File menu

The XBUILD File menu is the same for all post processor types:

Open CNC — This loads an XBUILD post file. The Open dialog is displayed allowing user to browse computer directory for a post processor. Post processors have a .cnc file extension, and are kept in the Posts folder within the FeatureCAM folder.

Save CNC — This saves a new or updated CNC file.

Note: The use of post processors in FeatureCAM is restricted by the particular version of XBUILD/FeatureCAM it was created or modified in. A post created or modified in a newer version of XBUILD is not backward-compatible with an older version. Post processors are forward compatible with newer versions of FeatureCAM. A warning message is displayed when saving a post that was modified in a newer version than the one it was created in. This is not a problem unless the post must be used in an older version of FeatureCAM.

Save As CNC — This saves the file with your choice of name and location.

Document CNC — CNC files are binary files and cannot be printed directly. Use these options to create a text file from the current CNC data file:

• CNX (Text) — Creates a .cnx file which can be read by any text editor.
• HTML — Creates a .html file which is easy to understand.
• XML — Creates an .xml file.

Note: These files cannot be read back into XBUILD or FeatureCAM.

Compare CNC — This enables you to compare CNC posts.

Edit in Text Editor — This enables you to edit formats in a text editor.

Export Formats — This enables you to export all formats to a text file on the disk. When you click Export Formats in the menu, a Save As dialog is displayed where you specify the name and path for the file. The file can be used to perform edits in a third-party text editor, to migrate formats to an older version of the CNC, or to copy all formats into a different CNC file. The file can be read by the Import Formats command.

Import Formats — This enables you to import all the formats from a text file on the disk. When you click Import Formats in the menu, you are given the option to import the last exported file, if a file was exported during the current XBUILD session. If you click Yes, the file is imported silently. If you click No, an Open dialog displays where you specify the path and name of the file. After you select the file, the CNC formats written in the file are read and imported.

Warning: You cannot use the Import Formats command for a partial update of the formats in the current CNC. When you import formats, all formats in the current CNC are replaced by those in the specified file. If a format is not in the file, the contents in the CNC are cleared.

Warning: If you import a file exported from a newer version of XBUILD into an older version, any formats that do not exist in the older version are not imported. Also, any keywords that are only available in the newer version are incompatible and you may need to modify the post after the formats are imported.

Save and Test CNC — This saves all changes that have been made to the CNC file, reloads it in FeatureCAM and reposts the code with the current part in FeatureCAM. The XBUILD session is left open. This enables you to quickly test changes to the CNC file by verifying their effect in the NC code.

Exit — This closes XBUILD.