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Wizzard Auto-layout for machines that don’t have newer auto-layout. (XL 2.40 and lower)
AUTO-LAYOUT Screen
On the Wizzard, Wizzard 2 and Early Wizzard XL, press the SHIFT + AUTOLAYOUT keys (press the SHIFT and while holding it down, press the AUTOLAYOUT key - then release them together).
On the Wizzard XL Plus, Press just the Auto-layout Key
You should now have one of these screens.
Wizzard and Wizzard 2 Screen
Wizzard XL Screen
Wizzard XL Plus Screen
Your screen now asks to see the current layout (which we do not want) so press the space bar once on the Wizzard, Wizzard 2 and Wizzard XL. Press the space bar twice on the Wizzard XL Plus
Wizzard, Wizzard 2 Screen
Wizzard XL Screen
Wizzard XL Plus Screen When it says
Create Auto-layout (Wizzard and Wizzard 2)
Create New Auto-Layout (Wizzard XL)
Create Column Layout (Wizzard XL Plus),
Press The Enter Key.
You will now have a new screen.
As soon as you have a blinking cursor, PRESS THE SPACE BAR 4 TIMES (SLOWLY),
The screen will now ask you to enter info (information) (if this is not your screen, press the space bar until the first line reads Enter info for tic pair A), Then Press the ENTER Key.
You are now asked, How many lines of engraving do you want? Type in 3 and Press The ENTER Key.
The Wizzard automatically reduced the letter height down to .333. We will come back later and change the letter height (to put space between our lines of engraving) so press the ENTER Key.
Now type in a margin for the top (.125), Left hand margin (.250), A bottom margin (.125) and a right hand margin (.250), pressing the ENTER key after each item. Your Screen should now look like this.
Send your cursor back to the top of the screen by pressing down on the arrow that points up. By pressing the ENTER Key, work it down until it is under your current letter height.
Press the Shift - Clear Delete Keys and type in .150 for your new letter height and then press ENTER. By pressing the SHIFT-ENTER Keys, you can draw out your layout.
By changing your letter heights, margins, etc. you can arrange the layout of your choice.
Once you are satisfied with your layout, send the cursor back to the top of the screen.
Press the SPACE BAR one time until you see ‘’Use this auto-layout’’
Press the ENTER Key and the Wizzard will beep and ask you to confirm this by pressing the SHIFT-ENTER Keys.
Press the SHIFT-ENTER Keys and the Wizzard beeps again and tells you “COMPLETED - Auto-layout is now current layout”
To Type in just our TEXT
Press the SHIFT-JOB SET UP Keys
After each line of text, press the enter key or the down arrow.
To Draw your text on the screen, press the SHIFT-COMPUTE Keys
2.41 and above Press the AUTO-LAYOUT key
One of the last major improvements that has been added to the Wizzard XL and the Wizzard XL-XTRA was the addition of the Auto-layout software. While there is an "Autolayout" software on the Wizzard and earlier XL's and Extra's, it is no comparison to Dahlgren's Auto-layout software that first appeared on the TRS80 driven System 1Õs of the early 80Õs. It was so perfected in the early System 1Õs that it has remained virtually unchanged as it appears in the System Series engravers that use the SuperPro software.
The first true "Autolayout" software for the XL and XL-extra's was with version 2.43 and 1.03 respectively. The latest versions are 2.44 and 1.04.
To determine what version of software (CPU-A) you are using, press SHIFT + RESET after you get to your job setup screen. you've probably never noticed what version of CPU-A you have as the XL's get past that screen before your monitor has time to warm up. Note - the 2.19 or 2.20 at the bottom of the job setup screen is the current version of your CPU-B software. An example of my screen showing version 1.03 is shown in Illustration 1.
The Basics
If you do multiple line layouts, and don’t use the Auto-layout feature on your Wizzard XL (not available on the Wizzard or Wizzard II), now is the time to learn.
Auto-layout uses your input (or, the pre-determined default settings if you desire) to create a complete layout ready for text input. Before explaining the differences between the fixed and the ratios method, let’s look at the default settings and the options you have in Auto-layout.
A default is a standard value or action used by the software if the user has not specified otherwise. A default value of 45% is used by Dahlgren’s Auto-layout for determining the area used for engraving. This value can be changed by the operator while in the program.
Determining Line Heights. In Auto-layout you have your choice of two methods for the input of your layout’s line heights:
Fixed Heights
Height Ratios
Fixed Heights uses numeric input supplied by the operator and calculates baselines for each line. This method is most commonly used when duplicating an existing layout. You measure each line height and input the values into the Wizzard. The program calculates the baselines for you. Fixed Heights is also used when a specific line height is requested by the customer. (i.e. “...make the first two lines 1 inch tall and all other lines .50 inches tall.”)
