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  • Artificial Log Generator (ALOG) - ALOG is a user-friendly Microsoft® Excel®-based computer program that was developed to accurately generate random, artificial log data and to serve as an alternative to using a real log database. Information obtained from the analysis of actual red oak (Quercus rubra, L.) logs was incorporated into the program to ensure the validity of the generated log data. Generated log feature information includes length, small and large inside-bark diameters, amount of sweep or crook, and defects. External defect attributes include type, location, length, width, and height. Internal defect information, including depth, volume and angle, is also given for the most common defect types that exhibited a significant linear relationship between external and internal defect attributes within the sample data. The user has the option of specifying the grade of the log as well as the position of the log in the tree, or having the features drawn randomly from known distributions. Finally, a grading algorithm is incorporated into the program to check the grade of the generated log.

Download ALOG

  • Hardwood Edging and Trimming Trainer - The Edging and Trimming Trainer program is designed to help hardwood lumber edger and trimmer operators and sawmill managers better understand how lumber grade, surface measure, and price interact to affect lumber value and processing decisions. The training system can be used both as a training tool and as a testing tool. As a training tool, the program allows the user to manually select edging and trimming saw line placement and determine the grade and lumber value for each position. A comparison can then be made between the user's decisions and the optimum edging and trimming solution given by the program. As a testing tool, the user's learning progress after various training sessions can be tested. Another section of the Trainer provides the user with a lumber grade testing program which allows users to test their knowledge of lumber grading rules.

Download the Edging and Trimming Trainer
  • Economic Choice for Hardwood Sawmill Operations (ECHO) - The ECHO software package was developed to help analyze the economic benefit of installing thinner-kerf and higher-accuracy sawing machines. Replacement of headrigs and resaws with reduced kerfs and increased sawing accuracy can be tested. ECHO will also assist in the estimation of the increased lumber recovery and the resultant increased revenue from reducing kerf or lumber sizes on headrigs and resaws. As an alternative, users may make their own increased revenue estimate. Users must also determine the estimated increased costs expected from equipment changes. Based on the estimated increased revenues and costs, a discounted cash flow analysis is performed by ECHO. The investment feasibility measures of present net value, rate of return, and payback period are provided. The software also addresses federal tax implications.

Download ECHO
 
  • Pallet Recovery Opportunity Analysis Tool (PROACT) - Pallet recovery projects are environmentally responsible and offer promising business opportunities. The Pallet Recovery Opportunity Analysis Computer Tool (PROACT) assesses the operational and financial feasibility of potential pallet recovery projects. The use of project specific information supplied by the user increases the accuracy and the validity of the feasibility study. Different scenarios of the same project can also be compared easily because changes in input are instantly reflected in the feasibility study results. PROACT is designed for use with Microsoft® Excel®—the most widely used spreadsheet program on the market today. It is easy to use, even for those unfamiliar with computer spreadsheet programs. PROACT is a workbook with three worksheets.

Download PROACT
 

ALOG Download Instructions

Before installing the ALOG software, please make sure your computer meets the following minimum system requirements:

  • IBM or compatible PC
  • Microsoft Windows 2000/NT/ME,XP
  • Microsoft Excel 2002 or later
  • VGA color display
  • 30 MB of hard disk space
  • 128 MB RAM
  • ALOG also requires that two Excel add-ins are installed prior to use for the program to function properly:
     
    • Analysis ToolPak – financial, statistical, and engineering tools installed by default with Excel (see below for installation instructions)
       
    • PopTools – matrix, stochastic process, simulation, and model fitting tools available for free from CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) (see below for installation instructions)

To install ALOG on your computer, follow these steps:

  1. Save the file (ALOG.xls) to your computer.
  2. Install the PopTools add-in.  Follow the installation instructions on the PopTools Web site.

IMPORTANT ... For the program to function properly, it is imperative that Excel is reconfigured prior to first using ALOG. Use the File-Open option within Excel to open the file named ALOG.xls. Depending on your computer’s security settings, you may have to enable macros. The macros contained in the ALOG program are safe and must be enabled before using ALOG. After the file opens, activate the Analysis ToolPak and PopTools add-ins.  If you don't know how to do this, use Excel's help menu as the instructions vary depending on the version being used.  ALOG is now ready to use.

  1. Download the ALOG User's Manual.  The user's manual is a PDF file and is read by Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you can download a free copy at http://www.adobe.com .

Edging and Trimming Trainer Download Instructions

Before installing the Edging and Trimming Trainer software, please make sure your computer meets the following minimum system requirements:

  • IBM or compatible PC
  • Microsoft Windows 3.1/95/98/2000/NT/ME,XP
  • VGA color display
  • 8 MB of hard disk space

To install the Edging and Trimming Trainer on your computer, follow these steps:

  1. Save the file (ETsetup.exe) to your computer.
  2. Go to the folder where you saved the setup file and double click the ETsetup.exe icon.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the Edging and Trimming Trainer software. After the installation is complete, a draft version of the user's manual will be located in the installation folder (ETManual.pdf).  The user's manual is in PDF format and requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader software to view.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you can download a free copy at http://www.adobe.com .  To uninstall the program, double-click on the uninstall.exe file in the installation folder.

ECHO Download Instructions

Before installing the ECHO software, please make sure your computer meets the following minimum system requirements:

  • IBM or compatible PC
  • Microsoft Windows 95/98/2000/NT/ME,XP
  • Monochrome, Color, or VGA Adapter

To install ECHO on your computer, follow these steps:

  1. Save the file (ECHO.exe) to your computer. 
  2. Go to the folder where you saved ECHO.exe and double click the ECHO.exe icon.  Accept the default location of C:/Temp/ or choose another location to extract the files to.
  3. After the file extraction is complete, go to the folder that you specified in step 2 above and double click the Setup icon. Follow the instructions on the screen to install the ECHO software. When you install the software, choose the default location of C:/Program Files/ECHO98/ as the destination folder. After the ECHO installation is complete, the ECHO user's manual (ECHO User's Manual.PDF) will be in the folder C:/Program Files/ECHO98/. The file ECHO User's Manual.PDF is a PDF file and is read by Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you can download a free copy at http://www.adobe.com .

PROACT Download Instructions

Before installing the PROACT software, please make sure your computer meets the following minimum system requirements:

  • IBM compatible PC or Macintosh
  • Microsoft Windows 95 or later for IBM compatible PCs
  • Microsoft Excel 97 or later

To install ECHO on your computer, follow these steps:

  1. Save the file (proact.xls) to your computer and open with Microsoft Excel to use.
  2. Download the PROACT User's Guide.  The user's guide is a PDF file and is read by Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you can download a free copy at http://www.adobe.com .

 

 

Southern Research Station Forest Service USDA Virginia Tech Department of Wood Science and Forest Products Non-Timber Forest Products
Southern
Research
Station		 Forest
Service		 USDA Virginia
Tech		 Non-Timber
Forest
Products
Last Modified: 08/26/10
Send Comments to Matt Winn: mwinn@fs.fed.us