can edit it in some way.

	Open Profiles and Lead ins. If you require a lead in to an open profile, it should be included as a part of the profile.

	Adding an Open Profile to a Component. An Open Profile can only be added as a Minor Profile to a Component When you add an open profile to a component, you can start from either end, but from nowhere else. Note, as stated before, that no lead in or lead out are added to an Open Profile when it is added to a component. If one is required, it should be added to the profile itself.

	Choosing the Kerf Side. Since an Open Profile is, by definition not a closed shape, it is not possible to determine an "inside" or "outside". Thus, you pick whether you want to cut to the left or right (or along the centre line) of an open profile by selecting in the Options>Component dialog box. Note that Left or Right are relative to the direction in which you choose to cut the profile. An arrow is shown at the beginning of the profile when it is added to the component to show whether the cut will be offset to left or right.

	 We are endebted to our users for finding a particularly obscure set of bugs on this release!

Design:	Various Bug Fixes.
	Component Definition on Network Systems. If you picked Component>New and the Save Design dialog came up at this stage, then the name you picked was not being locked. Thus another network user could pick the same name, causing a conflict. This is now fixed.
	Control+C shortcut for Edit>Copy>Single is now implemented.
	Arc>PointPointRadius was drawing the wrong segment of Arc, in Arc (rather than full circle) mode.
	DXF Import. Some really obscure ones here. Arcs that come up mirrored about a vertical line drawn through the datum point, instead of where they they should be. Design Lite locked up on a 6Mb DXF file. This is more than it was intended to cope with. There really is no justification for a single DXF file of 2D shapes to be this big! Try to get a DXF file that only has the relevant bits. The routines have been amended to give a controlled error message if this condition is encountered in the future, but not to increase the capacity. 
	Text was appearing at the wrong angle on some DXF files
	Profile>Automatic. Made more robust to deal with some of the odd things that come from DXF files. 
	
NestLite:	Various Bug Fixes
	Box Selecting Full Circular Profiles. These were not being selected unless you enclosed the whole component.
	Adding Boundary in Drag Mode. Some shapes (that included very small arc segments) were showing full circles when a boundary was added. 
	


Version 1.42b (26/03/1997)

Design:	SDL. Problem with Oblique cone introduced on version 1.41 has now been cured.

Design:	DXF Import. With DXF files from AutoCAD rel 13+ it is possible to output 3D solid data which cannot be interpreted by ShapeNest. A message now appears if any of the following entity types are encountered - 3DSOLID, BODY, REGION and the data is ignored. You should ensure that these entities have been exploded to lower forms within AutoCAD before creating the DXF files.

Design:	DXF Import. There was a problem with DXF files containing nested BLOCK statements. This is now fixed.

Design:	Component Definition. It was possible, under certain circumstances, to add an incomplete profile to a component, causing problems (application errors) when you tried to nest it.

Nest:	Cutting Analysis. The format of the screen and printer format has been tidied up.

Nest:	Plate size. After changing plate size, some of the dimensioning functions were working incorrectly.

Nest:	Loading Incomplete Nests. If you load a nest for which some of the components are missing, changes have been made to make it easier to abort the load. (A dialog will appear with all the options).

Nest:	Saving of cutting order text size and Nest Options data. This information is now saved independently for every nest, rather than one set of system settings. This means you can count on the cutting order text size and dimension data to be consistent each time you load a nest.


Version 1.42a (28/02/1997)
Design & Nest:	Enhanced Printing. The Options>Mouse menu item has now been renamed as Options>User and an further option added called "Bold Printing" If this is enabled, double thickness lines are sent to the printer when printing graphics.

Design & Nest:	File Dialogs. Now track every keystroke to find the nearest match in the file list box. Not just for the first character as before.

Design:	DXF Import. Strange combinations of End-of-line characters in DXF files generated from some sources, were causing the file to fail to load. This is now fixed.

Design:	Mirrored Circular Profiles. Leadins were being incorrectly applied to mirrored circular profiles. This is now fixed

Version 1.42 (17/02/1997)
Design & Nest:	Improvement in the usability of File Open dialogs. The system now stores the last file name accessed and presents it to you next time you open the dialog. This means that if you are say adding components to a nest, you do not have to page all the way down the list for every subsequent addition.
	This applies in DesignLite to File>Open, File>SaveAs, File>Import, Component>New and Component>Select. In NestLite it applies to Nest>Open, NestOpen, Nest>SaveAs and Edit>AddComponent.

Design & Nest:	Saving of Wild card filters in File>Open dialogs. Sounds boring, but please read on, it could be very useful.   As your database builds you will obviously find a lot of parts, say in a component directory. However on a particular day you may only want to see a sub-set of these parts.  By typing in a Wildcard filter in the File name box, you will only be shown parts that match this filter. (eg "z*" will show all parts (and only parts) beginning with a letter "z". "zen*" will only show parts that begin "zen").  This filtering mechanism has been available in the past, the difference is that now the filter value is preserved for the next time you enter the dialog. To clear a filter, so that you see all of the files once more, type in "*" on its own, or press the "All Files" Button in the dialog. 
	This applies in DesignLite to File>Open, File>SaveAs,  Component>New and Component>Select. In NestLite it applies to Nest>Open, NestOpen, Nest>SaveAs and Edit>AddComponent.

	New 180 degree Arc lead-in type.  Previously an arc lead-in was restricted to 90 degrees of arc. A new option for a 180 degree arc lead-in is now available from the Options>Component dialog accessible from both Design and Nest. This new parameter may also be set as a default from the Process button in System Manager.  A 180 degree arc is particularly suitable for cutting small internal circular cutouts, enabling you to pierce centrally, whilst still retaining an arc lead-in.
	Note that the lead-in length in this case (180 degree arc) refers to the distance of the pierce point from the edge of the job, and hence represents the diameter of the lead-in arc. For example, assuming a 10mm leadin; a 90 degree arc lead-in will give a 10mm radius for the lead-in; a 180 degree type will give a 5mm radius for the lead-in. Note however, that in both cases the pierce point will be 10mm from the job.

Nest:	Point Select Modes now in Nest. In Query>Point-Point, for instance, you can now pick in modes other than freehand, (such as Centre, Search, Quadrant, available with a right click).

