Advanced Tubular Technologies, Inc.



TubeCalc for Windows Revision History

This history list shows TubeCalc modications and revisions in detail from 1994 through the present.

TubeCalc versions 1.0 to 2.6 represents a five year development span.































Version 1.1: Tangent Points & Bend Planes























Version 2.0: Outline Added























Version 2.1: Builds AutoCAD DXF Files























Version 2.5: New Report Window, Windows 95 Look and Feel























Version 2.5B: Export Eaton Leonard FIF Files























Version 2.6: File Format Allows Either MM or INCH























Version 2.6B: Network Enabled, Set XYZ Point Number, Flip XYZ Coordinates















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































 

TubeCalc Revision History

Index

August 4, 1994

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Report Window: Modified printing so that tabs are expanded correctly to exact positions.

Pull-down Menu: Added the TubeCAD IMPORT/EXPORT features to the File menu.

Main Window: Changed the Inch/Millimeter toggle button into an option button.

 

 

September 6, 1994

Version 1.0a

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View Window: Enhanced error processing in view drawing functions for extremely large pictures.

View Window: Turned clipping on for graphics text. Graphics text outside of the viewport does not attempt to draw.

Report Window: Added total length price to the Lengths Specification Data section.

Report Window: Changed Rotation and Angle value suffixes in the report so that they read as "deg." rather than "in." or "mm".

 

December 18, 1994

Version 1.1

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View Window: Added Tangent Points and Bend Planes in view.

View Window: Changed view orientation buttons so that they are all on the right.

View Options: Added tangent option to the view option menu.

Report Window: Added tangent points in the report.

All Windows: Changed all "Exit" buttons to "Close" buttons. The word "Close" fits the metaphor of a "window" better. Since the buttons close the windows, more than a mere "exit" is performed when the windows are closed.

 

January 2, 1995

Version 2.0

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View Window: Added Print Button To Window. This new button prints whatever is displayed in the View Window to the Window printer.

View Window: TubeCalc now draws an OD Outline around the centerline.

Added the calculator button in the main toolbar.

The file pull-down menu now keeps track of the last 9 TubeCalc files loaded into memory.

May 4, 1995

Version 2.0b

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The OD outline did not draw shallow bends when zoomed out. This has been corrected so that the outline draws every time no matter the zoom setting or the angle of bend.

The OD outline arc resolution adjusts depending on the zoom factor. The resolution algorithm has been enhanced so that the adjustment is more accurate and video resolution independent.

The View, XYZ, Bender, Spec, and Report windows now load faster than before.

The View Print routine no longer shrinks the image after printing.

June 5, 1995

Version 2.0c

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The Z axis always plotted from the world zero, even if the tube centerline Z started at some other location. This has been corrected so that the Z axis starts near the lowest Z value in the tube even when not at zero.

 

 

August 1995

Version 2.0d

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Adjustments were made so that the program will work on networks.

 

 

November 1995

Version 2.0e

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The PRINT function would not always work properly on networks. Adjustments were made so that the program would print properly in all cases.

The Close All command in the Window menu now also closes the Report window.

 

November 7, 1995

Version 2.1

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Main Window: The Display Units radio buttons now changes if necessary when importing a TubeCAD data file changes the units.

View Window: TubeCalc now builds AutoCAD DXF files. In the View Window, pressing the Print Image command allows you to print the image to either the Windows Printer Device, or a DXF File. All entities are placed on layer zero. Text uses your AutoCAD's current style. All entity colors are BYLAYER (not per entity).

View Window: The procedure that scales the tube image so that it fits on the printer paper has been adjusted so that the image is not scaled to the edges of the paper. This change keeps the tube image out of the unprintable margins of laser printers.

 

November 28, 1995

Version 2.1a

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DXF File Format Repaired: Under certain conditions, TubeCalc would include values in DXF files using a format that AutoCAD cannot recognize. This revision repairs this problem. (Thanks to Chuck Benzing of Benteler Industries, Grand Rapids, Michigan division for reporting this problem.)

