then I believe I need to have the line #149=#4120 in the tool change macro (our posted code stages a tool immediately after the tool change line M6T#) which I already thought of. unfortunately I cannot access the tool change macro on this particular old machine. I believe its hard coded onto a flash card or some such thing. or am I missing something?

I've been looking for that fanuc variable for years (current tool number in spindle NOT the current staged tool which are not always the same) as we use a tool touch off macro I wrote that will not work if there is a staged tool. Anyone know it?

try this code. it works on all our fanuc controls. change the -1.0 to suit the gauge block height(-.5 for 1/2 inch block etc) we run it in MDI . Alter M99 to M30 to run in memory. Be sure #4120 is tool in spindle NOT tool on waiting! % 0011 (TOUCH OFF TOOL TO 1 INCH GAGE BLOCK) (IN MDI MODE ENTER M98 P11; HIT CYCLE START) (TOOL RETRACTS TO Z HOME AND TLO INSTALLS INTO CURRENT T REGISTER) #[2000+#4120]=#5023-1.0 G91 G28 Z0 G90 M99

cant you not set hole depth to incremental zero and top of stock to absolute zero then apply to the point at center of bottom of each hole? then sort points by nearest point. thats how I program different depth holes with one operation. seems to work fine.