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FeneVision WinIG Interface Guide

Lynne Whitmore
  • Updated

Introduction

This article provides some background and troubleshooting tips for the FeneVision WinIG interface.  The FeneVision WinIG interface aids in the manufacturing of insulated glass units (IG), typically for the window manufacturing community.  The file generated can be used in-house for those that assemble their own IGs, or sent to a vendor for outside manufacturing.  The file indicates items needed to assemble the IG like glass type, gas fill, muntins/grids, spacer, etc.

Legacy WinIG vs WinIG Attr

The legacy WinIG interface relied on a specific BOM structure.  It required all the glass, spacer, grid and gas parts to be in the same subassembly.  The newer WinIG Attr interface allows for a more varied BOM structure.  WinIG Attr was developed for customers with pre-existing BOM who wanted to start using WinIG, but their BOM structure was not compatible with the legacy WinIG interface.  WinIG Attr is recommended for new configurations, but there is nothing wrong with continuing to use the legacy WinIG interface if you are already doing so. 

Unlocking

Only one of these interfaces can be unlocked on a server at a time.  If you have the legacy WinIG interface, but are planning on using WinIG for the first time, contact FeneTech to have the interface unlocked to WinIG Attr instead.

Legacy WinIG

In both interfaces, the IG BOM part is assigned to the interface on the IG tab.  But the legacy interface has additional tabs for BOM part assignment (Spacer, Gas, Muntin, etc.).  These parts must be in the same IG subassembly.  The Part Number columns hold the glass code value that the machine expects.

Notice the glass, grid and gas parts are in the same subassembly below.  This is a typical Legacy WinIG BOM structure.

WinIG Attr

In WinIG Attr, only the IG parts are dragged into the interface.  WinIG Attr relies on attributes to designate the spacer, gas and grid parts in the BOM structure.

Documentation

  • The legacy WinIG guide is WinIG Configuration Guideline (attached).  This is the configuration guideline document for the legacy interface.  There is some overlap between the legacy WinIG interface and the WinIG Attr interface and this guide may be useful should issues come up while configuring the WinIG Attr interface.  This document includes some shape information.
  • The WinIG Attr guide is WinIG Attr User Manual (attached).  This document also contains a list of tags, like !SCHEDID! and !BATCHID!, available for use in the Item Comment field.
  • Shape documentation is found in the WinIG Configuration Guideline and Cardinal Shape Catalog (attached). 

Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

  • The SEQ attribute is how the interface keeps associated data together for an IG, like glass, spacer, grids and gas.  (In fact, the SEQ attribute is critical in many of the FeneVision interfaces to keep associated parts together.)  A unique SEQ id is required for each IG in the window, and its glass, gas, spacer, grid parts must have the same SEQ value.  
    • In a double hung, the keeper sash IG can be SEQ=1 and the lock sash IG can be SEQ=2.  This continues to work well for general opening designer parts.  In a mulled twin DH, there would be four IGs, two keeper sashes with SEQ=1 and two lock sashes with SEQ=2.  The IGs remain unique because each DH has their own sublineitem number, and the DHs are considered separate windows that are mulled together.   Remember, mulled units can even be mulled together in the field, so each DH is truly a separate window.  However, a continuous frame twin DH is manufactured as one window, so each IG must have a unique SEQ number, 1 through 4.
    • Verify the SEQ attribute is assigned to the Seqence Attribute field in WinIG Machine Setup
  • Why are all the IGs in my continuous frame twin casement receiving the same grid values when they should be different?
    • In this case, one casement had a blank SEQ value on its grid part, causing the same grid information to be used for both IGs.  SEQ attributes must be assigned and must be unique within the window.  Continuous frame is considered one window, so all IGs must have a unique SEQ value.
  • How can I get additional grid notch location records in the output file?
    • The MP attribute must return “CUSTOM” in this case.  When MP returns a valid pattern like “2VX3H”, no additional grid notch records appear in the file.
  • What is “Always Include Shape Parameters”?
    • Previously only the fields for shape parameters that were used in the current unit were included in the file. With this setting enabled, the file will include blank spaces for all shape parameters regardless of the number of parameters that are used.  Certain machine versions may expect this file format.
  • Can one IG Part in the WinIG setup handle all IG scenarios instead of one IG Unit per scenario?
    • Yes, with the WinIG Attr version.  One IG part is assigned to the interface and the attributes drive all other logic (glass type, spacer, grids, etc.).  
  • How can I create one output file per schedule, instead of 1 per batch?
    • Use the “Merge Output Files” setting.  This works well when releasing the entire schedule at once.  It is not compatible with generating each batch individually, because each batch file will have the same name and subsequent requests overwrite the previous file.
  • Our WinIG file adds a header record per schedule batch. Is there a setting to turn that off to where there would just be one header record regardless of how many batches there are in the schedule?
    • No.  There's one header per each time the file generation runs, which is per-batch. Even if you have the "Merge Output Files" setting set, which would have all the batches in one file rather than separate files, all that does is combine the files into one, it doesn't exclude any headers.
  • I would like to sort the output file by largest height first and largest width second, and these are my settings.
     
    • Ascending is smallest to largest, so use Descending sort instead.
  • I would like to have identical items show as one line with a quantity of x in the file, rather than x lines with a quantity of 1.  It looks like the "Combine Line Items" parameter is doing this, although the grouping is combining different glass types also.
    • Yes, this is how “Combine Line Items” works.  There is no real advantage, such as performance, to using this setting, so it is typically left unchecked.
  • How do I use mirror in WinIG to flip the shape?
    • Return “TRUE” in your mirror attribute to flip the shape, return empty string “” to avoid flipping the shape.
  • Do I need to add parts onto the WinIG Attr interface by path?
    • No, add parts onto the interface without path.  Path has no meaning for the WinIG Attr interface. Inclusion in the interface can be controlled via attribute.
  • All of my attributes for the WinIG Attr interface start with the WINIG prefix.  Can I place WINIG attributes on the parent of my IG part along with the IG part?
    • No, keep the WINIG attributes together on the parts comprising the IG, glass IG, spacer, gas, grids.  For example, do not place these WINIG attributes on the picture window frame.
  • Item Comment
    • The item comment can be left blank to return the default information or be customized using text and tags such as !SCHEDID! and !BATCHID!.  A useful tag returns attribute data, !ATTRVAL=X! replaces the tag with the value of Attribute X.
    • See WinIG Attr User Manual for available tags. 
  • I plan on purchasing a new IG machine, do I need to check in with FeneTech?
    • Yes, please contact FeneTech to ensure the FeneVision WinIG interface supports the file version required by the new machine.  If you are buying a machine because of its new features, verify the FeneVision WinIG interface supports those new features.

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