	Edit>ActivePoint function now added to Nest.  This function, previously available in Design, has now been included in Nest. This function now makes it possible to position one component with complete accuracy relative to another with the Edit>Move or Edit Copy functions.
	For instance to position component "B" relative to component "A", proceed as follows. Make "B" active. Pick Edit>Move. Using the correct point select mode, (RH mouse button) pick a reference point on "B". Pick Edit>ActivePoint (or <Ctrl>+<A>). Pick an anchor point on "A". (You may need to use a different point select mode). Type in the distance that you want the reference point on "B" to be distant from the reference point on "A". (The coordinate entry dialog should be set to Rel).

	Dimensioning now possible in Nest. The same dimensioning functions available in Design are now available in Nest. You will find them under the Annotate menu. Please note that because refenence positions of dimensions cannot be moved (as in Design), you should make sure that you are happy with your nest before you begin to dimension it. We also recommend for the same reason, that you dimension the components themselves in Design, and restrict your dimensioning in the Nest program to component spacing, size of material required, size of remnant etc.

Design SDL:	Transformer: Join, in rectangle case, is now down the middle of one side rather than along an edge
	Transformer: Bend radius now added as a parameter if one or more ends is a rectangle.

Design:	Various Bug Fixes:
	Unselectable elements on a profile.  Sometimes, after editing a profile (using Profile>Break and Profile>Close) some elemens of the profile were unselectable, and in extreme cases the file could not be re-loaded. This has now been fixed.
	Occasional lockups with a circular outer profile and and a negative overrun in Component definition cured.
	Offset profiles were following arcs in the wrong sense of direction under some circumstances.
	DXF Files not being recognised as such.  Caused by an odd combination of end of line characters, but now resolved.

Nest:	Boundaries in Drag Mode were following arcs in the wrong sense of direction under some circumstances. Now fixed.


Version 1.41b (23/01/1997)

Design & Nest:	Leadouts (on corners only) were being generated incorrectly. This problem had been introduced in version 1.41 and was also present in version 1.41a


Version 1.41a (18/12/1996)

Design SDL:	Problem with lobster back using Right Cylinder method resolved.

Nest & DNC:	Problem with long job queues resolved. We originally envisaged that the job queue would be a short list of current outstanding jobs. However those users lucky enough to get a lot of repeat work can tend to have rather longer job queues. The limit was previously around 700 jobs, but this has now been increased to around 2000. We would still encourage you to keep your job queue to minimum length by deleting unwanted jobs using Job Queue Manager. Deleting Jobs in JQM is made much easier by the multiple delete facility of Version 1.10 onwards of Job Queue Manager. Contact us for an update if your copy of JQM is earlier than this version.

Version 1.41 (22/11/1996)

Design & Nest:	It is now possible to set up a default value for Lead out, as a percentage of the leadin distance. Use the Process... button in System Manager to access this function.

Design & Nest:	Overrun Facility for Leadout. It is now possible to add an overrun value to a leadout. This is set in Options>Component. The overrun distance is how far around a "second lap" of a profile the head will go before the leadout from the profile. It is useful if the component is not properly detaching from the parent plate.
	Note that you can also set a negative overrun distance, which will stop that far short of a full lap of the profile, before the leadout. This would be used if you found that you were burning away the component by completing the full distance. Remember too, that when gas cutting, using a lead out in this case is also very helpful, especially with thick plate, where the gas down stream of the shut off valve can burn away the profile if you dwell on the edge of the profile.

Design & Nest:	File locking for networks.  Applies to networked systems only.  If you open a Design or Nest file, then all other users on the network are prevented from opening the file until you have finished with it. They are not prevented from loading other designs or nests in the same directory.

Design SDL:	Oblique Cylinder. An error was occuring if you set Angle A to zero.
	Oblique Cone. Input data is now for top dia and bottom dia, rather than dia and full height. Also the Offset value of the top and bottom centres refers to the centres of the top and bottom dia, rather than the bottom diameter and the apex.

Nest:	Full Drag  The ability to see all of the components that you are dragging in full outline, rather than just being shown as a box outline. It can be turned on (and off) in Options>Display. Whether you use it or not will depend on the power of your computer and the complexity of the components. Obviously it will probably be unusably slow on older 386's but much better on Pentiums. Use of Windows 95 or Windows NT would also be a help.
	Note that the "plant and throw" function is still only applied to the component that you actually pick up on.

Design:	Various bug fixes:
	Offset Profiles You cannot offset against an open profile
	Very complex components with over 100 minor profiles were being saved incorrectly, causing an error under some circumstances when you tried to Nest them.
	Profile>Fillet was not allowing a fillet on some line/circle cases.

Nest:	Various bug fixes:
	Path>Direction was being disabled if Show Rapids was switched of in Options>Nest
	Tool Buttons Some of the tool buttons were not being correctly disabled under some circumstances.
	Dragging Text If you ESCaped having changed the text size, it was not being reset to its former size.
	Dragging ICMs, Rotating and Mirroring.  ESCape function was not working properly with these functions.
	Multi-Component Drag / Rotate. The dimensions of the enclosing rectangle were not being properly maintained.
	Nest>Open. If you went to open another nest, changed directory then cancelled, the new directory was being maintained.

System Manager:	Some values were not being correctly saved with the new version of System Manager that came with version 1.40 of ShapeNest.
	

Version 1.40 (21/10/1996)

Design & Nest:	Tool bar with Tool tips. A tool bar is now provided in both Design and Nest for the most commonly used options. The icons have been kept deliberately small so as not to encroach too much onto your drawing space. The tool bar has smart help associated with it. To use this facility, just keep the mouse over any tool button for about a second. A short description of the tool function appears. Note that these tool buttons simply offer a different (and hopefully quicker) accesss to the menu commands. Using the tool buttons call exactly the same functions as the drop down menus. For those traditionalists among you, both the Tool Bar and the Tool Tips can be switched off  (and back on again!) with the new commands:
	 Options>Toolbar and Options>Tooltips. 

Design & Nest:	Recently Used File List.  Both Design and Nest now have a short-cut to the last four files accessed. These appear at the bottom in the File Menu in Design and the Nest Menu in Nest. Use these as a quick access to these files instead of using File>Open.

Design:	Shape Development Library. A Shape Development Library is now available for ShapeNest for Windows. This handles cylinders and cones, right, oblique and offset; pipe to pipe intersections; section transformation pieces; lobster-back bends.  However, it is an extra cost option, not included in the basic system. If you require more information, please call CES.

