Using the Cutting Layout

Working with the Cutting Layout actually involves 3 actions: interpreting, loading/saving and printing the cutting layouts.

Interpreting the Cutting Layout

The cutting layout is made up of one or more layouts or pages. Each page contains the cutting layout for an individual panel from the Panels list. If more panels have the same cutting layout, still only one layout is displayed, but the multiplication factor is incremented for each panel. This means that a cutting layout having a multiplication factor of 3 actually represents 3 panels with the same length, width and material but also with the same number and disposition of parts on them.

Parts and offcuts from every cutting layout are identified by an ID number. Parts ID number (identification number) is an ordinary number (e.g. "3") and is in fact the part No. in the Parts grid. Offcuts ID number is made up of an 'R' and an ordinary number (e.g. "R3").

Edge bands are printed on the parts as colored lines.

Loading and saving the Cutting Layout

The cutting layout can be saved to a file and reused later. By loading a previously saved cutting layout there is no need to run optimization. To load/save the cutting layout use the "Load" and "Save" button from the buttons bar.

The cutting layout can also be saved to a plain text file in order to further process it using a cnc software. To save the cutting layout as a .txt file click the "Save" button and select "Text file" from the "Save as type" drop-down box.

The text file has the following format:
```
          A|1790|1490|MDF|MDF Panel
          B|1500|1000|0|0|Side Panel
          C|1790|487|0|1003|Offcut
```
The panels line always start with the letter 'A' and the other columns are: length, width, material, description.
The parts line always start with the letter 'B' and the other columns are: length, width, left, top, description.
The offcuts line always start with the letter 'C' and the other columns are: length, width, left, top, description.

Printing the Cutting Layout

The cutting layout is displayed on the screen and is looking pretty good. But it's more useful if you can have it on paper. That's what the "Print" button from the buttons bar will do: will print the Cutting Layout. You can select to print all pages or just some of them.