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What special steps should I take to move the TOPS Pro, PackStack Pro, or
LoadStack Pro software to a different machine?
Moving the software to a new
machine requires uninstalling the authorization back onto the floppy
diskette. Follow these instructions:
- Place the floppy diskette in floppy drive
- From the
Start/Programs menu, open the TOPS for Windows Apps group
- Run the TOPS Pro
Move program
- Select “Uninstall License to Floppy.”
- Adjust the source and destination directories as needed, then select OK
Once the authorization has been moved back onto the floppy, you may
re-install the software as if it were freshly shipped from TOPS. If you want
to maintain your old data, copy the subdirectories from under the old TOPS
Pro installation over the top of the new TOPS Pro installation.
When I try to run TOPS Pro, I get an
error message that says, "Maximum of 1 user(s) already logged in." But I
know that no one else is using the program. What's going on?
This message most often
occurs when someone has logged into TOPS Pro and crashed out of the program
instead of exiting normally. TOPS Pro thinks the user is still logged in.
If someone attempts to login as the same person, TOPS Pro will warn them
with the message, "User already logged in. Replace?" Answer Yes to log that
person off the system and allow the new user to login.
If you login as someone other than the user who crashed out, TOPS Pro
issues the message, "Maximum of N users already logged in.” The "N" value
is normally one (1) unless you've purchased additional user licenses. You
can get around this message with one of two options
- Login as the same person that crashed, then log him or her out
- Login as supervisor in the TOPS Pro Config program, open the File Menu
and Select User List to Logout any extra user (s).
What does selecting the various stacking
pattern (pallet layouts) styles do? You know, the ones displayed after you
press the Options button in the Shipcase Parameters dialog box (also the
Unitload Parameters and Transit Vehicle Parameters dialog boxes).
The pattern style checkboxes determine what arrangements TOPS Pro
will attempt to use when placing your carton/shipcase/ pallet into its
respective shipcase/pallet/vehicle.
Depending on your situation, you may choose to check additional patterns to
attempt to get a tighter load. You may uncheck some patterns because you
want simpler patterns; e.g., perhaps your stacking machine can handle only
simple 1-block patterns.
I can't find yesterday's work. What happened
to it?
You've probably logged in with a user name other
than one you used when you saved the analyses. Each user's analyses are only
visible to him or her and to someone logged in as Supervisor. If you login
in as Supervisor, open the File menu and select Open, you can see everyone's
work with their name after it. For more information, please refer to
Login/Logout as a Supervisor.
How do I tell what version of TOPS Pro I
have?
You've probably logged in as someone other than you were when you saved
the analyses. Each user's analyses are only visible to him or her and to
someone logged in as Supervisor. If you login in as Supervisor, open the
File menu and select Open, you can see everyone's work with their name
after it. For more information, please refer to Login/Logout as a
Supervisor.
Can I have the program print fractions
instead of decimals?
Starting with TOPS Pro Version 2.1, you can use
fractional output. Follow these instructions:
1. Open the Tools Menu and select Configuration.
2. Click on the Fractions button.
3. Use the checkboxes to adjust the points at which you would like the
program to operate in fractional mode.
All fractions will be to the nearest 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 and 1/64.
Note that this will only change the output and display of a value. The
numbers that are stored and manipulated are the actual decimal values – not
their "nearest fractional" equivalents.
Hint: Even when not in fractional mode, the program will accept fractional
input and convert the value to its exact decimal equivalent, just as if you
had typed in the decimal value in the first place.
Simply hit the spacebar – or the decimal point – and type the fraction after
the whole-number portion of the number. That is, the value 4 1/8 and 4.1/8
becomes 4.125 after leaving the field. However, values imported from
external sources must be in decimal form for TOPS Pro, load plan software,
to recognize them.
Assuming I want my outputs in decimal format,
how do I change the number of decimals for my results?
Follow these instructions:
1. Open the Tools Menu and Select Configuration.
2. Click on the Decimals button.
3. Change the appropriate numbers.
Note: Adjustments to these values only change the output and display of the
numbers. The numbers stored and manipulated are their actual decimal values
– not the "rounded" display equivalents.
What are the abbreviations for the Print
Defaults in the TOPS Configuration program?
Follow these instructions:
1. Login to the TOPS Pro Configuration program as the Supervisor.
2. Open the Configuration program as the supervisor.
3. Open the Configuration Menu and select Default.
4. Click on the radio button for print.
TOPS Pro displays the default printing arrangement and allows you to make
adjustments. Use the single-letter abbreviations pictured below and be aware
– capitalization matters.