System Manager:	A new version of System Manager (version 1.10) is now being distributed with ShapeNest. You are no longer required to modify the process and material data using the text editor (notepad.exe). System Manager now has integrated editing of process and material data. The data is stored in exactly the same format as before, so if you prefer, you can still use a text editor to change the files if you prefer.

DNC Server:	A new version of  DNC Server (version 2.21) is now being distributed with ShapeNest.

Design:	Various bug fixes: 
	Box select and Zoom functions: have been changed to prevent the appearance of phantom rectangles (which disappear if you "Refresh") if you release the mouse off the main drawing area.
	Profile>Fillet and Arc>Tan-Tan-Radius: sometimes a radius between a line and an arc was not being permitted, when really it should have been.
	Profile>Break: was showing all of the base elements, when really they should have remained hidden, except for the element on which the break was performed.
	Copy>Single: If you made a mirrored copy of a profile then the direction of lines was incorrect on the copy. This meant that if the copied profile appeared on a component, it's leadin would be on the wrong side of the line. (ie on the inside of a major profile and the outside of a minor).
	Profile>Break, Profile>Reverse, Copying a Profile: Any fillets or chamfers on the profile became just plain lines or arcs. This prevented any further editing of the fillet or chamfer size using Profile>Fillet or Profile>Chamfer.
	Annotate>Angle: the text of the angle dimension was being printed over the dimension line and was thus becoming obscured.
	All the above are now fixed.

Nest:	Various bug fixes: 	
	Box select and Zoom functions: have been changed to prevent the appearance of phantom rectangles (which disappear if you "Refresh") if you release the mouse off the main drawing area.
	Delete in Drag mode: it was (unintentionally) possible to press delete in drag mode with rather unpredictable results.
	Nest>Save As: If you changed the directory and then cancelled, it was possible to add components of a different thickness to your nest. - Nice one, whoever found that out!
	Options>Nest: If you changed the arrow size, the program was not refreshing the screen automatically to reflect those changes.
	All the above are now fixed.

Version 1.32d (16/05/1996)

Design & Nest:	Colour settings now customisable. Colours appear in the file \nestlite\network\user1\nestuser.ini  The default values are shown below. The colours are stored as proportions of Red, Green and Blue. Each colour component can have a value in the range of 0-255    (0,0,0) is black.    (255,255,255) is white.

	[Colours]
	Element=127,191,191
	Profile=0,0,255
	Component=0,0,0
	ICM=0,127,0
	PostProc=0,127,0
	Active=255,0,0

	If you find that some lines are not coming out on the printer, you should adjust these colours so that they do print. 

Nest:	Problem from version 1.32 resolved to do with NoTapeHeader function. Versions from 1.32 - 1.32c could output spurious information ahead of the main program, which cause problems durnig DNC transfer.

Design & Nest:	ESCaping from Zoom functions was causing an escape from the underlying function that you were in. This caused a particular problem if you were just starting component definition, disabling all the component menu options.

Version 1.32c (09/05/1996)

Design:	Changes to colour settings (for Windows 95)

Version 1.32b (17/04/1996)

Nest:	Format changes to Bystronic laser.

Version 1.32a (12/04/1996)

Nest:	Additional parameter added to StartCode and EndCode post processor configuration parameters:
	@BlockNo@ - outputs the next sequential block number

Nest:	Format changes to Bystronic laser.

Version 1.32 (11/04/1996)

Nest:	New switch added in configuration file nestcfg.ini to suppress the outputting of the first two lines of a tape file to disk  i.e.
	                          - {program information}
	                          *** {plate size information}
	This is useful if you intend to transfer files via File Manager direct to a floppy disk for transfer to the cutting machine. (For the floppy disk option available on some ESAB controllers, for instance). It is also required for direct access of the data via a network (as is the case with the control on the Bystronic Laser). An extract of nestcfg.ini follows:

	PostProc1=Joes Burny,1
	PostProc2=NCE500 Machine,3
	PostProc3=Bystronic Laser,5,1

	[PostProc1]
	...

	[PostProc2]
	NoTapeHeader=1
	...

	[PostProc3]
	NoTapeHeader=1
	...

Version 1.31a (02/04/1996)

Nest:	Modifications to new Laser Post Processor Type.


Version 1.31 (14/03/1996)

Nest:	New Laser Post Processor Type added (for Bystronic Laser).

Nest:	The following system variables may be used in custom start and end code sequences for post processors:

	@ProgID@ ...........................	Program ID no
	@FeedRate@ .........................	Cutting feedrate
	@PlateX@ ...........................	Plate size on X
	@PlateY@ ...........................	Plate size on Y
	@Thickness@ ........................	Plate thickness

Version 1.30d (24/11/1995)

Design & Nest:	Problems in printing of Grey lines to Hewlett Packard printers resolved.

Version 1.30c (15/11/1995)

Nest:	Problems in outputting line marking of arcs cured.

Version 1.30b (06/11/1995)

Nest:	A system error was occurring under some cicumstances when adding a new component to a fully archived plate.

Nest:	Amendments to post processing for line marked components.

Version 1.30a (05/10/1995)

Nest:	A problem in Reorder has been cured. Under some circumstances a system error was occurring.

Version 1.30 (21/09/1995)

Line Marking:	This version includes support for cutting machines with line marking attachments.  The Line Marking function is a seperate option which must be purchased at extra cost if required. If it is enabled, in Design Lite you will see an additional option in the Component menu called Line Marking. It lets you define some of the minor profiles as being Line Marked, rather than cut.
	When postprocessed, line marked profiles will be preceded by the Line Mark Offset On Code (114) and the Line Mark On Code (110). After the end of a line marked profile the Line Mark Off Code (111) and the Line Mark Offset Off Code (12) will appear. If these codes are wrong for your machine, you can change them in the nestcfg.ini file as follows:
	
	[PostProc...]
	...
	LineOnCode=110
	LineOffCode=111
	LineOffsetOnCode=114
	LineOffsetOffCode=12
	...
System Manager:	Version 1.03 of the System Manager now saves the current data drive rather than always defaulting to the home drive.

Design:	Occasional, and usually unpredictable, lockups when zooming in have been found and resolved. To prevent further problems, a maximum zoom in level has been set, which is reached when the window size represents an area one hundredth of a millimetre square! These changes should also speed up the response time when zooming in to a small part of a complex drawing.

Nest:	Post processing with looping enabled: this was not being permitted if the first entity on the nest was a START. This is now fixed.

Nest:	Occasional system error when enslaving components is now fixed.

