Q During the installation it could not launch the version 6 dongle part but since we have version 5 I manually ran that part. On the PC when I log in as the user it says it is swapping the registry settings, waits and then nothing happens. The version of the DesKey part is the same and the Borland part is the same. Can I tell anything from the exit log on the PC? If I log in as Administrator on the same PC I get the Estim login and password box. I have set the user as Administrator on the PC - was Power User - but no difference. A Swaping the registry – It only does that once – the first time Estim runs so that’s ok. Did you use BDEADMIN to change the dataset and network lock files? “Nothing happens” usually this is because it can’t find the dongle. Did you select DK2 because this is used to set the flag in the registry. Look in a working PC HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Computerised Engineering\ESTIM for Windows DK2 flag Create the key Set up the DesKey utility from Control Panel to the same as a working PC. ESTIM writes to the registry during normal operation. If this is locked down by your system or a user has a different sections for current user then you may have to copy sections of the registry. I believe David did this! Q I have an error using estim and windows 2000. When I preview any reports, I get access violation error, I click on OK, minimise the screen, then maximise, and the preview appears. But I cannot use the next page buttons, estim just locks, also number of pages is incorrect. A When the report is generated single or muliple pages, it spools one or more pages to a temporary file set in the system variable TMP. The path to this file should be short and not contain spaces. To set this system variable GO TO Control Panel - System - Environment variables - TMP - Set to C:\Temp The report fails because the temporary file it uses is located in a folder with a path which is too complex. This is caused by the default location specified by Windows XP The (For Windows XP)solution is:- Control Panel System Advanced Environment variables TMP c:\temp (ensure there is a folder of this name) Be certain it is the TMP file – not the TEMP parameter Q Reports with only a single page display and print fine but when the report has multiple pages, the system fails. or When I preview a report with more results than can fit on one page, it displays only the first page and then crashes. ESTIM is still running but the report is unfinished. A When the report has muliple pages, it spools them to a temporary file set in the system variable TMP. The path to this file should be short and not contain spaces. Control Panel - System - Environment variables - TMP - Set to C:\Temp The report fails because the temporary file it uses is located in a folder with a path which is too complex. This is caused by the default location specified by Windows XP The (FOR wINDOWS XP)solution is:- Control Panel System Advanced Environment variables TMP c:\temp (ensure there is a folder of this name) Be certain it is the TMP file – not the TEMP file Q When using Macros in MS Office When it says “The macros in this project are disabled” ? A Go to Tools – Macro – Security – Trusted Sources - Visual Basic Also Tools – Macro – Security - Security Level - Low Resave the Macro to ensure the Project (Word) knows macros are enabled. Also check that the hard coded file is in the correct folder C:\Program Files\Computerised Engineering\Estim for Windows\Bid Price.txt Also – Ensure you are exporting the Bid Price data. Q Andrew Gardener Moore of Wallisdown We are having speed issues regarding accessing the Estim database across the network. The user has a 100mb connection from the desktop running on a Window 2000 workstation and is currently the only one accessing the software. A It could be a virus checker or the wrong version of Borland BDE Here are the essential files from my working system. They are not an "Install" package but if you back up your folder then copy these into yours, then check the BDE admin to point to the Data folder and Net Dir it could have an effect. Q Using bid price, the fixed cost is being divided by the batch quantity, where it should be the same no matter the quantity, A The reason for your material results is that in the Extra costs you have ticked the One per batch box. This means that the material cost calculated for a single component is shared across the whole batch, whatever the quantity. Hence it is shown in the Fixed cost column. Untick the One per batch box and you will get the figures you are looking for. Q I've noticed on my machine, that no values are set against computerised engineering in the registry, the folders are there but no values. I've looked on other machines and this is the difference. So it looks like your installation disc is not working correctly.I also have administrator rights. A ESTIM has not got going yet. Probable cause - can't see the dongle. Check the Exitlog.txt file in the ESTIM for Windows folder Q I have just put estim onto a new pc & authourisation code does not seem to work Also 'default to metric' saying 'unable to set data' & so cannot proceed. A You do not have write permission to the registry. Review the Windows log in permissions Q How do I e-mail a report A If you pick custom report - Export, ESTIM will create a file of the reportname.txt in the working directory. If you pick Report Custom