 

December 5, 1995

Version 2.1b

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TubeCalc expects the standard Windows "Arial" true type font to be installed into Windows. The install program will copy and install this font to Windows 3.1 if it does not find the font in the Windows/System directory. If, after installation, TubeCalc still does not find this font installed, then it will use the "System" font, a standard non true type font. This now prevents program errors even if your Windows system does not have the Arial font installed. (Thanks to Rick Simmons and Brian Wright of Pilot Industries, Dexter, Michigan division for reporting this problem.)

 

March 18, 1997

Version 2.5

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Report Window Completely Redesigned: Previous versions of TubeCalc had difficulty printing to the new Hewlett Packard DeskJet series printers. We discovered that the problem lay in our compiler's inability to handle this new type of printer.

To overcome this problem, we totally redesigned the Report window and added a new View Print Preview window, both using a new print preview engine. The result is much improved reporting. The new report engine has been thoroughly tested with a DeskJet 400 in both monochrome and color modes.

DeskJet Note: DeskJet Windows drivers are considerably slower than laser drivers. If you have other printer drivers installed, then you can compare a driver's speed by setting the printer type in the Report window and observe the change in regeneration speed on the same report. Perceived sluggishness in regeneration of the preview is usually because TubeCalc must wait for the print drivers to respond to its requests. (An image preview that takes 3 seconds to regenerate on our test computer using an HP LASER driver, takes 9 seconds to regenerate with the HP DeskJet driver.)

The report output is much refined compared to the older reports. For example, the XYZ, XYZ Tangent, and Bend data charts are enclosed in row-column borders. Also, the numbers now align at the decimal points.

Zooming: The report pages can be zoomed from 10% to 300% (and any value between). The Zoom drop-down box also allows you to select "Page Width" or "Entire Page".

Orientation: If your printer supports it, you can now change between Portrait and Landscape orientation modes.

View Print Preview: This window is displayed with selecting "Print Image" and then "Windows Printer" from the View window. It places a tube image on an virtual printer page. You can move this image up, down, left, and right. You can also zoom the image size.

Note that if the image is pushed down so that it overlaps the bottom of the page, the print engine will push the image down to at least the next page. (It will disappear from page 1.)

This window is modal. That means that you must exit this window before working in other parts of TubeCalc.

Report Chart Order: This version allows you to control the presence and the order of the individual charts in your TubeCalc report using the Report options menu. For example, you can choose to not include certain charts (like XYZ Tangent, Bend Time, etc.) and re-arrange their order in the report (like placing BEND data first in the report.)

This powerful new feature also allows you to indicate when a New Page command is sent to the printer, allows you to place the horizontal lines where you want them, and even allows you to add extra row spacing if necessary. The chart order data is saved to the TubeCalc INI file for re-use every time TubeCalc is loaded.

MRU File List: The MRU (Most Recently Used) file list in the File menu was expanded to include up to 20 file names (rather than 9). It also now loads properly when TubeCalc first loads.

GUI Changes: The Graphic User Interface was modified to give a cleaner, Windows 95 look and feel.

Memory Indicators: Memory usage indicators are added to the Title and About screens. Some users were getting "out of memory" messages using TubeCalc. You can examine these memory values to know if Windows is running low on memory resources before continuing.

Load Bender to XYZ Calculator Program: This new command in the file menu allows you to load the optional Bender to XYZ Calculator software that will allows calculation from BENDER data to XYZ coordinates.

Enhancement to Outer Diameter Regeneration: A new check box is added to the Options | View | On/Off menu. The box reads "OD also generates when View Window is inactive". This feature allows you to choose if you want the View window to regenerate the OD even if it is not the current active window.

Regenerating the OD takes a lot of CPU time, and the process can take time between entry of new values in other windows. The delay on very fast computers probably will not be noticeable, but slower 486 computers will take a noticeable time to generate a tube with many bends.

The default is "on" (checked). This value is saved in the tcalcw.ini file in the Windows directory for reloading in future sessions of TubeCalc.

Print Options Menu Removed: This Options menu is no longer necessary with the new report preview engine.

Demo Mode Enabled: TubeCalc will now run without a hardware key in Demo Mode. This now allows the actual program to be distributed for trial purposes. Demo mode fixes the XYZ and OD data. (New data can be entered, but it will be calculated back to the constant data.) There is a 16 point limit in Demo Mode.

April 1, 1997

Version 2.5 Revision A

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Report Window Non-Calculation: If the Bender Data Window was left closed in a TubeCalc session then, under certain circumstances, the Report Window would display zero values in its bender data.

