Formula book

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This function allows to access the formula database. There are 4 different options when accessing the database:

 

bar_01

 

Each option can be accessed using the selection bar at the top of the page or pressing the F7 key.

 

Formula book

 

The formula book is where the factory products, fandecks and colors are located. These formulas can be retrieved but cannot be deleted from the database.

 

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Formula book selection steps:

 

Step 1 - (Optional) If more than one formula book (database) is available, select from the list the desired item. When a database is selected the next step is activated and the list of available products is populated.

Step 2 - Select from the list the desired product. At any time is possible to return to the previous selection step clicking on the selected item above. If only one product is available the function will automatically select it and skip this step.

Step 3 - Select from the list the desired fandeck or sub-product. At any time is possible to return to the previous selection step clicking on the selected item above. If only one fandeck is available the function will automatically select it and skip this step.

Step 4 - Select from the list the desired color code. Color codes or names can be easily located using the search entry field and the associated button. At any time it is possible to return to any of the previous selection steps clicking on one of the selected items above. To select a specific color double-click on it, or press the ENTER key or press the confirm button. Once selected all the color data will be transferred to the application main page.

 

warning

Some database structures forces the selection to start picking the desired color first. In this case Steps 2 and 4 are swapped.

 

Saved formulas

 

The saved formulas database contain all the personal files where formulas have been stored. These formulas can be retrieved and eventually deleted from the database.

 

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Saved formulas selection steps:

 

Step 1 - Select from the list the desired personal file. If only one file is available the function will automatically select it and skip this step.

Step 2 - Select from the list the desired color code. Color codes, names or insertion dates can be easily located using the search entry field and the associated button. At any time it is possible to return to any of the previous selection steps clicking on the selected file above. To select a specific color double-click on it, or press the ENTER key or press the confirm button. Once selected all the color data will be transferred to the application main page.

 

Delete a file

 

Any saved formula file can be deleted. Just select the file from the list and click the delete button. A confirmation pop-up window will appear. Confirm your choice again to have the file permanently deleted. Keep in mind that all the formulas contained in the file will be permanently lost.

 

Delete a color

 

Any saved formula (colors saved in a personal formula file) can be deleted. Just select the item from the list and click the delete button. A confirmation pop-up window will appear. Confirm your choice again to have the color permanently deleted from the personal file. If this is the only color in the personal file also the file itself will be deleted.

 

 

History

 

The last 100 selected formulas are stored in a temporary database for user's convenience. All these formulas can be quickly retrieved and eventually deleted from the database. Formulas are sorted by date and time with the more recent selections at the top of the list

 

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History selection steps:

 

Step 1 - Select from the list the desired color code. Color codes, names or insertion dates can be easily located using the search entry field and the associated button. At any time it is possible to return to any of the previous selection steps clicking on one of the selected items above. To select a specific color double-click on it, or press the ENTER key or press the confirm button. Once selected all the color data will be transferred to the application main page.

 

Delete a color

 

Any color belonging to the history database can be deleted. Just select the item from the list and click the delete button. A confirmation pop-up window will appear. Confirm your choice again to have the color permanently deleted.

 

 

Competitors

 

This is where is possible to match colors that have been not formulated yet. Usually this database contain color data of competitors' fandeck, color standards or less used color cards

 

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Competitors selection steps:

 

Step 1 - (Optional) If more than one matching database is available, select from the list the desired item. When a matching database is selected the next step is activated and the list of available products is populated.

Step 2 - Select from the list the desired product. At any time is possible to return to the previous selection step clicking on the selected item above. If only one product is available the function will automatically select it and skip this step.

Step 3 - Select from the list the desired fandeck or color collection. These items are not the usual fandecks formulated in the database, they are collections of colors where only the color data is available at the moment. The first item in the list is usually the "history" file, this is a file where the last 100 measured or selected colors are conveniently stored. At any time is possible to return to the previous selection step clicking on the selected item above. If only one fandeck is available the function will automatically select it and skip this step.

Step 4 - Select from the list the desired color code. Color codes or names can be easily located using the search entry field and the associated button. At any time it is possible to return to any of the previous selection steps clicking on one of the selected items above. To select a specific color double-click on it, or press the ENTER key or press the confirm button. Once selected all the color data will be transferred to the application matching page.

Step 5 - The matching page will open and the search for the best match will start automatically. The process can take several seconds depending on the matching engine and formula database size. Refer to the color matching section of this manual for the options and operations of this function.

 

warning

Some database structures forces the selection to start picking the desired color first. In this case Steps 2 and 4 are swapped.

 

Search for list content

 

Products and colors lists tend to be long specially when a database contains multiple files or thousands of colors. To quickly search any list for a particular item, insert the appropriate text in the entry field immediately above the list. If items in the list match the entry field the list will display them.

If no matches are found the entry field will blink to signal the error condition and the full list of items will be displayed.

In order to facilitate searching for a particular item, a partial text insertion is possible.

For example if you are searching for the color "888 DEEP RED", you can enter "888" or "RED" or "DEEP" and get a matching list.

 

 

warning

Some Windows versions (for example Chinese, Korean and Japanese versions) do not automatically recognize uppercase and lowercase characters as similar. In this case the text inserted by the user must be exactly of the same case as the color codes and names listed in the formula book.

 

Bar-code scan

 

If a bar-code reader is connected and the bar-code function is enabled, it is possible to quick select the product scanning the bar code of the product base. The application will automatically point to the correct product once the bar code is recognized.

This rapid selection is only available for the Formula book and Competitors options.

 

Buttons and keys

 

Button

Key shortcut

Function

b_none

F3

Gives focus to the database selection immediately below the upper bar. This selection and the associated key shortcut are only enabled when multiple databases are installed.

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F4

Gives focus to the first list from the top, this is the first step in selecting the desired formula.

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F5

Gives focus to the second list from the top.

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F6

Gives focus to the third list from the top.

b_none

F7

Select the next option from the upper selection bar.

b_undo

DEL

Deletes the selected file or color from the database. This button is only enabled when a personal or history file or color is selected.

b_open

INS, F11

Confirms the selected color formula and returns to the application main page.

b_none

CTRL - P

Saves the visible page screen-shot on clipboard and opens a dialog to optionally save it on file.

 

Upper tabs

 

Tab

Key shortcut

Function

b_exit

ESC

Press the cancel tab to abort the current session and return to the main page.