## Generate

This tab contains all the choices used to shape the app's output.
Most of these settings can be defined in Preferences - so if any settings are not what you would choose, you can set them there, and those settings will persist each time you use the app, or until you change them again.

Project Name: | The name you want printed on the output, distinguishing its pages from others you may have generated. By default, this is populated with the image's filename.
Measurement units: | Whether you prefer metric or imperial measurements in the generated output: the choice is either inches (shipped default) or centimetres.
Allowance for turnings: | How much extra fabric on each side of the picture to allow for turnings. A minimum of 2 inches (5cm) is advised - to allow sufficient overlap for framing, as well as placing a hoop.
Fabric count: | Fabric, whether tapestry canvas or cross-stitch Aida, is rated by stitches-per-inch, also known as 'count'. Standard tapestry canvas is usually 10 stitches per inch, or 10-count, and this will be the default if you chose to Match with Tapestry wools. Standard cross-stitch fabric (Aida) is usually 14-count. It is possible to find and work with much finer canvas, although it's worth examining before buying; you may find that 18 or 21-count is too fine either for your manual dexterity or eyesight.
Strands: | How many strands of thread will you be using each time you thread the needle? For cross-stitch, this might normally be two or three, but you may want to use more or less, depending on the canvas. This setting is used to help calculate the approximate number of skeins you will need. N.B. This is not available for tapestry work, since the wool does not naturally separate into strands, and therefore this will pre-set itself to 1.
Output 'Date Started' prompt: | If you like to keep track of how long each page of output takes to complete, this option generates a prompt on each chart page where you can enter the date you started it. Defaults to unselected.
Output charts in: | Choice is B&W (default) or Colour. Each page of the chart is a graph of up to 100 x 70 squares, each containing an identifier of the corresponding colour. Normally this will be the symbols - as discussed in the Symbols topic. If you select 'Colour', the grid will be displayed with the symbols overlaid on the colours they represent. For normal working, you would probably want B&W.

Thread card: | Here you can specify what height you want your thread organiser card(s) generated. The shipped default is 8 inches (20 cm). If you have a tin or other container you will use to keep your project together while working on it, you'll want thread cards that fit inside. Here you can specify how long these cards will be. If you plan on laminating them, which is a very good idea, make sure you allow at least ⅛ in (3 mm) on each side for the laminate to overlap the edge of the card, so as to seal the edges.
Output: | Charts: print the image as 100 x 70 charts. This is the 'business end' of the app. You'll need these to make a workable project. Key Page: a page listing the symbols, their colour numbers from your chosen range, and stats, such as how many stitches of each colour will be required, percentages and approximate numbers of skeins required. Thread Card: can be used to keep partially-used lengths of thread organised as you work Image: a full-page rendition of the image you are working, for reference - in the same definition and reduced colours as the project. Shopping List: contains a list of the threads (in colour number sequence) and the size of the fabric required at the count you chose; also identifies any threads you can source from your listed spares by placing an 'X' in those colours' checkboxes.
Select all / Select none: | Here you can toggle on or off all of the above printing options with one click. Note that you will need at least one option selected for the Generate to work.
Decrement Spares Counts: | The Generate process will identify which colours can be sourced from your spares (as per the Shopping List). By selecting this checkbox, it will also deduct the number identified from your totals, as entered in the Spares Manager window. It will only hold to the nearest ¼ (0.25) of a skein. You can run and re-run the whole process using the same image file, but only select this option once you are happy that this is the version of the output that you are going to use, to avoid decreasing your spares counts unnecessarily.
Generate PDF: | Corresponds to the File menu's Generate PDF option [⌘G]. Clicking this button will start the generation process. The Save As dialog will appear to enable you to specify where you want to store the output PDF. It will default to where the original image was found, but you can change that. When finished, you can view or print the generated output from the Preview app (normally by double-clicking the file from Finder, unless you have PDF files associated with a different app). When printing, be sure to leave the Scale to fit option checked; the app generates oversized output, to ensure the best possible print quality. Bear in mind that it may well take a few seconds per chart page to complete, depending on the complexity of symbols chosen (even longer if you chose colour output), so you may be waiting for the app to return for a while. Don't panic - it does display a progress bar, and will let you know when it's finished.