User Guide and Technical Reference

This utility provides a high-speed bridge between database files (.dat) and Microsoft Excel (.xlsx). It is specifically designed to facilitate bulk library management, allowing users to leverage spreadsheet features to build complex tool databases efficiently.

Supported Database Files

This tool is optimized for database files commonly found in the \MACH\resource\library directory, including:

• tool_database.dat
• holder_database.dat
• shank_database.dat
• feeds_speeds.dat
• cut_methods.dat
• tool_materials.dat

Backup Recommendations

Maintain backup copies of your original .dat files before performing bulk updates.

Bulk Library Management with Excel

The primary purpose of this tool is to replace manual data entry with efficient bulk processing.

1. Initial Export: Generate the template structure from an existing file.
2. Integration: Copy data directly into corresponding Excel columns.
3. Mass Editing: Use Excel's features to update hundreds of values simultaneously.
4. Validation: The tool checks for duplicate Library References (LIBRF) or values exceeding system limits.

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Excel Conditional Formatting

When converting a database file to Excel, the application automatically injects conditional formatting rules into the generated spreadsheet. This highlights problematic cells in red (such as entering text into a number-only column or leaving a mandatory field blank), allowing you to easily spot and correct validation errors before importing the data back.

Note: If you prefer to export a completely raw spreadsheet without these highlights, you can disable "Enable Excel conditional formatting" in the application Settings under the Data & Validation section.

Common Errors and Troubleshooting