Using batches for stand alone operations
Many operations such as optimising work as a batch operation - even if, for example, only one cutting list is optimised.
For stand alone operation the batch process is often required - the following are the instructions to achieve this.
The program for batch operations is BATCH.EXE. The command syntax is as follows.
BATCH [filename] [/AUTO] [/OPTIMISE]
filename - the name of the file to apply batch operations to. Batch file (filename.BTC), part list (filename.PRL), or cutting list (filename.CTT).
Square brackets [ ] indicate that the command is optional. If no filename is specified the current batch is used.
Note - option '/OPTIMISE' can also be spelt as '/OPTIMIZE'
For example:-
BATCH DEMO1.PRL /AUTO /OPTIMISE
(Optimises the part list DEMO1).
/AUTO - silent operation - no dialogs or error messages are displayed.
/OPTIMISE - optimisation of the named file
The /AUTO argument is needed with /OPTIMISE.
For example:
A batch file to import parts from a pattern exchange file (ptx) , optimise the batch and transfer information to the saw and machining centre.
..\IMPORT %1 /AUTO /PARTS
..\BATCH /AUTO /OPTIMISE
..\SAWLINK /AUTO /1
..\MCHLINK
Note - during optimisation any cutting lists or board lists that do not exist are automatically created.
If no name is specified for a batch optimisation (e.g. BATCH.EXE /AUTO /OPTIMISE), the current batch is used and any cutting lists that do not exist for the batch are created.
If a filename is specified for a batch optimisation but there is no file extension the program looks for <filename>.BTC first, <filename>.CTT next and <filename.PRL last. If none of these exists, an error message is placed in the error file (!.ERR)
The system of automatically dividing cutting lists that apply when optimising from the part list program also applies for BATCH.EXE standalone optimising (see System parameters)
To perform the auto-divide the command line for BATCH.EXE needs the file name with extension
e.g.
BATCH.EXE 84326.CTT /AUTO /OPTIMISE
If no file is specified the optimisation uses the current batch which is created by the import process and this is not divided. If no extension is specified (e.g. "84326") the optimisation will also read and optimise the batch file (btc) with that name and will not auto-divide.
The above assumes that the cutting list exists, if it does not then the extension PRL should be used.
e.g.
BATCH.EXE 84326.PRL /AUTO /OPTIMISE
Import user defined parts - import parameter file for user defined parts can be specified on the command line. This is handled with the /UDF command line argument.
IMPORT.EXE TESTFILE.IMP /FORMAT:6 /UDF:02
This uses the user defined format 02 which has .IMP as its file extension. Errors are output if the user defined format file does not exist.
The /UDF argument only applies if /FORMAT:6 or /FORMAT:7 is used, any other format will generate an error message.
Import user defined product requirements - The /UDF command line argument can also be used to specify the product requirement import parameter file when import products.
Remaining parts - in /AUTO mode there is no dialog to save any remaining or invalid parts (if they exist). Invalid parts are reported in the error file.
Ignore errors
/IGNOREBRDERR
The optimisation may report errors but continues.
BATCH DEMO1.PRL /AUTO /OPTIMISE /IGNOREBRDERR
This can be useful where the list contains boards of zero dimension ( 0 x 0 ) which remain in the board list, for example, when using combination materials.
