🧠 What GRIM Template Files do
This feature gives the user a method by which a user-defined data file can be generated with specific data included as part of the output file, effectively working as a GRIM file filter.
This is most useful when transferring exactly the required data from Roof Wizard to other systems.
📄 Template file basics (.GRT)
A Grim Template file is an ASCII file with a “.grt” extension.
The file contains GRIM text strings which are swapped over for their current value when you do an ExportGRIM from Reporting > Supply Only or Reporting > Supply and Install.
🧾 Example template and output
Example format data file:
My header line
###JOBNUMBER , ###JOBQUOTE ,###TAX, ###TOTALINCTAX
This is some sample text
If you called this file MyGrim.grt, the result would be a file called MyGrim-data.csv with the actual values:
My header line
jn-8888 , qn-9999 ,224.36, 2467.95
This is some sample text
🔢 Limits
You can have up to 5 GRIM template files in your user directory.
You can have up to 10 lines in the
*.grtfile.
🏷️ Using the GRIM File with Pitch Intervals
Customers utilising the GRIM output feature of AppliCad to link the estimation process to downstream systems have often had to create duplicate mappings of labour rates due to the output of variable labour rates in the Roof Wizard software.
Outputs such as Ridge (1, 22.5) where the 1 specifies the storey and 22.5 specifies the pitch have had to create multiple mappings for each pitch gradient in 0.1 degree increments.
Roof Wizard now provides the ability for each pitch interval to be given as a label (e.g. A, B, C) with the output therefore being Ridge (1, A), or Ridge (1, B) etc.
This greatly reduced the number of mappings required, thus reducing the workload for users and speeding up the interface between systems.
🧩 Multi-GRIM-Out
The Multi-GRIM option lets you generate a single GRIM file containing a breakdown of details based on each stage in your current job.
You must have defined one or more stages using Stage Manager to continue with this command.
This command also works in a similar manner to Mutli-Grim Stages but will break down the details based on each Quote Group defined.
🧱 Multi-GRIM for Stages (Pulldown Menu)
This command lets you generate a single GRIM file containing a breakdown of details based on each stage in your current job.
You must have defined one or more stages to continue with this command.
The resultant GRO file has each stage braced between a STARTSTAGE–ENDSTAGE pair. A sample file looks like this:
GRIM file header
STARTSTAGE
###STAGENAME Main roof
###STAGEINSTALLER Benny the builder
###STAGEINSTALLDATE 12 February 2001
###STAGEDELDATE 12 February 2001
###TIME 14:32:33
###TODAY 12 February 2001
…
ENDSTAGE
STARTSTAGE
…
ENDSTAGE
END
A plot file for each stage is also written. The format for the plot file is:
Order-<job number>-<supplier index>-<stage name>.PLT
🧾 Multi-GRIM for Quotes (Pulldown Menu)
This command works in a similar manner to Mutli-Grim Stages but will break down the details based on each Quote Group defined.
🧩 Custom Profile Flashings product codes (Multi-GRIM Quotes)
A feature is available to control what happens with Custom Profile Flashings where a product code is not normally allocated, as each profile can be unique based on different girth and/or number of bends.
The GRIM file can be made to automatically create a product code using the girth and bends information.
Note: For the generation of the product code based on Girth and Bends, there are a couple of things that must be checked (and changed if necessary):
The definition of the Flat Sheet for the fabrication of the Custom Profile — the Alternate Category must be left blank, or set to Fabrication (which is the default if left blank). Refer Help > Setup.
You must have a MultiGrimQuotePCF.dat in the ..\User folder as described below.
This sets the format of your Line Item product code to include the Girth and Number of Bends.
You must also have a settings file in ..\User telling the software what file is used to define the format of the product code as referred to in #2.
This file saves the settings of the dialog box and in particular the file name referred to in #2. This file must be called MultiGRIMQuote.dat. (The expectation is that the dialog box is supposed to save this for you, but you need to check and, if not there, put it there yourself using Notepad.)
Check that the supplier name used in the MultiGRIMQuotePCF.dat matches the actual supplier names used in the definition of your Flat-Stock.
You create a text file that controls the format of the product code for each Custom Profile, and the Supplier name must be the same name as used when you defined the Flat Stock.
You may use spaces between each key text string item. The text file must be called MULTIGRIMQUOTEPCF.DAT and be in the form of:
Supplier1
###CODE-###BENDSx###GIRTH
Supplier2
###GIRTH x ###BENDS, ###CODE
This would result in a line in the GRIM file that might look like this:
Supplier1, CUSTOMType#1-5×300
….
And then the balance of the cutting list for this item called CUSTOMType#1, 5 bends and 300mm girth, and the details for the second supplier’s material order (if you have multiple
suppliers of custom profile trim).
Their order would look like this:
Supplier2, 300 x 5, CustomType#1
…..
And then the cutting list for this item.
Repeated as required for all suppliers in the Flat Sheet product list.