The Layer button on the Mach.General > Tool page opens the Layer Properties dialog to allow you view/modify the Strategy Table.

Layer Button - Click to Expand

The Strategy table is referred to by formulas in the 'Override' table (used to evaluate the actual Layer names placed in the resulting DXF).

The term 'Strategy' is used as the resulting 'Layers' are not always just a name, but often include other tooling parameters (e.g. tool name, depths, direction, entry/exit parameters etc). Strategies are only used in EzyNest. Each DXF file is created by CabMasterPro by processing a component's machinesteps one at a time.

Managing Strategies

The Strategy Table management page is set out in the following structure (refer General Editing Notes and image)...

• Table the name of this table is not fixed and there could be multiple tables;
  • in which there are any number of Strategy types e.g. Bore, Engrave etc;
    each Strategy type has...
    • Properties;
    • an Evaluation Formula - see Formula Notes and Hints and Tips;

The Strategy Table Management page, shown below, has two (2) Modes ...

• Standard
  • View and Modify existing Properties (value only) of a Strategy; and
  • View its Evaluation Formula.

Standard Strategy Table  -  Click to view full page

 

• Advanced :
  • Add, Delete, View and Modify a Strategy and Properties of the selected Strategy; and
  • Add, Delete, View and Modify Evaluation Formulas.

Advanced Strategy Table  -  Click to view full page

General Editing Notes

Option	Details
Strategy Table	The drop list is populated by the names of tables currently in the <your CabMaster folder>\Table\Machining\Layers\Strategy\
Strategy	The drop list is populated from the rows in current Strategy Table.
Properties	The Properties available for modification are those currently attributed to the chosen Strategy.
Tooltips	The Tooltips on the Property Values display the Property's Description (or, if there is no Description then the Property's Name). See example in Modify Properties Step 4.
Editor	Although any number of Properties can be assigned to each Strategy, the editor is limited to the editing of the first 20 of each Strategy.
Sample Output	The Sample Output substitutes any use of the CabMaster 'Component' properties 'Depth.x', 'StepType', 'Dim1', 'Dim2', 'DimCut1' and 'DimCut2' in the evaluation formula with sample values. If any other CabMaster 'Component' property is included in the evaluation formula or the formula fails then the sample output will be "<sample unavailable>". For example, using the sample formula above: With the property "Operation" defined with a value of '8'and a CabMaster machining "Depth" of '16.004mm' Then the resulting strategy would be TCHW0B8D1600 - See topic on Formula Examples and Tips.

Properties of a Strategy

Modify Properties

Available in Standard and Advanced mode:

1. Pick the relevant Strategy Table from the drop list;
2. Pick the Strategy to modify from the drop list;
3. Select the Property to update and adjust the Properties Value;

   Example: Steps 1 to 3

   In Standard mode, only the Properties value can be modified as the Property Name is greyed out.

   The Reload and Save button are only made available after changes are made on the property sheet.

   

4. Advanced Only: Adjust the Properties Description (displayed as the Tooltip when editing the Value);

   Example Advanced and Tooltip

   After the changes to the Properties Description are 'Saved' the tooltip will be changed accordingly.

   As shown below, the Description (tooltip) has been changed to 'Tooltip Direction Renamed' and is displayed after change is saved.

   Additions, modifications and removals can be reset by pressing the Reload button before saving.

   

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 as necessary;
6. Press on the 'Save' button;
7. Confirm the modifications are to be saved;

Note: A series of Property modifications can be reset by pressing the Reload before saving.

Adding Properties

Available in Advance mode only:

1. Pick the relevant Strategy Table from the drop list;
2. Pick the Strategy to modify from the drop list;
3. In the 'New Property Name' field, type in the name of the new Property;
4. Press the 'Add' button;
5. Confirm the addition;

   

6. Edit the Properties Value, highlighted in blue below;
7. Edit the Properties Description (displayed as the Tooltip when editing the Value) - see example in Modify Properties Step 4;

   

8. Repeat steps 3 to 7 as required;
9. Press on the 'Save' button and Confirm the modifications are to be saved;

         

Note : A series of Property additions can be reset by pressing the Reload before saving.