Change options - reportname and then put an export file name in file like - myfile.wri, exort will create a file of that name in the working directory. Run the report - use explorer - or create a folder on desktop to show the working directory. Create an e-mail addressed as necessary and drag the .wri file into the message to attach it. OR right click the .wri file and Send To Q I have a Custom report but want to select parts within certain dates A You can use the Parameters in the Query. Open the report - Report DataSets - Properties - Parameters Edit the SQL to include the condition eg AND (PART.Completion_date < :End_date) where :End_date is the new Paramter. Click the Parameter button and make the options for End_date Ask for valuebefore printing and Datatype Date Q I've come across these files in my data folder- they are dated 1998 . They are numbered 1 to 15 << File: NEWPA~12.PJB >> Do we need to keep them? A Newpa~xx.pjb where xx is a number? Estim doesn't use any .PJB files - You can delete them Q When I put a comment into my report either from History - comment or Quotation comment I get a strange error in the report saying Field "........" is of unknown type. A You have been unfortunate enough to enter text which has a "rich text" meaning and if looking for a reference to an extenal data source. - Re word your text and avoid using the colon symbol. Q ESTIM runs slowly on some PCs A Check to see the Borland Database manager version - it should be 4.51 Version 5 runs more slowly than 4.51 and older versions may not be fully compatible. Q Why does my report of previous quotes work on one PC but not on another. A Check the date format in Control Panel - Regional Options - Date and make sure they match the format in the database manager - C:\Program Files\Borland\Common Files\BDE\BDEADMIN.exe - Configuration - System - Formats - Date MODE SEPARATOR Character used to separate the month, day, and year components of a date value; such as, the "/" in "12/31/96." The default is the character normally used in the country selected in the Windows Control Panel when any BDE application is installed. MODE Controls the order of the month, day, and year components and can be 0 (for MDY), 1 (for DMY), or 2 (YMD). The default is the order normally used in the country selected in the Windows Control Panel when any BDE application is installed. FOURDIGITYEAR Specifies the number of digits for the year value (four or two). If TRUE, years are expressed in four digits (such as, 1996). If FALSE, the default, years have two digits (96). YEARBIASED Tells the BDE application whether or not it should add 1900 to years entered as two digits. For example, if TRUE and you enter "7/21/96," the BDE application interprets your value as "7/21/1996", otherwise, the date is interpreted as entered (in this case, "7/21/0096"). Default: TRUE LEADINGZEROM Specifies whether or not single digit month values have a leading zero. For example, if you enter "1/1/80" and this is set to TRUE, the BDE application interprets the date as "01/1/80." If FALSE, the value is "1/1/80." Default: FALSE LEADINGZEROD Controls whether or not single digit day values have a leading zero. For example, if you enter "1/1/80" and this is set to TRUE, the BDE application interprets the value as "1/01/80." If FALSE, your date is "1/1/80." Default: FALSE Q How do we enter a delivery charge, I know there is a distance field in customer, but where do I enter the mileage charge? A. Extra cost tab New Extra cost Bought out item Category Transport Product TRANS Double click the Distance field This adds the unit cost in the product (£0.40) time the distance field. If you want to add a particular delivery charge you can do it as a custom item fixed cost or create a new product with a fixed cost or delivery charge from supplier - but that would attract a supplier markup if one is set. Q Estimating a machining time in Task Action form - I can't see the values in Material - Mat units - Tool. A Youi may have changed the desktop colour scheme to Silver - so our greyed out font is the same colour as you background to you can't see them. Change the scheme to Blue or change the background colour. Q The error messages Exception EDBEngine Error in module vcldb30.dpl at 000185DA. Index is out of date. when they try to start Estim. A You need to run BPTBLUTL.EXE Remember to move EU_PWD.* to a safe folder first and move them back after you have processed the ESTIM data. Q Wheb I try to run BPTBLUTL.EXE I get an error - The dynamic link library TUTIL32.DLL could not be found in the specified path. - C:\Programn files\computerised engineering\Estim for Windows;,;C:\Windows\system32 etc. A TUTIL32 is on the ESTIM CD Put it in the system32 folder Q Installed the program and the server monitor works, however Estim cannot find the dongle, we are still unable to run the program. A If you use a version 5 DK2 server (Service) you will have to use the Version 5 Client. It is on the install CD bdk2wn32.exe Q In extra costs, description, whatever text we write, I can get this printed on the bid price, unfortunately other characters appear? Also I would like to print this on the quotation, however I can only print 1 line of text. To test, select a quote add a custom extra cost DESCRIPTION, type a couple of lines of text,then preview in Bid Price., you should see that only one line of text is shown. A The Descriptions are Memos which