This has been repaired. Values are now calculated in all circumstances, even when the Bender Data Window remains closed.

(Thanks to Dick Nicholls of Philadelphia Pipe Bending for originally reporting this problem.)

 

April 12, 1997

Version 2.5 Revision B

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Added "Y Span" To The Report Window: The Y Span value is now included between the X Span and Z Span values.

Added "Export Eaton Leonard FIF File" This revision of TubeCalc has the added feature of writing Eaton Leonard FIF files that can be used to transfer data to either Eaton Leonard measuring centers or tube benders.

The TubeCalc FIF files contain XYZ data that is necessary for Laservision measuring centers. The TubeCalc FIF files also contain BENDER data that is necessary for Eaton Leonard benders.

Eaton Leonard CNC benders typically allow no more than 3 bend radii per bender. Therefore, FIF files contain up to (and no more than) 3 bend radii. Because of this limitation, only the first three radii are used by TubeCalc when it builds an FIF file. Unique radii beyond the third one found are ignored. For your convenience, TubeCalc automatically replaces all ignored radiii with the one of the three radiii used in the FIF file.

FIF files always define distance data in INCH units. TubeCalc automatically converts its internal distances to the INCH unit when building FIF files.

(Thanks to Bill Bowling of the Rocketdyne division of Boeing for suggesting this new feature.)

 

June 3, 1997

Version 2.6 Revision A

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    • Changed the TubeCalc file format to allow it to contain data in either the Inch or Millimeter format:

A new field [Unit] was added. [Unit] can equal Inch or Millimeter in the TubeCalc file like this:

[Unit]=Inch

[Unit]=Millimeter

If no unit field is specified, then the data is assumed to use the Millimeter unit.

The reason for this change is that some customers hand-type in data into a TubeCalc data file before loading it to TubeCalc (the format is ASCII). They naturally prefer to enter data in Inches when the original data is also in the Inch format.

Also, TubeCalc's file type indicator is changed from

[TubeCalc Data File v.1]

is changed to

[Advanced Tubular Technologies File Type]=TubeCalc Data File v.2

 

 
    • TubeCalc will no longer load with its window minimized, even if it was unloaded that way.
    • TubeCalc now reads the new BENDER to XYZ Calculator data file format: BXY.
    • TubeCalc now longer unloads automatically while in demo mode.
    • TubeCalc has a new Data menu that has a single Transpose XYZ command.
    • The command allows the transposition (or shifting of) coordinates.
    • The toolbar of the TubeCalc window now accepts drag and drop files.
    • A new Accumulated Length Bender Data chart is added.

 

 

 

March 17, 1998

Version 2.6 Revision B

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    • TubeCalc is now enabled for NETWORK operation. TubeCalc can be installed using a network key that allows multiple workstations on a network to use a common key. This adds the convenience of installation of TubeCalc on all LAN workstations so that it is available throughout the network without additional hardware keys.
    • A New SET XYZ POINT NUMBER command is added to the DATA menu. This command allows you to quickly set the number of points in the XYZ grid without first selecting the grid. The short-cut command to load the menu is the F2 key.
    • A New FLIP XYZ COORDINATES command is added to the DATA menu. This command allows you to quickly flip ends of the tube shape so that End A becomes End B, and all the coordinates in between adjust accordingly.
    • The SPEC DATA entry fields and the TRANSPOSE entry fields automatically select the entire contents when you give them focus. This command makes the more logical assumption that if you give a field focus, you probably intend change the value entirely, thus speeding entry.
    • Eaton Leonard FIF Output Is Now Built In Inches or Millimeters. Previous FIF files always used the INCH format. TubeCalc now builds FIF files in whatever unit is being used to display the data on the TubeCalc screen.
    • Eaton Leonard FIF Output Now Correctly Handles End Offsets. TubeCalc no longer compensates the first and last distance between bends with the end offset values when building EL YBC data in an FIF file. Eaton Leonard programs do not expect this compensation, and return an error when it is found.
    • Edit / Delete and Edit / Insert Command Verification. TubeCalc now asks for verification for deleting and inserting rows in the XYZ grid when the grid is locked.
    • New Network Logoff Message. For network versions of TubeCalc, the program reports if Network Logoff was successful or not when unloading.