Nest:	Improved usability in Reorder and LeadIn functions. When selecting components in the course of Reordering or of Changing Leadins, the system was "seeing" ICMs before the components, meaning that you needed to pick components well away from any stray ICMs. ICM's are now invisible to these functions, making the whole job much less fraught.

Nest:	Significant improvements to the way that Reorder works. There were four basic functions; Clicking (to pick the next in sequence); <Enter> (to finish, selecting all the unpicked entities in their previous order); <Esc> (to abandon the reorder); <Backspace> (to Undo the previous selection). 
	There are now two additional functions; <Tab> (to pick the next entity in the current order); DoubleClick (to pick all the entities up to the picked entity, maintaining the current order).
	These new functions are particularly useful when the order is generally right, but you just need to slot an additional entity in. (usually a STOP!).
	For example: you have 100 components on a nest and you decide that you want a STOP between sequence no 75 and 76. You add a STOP entity (as sequence no 101!). Pick Path>ReOrder. DoubleClick on component at sequence 75. All the first 75 are picked, maintaining their previous order. Pick the STOP. Press <Enter> to finish. Components 76 to 100 are added in their previous order.

Nest:	Post processing more than four, or so, nests back-to-back was causing lockups under some circumstances, if printing was enabled. This is now fixed.

Nest:	Various small changes to do with cutting order number display; positioning is neater; size comes out correctly on printer, (including from post processing where it was previously not being shown at all); screen is automatically refreshed if you change the text size in Options>Display.

Nest:	If a user defined START is used it now appears on the post processor print out. 

General:	The printing of multiple copies is now enabled in Design and Nest, if your printer is capable of it. (Any printer, apart from the older dot matrix printers should be capable of this).

Version 1.25 (12/07/1995)

Nest:	In Post-processing, the output to the JobQueue now adds the date and time of entry to the queue. (Your JobQueue Manager program must be version 1.06 or later).

Version 1.24 (20/06/1995)

Nest:	In Edit>AddComponent, the Description and Plate Type fields are now filled in every time you click on a new component name in the file list, so that you can better ascertain if you have selected the correct component.

Version 1.23d (15/05/1995)

Design:	A system error was occurring if you deleted the current component, (as you were working on it!) in Component>New. This is now fixed.

Design:	DXF files from AutoCAD Release 13 generated codes not previously recognised by the Import software. This is now upgraded.

Nest:	The DisableMoveHome function in the custom post processor codes was removing the KerfOff and CutOff commands as well as the final move home. This has now been fixed.

Version 1.23c (13/04/1995)

Nest:	Post Processor enhancements added. It is now possible to have custom start codes, custom end codes and the facility to limit the length of a single linear move for any machine that requires it. These changes are made by editing the file nestcfg.ini, which lives in your windows directory (normally c:\windows). The section that follows is taken from a typical nestcfg.ini file. Note that any line that begins with a semi-colon ( ; ) is a remark and thus not interpreted by the program. Also note that you can copy the relevant sections from this document and paste them directly into your own copy of nestcfg.ini

Extract from nestcfg.ini follows...

[PostProcessors]
; Format is:   ID String, ID No, PP specific options
; where :-
;    ID String    Free form text - can be anything (comma free!)
;    ID No        Any of the following are valid
;                 1 - ESSI Output for Burny
;                 2 - G code output for Farley ANCA
;                 3 - ESSI output for ESAB NCE control
;                 4 - ESSI output that runs with Burny and ESAB NCE
;    PP specific  For use only by CES

; If there are multiple choices (as below), you will be presented
; with a menu at run time. If you specify ony one post processor
; (PostProc1) with you will go straight to this post processor
; without going through an intermediate menu

PostProc1=Joes Burny,1
PostProc2=Farley Wizard,2,2
PostProc3=NCE500 Machine,3
PostProc4=NCE/Burny Common Post Processor,4

; Following sections are only required if you need to change the
; Post processor default behaviour.

; The parameters which may be changed for any machine are:
; ProgIDNumeric   1 - Yes
;                 0 - No  Program name can be alpha-numeric
; ProgIDLen       Max length of program name
; ProgIDPad       1 - Pad to max length
;                            with '0' for numeric names
;                            with ' ' for alpha-numeric
;                 0 - Do not pad program name to length
; MaxMove         Value in mm of the largest single linear move
;                 of which the machine is capable. Moves larger than
;                 this amount will be automatically split up.
; MaxRadius       Largest radius in mm that the control can resolve.
;                 A radius larger than this value will be split
;                 into a series of small straight lines
; ChordHeight     the value in mm of the maximum deviation of the
;                 path from a true arc when MaxRadius is invoked
; DisableMoveHome 1 - Do not return back to the original start point
;                 0 - return back to the original start point
; StartCode       A series of one or more blocks of output at the
; EndCode         start and end repectively of the program.
;                 Each block of output is seperated by a comma ( , )
;                 eg EndCode=63,99,\ would be output as:
;                           63
;                           99
;                           \         at the end  of the program
;                 Also the following system variable can be used:
;                 @ProgID@   - the current Prog ID suitably formatted
;                 @FeedRate@ - the cutting feedrate.
;                 eg StartCode=%,P@ProgID@,71 would be output as:
;                           %
;                           P00001234
;                           71         at the head of the program
;                 Use StartCode=NONE and / or EndCode=NONE
;                 to suspended output of codes

; The formats shown below are the DEFAULT behaviour for each
; post processor type.You only actually need to enter a parameter
; where you are not happy with the normal default behaviour.

[PostProc1]
; Defaults for Burny (Type 1)
ProgIDNumeric=1
ProgIDLen=8
ProgIDPad=1
MaxMove=99999
MaxRadius=99999
ChordHeight=0.25
DisableMoveHome=0
StartCode=%,P@ProgID@,71
EndCode=99

[PostProc2]
; Defaults for Farley (Type 2)
ProgIDNumeric=0
ProgIDLen=8
ProgIDPad=0
MaxMove=99999
MaxRadius=99999
ChordHeight=0.25
DisableMoveHome=1
StartCode=G59P10333,(O@ProgID@,G71,G91G50X0Y0,G39AV0,F@FeedRate@
EndCode=G39A0.,M02

[PostProc3]
; Defaults for ESAB NCE (Type 3)
ProgIDNumeric=1
ProgIDLen=9
ProgIDPad=1
MaxMove=99999
MaxRadius=99999
ChordHeight=0.25
DisableMoveHome=0
StartCode=3,@ProgID@,4,71
EndCode=63

[PostProc4]
; Defaults for Burny / NCE (Type 4)
ProgIDNumeric=1
ProgIDLen=8
ProgIDPad=1
MaxMove=99999
MaxRadius=99999
ChordHeight=0.25
DisableMoveHome=0
StartCode=NONE
EndCode=99

... End of extract from nestcfg.ini

Please Note	If you are unsure of what modifications, if any, you should make to your system, please fax a copy of your nestcfg.ini file to CES on 01937 586979.

