ShareBrained Technology

[kdbrown]

Just stumbled on this site which has a meter-drawing program (from the amateur radio point of view). I don't think I've seen any mention of it here, however: http://www.tonnesoftware.com/meter2.html. It looks like it should be able to do the linear scales needed for the Chronulator without any trouble, even the free version!

[jboone]

Corrected URL (shaved off the period that leaked into the URL): Meter and MeterBasic

You know what's funny? Just a few weeks ago, I was just looking through some of my RF design books and, in particular, the ARRL Handbook, and noticed that program... I didn't have much luck with his other software -- I tried the SVCfilter program and found it incredibly awkward to use. His software also appears to be Windows-only. But hey, if you have Windows, it's worth a shot! Please post here and tell us how it works for you.

- Jared

[kdbrown]

I did try the program, and I found it was difficult to use, and worse is very limited. For the Chronulator type scales one cannot, with the free version anyway, have a 12, 1, 2, ... 12 scale, just 0...12, so the normal hours scale cannot be made. It allows only one font size, for the label and the tick values, so that is restrictive, and I found that it doesn't even print the same as the preview! As well the interface is poor: it takes my whole 1600 x 1200 screen even though it should need much less area, and some of the entry box labels are partially obscured! I'd say don't bother!

[jboone]

In my grand and glorious dreams of the future, when I can focus full-time on ShareBrained, I'd love to build a Web-based meter face generator. I already have code that *kinda* does the work, written in Python and libcairo. But to turn it into a general-purpose tool with a nice Web UI, well, that'd take time I don't have right now. I suppose if I wanted to lead the open-source lifestyle, I'd just take that crufty ball of code and post it up for somebody else to run with... Any takers?

- Jared

[cncfan]

Like to make a few comment on the Meter program mentioned in a previous post.

After putting together my first Chronulator it looks like I will be getting a few more kits for family members. I want to make each clock face unique to the person we give it to and found this topic about Tonne software.

I bought the full version of the program and all I can say if you want to do custom meters this program can do it.

It has a lot of options to be set depending on size, type of scale, graphics, fonts... you name it you can modify it. It also has a calibrate feature that prints out a box, you measure the x,y distance and enter it in the program, this way your printer will print out the exact size meter that you specify in your parameters. I would think one reason for this is due to the difference in printers.

One person found it difficult to use. I does have many options, most have a "help" button next to it describing or showing how the feature works with a graphic, the ones with no help button you know what it does by the name of the option. Without all the option that the program has, it would limit you in what type, size meter face you can print. That said I did have to ask the developer of the software about doing a 12 to 12 meter face. You can re size the screen and I found no entry box's being blocked in the version I am running.

The paid version does let you do a meter starting at 12 on the left and ending with 12 on the right. (not sure about the free version) The program has a setting for making an Arbitrary scale, this is where you set the major or minor ticks, scale reading and deflection settings for this type of meter face.

Below links are to a meter face with some personalized text and dial numerals are of a font I grabbed off the internet. The other is the configuration page to get the meter to read 12 to 12.



Also if you have any questions Jim is quick to respond to emails.

The meters are printed much clearer than the below images show, I used snip it to grab the screen.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l194/lovebugjunkie/fullscreenmeter.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l194/lovebugjunkie/configscreen.jpg

George

[kdbrown]

The program does seem to have been improved, going by my memory (I have since deleted the free version from my system) and looking at the present web site. It seems you are saying that the $35 is well spent. I have since made some scales with a Corel Draw script, but I'm sure that what I wanted to do there (6 scales plus a cut-out area for a mirror--I'm replicating the scales on a cheap analog meter but with a new scale, hours or minutes, added) cannot be done with one pass with the program because of the stated 4 scales max. Can that kind of complexity be done, do you think, with more than one pass by combining the results together in a graphics program?

[cncfan]

If I am following you.

One meter with four scales printed then another scale that is scaled to fit under the four on the first meter. I don't see why it could not be done, the program lets you specify the arc thickness, spacing and font placement. (plus many more options)
You might want to shoot a email off to Jim, he is more than willing to help with any questions about his software. He took the time to do the deflections that I posted for the 12 to 12 meter and also included an example meter face. I just changed the font and name in my last post to show the example.

Yes, I think this software is well worth the price he charges. Makes very quick work of what can take hours otherwise.