 

 

May 26, 1998

Version 2.6 Revision C

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    • A new elongation calculation is added that affects a new Cut Length value. Total Lengths and Cut Lengths are now both displayed in TubeCalc. Adjust the elongation variable in the Specification Data window (Lengths tab) in order to adjust the Cut Length and the Cut Length Cost. The value you use will depend upon your process. An example value is 0.0004 inches of elongation per degree.
    • The Specification Data window has new fields. The following new fields are added to the Specification Data window:
    1. Contract Number
    2. Part Number (in addition to Part Name)
    3. Price Unit Name (i.e. dollars, yen, pounds, etc.)
    4. Elongation (inches or millimeters per degree)
    5. Cut Length (in addition to Total Length)

 

    • Report Charts Are Completely Reformatted
      The Units, Date/Time, General Specs, Material Specs, Length Specs, and Bend Time Specs CHARTS have been reformatted. The charts were reformatted to allow easier reading. A General Specs chart sample is shown below. The field names on the left are right justified. The value fields on the the right are left justified. This brings the information in the two columns closer for easier reading. Also note that the field names are now all capitalized.

 

    • New Report Charts Added
      The following charts have been added to TubeCalc:
    1. General Specification 2
    2. Span Distances
    3. Centerline XYZ Data 2
    4. Bender Data 2
    5. NC Tube Bender
    6. Conrac Hydraulic Bender


May 29, 1998

Version 2.6 Revision C1

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    • Added "Left Justify Title Column" to Report Configuration menu. The effect of the change is shown below.

      •  

      Without left justification:

       

       

      With left justification:

       

       

       

November 15, 1998

Version 2.6 Revision D

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    • TubeCalc now operates with Benderlink IV. TubeCalc is modified to operate with Benderlink as a front-end centerline XYZ entry program. TubeCalc is included with every Benderlink IV, and allows entry of XYZ coordinates for entry of new tube shapes in Benderlink.

      This revision allows TubeCalc to load as a new session ready for entry of new data, or to load TubeCalc with the current Benderlink data. The commands in Benderlink can be found in the Bender Data Edit menu (TubeCalc Tab Sub Menu).
    • TubeCalc has an enhanced file menu that exports files compatible with Benderlink. The Transfer Data to Benderlink then Exit feature creates a transfer file in the Supravision format that Benderlink can load from the TubeCalc directory. Benderlink can monitor for the transfer file and automatically load the data into the current bender data.
    • TubeCalc now Imports and Exports Supravision files.
      The new commands can be found in the File menu.
    • TubeCalc now uses a new hardware key. This revision of TubeCalc only operates with a new hardware key that is also compatible with Benderlink.

 

 

 

November 30, 1998

Version 2.6 Revision D1

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TubeCalc now performs MIRROR imaging of the tube. TubeCalc has a new Data option called "Mirror Image" that allows you to mirror image the tube around any of the three coordinate axes.

 

December 8, 1998

Version 2.6 Revision D2

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TubeCalc now reads and writes the correct A and B End Offsets. TubeCalc uses end offsets that are the negative of Supravision. It now handles these values appropriately.

 

TubeCalc has a new Toolbar Button: You can save Supravision files by clicking on the new SV toolbar button

 

May 6, 1999

Version 2.6 Revision D3

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TubeCalc now saves the Part NAME to the internal Supravision part number. The part number was used in saving and the part name was filled in loading Supravision files. Now the TubeCalc part name is used in both.

 

 

 

June, 1999

Version 2.6 Revision D4

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The Conrac chart style is enhanced to show 360 rotations in both directions. The chart now shows three rotations: the standard CNC rotations, the negative 360-degree Conrac rotations, and the positive 360-degree Conrac rotations.

The Import TubeCAD feature can now import very large TubeCAD files. Earlier versions of TubeCalc can not always import the newer TubeCAD files with Blockup information because the files are too large for TubeCalc memory. The Import command has been enhanced to handle these large TubeCAD files.

 

Advanced Tubular Technologies, Inc.
5499 Perry Dr.
Unit J
Waterford, MI 48329
Phone 248 674-2185
Fax 248 674-2157
E-mail: sales@advancedtubular.com