Version 1.23b (04/04/1995)

Design & Nest:	Zoom functions could not be accessed under some conditions.

Version 1.23a (21/03/1995)

DesignLite:	Fix to a profile direction problem created by version 1.23

Design & Nest:	Query Element now highlights the queried element.

Version 1.23 (17/03/1995)

General:	Support added to run under Windows NT

DesignLite:	More dynamic zooming is now possible; for instance, mid way through, Copy, Move, Line definition, Dimensioning, etc

DesignLite:	Occasional errors on non tangential arc intersections in Profile>Automatic cured.

DesignLite:	Circular profiles created using Profile>Automatic (rather than Profile>Standard>Circle) were giving an error when a boundary was applied to them in NestLite. This is now fixed.

NestLite:	New function added under the Edit menu: Edit Properties. Enables you to change the X, Y and Angle values for any component, stop or start entity on the nest. You can also access the function by double-clicking on the required entity in Select mode. If multiple entities are active, they will all have the same relative transformation applied to them.

NestLite:	Inconsistencies in cutting direction arrows fixed.

NestLite:	Using Nest>SaveAs now forces Post Processing to take a new Program ID, thus preserving the program ID associated with the old Nest name.

NestLite:	Problems that occurred if you Freed or Unarchived entities that were originally chain cut have been resolved

NestLite:	The problem of "lumpy" circles when plotting to a large format plotter is now cured.

Version 1.22c (15/02/1995)

NestLite:	Fix of error in post-processing of a large arc into multiple straight lines under some circumstances.

Version 1.22b (10/02/1995)

SystemManager:	Was allowing spaces in directory names, which were unreadable in File Manager.

DNC Server:	Better handling if the serial port is not available at start-up.
	* This mod is not in general distribution. It is normally only applicable when the system is initially installed. Call CES on 0937 585127 if you require it.

DNC Server:	Protocol added for Westinghouse Lynx controller. Again available only on request.

NestLite:	Fix of error in post-processing under some circumstances. (if a number of feed moves preceded two or more chain cut elements).

NestLite:	Lock-up on Networked Tape Punch cured.

NestLite:	System was losing memory under some circumstances. This is now fixed.

Design & Nest:	Floating point error when drawing small arcs on large components cured.


Version 1.22a (20/01/1995)

NestLite:	Problem with man readable string and mystery lock-ups on Networked Tape Punch. Large arcs disappearing on hard copies to some printers.

NestLite:	Lockups when zooming in on a nest with Stop and/or Start entities on it has been cured.

NestLite:	Occasional lockup when adding a Start Entity cured.

Version 1.22 (12/01/1995)

DesignLite:	DXF import now imports Text entities.

Design&Nest:	Some legal extension leadins were being refused (if the profile had originally been drawn clockwise)

NestLite:	Direction arrows were being shown in the wrong direction if a profile was originally drawn clockwise,  although the post processor output was correct.
Version 1.21 (08/12/1994)

DesignLite:	DXF import bugs fixed; (1) Problem with small rads; (2) DXF files that started with remark codes (999) were being treated as ESSI tape files!

NestLite:	Support now available for a Networked tape punch.

AVLConvert:	Used to transfer data created in the older DOS version of ShapeNest to ShapeNest for Windows. Release 1.02 of this utility is now available. It now copies Visi-CAD files created under the DOS system to the Windows version. It now also accepts source data from either of the floppy disk drives (a: or b:).

Visilink:	This utility is now available to create ShapeNest for Windows components directly from Visi-CAD.

Version 1.20e (25/11/1994)

NestLite:	Detail changes, only applicable if you are loading components, groups and nests, created old the old DOS / Matrox version of ShapeNest.

Version 1.20d (22/11/1994)

DesignLite:	When picking a component with the mouse,  created in version 1.19f or earlier, the software was not properly finding it and so the options in the Component menu were not correctly enabled.

NestLite:	In "Path>ResetLeadin", leadouts were not being correctly reset.

NestLite:	A problem with the looping end point has been resolved.


Version 1.20b & 1.20c (09/11/1994)

These versions of the software sort a number of small bugs in the inital 1.20a release. Most of the problems were associated with archived and enslaved entities in NestLite.
It also speeds up the redraw when you zoom into a small part of a large nest.

Version 1.20a (03/10/1994)

Major Revision of ShapeNest for Windows.
Please note that files created or modified by this release cannot be read by earlier versions of the software. Existing data is converted automatically as it is read in.


Introduction

This version of ShapeNest for Windows benefits from much improved control of the cutting path between components in the NestLite module.

The summary sections show in outline the new facilities which have been added, to give you an overview of the additional functionality that is available.

A section then follows which describes some new concepts which have been introduced.

 The detail section which follow that, show how the menus and dialogs have changed in order to facilitate these changes.


Summary of new features - General

Translate function on the graphics pop up menu lets you pan across the screen at the current scale, which saves having to pan out before zooming in on a new area.

Lead outs for both line and arc styles are now enabled.

Find file function lets you find a design or nest when you may not be sure what directory it is in.

Summary of new features - DesignLite

Offset profiles may now be created, which are a set amount bigger or smaller than an existing profile.

Query an arc now also shows the arc length.

Description field for each component created.

Show function in component dialog to show all the components created by a particular design.

Move function in component dialog to move components which may have been put into the wrong production thickness directory.

Rename component function.

Modify component description and specification function.


Summary of new features - NestLite

Custom start position. Select any point on the nest to start and finish the program.

New style for start and stop allows for more precise positioning.

Analysis, query and post processor output show component description.

Rotate and mirror functions available for the whole nest.

Switchable display of cutting direction.

Switchable display of cutting order.

Switchable display of cutting path.

Chain cutting function.

Avoidance moves in rapid.

Automatic advance cutting of minor profiles when chain cutting.

Looping style programs available with continuous cutting.

Quick change cutting direction function.


