| Newsletter |
|
Owl Software Launches
Version 3 of TechWizard™
|
| September 12, 2002 (pdf
format) |
By Lance G. Phillips,
Ph.D. and Ann M. Roland, Ph.D.
Owl Software 503 E. Nifong Blvd. #210 , Columbia, MO 65201 USA
Tel. 888-621-9063, 573-442-4126 Fax 815-301-9103
©2002 LaVic, Inc. All rights reserved.
Contact Us for More Information: help@owlsoft.com |
| On
June 1, 2002 Owl Software started shipping copies of TechWizard™ Version
3. The new
version has many new features and is much easier to use. |
| NEW FEATURES: |
Set Up Multiple User Accounts
With TechWizard™ Version 3 an Administrator you can set up as many
user accounts as needed. Users can now log onto TechWizard™ and have
separate options, formula files, and ingredient files. TechWizard™ users no
longer have to share files if they do not wish to. This feature can be used to
set up separate options and files for each project or client. |
Excel XP Ready
If you intend to upgrade to Microsoft® Excel XP, we recommend
upgrading to TechWizard™ Version 3. It is the only version that will be
supported with Excel XP. |
Version 2 and 3 Are Compatible
When you install TechWizard™ Version 3 it does not overwrite the
Version 2 files already on the computer. You can learn TechWizard™ Version 3
while still using Version 2. The ingredient and formula files created in
Version 2 can be used with Version 3. We can guide you through moving
information from one version to another. |
New Easy to Use Menus and Toolbars
The Do and Show buttons found in Version 2 have been replaced with
easy to use menus and toolbars. The Transfer Window is no longer used to
retrieve formulas. Instead, the user retrieves a formula in a particular
section by selecting Open from the File menu and a list of formulas to select
from appears. New menus have been added to TechWizard™ Version 3 including
an Edit menu with undo, copy, paste, and many more. A Print Setup menu has
also been included that allows the user to select a different printer while
using TechWizard™. |
New Features for Retrieving Formulas
Finding and retrieving a formula is a simple process in Version 3. New
features allow the user to search for a formula by name or to sort formulas by
name, date last modified, or type. Once a selection has been made, the user
can quickly retrieve the formula to any section of TechWizard™, i.e.,
Formula Development, Nutrition Labeling, Mix Properties, or the Reverse
Engineering section. |
New Features Make Saving Formulas Easier
In the previous version of TechWizard™, saving a formula in both the
Nutrition Labeling section and the Formula Development section could lead to
information being lost. Moreover information in some sections could not be
saved at all. Users now have the added ability to save formula information
from the Mix Properties and Reverse Engineering (Label to Spec) portions of
TechWizard™. Furthermore formulas are now saved by type and name, which
means that a formula saved from the Formula Development section will no longer
overwrite formulas saved with the same name from the Nutrition Labeling, Mix
Properties, or Reverse Engineering section. |
Adding Ingredients to a Formula Is More
Efficient
Finding an ingredient and adding it to a formula is much easier to do
in Version 3. The user can search for an ingredient by name or reference
number. Furthermore, the user can sort ingredients by name, reference number,
or source. The USDA ingredient list (5,821 food items) is easier to access and
use. Instead of having to select and transfer ingredients from a particular
USDA ingredient file to the main ingredient database, the user has access to
all USDA ingredients with the Add Ingredients procedure. Ingredient
information from any source can be viewed before it is selected. In addition,
ingredients can be added more than once to a formula. For those quickly trying
to develop a prototype formula, users can add ingredients and/or properties
not found in the ingredient database to a formula. This feature can also be
used to add comments to a formula. |
Price per Kilogram Displayed
The price per kilogram is displayed in the Formula Development
section. This new feature should make using TechWizard™ easier for customers
outside the United States. |
New Recipe Entry Feature
The improved recipe entry feature makes it easier than ever to assign
ingredients various amounts and units in the Formula Development section. New
in TechWizard™ Version 3, this feature is also available in the Nutrition
Labeling section. |
New Batching Features
Along with the improved recipe entry feature, TechWizard™ Version 3
has new batching features. A Round-Off feature makes it simple to round off
ingredient amounts and to monitor the consequences. The Batch Size converter
lets the user switch batch units while maintaining the same amount. |
Features for Bakery, Snack Food,
Processed Meat, Dairy and Dried Ingredient Manufacturers
TechWizard™ Version 3 makes it easy to adjust the moisture and/or
fat content of ingredients or finished products. This makes it much easier for
manufacturers to calculate the composition of cooked, dried, fried and dairy
products. |
Improved Reverse Engineering Features
Information entered in the Nutrition Label to Specification converter can be
saved as a file in Version 3. This allows data to be collected and stored on a
variety of products for use later. |
Automated Examples
TechWizard™ Version 3 contains the same automated examples found in
Version 2. New examples are being developed to further demonstrate the new
features in Version 3. |
Information Center
The improved Information Center makes accessing formulation and
regulation information much easier. |
Improved Ingredient Editor
Editing ingredient files is easier with new menus that replace the Do
button. Many new features have been added including one that provides the user
with an easy way to modify the moisture, fat, or milk solids content of an
ingredient. |
New Features for Dairy and Frozen Product
Manufacturers
Modifying the milk solids not fat and milk fat content of ingredients and
formulas is much easier in Version 3. Using TechWizard™ Version 3 for day to
day reformulation is easier than ever. Information on the freezing
characteristics is readily accessed in Version 3. With the improved Mix
Properties section, users can build, compare, and save mixes for future use. |
Ingredient Replacement is Easy
Identify the formulas that contain a particular ingredient. Replace that
ingredient with a new one in the formulas you choose or in all formulas. It is
easy and accurate. |
Even Greater Formulation Accuracy
Set an increased number of decimal places for ingredient percentages and
minimums and they are retained with the saved formula. |
Copy Labels and Declarations to Documents
Click some buttons and you are ready to paste the label or declaration
into a document. |
