How to start
Workspace and data
Understand what each list represents before entering a production job.
Pieces, stock and projects
In the main window, enter the required pieces on the Projects tab, available material on the Stock tab, and open saved calculations on the Results tab. Select a row before editing or deleting it with the buttons beside the list. To open a context menu, right-click the relevant row. If an action should affect several rows, select them all first.
- Pieces describe what you want to produce: dimensions, quantity and material group.
- Stock describes the sheets or profiles available for cutting. Its quantity is supply, not demand.
- Projects group pieces belonging to a job. Material groups connect compatible pieces, stock and cutting settings.
- The results view contains layouts and separate summaries for pieces, stock, projects, materials and edge bands.
One current job or several projects
TonCut offers simplified operation for one current job and project-based operation for managing several jobs. You can do the first optimization in either mode with the existing material-group and device definitions. Necessary pieces and stock still have to be entered.
In simplified operation, acceptance can remove entries from the current piece and stock lists and export data. In project-based operation, acceptance can update projects and stock and add reusable offcuts to stock when the required options are selected. Calculating a plan alone performs none of these actions.
- In simplified operation, work in the current piece and stock lists; the project list is hidden. You do not need to create a separate project before adding the practice piece.
- In project-based operation, select the destination project in the project list before adding pieces. Use that list’s Add action for a new job, enter its title and any description, priority or due date, then confirm with OK. Select the saved project and check its piece list.
- To calculate several projects, click Start and use the start dialog’s choice of all projects or selected projects; for selected projects, mark the intended entries. Check the material-group and stock scope as well. The only-selected-pieces option instead uses the selected piece rows and disables the project/material-group scope controls.
- In simplified operation, File → New project starts a fresh current job: confirming its question clears both the current piece list and stock list. Preserve needed work with backup or the appropriate data export before confirming. Do not use this action merely to separate a practice piece from existing work.
Change working mode deliberately
Changing working mode changes how you manage jobs. It does not change the gross/net dimension convention or the cutting device. For the first exercise, keep your current mode and follow the instructions that match your window.
Before switching modes, make a backup through Options → Backup. Note the project, quantities and stock to retain.
Open Options → Configuration → General. Select the working mode and click OK.
Simplified operation turns off stock updates. Switching modes does not roll back an accepted result.
If confirmation appears, read it and confirm only if you intend to continue.
It appears when choosing simplified operation while stock updates are enabled. Declining keeps General open without applying the change.
Check the refreshed pieces, quantities and stock before calculating again.
The project list is visible in project-based operation and hidden in simplified operation.
Keep records identifiable
Use identifiers for references exchanged with other systems and descriptions for readable workshop information. Check the active selection before editing or starting a calculation. Configuration can show gross, net or cutting dimensions in lists; two views may therefore display different dimensions for the same piece.
Where to find common actions
- The file menu groups new-project, import, export and exit actions.
- The library menu provides devices, material groups, edge bands and piece templates.
- The options menu provides search profiles, configuration, backup, restore and language choices.
- The help menu includes help, updates, plugin updates, license keys and program information. For licensing, use Help → License keys; Add key and Activate license are separate actions.
- Piece and stock toolbars provide add, edit and delete actions. Their context menus also expose material-group, priority and structure changes. Check the selected records before applying them.
- Project actions include add, edit, duplicate, cancel and delete. History and project lists have time-range and status filters; a hidden record is not necessarily deleted.