New Terms and Concepts

Lead-out	A move away from a component with the cut still on, after the profile has been cut. Can be used to prevent gouging of the profile after it has been cut.

ICM	An Inter-Component Move. The move or moves that connect the final postion of one component with the first position on the next component. On earlier versions of the software, these were single straight line moves in rapid and were only seen during the post processing stage. They have now become fully editable elements of the nest. They can be added to and moved using Path>Edit ICM, changed to feed or rapid using Path>Rapid/Feed, and can be deleted and copied in the same way as any other entity.

ICM Node Point	The point where two ICMs join.

ICM Chain	The collective name for the sequence of one or more ICMs that join one entity on the nest to the next.

Chain Cutting	A method of  cutting where the system continues to cut between two components, saving the pierce time associated with second (and any subsequently chain cut) components. )ie where the ICM chain between to components is all rapid moves).

Detail of changes and new Functions - Design Lite

Menu Name	Comments

File>Open	A Find button has been added to this dialog. When you pick it, you can specify a file specification (eg *.des, acme*.des) and the system will display all the design files that match that specification, regardless of what directory they are in. Useful if you think you (or someone else!) may have mis-filed a particular design.

Query>Entity	If the chosen entity is an arc, its perimeter length will be displayed.

Profile>Offset	Pick a profile, pick an application side relative to the picked element on the profile, then enter the amount of offset required. A new profile will be drawn either inside or outside the existing profile, depending on which application side was picked. Note that there may be unexpected results if an offset is so large that it causes lines or arcs to disappear.

Component>New	A Show button displays all the components created from this design, regardless of their production directory.

	A new free format Description field lets you add further details of a component (eg description, issue) which appears on the analysis printouts.

Component>Select
	A Show button displays all the components created from this design, regardless of their production directory.

	A Rename button allows you to rename the highlighted component in the file list. When you press the button, you will be asked for the new name. Note that the button is disabled if there is no highlighted component name in the file list box.

	A Move File button lets you move the highlighted component in the file list box, into the directory highlighted in the directory list box (which should be different to the directory where the component currently resides, shown above the directory list box). The button is only enabled if these conditions apply.

	A Modify button lets you change the description and plate type for the current component. It is only enabled if a component has been highlighted in the file list box. Once you have started a "modify" operation, you must confirm or cancel it before you can return back to the main dialog.

Options>Component
	The Lead out options are now enabled. They follow the same rules as for leadins, and if used a leadin / leadout of the specified type is added at the point that you pick on the profile.

Graphics>Translate
	Access to this function is via the Utility Menu (press the right hand mouse button in the graphics area of the window) or by simply pressing "T" on the keyboard. A magnifying glass type cursor appears; press and hold the mouse on the desired target point, move the mouse to the destination point and release the mouse. The design will be panned, so that the target point is moved to the destination point. Try it, it's easier to do than to describe!



Detail of changes and new Functions - Nest Lite

Menu Name	Comments

Nest>Open	A Find button has been added to this dialog. When you pick it, you can specify a file specification (eg *.nst, acme*.nst) and the system will display all the nest files that match that specification, regardless of what directory they are in. Useful if you think you (or someone else!) may have mis-filed a particular nest.

Nest>Translate	Lets you rotate the entire nest, including the plate, through 0, 90, 180, or 270 degrees. The rotation is relative to the current angle of the nest, not the original absolute zero angle. You can also mirror the nest. Mirroring is about a vertical line bisecting the plate in its current position.

Cutting Menu	General. This menu has lost the following items; ReOrder; Lead-in; Reset Lead-in, which have been transferred to a new immediately adjacent Path menu.

Cutting>AddStart
	A new function, similar to the existing Stop Entity. It defines where the initial position of the main cutting head is on the plate, if it is not either the bottom left, or top left, corner. The post processed output will start and finish at this point.

Path Menu	A   new menu for this release. It contains some items from the old "Cutting" menu, as well as some new ones associated with editing the new ICM entities.

Path>ReOrder	The same ReOrder function that lived under the "Cutting" menu. When reordering, if the cutting order between two entities on the nest remains the same, then the ICM data between them will be maintained, otherwise it will be replaced with a single rapid ICM.

Path>Lead-in	The same Lead-in function that lived under the "Cutting" menu. ICMs adjoining the Leadin that you move or change will be automatically be updated.

Path>Reset	The same Reset function that lived under the "Cutting" menu.

Path>Direction	Changing the direction of cutting of the major profile of a particular profile has been made much easier in this release. When you pick this function  you will see a special cursor type. Every time you click on a component, you reverse the cutting direction of its major profile. It is also possible to show direction arrows on a component, to make this task even easier still. (see Options>Nest)

Path>Rapid/Feed	This function is used to toggle an ICM between rapid (a dotted line) and feed (a cutting move represented by a solid line). When you enter this function you will see a special cursor type. Using this, it is possible to chain cut between two or more components if required. If some of  the chain cut components contain minor profiles, these will be automatically cut in advance if their outside profile have been chain cut.

Path>Clear	This function will remove all the ICM data from the current nest, replacing them with a single rapid ICM in-between each component.

Path>Edit ICM	This function can be used to move, delete or to break one ICM into two connected ICMs. When you enter this function you will see a special cursor type. 
	Moving a node point. If you drag on an ICM node point, you can drop it at a new position, as required.
	Deleting a node point. If you drop it on an adjacent node point, you will delete the ICM that previously connected the two adjoining node points. You can also select ICMs to make them active and delete them in the usual way. However, since it is node points that you are trying to delete, both ICMs connected to the node point must be highlighted.
	Breaking an ICM in two. If you pick somewhere along the length of an ICM, you will break the ICM in two, creating a new node point which can be dragged to a new position before releasing the mouse.

Options>Nest	This dialog box has now been extended to control the following:
	Show Rapids. Controls whether ICM moves are displayed or not. It can be useful to temporarily hide them whilst working out the actual nest.
	Show Cutting Order. Controls whether the cutting order is displayed ( as a sequential number on the major start point of each component, stop or start entity.
	Show Cutting Direction. One or more direction arrows appears on each component if this option is enabled. The size angle and frequency of the arrows can be controlled via options in the dialog.

Options>Component
	The Lead out options are now enabled. They follow the same rules as for leadins, and if used a leadin / leadout of the specified type is added at the point that you pick on the profile.

Options>Display	An additional item has been added to this dialog to control the size of the numbers which represent the cutting order.



