Active Report Tips/Tricks.

[Josh Kinney -Elite Engineering]

If anyone has any Tips/Tricks please post them here.

 

Thanks,

 

Josh.

[Leigh @ Kodiak]

I'm getting into making a custom template myself. So far it's just been trial and error, but I really like the possibilities. Does anybody know if it's possible to change the active report dialog? At the moment I would like to change the names beside each field to match what I want the user to input.

[cadman2112]

Man the possibilities "seem" endless with this.

 

It is a great addition but.... You knew there had to be a but.

 

Where is the documentation on it?????

 

The help file is pitiful on it's actual set up, usage and modification.

 

How the heck DO you change or add anything?

[Leigh @ Kodiak]

C:McamX4commonreports

 

Run ActiveReports_Designer.exe

 

Start from there. look at the .xml files in reports/xml to get an idea of what sort of information you can extract.

 

If you download and install Active Reports from the Data Dynamics website, you will get a help file that will explain things a little better. I think the version include with X3 is a bit restricted though, so not everything in the help file will be accurate, but it should put you down the right road.

[Colin Gilchrist]

www.datadynamics.com

 

Active Reports is licenced from a 3rd party developer by CNC Software.

 

There a bunch of tutorials and walk-throughs on their website, as well as links to training materials.

 

Yes it is powerful stuff, but you will have to learn how to use it or pay someone to do it for you (just like posts).

 

You should send your thanks to CNC Software for this one.

[Jim Evans from CNC Software]

There is work going on to create some additional docs and tutorials but they were not available at the time of release and will be released as they become available.

 

The website Colin mentions is also helpful.

[Colin Gilchrist]

I love how the help file suggests that you should contact the software manufacturer for more information, but doesn't provide a link. I just thought I'd help everyone out...

[Norbert @ Shopware]

I played with Active Reports for a while in the betas. Its definitely a powerful tool, but without a good understanding of XML, it wont be a walk in the park.

 

I almost had a one page report the way I wanted it, but hosed it @ the end. Never went back to it because of work.

 

I suggest downloading XML Notepad from Microsoft, its free and it helps.

[Colin Gilchrist]

Yep, a working knowledge of XML is crucial to using this new tool.

[Leigh @ Kodiak]

So things are going along ok so far, but one problem that has me stumped.I have gotten the page layout and page breaks set as I would like when using the "preview" function of the designer, but when I run the report from Mastercam, the formatting, margins and page orientation is completely wrong! Anybody with some ideas?

[Josh Kinney -Elite Engineering]

How do we get rid of the white background with 2d tool paths? Makes it hard to see whats going on.

[Guest]

How about this,

 

It outputs the Workoffsets as Mastercam defines them.

 

0, 1, 2

 

How can we get it to output G54, G55 G56 or E1, E2, E3?

[Leigh @ Kodiak]

John, I managed to get it to do what you are after. No time ATM to post how, but I will when I can.

[Ron Branch @ Verisurf]

Also have all of your drafting note and things planned before hand. You are limited to what you can add once the set-up sheet process has been started. Also you can go back and edit the pictures after if you want with paint or anything like that.

 

Also do not put anything over the top of the current Mastercam session. I run dual screen so I pop back and forth and if you have anything over the session of Mastercam it will capture that verses the images out of Mastercam.

 

HTH

[Ron Branch @ Verisurf]

Also everyone there are examples file you can use for these. They are in the C:McamX4commonreportsmsc folder and the C:McamX4commonreportssst. To get your session to change to change to them you need to go into your Control Definition through your Machine Defintion. You need to go the Files then File Usage needs to have Setup Sheet Template Selected. Now go over to Selected item's file name. Now navigate to C:McamX4commonreportsmsc or C:McamX4commonreportssst and pick the different examples that have here.

 

HTH

[Ron Branch @ Verisurf]

So you want to change the picture on the new set-up sheet. Here is a step by step. As with anything you do always save a back up before doing anything. Also I am just trying to help out if it does not work please don't get mad at me.

 

1: Know where you have your company Logo.

2: Go to the ActiveReports Designer. (C:McamX4commonreports)

3: Open up the Mill Setup sheet called Setup Sheet (MILL).rpx. (C:McamX4commonreportssst)

4: This will bring up what you have seen if you have used it. Now click on the image. On the right hand side of the screen is the controls for this image. Look to the Data section and then look for the image part.

5: Double Click on the image name in the second column. Now go pick the image you want to replace it with. (I do recomend you change the Layout size mode to Stretch verse the Zoom method if you are using a smaller image. This is found further down in the Layout. Just click on the plus sign to expand it out.)

6: Save as is and you are done.

 

Here is what I change it to for us look like so far. You can change anything in here very easily.

 

HTH

 

I will try to put pictures to things as I get more time.

[Leigh @ Kodiak]

Trying to get that G54,G55 etc to come out the right way. Thought I had it, but then saw that I didn't!

 

I will keep trying though, as thats one of the things I want changed in my setup sheets as well.

[kujo763]

Where would i find a list of variables for the "data field" line on the right hand side, for instance "MCXFILE-LONG". Where does it pull these values from?

 

Thanks,

 

Erik

[kujo763]

I see the edit data source shows me "SSM.xml" this is where the xml understanding comes in!!!

[X-L Engineering Corp]

I'm no specialist programer and I'm not sure if this software can do what I'm going to try to explain. But it would be very helpful with the way this setup sheet captures the toolpaths if it were to capture each veiw in verify after each tool then the setup guy would know what each tool is doing and what the part should look like at that time or maybe I'm just day-dreaming out loud.

[3R!< W3NG3R]

you can do a screen shot of verify. Then you can add picture files into the setup sheet.

[kujo763]

I would like to add the "Toolpath Group" name. How would i create the variable and point it in the right direction? In the .xml file the source says that "(SOURCE)MASTERCAM(/SOURCE)" where is this does anyone know?

 

Thanks,

 

Erik

 

I changed from the .xml format to the parenthesis.

 

[ 06-11-2009, 03:00 PM: Message edited by: kujo763 ]

[Mark Baker CNC Software]

quote:

---

if it were to capture each veiw in verify after each tool

---

Once we get an "in-process" stock model, then we'll be able to grab that image and add it to setup sheet. Until then we'll manually have to take a screen shot.

 

Keep in mind that you can add the "setup sheet image capture" icon to the toolbar (setting/custimize/screen) and take a image capture at any time

 

I'll see about putting up an "image overide.doc" file on the web so it can be downloaded. It shows the naming scheme for each of the images.

[Stephen J Van Dyne]

If you start from scratch rename "Detail1" to "Detail". There is a bug in the preview code.

[Stephen J Van Dyne]

Most rpc files (pages) contain a bookmark reference. These controls should be hidden, not deleted. Or if you delete them, you must click on the scripting tab and delete the scripting from all the associated files. These controls all share a common name "Data_NAME". For example, on the main page - the machine name has a "DataField" of "MACHINE-NAME" and a "Design" "Name" of "Data_NAME". This control is used for creating bookmarks at runtime.