Location (formerly EDL Description) is set globally for the copy of QC-CALC in the Tools > Options > Data Storage area and is a free-form text field that can describe the location/origin of the part files. Once set, all collected data will be tagged at the part file level with the location and will not be combined with data from other Locations. For instance, two copies of QC-CALC Real-Time could be located in different areas of the plant with Turning and Milling as their locations. If they both collect data for a part called “Widget”, then two separate part files will be created in the database named “Widget (Turning)” and “Widget (Milling)”. While Location is intended as a label at the factory or department level, it can be used for any grouping desired.

In addition to being a technique for grouping part files, it is also used by User Groups in QC-CALC SPC (formerly Enterprise Report Scheduler) to reduce the number of part files shown to any individual user. This is useful both from a permission standpoint and from a performance standpoint. Since part files that are not useful to a particular user are not listed, it speeds up the loading of screens and makes part file lists less cluttered.

Setting the Location

From the Tools > Options > Data Storage screen, select the Set button next to the location setting.

From the Manage Location screen that appears, set the new location by using the Add new location option and entering a name in the box provided or by using the Choose existing location option and choosing a location from the list. Click Next when finished.

The Manage files screen that appears next allows you to migrate existing files from an old location to the new location.

In the screen shown above, a new location called “Los Angeles” was created and does not have any part files yet. This screen shows the previously set location (Boston) and its part files, allowing the re-assignment of some or all files to Los Angeles. Use the arrows to move the highlighted part files from the list on the left to the list on the right. Click Finish after moving the necessary files to the new location.

Using Location

Once the location is set, the File > Open dialog will automatically follow the location setting and display only files from that specific Location. The Location option at the top of the File > Open screen can be changed to show files from other locations if the Allow opening files from any location option on the Tools > Options > Data Storage screen is checked. That option was NOT checked in the picture below, so we cannot choose a different Location from the list.

Categories offer a way to organize files in a hierarchical or tree style. The category setting is set globally for the copy of QC-CALC in the Tools > Options > Data Collection > Set Paths screen. Once set, all data collected will be tagged at the part file level with the specific category and will not be combined with data from other categories. For instance, two copies of QC-CALC Real-Time could be located in different areas of the plant with “Customers > ABC Corp” and “Customers > DEF Corp” as their categories. If they both collect data for a part called “Widget”, then two separate part files will be created in the database named “Widget” under the two categories above. The data from the two files will not be combined.

Since categories follow a tree style like Windows Explorer, they directly replace the PathSwitch functionality in the QCQ file world. Traditionally, if the Data Storage type is set to File Based, a PathSwitch command from a CMM or QC-Gage will redirect the part file to a new folder in Windows. Categories take over this functionality if the Data Storage Type is set to "MS SQL Server."

Setting the Category

Categories are set via the Tools > Options > Set Paths area in QC-CALC Real-Time. Click the Set button to launch the Category Wizard and assign a new category by navigating the tree hierarchy to the desired category and clicking Next.

The Manage files screen allows you to migrate existing files from your old Category to your new Category. Use the arrow buttons to move some or all of the existing files to the new category on the right, and click Finish when you are ready to save the new category setting.

Editing Categories

Categories can be created and changed via the Manage Categories button on the Tools > Options > Set Paths screen. The current category nodes are shown in the tree and can be dragged to either re-order or move categories to new root nodes. The toolbar has buttons to create root nodes (the highest level of categorization) or nodes beneath an existing node. The pencil icon allows the editing of a category name. As changes are made to the category tree, the “Undo arrow” becomes active, providing the ability to revert to the last saved list. Click the Save button to save your changes.

Dynamic Categories

Dynamic categories allow categories to be created instantly using trace fields from data collection. They are made by specifying the name of a trace field in the inspection data in square brackets (e.g., [customer]). The Manage Categories screen above shows a dynamic category called [Cust]. Dynamic categories are never shown in the File > Open dialog since they are merely placeholders for the created categories.

In the example above, the category path could be set as Customers\[Cust]. QC-CALC Real-Time will look for a text trace field named “Cust” during data collection. If one is found, the actual customer name will replace the [Cust] part of the path, that category will be created if not existing, and the part file will be assigned to the category. For example, if the “Cust” text trace field in the data has a value of Medtronic, then a category for Customers\Medtronic will be created, and a part file will be created and stored in that category. Dynamic categories can be used at multiple levels in the tree. Each square bracketed word will be searched for trace fields and used if found.

Using Categories

The screen shows the Categories tree on the left side when opening a part file via the File > Open menu. The Part Files list on the right will automatically filter to only the available part files when categories are selected on the left. In addition, a Search box can filter the list of part files further, and a checkbox to search subcategories is available. Choose the category on the left, select the part file from the list on the right, and click OK to open the selected part file.