Note: Use uppercase "N" (none) in an Area field to get an empty pane.
How do I change the
graphical online drawing (g.o.d) window images?
The (g.o.d.) system's static pictures are stored as bitmaps in
the Pict directory, which is located off of your topspro directory. You can
use the Windows Paintbrush to change, edit or replace the pictures.
Ich bin Berliner; I am a Berliner. Ich
sprache ein kleinste Englisch; I speak a little English. Was kannst du auf
mir tunnen? What can you do for me?
The TOPS Pro load planning software now comes in
several languages, including English, Japanese, Spanish, Finnish, French,
Portuguese, Chinese and German. In addition, each language is fully
configurable, so if you don't like the way we said it, you can say it
yourself.
The Text Modification dialog box allows you to perform language editing. Use
these guidelines:
- To choose a language, open the Tools menu and select Language
- To change individual strings, open the
Tools menu, select Language, then select Edit
The lines on TOPS Pro's reports are
too fine. When I fax the reports, the lines are so narrow they almost
disappear and have gaps. How do I fix this?
Follow these instructions:
1. Open the Tools menu and select Configuration.
2. Make Pen Width non-zero; larger numbers indicate thicker lines.
This only affects printed output. The Print Preview and other on-screen
drawings will still appear with normal (one-dot width) lines.
I was showing my boss some outputs from TOPS
Pro and he asked me why TOPS Pro didn't come up with his "pet" solution
(particular loading algorithm). Is there a way to print out what I put into
TOPS Pro so that I could explain to him why it didn't come up?
You can print a Problem
Definition Report (PDR). A PDR contains all the input parameters you specify
for an analysis, including default overhang, underhang, pattern styles
allowed, bulge, etc. A PDR simplifies discussion of TOPS Pro solutions with
other design engineers, as well as with TOPS Technical Support.
How do I change the colors of the
cartons, shipcases, etc.? When I print in color, some colors are so dark
they print nearly black.
To select color, open the
Tools menu and select Color Selection. Color changes are specific to each
user name, not each analysis.
I use dividers and box styles
different than the ones that come with the program. How can I make my own?
You can define
your own box styles, dividers and pallets from the Define menu options.
Also, in the TOPS Configuration program, the Define menu provides a wider
range of things you can define, such as papers, board combinations, flutes
and environmental factors. Any and all data that can influence box
compression or box strength results is fully configurable.
What is "pitch?"
Ever tried to stack cups? Some
cups will stack very closely together; others will barely fit into one
another. Pitch is the distance by which a cup sticks out from the cup
underneath it. The more it sticks out, the greater the pitch. A pitch of
zero assumes that the tubs/buckets are not nested at all.
What is Secondary Pallet Pattern and
how do I use it?
The "secondary pattern" is
used to create mixed pallets. These are non-homogenous (alternating layer)
pallet patterns in which some of the layers may be "borrowed" from other
pallet patterns. To use this feature, follow these instructions:
1. Find a non-multi-dimensional pallet pattern to use as a secondary
pattern.
2. Open the Edit menu and select Select as Secondary Pattern.
3. Now view another solution from the solution list.
4. Open the Edit menu, select Layer Parameters, then select which layer(s)
you want to use the Secondary Pattern.
5. As you scroll through the other non-multi-dimensional pallet patterns,
you'll see a mixture of pallet layers. Note that the statistics will not be
accurate for alternating layer unitloads, but will reflect the original
unitload before mixing the layers
I'm
trying to remove all the TOPS Pro files after uninstalling. What do I need
to delete?
Other
than the files in the TOPS Pro directory and its subdirectories, TOPS Pro
makes the following adjustments to your system:
- It creates a TOPSPRO.INI file in the local Windows directory
- It creates the icons/shortcuts used to start the program
How is RSC board area calculated?
(2L + 2W) (W +
H)
How does the program estimate the
weight of my box?
TOPS Pro estimates the
weight of a newly designed carton/case or a packed carton/case as follows:
- For Cartons: {((Length*Width*2) + (Length*Height*2)) +
(Width*Height*2))/144} * {(Caliper/.024*100)/1000}
- For Shippers or Intermediate Packs: {((Length*Width*2) +
(Length*Height*2)) + (Width*Height*2))/144} * {(Caliper /.018*100)/1000}
- For Corrugated cases: {((Length*Width*2)
+ (Length*Height*2)) + (Width*Height*2))/144} * {(LBSper1000ft2) / 1000}
What are the TOPS Pro Command Line
Parameters?
The following
command line parameters work with TOPSPRO.EXE, CONFIG.EXE and VIEWER.EXE.