can be formatted with the RTF object. Q What I want to Print is The Issue which appears in the Header questions on the MAIN front screen,under Header questions. This has to appear on the quotation letter we send to the customer, which we want to do through Estim. A To select one particular header question you can create a new query where the Header_q contains the question you want. Q Because I have been playing with the quotes, is it possible to delete existing quotes, I found the delete icon on quote, but I cannot seem to remove the quote number. Example if I delete quote Q76, so nothing appears in the quote. when I go back to the quotes the number Q76 is still listed. A The lack of delete is deliberate - You can use Access to delete the record in Quote_H.db if you really want to remove it from the list. You can leave the detail in Quote_D.db Q Created a simple report using wizard, selected Part.dbf and a couple of fields. Previeved the report, and access violation appeared, clicked OK, and the box dissappeared, the report was displayed, click on next page - error, did not work Metafile error appeared. A. Re-install ESTIM with Supervisor rights Q I would like a simple explanation of the following, if possible. Manipulation factor Gauging factor Setting factor Cutting relax Manual relax Setting relax. Help on this would be appreciated. A When a task is done by hand or the bits of a machining task that needs an operators attention, the time involved is multiplied by this number so a very automatic machine might have a small Man. Factor - say 0.1 Whereas a completely manuanl task or operation would have a 1.0 value. The value is stored in the machine file and applied to all tasks done by that machine. In most of the machining formula code tasks, there are manipulation considerations which can be controlled through this factor. Using the Formulea and Expressions type task, you can make a time be for Cutting, Manipulation, Gauging or Rapid time. Gauging factor This is the same sort of thing as Manipulation factor except it is applied to just the Gauging parts of a task. Setting factor This is the same sort of thing as Manipulation factor except it is applied to just the Setting parts of a task. Cutting relax Now because you cannot rely on anything happening as predicted 100% of the time you have to have the change to add some slack. Some machines or operations require more slack than others. Fatigue allowance or toilet stop is another way of thinking of this. There used to be work study figures for this - on average 12.5% of time was added to give union members time to rest. Robots can perform at the 100% rate but heavy manual work requires rest time - so each Machine has a rating for relaxation. You can apply different amounts of rest to each category of time Cutting, Manual and Setting as each category has a different level of fatigue. Manual relax Same as Cutting relax but only applied to the Manual bits of the time. Setting relax. Same as Cutting relax but only applied to the Setting bits of the time. Q If we change a product price , i.e. Sheet costs, will this affect all existing quotes? And if so, can a quote be locked. The quote is a snapshot which is locked by default and you unlock it with edit. The Bid price will be recalculated automatically though - see System Option Autorecalc Q Can you tell me where the manual time is picked up from, if possible I would like to remove it. A There will be a Tool change Speed change and Feedrate change time - values in machine file - Costs and times. There could also be a value in the task - actually in a prompt (Manip per pass) and there could be values in the task Optional items. Q I need to set a SAw up in Estim, so that I can use feeds in the material file. It seems I need another application, but am unable to create one? A Creating a new application is a hard coding job - what you need to do is use the rough vertical milling application with a tool type for sawing. You should find one already there. It is standard issue - It could have been deleted. __________________ Yes This is a setup cost. If the machine/progerammer is charged at £40 per hour and you want a £10 chage that's a quarter of an hour ie 15 mins. There should already be a setup for some machines - use those as examples. If you use a setup type task - the time and hence money is divided equally across whatever batch size is entered. Ok now thanks, not sure what the cause was. I want to try a different idea, I want to be able to add a charge of £10 or £15 for programming, where the cost is divided into the batch size, automatically at bid price. I.E If the charge is £10 and the batch is 10 then a £1 is added to the cost of each component, and if 50 then the charge is 0.20p and so on. Does this make sense. > The string I have used is man='1/'2 > > > > Cut and paste this to yours - if still a problem then check you have > values in prompt 1 and 2 - they must be valid numbers. > > It was on settings, so I deleted the task then created it again, using > formulas and expressions, and I still get the error message. > Is the task Formula type "Expressions and formulas" There is a error with this task formula. All I am trying to do is divide the reply in 1 by reply from 2 i.e. 15/90 = 0.166 see attached. ___________________________________ Q. What do the figures %M+S relate to on the Bid Price? And what is H Cost? A. %M+S is the percentage of