Removing Properties

Available in Advance mode only:

1. Pick the relevant Strategy Table from the drop list;
2. Pick the Strategy to modify from the drop list;
3. Select the Property to remove;
4. Press the 'Remove' button to the right of the Property Name, as shown;

   

   If you experience issues removing, then delete all fields i.e. make all blank, and press the 'Remove' button again.
5. Confirm the Removal;
6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 as required;
7. Press on the 'Save' button;

   

8. Confirm the modifications are to be saved.

Note : A series of Property removals can be reset by pressing the Reload before saving. 

Strategies - Advanced Only

Adding Strategies

Available in Advance mode only:

1. Pick the relevant Strategy Table from the drop list;
2. Optional: See Step 5 - Select a Strategy that you want to duplicate the properties and formulas of;
3. Press on the 'Add New' strategy button;  
4. In the provided Edit Text box, type in a Strategy name that does not already exist and click OK;

   Example Steps 1 to 4

   

5. Confirm the addition and then you can decide if you want to...

   • 'Copy the Formula & Properties' of the current selection;
     • the example above, would replicate the 'Bore' Strategy which has only one property i.e. Operation
     • if you picked, for example, the 'Engrave' strategy, all 13 properties and formula's would be duplicated for your new strategy;
     or
   • 'Create a Blank Strategy'.

     

6. Add any required Properties (see Adding Properties above);
7. Click on the Edit Formula button and enter an Evaluation Formula - see Formula Notes below and topic on Formula Examples and Tips;

   Example

   

8. Press on the 'Save' button;
9. Confirm the modifications are to be saved.

Removing Strategies

Available in Advance mode only:

1. Pick the relevant Strategy Table from the drop list;
2. Select the Strategy to remove from the drop list;
3. Press the 'Remove' button to the right of the chosen Strategy;

   

4. Confirm the removal.

Editing Evaluation Formulas

Available in Advance mode only:

1. Pick the relevant Strategy Table from the drop list;
2. Select the Strategy to modify from the drop list;
3. Press the 'Edit Formula' button;
4. Edit the Evaluation formula as required - see Formula Notes below and topic on Formula Examples and Tips;

   

5. Press on the 'Save' button;
6. Confirm the modifications are to be saved.

Note : The Evaluation Formula can be reset by pressing the Reload before saving.

Strategy Table Location

<your Cabmaster folder>\Table\Machining\Layers\Strategy\

Table Details

This table is referred to by formulas in the 'Override' table.

The term 'Strategy' is used as the resulting 'Layers' are not always just a name, but often include other tooling parameters (e.g. tool name, depths, direction, entry/exit parameters etc).

The name of this table is not fixed and there could be multiple tables, with the one in use selected by the customer.

It is anticipated that this table will be edited to suit individual customer requirements.

LayerStrategy-BW.qlt

Rows

• One row for each Strategy type

Columns

Column Name	Details
Layer	A Formula that evaluates the Layer/Strategy
Info	An array of Property Values
Index	An index (array) of the 'Info' and 'Desc' Property Names
Desc	An array of the Property Descriptions

 

Formula Notes

• The formula 'MachToolLayerTableStrategyInfo(<row>)' used in the 'Layer' column, looks up row=<row> and returns the array from column='Info'
• The formula 'MachToolLayerTableStrategyIndex(<row>)' used in the 'Layer' column, looks up row=<row> and returns the array from column='Index'
• The Library property 'MachToolLayerTableStrategyTableName' holds the name of the currently used 'Strategy' table
• With V11.1 a single 'map' column could be used instead of the Info/Index columns

 See topic on Formula Examples and Tips.