- -DBPath="C:\APPS\TOPSPRO\DATA": Overrides any entries in the INI file.
- -ini="C:\WINDOWS\TOPSPRO.INI": Use the specified INI file instead of the
default TOPS.INI in the Windows Directory. Avoid sharing INI files.
- -u "User Name": Automatically login under the name "User Name."
- -a "Analysis Name": Bring up the
specified analysis. Approved analyses are opened first (if there is one).
- -print: Auto-print and exit. Used with –a.
- -printcs: Auto-print package profile and exit. Used with –a.
- -viewcs: Auto-view package profile. Used with -a.
How do I calculate Stacking
Strength? for?
TOPS Pro uses the McKee
Formula to do compression analysis. The McKee formula uses three laboratory
tests performed on board components – the edge crush test (ECT), ring crush
test (RCT), and/or kellicut to derive compression strength.
First, create your analysis in TOPS Pro, and then calculate it. Make sure to
have the weight entered in for shipcase. Next, go to the Tools/Stacking
Strength menu. From there, enter your factors into the screen, then click OK
to view the stacking strength results.
How do I insert pads between
layers, or add caps to a pallet pattern?
After you have calculated a
pallet load, click on the Unitload window to highlight it. Next, go to the
Edit/Layer Parameters menu. Here add what you like to your layers or pallet
patterns.
How do I use the
modify feature to create alternate pallet patterns?
Before you use pallet pattern editor, i.e. the
Modify feature, we suggest you turn off the Layer Rotation feature. Follow
these instructions:
1. From the Edit menu, select Layer Parameters.
System Response: The Layer Parameters dialog box appears.
2. Look at the Rotate column and delete any check marks you see. (Once your
pallet pattern is column-stacked it will be much easier to deal with.)
3. Click on OK to close the Layer Parameters dialog box.
For detailed instructions on how to modify a pallet pattern, please refer to
Chapter 5, Pallet Patterns.
How do I use Adobe Acrobat to
create PDF documents?
Adobe Acrobat® is a
third-party product used to create PDF documents. These files are widely
accepted as the industry standard for displaying documents on the World Wide
Web.
One common misconception with Adobe Acrobat® and the TOPS program is that we
can create them. In order to create a PDF file, you must have Adobe Acrobat
Writer® installed. The Reader program is free, but Adobe® sells the Writer
program. If you have Adobe Acrobat Writer® installed, you should have an
Adobe Acrobat® printer driver installed as well. This printer driver allows
you to print to a PDF file instead of to your regular printer.
Also, set up the printer driver to print to file. To do this, follow these
instructions:
1. From the Windows Control Panel, go to the Printers group and select the
Acrobat printer.
System Response: The Acrobat printer window appears.
2. From the Printer menu, select Properties.
System Response: The Acrobat Printer Properties dialog box appears.
3. Open the Ports tab and select the Print to File option.
4. Click on OK to apply your changes.
The next time you run Topps software (or any other program), you can select
the Acrobat Printer as your active printer. When you print, the system will
prompted you with a "Save" dialog box, which allows you to save the new PDF
document to a specific location.
How do I print a list of shipcases or
pallets I have saved in TOPS Pro?
You can print databases from TOPS Pro, packaging and shipping
software. Go to the File/Print Databases menu and select Shipcases, Pallets
or other databases, such as Cartons, Products, Vehicles (railcar, sea vans,
trucks), etc.
How do I login as Supervisor?
In TOPS Pro, the Supervisor user has the rights to
delete users, see all analysis files and other handy things. To login as a
Supervisor, follow these instructions:
1. Login as any user.
2. Open the Supervisor menu and select the Login\Logout option.
System Response: The Supervisor Login dialog box appears.
3. Enter the supervisor’s password. (The default Supervisor password is
"tops software".)
How do I change the defaults in TOPS Pro?
All defaults in TOPS Pro are set in the TOPS Pro
Configuration program. Here you can change just about anything from the
default pallet overhang to how your printouts look. Follow these
instructions:
1. Login to TOPPS Pro Config.
2. Open the Define menu and select an option.
How do I insert my company logo
into the Package Profile?
Follow these instructions:
1. Open the TOPSPRO.INI file from your Windows or WinNT folder.
2. Look for the line that reads "Logopath."
3. Change the path to point to the location of your BMP file (e.g., C:\temp\tops.bmp).
How do I turn on user passwords?
Follow these instructions:
1. Login to TOPS Pro Config.
2. Login as the Supervisor.
3. Open the Supervisor menu and select Global Configuration.
System Response: The Configuration dialog box appears.
4. Select the User Passwords option.
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