Fig. 1: A work order transformed into a paperless workspace using HTML reports.

System Necessities for a Paperless Shop Floor

.DWG Viewer 

1. To be capable of interacting or viewing the .dwg files embedded into the web-based reports, it is necessary to have a .dwg viewer installed. AutoCAD or Toolbox OEM will function in this task, if already installed, but for a more seamless experience with .dwg or .dwf (which would also be a functional format for these report images), it is recommended that a dedicated external viewer be installed. A list of viewers can be found on the Autodesk website. The recommended viewer for this setup would be Autodesk TrueView. When your .dwg viewer is installed, ensure that it is set to the default application for opening .dwg or .dwf files (this is done when you first open one of those files with the application). 

Viewing HTML Reports

1. Standard web browsers have security protection to avoid opening files directly from web links. To open the HTML report files without first downloading them to one’s local device, it will be necessary to download a Local Explorer extension for one’s web browser. The links below will provide either the extension or the method for accessing local files for different web browsers that are currently in use. If the web browser you currently use is not listed here, it is recommended to search for the extension or method to enable local file:// viewing before proceeding with setting up your paperless workstation. When adding on an extension, it may be necessary to install the extension. In this situation, it may be required to get assistance or approval from your IT. 
1. Local Explorer: Open Local File Links in Edge - Microsoft Edge Addons
2. Local Explorer - Open File Links in Chrome (google.com)
3. Local Filesystem Links – Get this Extension for 🦊 Firefox (en-US) (mozilla.org)
4. https://ccm.net/apps-sites/web/1917-how-to-enable-local-file-access-on-safari/
   
5. https://www.vnprodev.com/browser-extensions/downloads/LocalExplorer-Setup.exe

Read Permissions

1. For your reports with embedded image data to be able to open the .dwg files properly for any given user who is attempting to access them, it is necessary that every user who will be using the paperless workstation have read access to the Microvellum Data\Factory Database folder. This folder is where .dwgs will be stored, and as such, without read access, the product and part drawings will not be accessible. Granting permission can be done by altering the security properties of the Factory Database folder in your File Explorer.  

Setting Up Report Groups

Shared Network Path

1. With all the prerequisites met, open the package included in your purchase. In this .zip package are 3 files: a script file, a drawing template (Metric and Imperial), and an .sdf file containing the necessary reports for a paperless workstation, as well as the default report group. This .sdf file can be imported via the Database Management utility.

1. After the reports have been imported, to ensure the HTML reports can be properly accessed by every intended user of the reports, create a Shared Network Path where the reports will be stored and can be accessed from. This can be created on a network, a shareable drive, or any location deemed suitable for viewing and interacting with one’s manufacturing data. 

1. Once the location and path are created, enter Toolbox Setup, hover over the Design Reports option, then Setup Report Groups. Report Groups are customizable groups made up of multiple different report/label types that will be generated when a work order is processed, with the ability to further customize one’s output location, extensions, or name modifiers to best suit one’s specific production needs.

1. Open the default report group "HTML", setting the Output Location to the Shared Network Path intended to be used. Then open the default report group "Work Order List" and do the same, ensuring there are no alternate destinations for any of the reports.
   

1. Once both report groups are ready, open the report settings for HTML and PDF exports to match your preferences. Microvellum recommends the specifications shown in Figure 3 below.
   

Creating a New Report Group 

1. Create a new report group (name it whatever is desired, the group is called “HTML” in example figures) and add the reports (01_Work Order Summary, 06_Product Detail Report, 10_Master Parts Report), selecting the Output Type dropdown option “HTML” for these 3 reports. Set the 11_Product Labels report to output as a PDF. 

1. Under the Group Options settings, set this report group to print after processing a batch, click on the Create Subdirectory for Output Location from Name Modifiers checkbox, and set the output location to the Shared Network Path or drive you will be using for your workspace. Set the name modifier to Work Order Name only. 
   

Fig. 2: Setting up the HTML based report groups.

1. After your HTML exporting report group is set up, create another report group to generate the list of active work orders. The only report in this group will be the 00_Work Order List report, which should also be set to HTML output type. Set the report to generate after a work order is created, remove any name modifiers, and set the output location to the same Shared Network Path. 
   

1. Once both report groups are ready, set up your report group settings for HTML and PDF exports to match your preferences. Microvellum recommends the specifications in the image below. 
   

Fig. 3: The setting specifications for interactive images in the HTML-based reports.

Drawing Components

1. After creating and setting up report groups, copy the drawing template and script file provided into the location you wish to place them for future use in drawings. Once the files are copied, open Toolbox Setup, then Options, navigate to the AutoCAD tab, and click the Products in New Drawing Setup button.

1. Ensure that your products are drawn in 3D with full machining, then enable the “Run a Script after drawing the product” option, browsing to the location of the script file you placed. Then, change the AutoCAD Template File to the drawing template file you selected (in Figure 4, the Imperial template is shown). Hit OK, and the script and template will be applied to your next series of drawings. 

1. The default script provided by Microvellum uses the X-ray Visual Style. We recommend changing the background color for this Visual Style to be white as the resulting output will look much better. 
   

Fig. 4: The template and script additions in Options.

Draw Products Individually

1. Once the script and template are set up, open a project and a room, and begin drawing your products into individual drawings. Open the Product Viewer, highlight the list of all the products you want placed into your work order, then right click, hover over Draw Selected Product, and select Draw Selected Product(s) in New Drawing.

1. During the processing, all products are drawn in individual drawings, creating something akin to a dynamic product image. At the time of writing, it is necessary to click on one of the drawings in its individual tab in order for this process to complete (your software should display the various angles, then a pop-up bubble informing you that the Plot and Publish job is complete should appear). 
   

1. After the process is completed (), generate a work order with all the same products and run it as normal. Ensure that when creating the work order, it is set to “Manufacturing Active” status. Once processed, all the reports should be generated and output to the location you created. 
   

Fig. 5: Draw Selected Product(s) in New Drawing, products in the viewer selected.

If creating a work order with multiple rooms, you must open each room and select the products to draw. If changing or altering a work order, if the product's drawing has not changed in any way, there is no requirement to redraw the product. 

Maintaining Your Workspace

1. If all the steps were followed, the Shared Network Path should contain the Work Order List HTML file, which should display the work order you just processed, with links on the page to the other reports generated in the work order folder, allowing you to navigate between the product detail report, master parts report, part labels, as well as open the .dwg images that are embedded in the report. It is recommended you set the HTML report page as a homepage on work devices, or at least bookmark it for shop use. Test the links of each aspect of your paperless workspace for issues, repeating the individual steps as needed in the event of non-functional links. 

1. If the reports are not displaying properly, double-check that the reports generated are in a folder in the output location that has the name of its respective work order. 
   

1. Duplicate these steps and process other work orders to add them to the paperless workspace. Reload the web page to see the updated work orders list. 
   

1. To ensure that only active work orders are displayed, edit completed or inactive projects out of the list by editing the work orders using Database Management utility. Open the list of work orders using Work Order Properties under the Tools tab. Set the status from ManufacturingActive to None or Completed. It is suggested to set the work order default for orders be set to either ManufacturingActive or Completed, depending on how many active work orders you wish to have within the web page. 

Fig. 6: Edit work orders to remove them from the active list with Database Management Tools.

Fig. 7: Setting the default status of work orders.