Features and Terms Definitions

General terms

Parts allowed per project

Consider a simple example of a table made from a top and four identical legs. This project would have two parts: "top" and "leg". In some Editions, there is a limit to the number of parts allowed in each project. (There is no limit to the total number of projects you can create.)

Quantity allowed per part

Continuing with the example above of a simple table, the quantity of the "top" part is one, and the quantity of the "leg" part is four.

 
Capabilities included in all Editions

Multi-Core enabled

Take full advantage of parallel processing on multi-core processors, resulting in a significant improvement in optimization times. This is an essential feature for anyone who has already invested in a PC with multi-core processors. It comes standard in all Editions of CutList Plus fx.

Drag and Drop diagram editing

View this in the video about working with layout diagrams.

Use the mouse to drag parts around on a diagram, or move parts from one diagram to another. Force parts to be rotated by holding down the Ctrl key while dragging.

Snap-to-Kerf function

View this in the video about working with layout diagrams.

While dragging parts on a diagram, the part will automatically snap into alignment with nearby saw kerfs, and the kerf lines will be displayed on the diagram.

Intelligent Reoptimization™

An exclusive technology that operates behind the scenes in CutList Plus. It figures out which of your cutting diagrams need to be reoptimized based on changes you make to your parts list and raw materials information. In a large project, this will save considerable time when fine-tuning measurements and materials.

Pinned diagrams

A pinned diagram is frozen, so it doesn't change even if the other diagrams in the project get reoptimized. But, you can still make changes to the raw materials costs for those diagrams, and see the results show up in your total project cost. Use this when you have a diagram exactly how you want it, but still need to work on other parts of the project. Or, if you have already cut the parts for that diagram, but want to make changes to the un-cut diagrams.

Display "slice" sizes

View this in the video about working with layout diagrams.

This option shows the dimensions of all possible through-cuts around the edges of the cutting diagram. Useful for making the initial cuts to a large sheet or board, especially if you need to have your lumber dealer make that initial cut.

Optimize either cost or waste

When different sizes of materials have different unit costs, you may get different results when you try to minimize cost as compared to minimizing the material waste. CutList Plus lets you choose either method of optimization.

Option to use "off-cuts" first

If you have leftover pieces of lumber or plywood, you have the option to specify that those off-cuts should be used first in the layout diagrams, even if the resulting layouts are not as good as you would get if using new stock.

Glued-Up Panel Wizard

The program will calculate the narrow boards needed to for a wide panel glue-up, then automatically include those narrow pieces in your project.

Inventory tracking

CutList Plus lets you keep track of how much inventory you have on hand, and even has the abilty to adjust that inventory level based on your completed projects.

Copy/Paste to Excel, etc.

You can copy data from any of the CutList Plus windows onto the clipboard, and paste it into other programs.

Other key features

• Print labels to keep your parts organized as you work.
• Switch between Imperial and metric units at any time.
• Full support for rough lumber, dimensioned lumber and sheet goods of all sizes.
• Built-in support for many pricing systems, including board-feet, cubic feet, cubic meters, square feet, square meters, lineal meters, and more.
• "Dashboard" controls let you adjust optimization settings.
• Automatically picks the best size sheets/boards, based on your preferences.
• Calculate your costs based on either full or partial sheets.

 
Features available in the Silver Edition

Copy/Paste Parts from Excel, etc.

Iimport parts lists that you have copied onto the clipboard in other applications. This is a quick way to transfer your parts lists from a spreadsheet or CAD program into CutList Plus.

File Import (Parts)

CutList Plus can import parts lists that other programs have exported as formatted text files, or .csv files. This is another way to transfer a list of parts from a spreadsheet or CAD program.

File Export

CutList Plus is able to export all the reports is generates as text or csv files, so you can use that information in other programs.

 
Additional features available in the Gold Edition

Calculate Edge-Banding

View the edge banding video.

If you use banding on the edges of your plywood parts, CutList Plus has the abilty to calculate the requirements automatically. It will even show you which edges require banding on the cutting diagrams. If you use banding that has a significant thickness to it, CutList Plus will make the appropriate adjustments when creating the layout diagrams.

Specify multiple copies of a project

See this feature in the component projects video.

This feature gives you a quick way to specify that you need to build more than one of a project. For example, you may need to build two identical tables, or four chairs. Instead of manually changing the quantity of each part, you can just specify that there will be several copies of the entire project.

Combine multiple projects into one

See this feature in the component projects video.

This is a very powerful capability. It allows you to create a "master" project that includes many smaller ones. For example, you could have a "library" of standard size cabinets. Then, to build an entire kitchen, you would combine various standard size cabinets, in various quantities, into one large project. This allows you to optimize the entire project as one unit (which is often more efficient), and get a price estimate for the entire project.

Shared Materials (multi-user)

Several people can share a single raw materials file over a Windows local area network. CutList Plus fx will automatically keep things synchronized for you.

You'll need a separate license for each PC you install the program on. Site licenses are also available.

Pricing tool

View the pricing and proposals video.

Figure out the price to charge for your work based on a variety of options, including markup for each item, labor rates, taxes, overhead rates. Customizable based on your preferences.

Create customer proposals

View the pricing and proposals video.

Print a professionally-formatted pricing proposal that you can give to your customers.

Clipboard Capture Toolbar

There is a special clipboard importing toolbar which you can access from other programs. And, there is even a "no click" import mode, in which CutList Plus can detect when you copy a parts list to the clipboard and import it automatically.

 
Additional features available in the Platinum Edition

Advanced importing tools

This is a special group of features that assist when importing data from certain CAD programs. These tools give you the following options:

• Import banding from four separate columns, instead of one. Also, import banding by name instead of code.
• Adjust part dimensions during import by adding the banding thickness back to the part.
• Option to determine part thickness based on the imported material name. For example, if the imported material is named "3/4 Cherry Plywood" CutList Plus will assume the part is 3/4" thick.
• Skip parts if the imported quantity is zero.
• Combine imported parts with parts already in the project when they are duplicates, rather than creating new part numbers.
• Option to strip out comments during import.

DXF export of layout diagrams

Cutting diagrams can be exported as DXF files. This is an advanced feature intended for professionals who want to use the DXF files as input to their CAM software in order to drive CNC routers or saws. Because the CAM software determines the tool paths, the DXF file is intended to show layout geometry, but not the cut sequence.

Import Raw Materials

Raw materials sizes, costs and other information can be imported from a csv file. The csv file must be formatted for automated processing (rather than being set up for human viewing). Many options are available to customize how the imported information is merged into your existing database.