Q - What are these symbols for?

 

A - Dialogs with these controls can be made transparent. Click on the top graphic to turn transparency on and off, and click on the arrows to set the degree of transparency. The settings will be remembered.

 

Q - Can I convert NC programs from inch units to metric?

 

A – You can use the Global-Adjust dialog to multiply the appropriate address words by 25.4. This usually takes care of most of the work.

 

Q - How are block delete characters (/) handled during resequencing?

 

A – The editor attempts to leave them where they were. They will be placed immediately before or after the sequence number depending on where they were before resequencing.

 

Q - A file is shown as "Read-only" but it isn't read only on disk. What happened?

 

A – The editor views files as read-only in three cases

1. The file (Windows) attributes show it as read-only

2. The user checks the read-only box on the file open dialog

3. Multiple copies of the same file are open at once in the same editor

 

 

Q - My postprocessor inserts the "short" version of long filenames into my NC programs as a comment. The editor seems to think they're nulls. Why?

 

A – Short filenames often include tildes ( "~" ) and the tilde is often used for a null character graphic.

 

Q - What is a null character and why do I care?

 

A – A character with all bits off. They are sometimes used for punched tape leaders and a few other functions. There is no graphical representation for a null character in Windows so the editor lets the user specify one (Options-Editor-Characters). A seldom used special character such as ~, ^, ` or something over decimal 127 should be used.

 

Q - I want to do something to most of, but not all of, a large program. What's the best way to select "most of" a program?

 

A – Put the text cursor at the start, hold the shift key down, and locate the end of the desired area with the text cursor and click there. The text between the two will be selected.

 

Q - Why don't backplots print on one of my HP LaserJet printers?

 

A - One possible reason is the Spool setting. Double-click on "My Computer", then "Printers". Right click on the printer icon. Click on "Properties". Click "Details" and "Spool Settings". Make sure spool file settings is "EMF" format.

 

Q – I'm calling the editor from another program and passing a filename in the command line. Sometimes, the editor produces an error message saying it can't find the file. I can read this file with no problems using File-Open in the editor.  What's going on?

 

A – If a command line includes a file name with spaces, it must be "quoted" per Windows conventions. For example, a command line of  editNC.exe  cncprog 1.nc  will fail but  editNC.exe  "cncprog 1.nc" will work. Calling programs should simply quote all filenames.

 

Q – I have associated a filetype with the editor so I can just double-click on these files and have the editor start automatically. In many cases the editor reports an error saying it can't open the file, yet it works on the File-Open menu. Is this a bug?

 

A – The most likely problem is that Windows isn't putting the filename in quotes when it starts the editor. The following procedure usually fixes this.

1)  Open Windows Explorer

2)  Click Tools, the Folder Options

3)  Click the File Types tab

4)  Find the file extension in question and double click on it (Click Advanced in XP)

5)  In the "Actions" list, double click the word open

6)  In the text box labeled Application used to perform action, enclose the %1 in double quotes. If the text box does not include the %1, then add "%1" after the text. An example of a correct command is:

C:\cadprogs\editnc\editNC7\editnc.exe "%1"

7) Click OK or Close as necessary to close all dialogs

 

Q - I searched for "G1X15.0Z13.25" using Find/Replace. The editor finds a block but the Replace buttons are greyed out. Why?

 

A - The "Use Character Search" checkbox is probably not checked. This tells the editor to find blocks containing the G,X, and Z words specified, even if they contain other address words. For example, it would find "G1X15.0Y3.0Z13.25F12.0" in this case. Replacing text in this case would be risky because the editor has no way of knowing if the Y and F values should be removed or retained. For cases like this, check the "Use Character Search" box.