The Table option (also available with ) creates an optional tool data table and displays specified tool/cutter data. Use this option to define the format of any user-defined tables you would like to generate as part of the postprocessing of an APT/CL file. A common use of this function is to build tool list tables containing tool number, tool length, machine time, and so on.
However, these tables are completely definable in the postprocessor, and each postprocessor can maintain any number of tables.
NOTE: Your IMS license must include the macro utility in order to support this feature.
Each tab on this dialog is described below.
Table Definition
The dialog for the Table Definition option is shown above. It includes the following:
Field/Button Description
Column Title Displays freeform text describing the header of this column of report data. Place the cursor in the text area and enter text. Be descriptive as to what will be output at the top of each page.
Attached Variable Specifies a variable name to be output in this column in the report file for each block of data.
Field Format Describes the format (using #.#) of the field output for this column of the report file.
New Table Creates a new table.
Delete Table Deleted the current table.
Add Column Adds a new column to the report file block by block output.
Delete Column Removes a column from the report file block-by-block output. Click in a field of the column you want to be removed and then click Delete.
Text file Creates the report as a text file (.TXT).
Report Menu and Options: Table Field/Button Description
HTML file Creates the report as an HTML file (.HTM).
XML file Creates the report as an XML file (.XML).
Program Header
The Program Header tab is used to define the format of the header to be placed at the start of the output NC program in the report file.
The blank text box enables you to enter text describing the header. Variable data fields are represented by a string of ^ characters, which may also include a period (.) character for real value variable fields. The text may be any number of lines, consisting of any number of fixed or variable data fields.
1. Enter the text in the text box, such as shown in the example above.
2. Then, enter the length of the field. For example, if you enter 20 ^ characters after text, you specify a variable length of 20 characters.
Be sure the length of these strings will be large enough to contain the variables, otherwise the text within the variable could be truncated.
3. Click the Variables button and the following dialog is displayed, as shown below.
4. Specify the variables that are associated with the text. There should be a variable specified for each string of ^ characters.
In the example below, note that two variables are required for the fourth line (DATE and TIME).
5. Click OK to save your work.
Report Menu and Options: Table
Program Footer
The Program Footer tab is used to define the format of the footer to be placed at the end of the NC program in the report file.
The blank text box enables you to enter text describing the footer. Variable data fields are represented by a string of ^ characters, which may also include a period (.) character for real value variable fields. The text may be any number of lines, consisting of any number of fixed or variable data fields.
1. Enter the text in the text box, such as shown in the example above.
2. Then, enter the length of the field. For example, if you enter 20 ^ characters after text, you specify a variable length of 20 characters.
Report Menu and Options: Table Be sure the length of these strings will be large enough to contain the variables, otherwise the text within the variable could be truncated.
3. Click the Variables button and the following dialog is displayed:
The number of rows in on this table corresponds with the number of variable data fields you entered. In the example above, there are three rows of variable data. You will specify a variable for each string of ^ characters.
4. Click in a variable area and enter the value for that variable (such as GLOBAL.CONTROL in the example above).
5. Enter values for each variable.
6. Click OK to save your work.
Report Menu and Options: Table
Page Footer
The Page Footer tab is used to define the format of the footer to be placed at the end of each page of the output NC program in the report file.
The blank text box enables you to enter text describing the footer. Variable data fields are represented by a string of ^ characters, which may also include a period (.) character for real value variable fields. The text may be any number of lines, consisting of any number of fixed or variable data fields.
1. Enter the text in the text box, such as MACHINE: in the example above.
2. Then, enter the length of the field. For example, if you enter 15 ^ characters, as in the example above, you specify a variable length of 15 characters.
Be sure the length of these strings will be large enough to contain the variables, otherwise the text within the variable could be truncated.
3. Click the Variables button and the following dialog is displayed, as shown below.
4. Enter the variable that contains the machine description (for example,
GLOBAL.MACHINE). This variable will also be displayed in the right column of the display (Variable-1).
If there is more than one variable entered, you can reposition their order by clicking the Up, Down, and <<< keys. Or you can readjust the order by re-entering them in the display.
5. Click OK to save your work.