Version 1.19f (12/05/1994)

DesignLite + NestLite: On some machines (notably Olivetti M300-30P) there was a mystery crash when adding fillet radii in Design and boundary in Nest. Modifications in this release should cure this problem.



Version 1.19e (02/09/1993)

DesignLite: Corrected arc and line intersection to stop unnecessary chopping          during automatic profiling.

DesignLite: Fixed general protection failure in DXF import.

DesignLite: Query entity now displays arc perimeter length and also displays the area of the selected circle.

DesignLite: When creating a new profile it was possible to corrupt the database by picking in fresh air, this has now been corrected.

DesignLite: When trimming an infinite line is was possible to pick the same point to trim to with both picks, this caused a floating point error. 

DesignLite: On a DXF import,  if the object was a closed object and its last member was a polyline, the bulge of the polyline was lost. This caused a straight line to be drawn.

DesignLite: On a DXF export  again as in previous bug the bulge of the last polyline wasn't correctly exported.

DesignLite: When creating an Arc using the Centre - Tangent method, under certain circumstances the wrong circle was created.

DesignLite + NestLite: When dragging non-component entities eg. text, it was found that if the space bar was pressed to give the boundary of the component, a system error occured. Non-component entities shouldn't have this option.

NestLite: When using Repeat/Fill there is a 10% rule to stop over creation of duplicate components. It was found that the pick in the X direction was also been in used in the Y direction instead of the Y direction pick.

NestLite: Removed "%" from the NCE/Burny post processor. This caused the DNC server to fail while downloading programs to the cutting machines.

NestLite: When amending the plate size it was found that the plate was incorrectly placed under some circumstances.

NestLite: Error caused by escaping mid-way through Repeat/Fill has been cured.

NestLite: Amendments to read  format of old  Nest files.

AVL Convert: Custom post processor datum start points where moved to a different position in the nest header to stop being overwritten by the program ID.  Also a dummy program ID was assigned if the nest didn't contain one.

System Manager: If PROD directory name was entered as uppercase then an error occurred.

Setup: Now loads up tutorial examples on a new installation.

Version 1.19d (14/07/1993)

DesignLite + NestLite: Check made when copying entities. If number of copies produced is more than 1000, the user is asked to confirm the operation. This guards against accidentally making thousands of copies on your nest.

DesignLite: Dxf Export - file names with no extension automatically take a .dxf extension.

DesignLite: Automatic fillet removed from Profile Options dialog box.

NestLite: Now allows single PP of non Burny type.

JobQueue Manager: Support for multiple Job queues

DNC Server: Support for NCE500/510

Version 1.19c (02/07/1993)
DesignLite: Minor bug fixed in Circle/Tan Tan Radius where new circle is tangent to two existing circles, one inside the other.

NestLite: Minor bug fixed in Repeat/Fill rubber band box.


Version 1.19b (29/06/1993)

NestLite: All of man readable header is now punched. Options dialog now disappears before header is punched. Post processor list does not appear unless more than one post processor is configured.

NestLite: Post processors changed to be as follows:     (End codes are now configurable).

Type	Program No	5/6 codes	End code
Burny	P00001234	No		99

NCE500	3	Yes		63
	000001234
	4

NCE/Burny	None	Yes		99

DesignLite + NestLite: Error message boxes in Open dialog set to be modal.
Version 1.19a (24/06/1993)

DesignLite: Can now close a one element circular profile.

DesignLite: Occasional bug causing problems when defining leadin on horizontal or vertical lines fixed.

DesignLite: Show dimensions now enables and disables the dimension functions correctly.

NestLite: Space to add boundary no longer causes occasional Stack Underflow errors.

NestLite: Bug fixed in post processing circular profiles (problems occured when two or more of the same circular component were on the nest and the leadin had been changed on one).

NestLite: Error message boxes in Select Component set to be modal.



Version 1.19 (18/06/1993)

NestLite + DesignLite: Calculated Edit boxes introduced. Where you can enter a number - e.g. co-ordinates, angles, repeat counts etc, you can now enter expressions - e.g. 180 * sin(45). 

Valid operators are:	Example	Result

+	addition	2+4	6
-	subtraction	10-3	7
*	multiplication	2.2*4	8.8
/	division	3/4	0.75
^	raise to the power	3^2	9
PI	the constant pi (3.14159)	PI/2	1.57080
COS	cosine	cos(60)	0.5
SIN	sine	sin(60)	0.86603
TAN	tangent	tan(60)	1.73205
SQR	square root	sqr(9)	3
ATN	arctan	atn(0.5)	26.5651
ASN	arcsin	asn(0.5)	30
ACS	arccos	acs(0.5)	60
ABS	absolute value	abs(-4.52)	4.52
LN	natural logarithm	ln(4)	1.38629
EXP	exponential	exp(4)	54.5982
INT	integer value	int(4.52)	4
SGN	sign	sgn(-4.52)	-1
LOG	base 10 logarithm	log(4.52)	0.65514

Operators can be used together with brackets to form expression such as:

sin(sqr(90)) * log(4) + PI / 2 = 1.67003

If there is an error in your expression, for example typing 'son' instead of 'sin', then the application will beep and put the cursor where the error occured. Note that comma (,) works the same as tab - if you are constructing a line point-point and type 10,10 [RETURN] then the point (10,10) is used for that end of the line.

NestLite: Post Processing - support for GNT Tape Punch added. Clicking on the Device... button in the Post Processor Options dialog box brings up a Device dialog box where you can choose Psion or GNT, and set lengths for tape leader and trailer etc. The Comms... button is now on the Device dialog.

NestLite: Reorder - Aborting reorder now works properly (reordered components were staying red). You can now press Backspace to undo the last component you reordered, right back to the beginning of the reordered list.

NestLite + DesignLite: Improvements to New Component dialog (better checking of component names and better handling of escape), Ellipse Standard Profile (handles equal major and minor axes), Hard Copy (all nests have Program ID on the printed output, designs have a proper header), ESSI Import (full circles handled properly) and Profile Automatic (better handling of 'difficult' arcs).



Version 1.18 (24/05/1993)

NestLite + DesignLite: 'Print Template...' command added to Nest/File menu. This is useful for producing full size line following drawings. Clicking on Print Template pops up a Print dialog box, allowing you to select a printer. On pressing OK a box the size of the printable area is displayed on the cursor. Clicking the left mouse button causes the area under the box to be printed full size. Note that if there are any active entities then the Print dialog defaults to 'Print Selection' rather than 'Print All'. Print Selection causes only active entities to be printed.

