The Settings Tool - ATD News

The settings tool is a simple program that gives the press supervisor an interface to the database, to be able to set / change print settings. Print settings comprise of Targets, Tolerance, Zone width for each zone, instrument calibration interval etc. These settings are intern used to identify a scan. It is also used for reporting purposes; to be able to view all scans which have identical print settings.

Settings Tool Layout

Adding Print ID

To add a new print id, click on Add button. All the text boxes will become blank to enable the user to enter new values. After entering all the fields, click on Save.

The software shows error messages if there are any errors. The user should then correct it and click save again. Repeat this process until no more error messages pop up. The print id is then added to the database so that when press operator runs the press tool, he / she can select this print id from the list box on Scan Screen. Also can be used to create a report of all scans based on this print id. 

Duplicating Print ID

The duplicate button enable user to copy the settings of one print id to another. To do so, click on Duplicate button. Print Settings ID field becomes blank to enable the user to enter new ID. After entering new ID, click on Save. The software shows error messages if there are any errors. The user should then correct it and click save again. Repeat this process until no more error messages pop up. The print id is then added to the database so that when press operator runs the press tool, he / she can select this print id from the list box on Scan Screen. Also can be used to create a report of all scans based on this print id. 

Cancel Adding or Duplicating

To cancel the Add or Duplicate process, click on Cancel.

Changing Instrument Calibration interval

To make the instrument calibrate at a different interval of time, change the value in the calibration interval text box. It is always measured in hours. New value gets saved automatically.

Changing default units for Zone Width

Each nation follows different units of measurement. To enable the user to enter Zone width in different units, settings tool has a drop down list box, from which user selects the units. This is the unit that the software uses from then on.

Backup Database

Backing up database is like making a copy of a file for future emergency. To backup, click on backup button. Enter the file name in the save dialog and click ok. The data stored until that time is backed up.  However this button is disabled if the user does not have enough rights to do this operation.

Restoring Database

You restore the database from the backed up copy incase of emergency. To restore, click on Restore database button. Select the file to restore from, click ok. The current database is overwritten with this file. However this button is disabled if the user does not have enough rights to do this operation.

To View and Review Print Ids

The arrow buttons are used to view Print Id added previously, or to view a particular Print ID.

Security

Settings tool is password protected, so that no one other than the supervisor can change the print settings. When the tool starts, the following dialog pops up.

For the first time there is no password set, so the user can set it by clicking on the change password button.

Leave old password blank for the first time, and enter new password twice. To change password, enter old, password and new password twice. Finally pressing Ok will save the new password.