Height Ratios allows you to enter ‘comparison’ ratios for each line in relation to the other lines in the layout. This method is the most popular for inputting line heights when creating a new layout.
Determining Margins
You also have the option of changing the ‘default margins’ (top/bottom and left/right). This can be done with 1 of 2 options:
Fixed Margins
Percent Margins
The Fixed Margin method is the most commonly used. It uses default decimal values suggested by the program. You have the option of using the defaults or entering you own.
Percent margins allow you to use a percentage of the plate dimensions for calculating margins.
Creating a Layout Using Fixed Line Heights
The best way to understand Auto-layout is to create a job. We will start using the Fixed Line Heights (FLH) method to create a sign requested by a customer. While our example is for a plastic sign, you can create the layout using the diamond kit.
Mr. Customer brings in a sheet of paper with the following information scribbled on it. WARNING ALL EMPLOYEES MUST WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES. To meet OSHA requirements the sign should be 5 inches tall by 8 inches wide. ‘Warning’ needs to be 1.50 inches tall, and the other text lines have to be .80 inches tall.
TIP - Make sure you have a ruler/scale marked off in 10ths right next to you computer. You will find that it is almost as important as the computer to determine a plate layout.
Press the blue AUTO-LAYOUT key. You should see a menu similar to the one in illustration 2. With the ‘check mark’ on Create New Auto-layout, press the ENTER key
Notice that the line height for 1 line is 2.250. The formula used by the program to determine the line height is
% of plate height / number of lines.
The default percentage is always 45%. Thus the default line height of 2.25 for 1 line is figured by:
45% of 5 inch plate/ 1 line
Now enter 3 for the number of lines and press ENTER. The program quickly recalculates the default line height for three lines. The line height for Line 1 is .75. (5.00 inch plate height x 45% / by the number of lines). Press ENTER twice to get the cursor on the Line 1 line height of 0.750.
XL owners should try this time saver. After you enter 1.50 for line 1, press SHIFT DOWN-ARROW instead of the ENTER key. This will take you to line 2 without moving the cursor. Continue the same process for all your lines.
Using the tip above, enter our fixed line heights for our example:
Line 1 - 1.50
Line 2 - 0.80
Line 3 - 0.80
Press ENTER after entering .80 for the 3rd line. Now press SHIFT + ENTER to view your new layout.
Fixed Margins
The cursor is now at fixed margins for our plastic sign sample. For this layout, we’ll accept the values provided by the programs. However, the values can be changed to suit our particular needs or tastes.
The default percentage used to determine the left and right margins, or blank space on each side of the plate, is 8%. The program multiplies this percentage by the width of the plate to determine the margins. The top and bottom margin uses a more complicated formula.
After engraving, your sign should look like the sample in illustration 3
Remember, if you are provided the exact line heights, use the fixed heights option. After entering your line heights, Auto-layout will do the rest.
Line Height Ratios
When you are creating a layout for the first time, the height ratios is the preferred method. In all the years I have used a System 1, and my XL with the new Auto-layout, 99.99999% of all plaques were done with the Line Height Ratios option, vs. the Fixed Line method shown above.
Generally speaking, most plaques often take on a "standardized" or antiseptic look. But with the ratios concept, you can customize each plaque within a few minutes to add your own personal touch.
let's use the following plaque for our tutorial. It will be on a 5x7 plate. After selecting the plate dimensions, be sure and go to the JOB OPTIONS screen and turn your plate to left or right sideways.
Note: your layout will appear upright while in the Auto-layout Screen. After you enter your text, and SHIFT + COMPUTE, your layout will appear as it will engrave.
The text for our sample plaque will be is as follows:
Line 1: Presented To
Line 2: John Smith
Line 3: For Outstanding
Line 4: Service As
Line 5: Club Tail Twister
Line 6: Libertyville Boosters
Line7: 1989-90
At the Auto-layout screen, enter 7 for the number of lines and press ENTER. Now press the SPACEBAR once and Fixed heights will change to Height ratios. Go ahead and press SHIFT + ENTER to view your layout. Note that all the lines are equal in height.
If you wanted a quick plaque, you can now enter your text. But, for our example, we want to create an award. here's my technique.
Like this plaque, most plaques will always have the following groups/divisions of information - Who gets it, Why they got it, Who gave it, and a date (when presented and/or dates of service rendered). Before starting the input of values into Auto-layout, decide on the ratios (relationship) of these groups/divisions to each other. The ratios you use are dependent on the type of plaque you are working with, or per the request of the customer.