the Bid price derrived from the Material cost and the Setup time. H is Heat treatment - in your case it should always be zero. It is derrived from an Extra cost Heat treatment type item which references a meterial where a heat treat time is defined and then the System parameter converts the time to money. ___________________________________ Situation Unable to get the paint costs correct, on a sample you did, a formula was used. .2*#L#*#W#*2/1000000 and the parameter box appears. Q. How do I setup Parameters, I can get values in the left hand part of the screen i.e. Length, Width and Thickness, L,W,T. How do I get the Entries to appear in the right hand screen. Select Set, Set name. cannot enter anything in these boxes? A. Focus on Set name Click "New Record" icon A new set name box will appear. ___________________________________ Q. For Instance Stock Code 99800018 relates to a sheet 3000 x 1500 x 10MM 43A, I want to pick this sheet and in the drop down box, only be able to choose a thickness of 10MM. I have tried setting up the stock code, but I have to enter a thickness in the drop down box, but there are no values to enter. A. From Extra Cost you pick a type which is Sheet. That will have a thickness box and a material type. In the Resources database there is a the form for sheet library. There you define a sheet of a selected Material - having a thickness, width and Length.If you select Custom sheet you select material type and thickness then define the sheet size. Q. Quotation menu, how do I get my estimate to appear in the Quotation side. When I do open a existing quote there is nothing there, or when I do new, a blank line appears in blue with zero values? I've found the quote template, and modified it to suit and saved it under a different name, altered options and system to use this template. So basically I want to be able to print the quote, ready to send to a customer. A. > When estimating you need to select a customer > When Quoting select the customer to quote to and the parts for that > quote will appear in the selection drop down. > > You can define your default quote template in Options under Estimating > on the Main menu. > _______________________ Does the error keep happening until the PC is rebooted, or what? I can't remember whether the export file is in a common/shared network location, or if everyone makes their own copy. If shared, I wonder if two users are attempting to export simultaneously. If this turns out to be the case it may be possible to trap the error and give user option to retry. From Delphi > Help Menu > Keyword Search > "I/O errors" 100 Disk read error Reported by Read on a typed file if you attempt to read past the end of the file. 101 Disk write error Reported by CloseFile, Write, WriteIn, or Flush if the disk becomes full. 102 File not assigned Reported by Reset, Rewrite, Append, Rename, or Erase if the file variable has not been assigned a name through a call to Assign or AssignFile. 103 File not open Reported by CloseFile, Read Write, Seek, Eof, FilePos, FileSize, Flush, BlockRead, or BlockWrite if the file is not open. 104 File not open for input Reported by Read, Readln, Eof, Eoln, SeekEof, or SeekEoln on a text file if the file is not open for input. 105 File not open for output Reported by Write or Writeln on a text file if you do not generate a Console application. 106 Invalid numeric format Reported by Read or Readln if a numeric value read from a text file does not conform to the proper numeric format. -----Original Message----- From: Ian Burrows Sent: Friday, May 18, 2001 12:52 PM To: Paul Burrows Subject: FW: Estim For Windows Error Do you have an errors list to help me here? :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Ian Burrows ian@ces-ltd.co.uk Computerised Engineering Tel (01937) 585127 Fax (01937) 586979 www.ces-ltd.co.uk Make Time with ESTIM Save Costs in EMTRAC :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -----Original Message----- From: Chaney,David [SMTP:DACHANEY@crabpress.co.uk] Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2001 10:27 AM To: Ian Burrows; Carol Stead Subject: Estim For Windows Error Paul/Ian One of our users has had an error message when using the Custom Report -> Export function within Estim. After selecting the report format file (mtms Link.qr2) he received an 'I/O Error : 103' error message. (File not open) This has occured a couple of times recently, but I'm not sure if there has been anymore occasions or if any other user has experienced this. Any ideas ? A. The .ini file for the report contains the export file - try Report - Edit - Options and check the export file name. or If there is a registry string value called "PreactorExportFolder" specifies a valid folder, this is used for Preactor export files. If there is a registry DWORD value called "PreactorVersion" with a decimal value, this value is used to determine the format of Pre_prod.csv. If the value is less than 9 it is in the old format, otherwise (including if there is no value in the registry) it uses the new format. If a part has no ops, its details are not put in either export file. _________________ To be studied ExtraCostsMLabel = category (M) on end (P) To help solve report - wants Materials priced separately from Sub contract extra costs This is more a function of the Cust report I think you need to show me how! Put " (M)" and " (P)" on the end of appropriate extra cost