General configuration entry

Configuration(s): pallet plans

'General settings' tab

Output layout on the screen:

The laser printer output is also shown on the screen for checking purposes. If necessary, you can disable this option (in particular on slow computers with relatively little RAM).

Automatic start of program:

Yes: after you have selected the pallets and the plotter (if required), the output of the pallet plans starts automatically. In this case, you cannot change the printout design.

No: after you have selected the pallets and the plotter (if required), you can define the printout design before the output starts.

'Miscellaneous' tab

Show bundled secondary bars:

Showing bundled secondary bars:

Region: the program draws the full length of one secondary bar only from a bundle. The remainder is shown in outline with their direction of placing and the number off.

1 bar: one bar only from a bundle is drawn.

All: the program draws the full length of all the secondary bars in a bundle.

Arc dimensioning:

As discrete lines: the individual lengths of the 'arc' are dimensioned.

As genuine arcs: enter the center of the arc with a radius arrow.

'Dimensioning parameters' tab

Dimension string groups:

The program creates a separate dimension string for each ”group”. These dimension strings are given initials according to the dimensioned element:

Initials for dimension strings in EPA

AU: recesses

BG: stirrups

BM: stirrup meshes

ET: fixtures

GI: girders

GM: total dimension

LE: longitudinal bars

PL: panel shape

QE: cross bars

ST: shear girders

ZE: secondary bars

ZM: secondary meshes

ZT: secondary girders

If group dimensioning is disabled and the next parameters are set for the highest possible integration, then 2 dimension strings maximum (a baseboard for the total dimension) are created. Group dimensioning forces the program to provide these extra dimensions for the above elements.

Adjacent dimension strings:

On top of one another:

Overlapping:

You can use these parameters to set the degree of integration of the individual dimension strings. Then the program calculates all the individual panel dimensions. These dimensions are compared with one another. If they satisfy the relevant criteria, the program uses further tools to collect the dimensions together on a dimension string.

Max. number of variances:

A value that moderates the above mentioned criteria, i.e. the higher the value, the more likely dimensions are to appear added together on the dimension string.

Integration criterion minimum:

Integration criterion maximum:

The minimum and maximum for the above matches, applied as follows:

the smallest possible value as a minimum = 0,

the largest possible value as a maximum = number of enabled criteria above,

the maximum must always be larger than the minimum.

The higher the range (e.g. 0-3), the higher is the likelihood that a single dimension is allocated to a string.