The default ratio of the lines relative to each other is 1:1, or all line heights are equal. I like to use 1 as the ratio for the largest line, and then make the lesser important lines .99 and down. It may be easier for you to use 10 or 100 as the largest number and not worry with the Ô.Õ as I got in the habit of doing.
Remember, we are dealing with ratios, not actual line heights. You can use any number as long as you are not prompted Minimum Line Height Ratio is 0.010 - Maximum Line Height Ratio is 999Ó. A 3-line layout with ratios of 2, 1, 1 (line 1 twice as large as 2 & 3), will yield the same results as the ratios 450.50, 225.25, 225.25, and .020, .010, .010.
For your first couple of plaques, take the time to write down the actual ratios you use. For our sample layout, I will use the ratios below. I also noted my reasoning for the ratios.
Line 1: .70
Line 2: 1.00 Most important in this case
Line 3: .82 Of lesser importance than name
Line 4: .82
Line 5: .82 (Sometimes I use a 1.25 ratio if the achievement warrants it - i.e. TEACHER OF THE YEAR)
Line 6: .90 Normally the 2 most important items - who gets it & who pays
Line 7: .85
To enter the ratios I have selected, press ENTER to move the cursor to ratio of 1.000 provided as the default for Line 1. Now enter the ratios. Press SHIFT + ENTER to create the new layout.
TIP: While the internal CRT doesn't show much variation in the lines, an external monitor shows the variation better.
Our next step is to choose the percentage of the plate height to be used for the engraved lines. For our example select the default ratio of 45%. This percentage is used to determine how much of the plate is actually engraved. Using 50% will create 7 lines that equal 1/2 of the plate height.
For our sample layout go ahead and use the standard defaults for our margins. Press SHIFT + ENTER to view the final layout. Using Double Line Century, our plaque looks like this.
(Photo not available)
For the first time through, and less than a few minutes for layout time, it's not too bad. If you don't like the percentages I chose, create the same plaque with different ratios.
Choosing the percentage of the plate height comes with practice. To better understand this percentage create 5 plaques using my sample layout, or another sample, and use the same ratios for each sample. Then select 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50% for the percent height of each of the samples. Be sure and mark the percentage used on the back of the plate so you won't get them mixed up.
Now lay the engraved plates side by side and determine the preferred spacing for your engraving. As you become more experienced, you will change the percentage on the fly.
Without changing the actual layout, try these tips on our plaque. Use 120-125 percent for the Ideal Font Width, capitalize the name, and italicize the saying or talk. The changes took less than a minute, but added greatly to the end product.
TIP: I have my condensation mode set to Equal Height lines (another default). In Line 7 (the date - 1989-90) of our sample, I used 85%. I prefer the date to be about the same size as the saying or talk.
However, if the 'talk' lines were wide, and had to condense, they would also condense our date. If you want lines to be the same height, but don't want the condensation to be equal, have one ratio 1.01 and the other 1.00. True they won't be exactly the same, but you won't be able to see or measure the distance!
NOTE: Changing from height ratios to fixed ratios and vice versa, you will zap any line heights that you have entered.
Percent Margins I haven't used percent margins in a layout because I find fixed margins faster, and easier to calculate. But, here are some facts about Percent margins that might open the door in an area of particular interest to you.
The minimum percent for the margin is 0%, or a 0.000 left and right margin, while the maximum is 50%, which would leave the left and right margin in the middle of the plate.
Minimum/maximum multiplier for top and bottom margins is .10 and 10.
Other Notes
To increase your productivity, and sales time try this trick. Place a few sample plaques in a prominent selling place in your shop. Choose layouts that have about the same number of lines. But when engraving, not only change the wording and letter style on each, but systematically increase the percent of plate height you use for engraving.
Then instead of asking the customer how big he wants the name to appear, as him/her which of the layouts (of our small to large ratios) most appeals to them.
TIP - I find that if I try to use Auto-layout to add a border, large logo or corners, it allots too much space. They should be added after you exit the Auto-layout screen.
BLANK LINES via Auto-layout* After a little bit of practice you'll get where you can Blank lines in the Auto-layout* screen as I have on Layout 3. Remember that the lines are to be blank when entering text.
ORNAMENTALS are my favorite, and have been on more than half of the plaques I've produced. You will find that no two people use the same Ratio for the Ornamental line in Auto-layout.
Conclusion
Remember if you are supplied the actual line heights, or know the actual heights you want to used for the layout, used the Fixed Line Heights option. Otherwise, go to Height ratios and create an award.
Auto-layout is really a time saver. If you have an earlier version, update your CPU-A and start creating awards instead of plaques.
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