category names. In the bid price quantity band, add a Label component (toolbar button with letter "A"). Right-click for "Options" and set the Name field to "ExtraCostsMLabel" or "ExtraCostsPLabel" as appropriate. Save report in data dir as Cust_bp.qr2 (it should ask you whether to overwrite). _________________ For some reason it seems that you have to select "Force new page" in both the bid price header band, and the footor band directly above it. If either is not selected it does not force a page break. _________________ Idea Ring people who bought the competition and ask them how they're getting on. If possible, what do they dislike about it, and what do they particularly like about it. Do MCL give good service? This is an IDB job, as the aim will be to discuss both technical and engineering issues. This will help us to understand what we are up against, what we need to improve, and any of our software/services we can push in the knowledge that it is a weak-spot of the competition. Companies involved are: Kaby, Richmond Precision, Higar. What are the concerns of potential customers? Features We believe that Estim for Windows has a wide range of features which can be used in various ways to suit the estimating requirements of each manufacturing company. We listen to our users' requests and are more than happy to enhance the software to cope with new and changing requirements. We are committed to having a class-beating product. Expertise We have been writing, installing and supporting computer systems for engineering companies since 1976. We know how to help you integrate these systems into your business processes in order to gain maximum efficiency. Of course, this can only happen with commitment from you to work with us to properly implement the software. Support We try our best to give quick, helpful, and friendly telephone support. Our staff have a range of experience which can be focussed on keeping you productive. Upgrades Estim for Windows undergoes constant enhancement, and our users play their part by telling us what they want. Preparing an upgrade for release obviously takes time and effort from the enhancement process, and so we try to find the best trade-off between the rate of improving the software and the frequency of upgrades. Training Our two-day training courses usually take place in our offices, but they can be on-site if required. Integration We can link our systems to those you already have, therefore reducing data input requirements, and further improving your efficiency. With links between your systems you can have more time, and with Estim for Windows you can be more profitable. And it only sounds to good to be true!! Don't spend too long thinking about it -- you may as well pour money down the drain!! Mailer Important The profitability of your company is obviously important. To maximise profitability you must maximise efficiency. Estim for Windows, and links to other systems, helps you to be more efficient. Basing new estimates on previous ones is yet another way to cut-down on the work you need to do. Make sure you quote the right price -- use Estim, don't just guess. Urgent Don't put-off making the most of your resources -- don't let the competition get ahead. _____________ Paul Can we have a new report Report Cutting tool consumable tools Op No. 10 Opeation Name Activity Machine name Tool (accumulation of all like tools) Run Time Cost Tool (accumulation of all like tools) Run Time Cost Tool (accumulation of all like tools) Run Time Cost ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sub Total mins ££££ Op No. 20 Opeation Name Activity Machine name Tool (accumulation of all like tools) Run Time Cost Tool (accumulation of all like tools) Run Time Cost Tool (accumulation of all like tools) Run Time Cost ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sub Total mins ££££ Op No. 30 Opeation Name Activity Machine name Tool (accumulation of all like tools) Run Time Cost Tool (accumulation of all like tools) Run Time Cost Tool (accumulation of all like tools) Run Time Cost ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sub Total mins ££££ Grand Total mins ££££ All operations Tool (accumulation of all like tools) Run Time Cost Tool (accumulation of all like tools) Run Time Cost Tool (accumulation of all like tools) Run Time Cost ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Grand Total mins ££££ _____________________ Borland database management setting IDAPI If another software system loads a configuration of Borland it may overwrite the setting needed by ESTIM You should check the file idapi32.cfg in Program Files\Borland\Common Files\BDE Check the registry regedit for H_KEY LOCAL MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Borland \ Database Engine CONFIGFILE01 Program Files\Borland\Common Files\BDE\IDAPI32.CFG DLLPATH Program Files\Borland\Common Files\BDE\Normal 5.01 ______________________ I get Class Not Registered Error, This error appears when I click on the drawing button. (CHK) To install Vecta draw utility. copy vdraw2D.ocx from the CD to C:\windows\system32 Regsvr32 C:\windows\system32\vdraw2D.ocx Q When I run a report "Machine data" I get access violation. When I edit the report and preview I get canvas does not support this function A It's to do with the default printer. Have you got a windows printer set as default. If its only a text printer or "file" you will get this error.