DesignLite: 'Import' command added to File menu. You can now import ESSI tape files. This works in much the same way as DXF Import. Select a file in the Import dialog box, and the ESSI code is read into DesignLite as lines and arcs. You can then make profiles and components as required. This can be used for importing ESSI code produced by any source - not just ShapeNest Lite.

System Manager: Main System Manager window is now disabled while using Notepad to edit system data files. This prevents inadvertently switching back to System Manager before Notepad terminates.

NestLite/Job Queue: 'Next Program ID' is now stored so that every program can now automatically have a unique Program ID. When post processing a Nest to the Job Queue for the first time, the next available Program ID is displayed. (A Nest's Program ID is checked against the Job Queue and a warning displayed if that job is already on the queue for a different nest - so you need not worry about accidentally overwriting an entry on the Job Queue.) When a Nest is re-post processed it retains and displays its previous Program ID.

NestLite: Fixed GP Error when post processing a looping nest, fixed printing.



Version 1.17 (18/05/1993)

DesignLite: Now has 'Annotate' menu, with Add Text, Change Text and Name as in NestLite. Text entry box enlarged. Can now have up to approx 1000 words in each Text entity.

DesignLite: Fixed bug which caused Assertion Error / GP Error when filletting a profile if more than one active entity.

Dimensioning: Dimensioning moved to Annotate menu. You can now drag dimensions in much the same way as text. The reference points stay fixed, while the leader lines and the text position can move around.

NestLite: Program ID moved to main Post Processing dialog box. Can now automatically add the tape to the job queue by checking the 'To Job Queue' box. Job Queue Manager now pads Program IDs to eight characters with zeroes.

NestLite + DesignLite: When using Annotate/Name, new names are displayed in the same size as the last name you added; i.e. if you add a name, use Page Up/Page Down to change the text size, then add another name then the second name will come up the same size as the first.

NestLite + DesignLite: If you try to activate too many entities, there is a message and all entities are deactivated (instead of a GP Error).

Version 1.16a (11/05/1993)

Setup: Now asks if you would line to read the Release Notes at the end of installation.

DesignLite: Ellipse macro fixed (was always drawing at 0,0 with zero angle).

DesignLite: Fixed bug causing errors when saving large Design files containing profiles.

Dimensioning: 'Rubber band' guide lines are drawn when you are picking text position.

NestLite: Now handles archived components correctly on Cutting Analysis - archived components count towards plate usage but don't count towards any other totals - pierce count, weight of parts cut etc.

NestLite: Change Text now works differently... To change an item of text, activate it alone, then pick 'Change Text' from the Annotation menu. The 'Change Text' menu item is disabled (grey) if there is not exactly one text item active. Alternatively double click on the text you want to change.

Version 1.16 (06/05/1993)

DesignLite: Additional standard profiles added - Segment, Cone development and Ellipse.

DXF Import: Now compatible with files produced on a Macintosh. (These files have only a Carriage Return at the end of a line instead of the usual Carriage Return, Line Feed pair).

Bugs fixed in Copy Grid (did not respect Horizontal, Vertical restrictions), Post Processing (was redrawing nest immediately after post processing - bug introduced in 1.15) and Save Design (was failing occasionally on large files due to software error).
Version 1.15 (04/05/1993)
DesignLite: DXF Export added (File/Export...). Profiles and Components are exported
to a DXF file as POLYLINEs, with lead-ins exported as LINEs or ARCs.

NestLite: Archiving extended: archived components must be unarchived before they
may be copied, moved, deleted etc. Archived components appear on Post Processor
printout as major profiles only, providing the operator with a view of the 'skeleton' of
previously cut parts.

NestLite: You can now use the Escape key to interrupt post processing if necessary.

Component Options: System prompts for confirmation if an attempt is made to set
leadin angle to 90 degrees.

A bug causing redraw to sometimes miss the top left portion of the window was fixed.




Version 1.14 (22/04/1993)
NestLite: Cutting/Archive and Unarchive active components added. Archived components count towards usage but are not cut and do not figure in cutting time, pierce count etc. This enhancement allows you to cut components from a portion of a plate, archive those components, then nest more components onto the remaining plate.

More resilient error handling in Post Processing added. If the post processor encounters a problem it simply stops post processing instead of terminating the application.

Bugs in reset leadin on circular major profiles fixed. Bugs in change leadin causing problems when a minor profile is picked fixed.

DesignLite: various bugs in automatic profiling fixed.




Version 1.13h (08/04/1993)
Compiler bug causing numerous problems with 1.13g fixed. Problems included inactive drive boxes and GP faults when box selecting in NestLite.

Version 1.13g (06/04/1993)
Entering zero for fillet radius or chamfer length is now the same as pressing 'Remove Fillet'.

Minor bug in dimensioning (unable to dimension clockwise profile arcs) fixed.

Bug in post processing arc leadins fixed.

Bug causing occasional floating-point crash when adding first dimension fixed.

Intersect mode now works properly for all cases.
Version 1.13f (24/03/1993)
DesignLite minor bugs fixed in intersect mode.

NestLite bug causing feedrate to be zeroed when saving changed leadin data fixed.

System Manager released.



Version 1.13e (22/03/1993)
Bug in NestLite Reorder fixed; text was handled wrongly.

DesignLite Query/Entity fixed; directory and weight are now correct.

DesignLite minor bugs fixed in Edit/Activate All and Profile/Reverse

Support added for post processors to approximate large radius arcs with straight lines.


Version 1.13c (18/03/1993)
Bug causing problems on saving then opening a Design fixed.

Bug causing problem with proximity check on leadin creation fixed.

DXF Import now remembers the last directory used.


Version 1.13a (11/03/1993)
Cutting Analysis now interpolates feedrate for thicknesses between defined values (in process.dat), and warns of thicknesses outside defined values.

Bugs fixed in Nest/New and Profile/Break.


Version 1.13 (10/03/1993)
Bugs fixed in Dimensioning and File Dialog.

NestLite - can now move and resize text without escaping 'Annotation/Name' mode .


Version 1.12 (01/03/1993)
Farley ANCA Post-Processor added.

Run NestLite & Run DesignLite removed from DesignLite and NestLite menus.

Quirk which caused file list to scroll unnecessarily removed from File Dialog boxes.

Setup routine changed to install this file into the CES ShapeNest Lite group.
