DIY JuiceCalculator by @HotRod19579

[GregF]

I am starting this thread because this is such a powerful juice calculator and I am finding something new every time I use it.
Please post your tips/tricks/features that you find are helpful.

I will start with creating a flavor base from a recipe so you can make pre-blends.
There are a lot of advantages when doing this. For me the benefits are the reduced steeping time, easier and quicker to make your final juice and easier to adjust the nic content for the same juice.

Viewing the recipe that you want to create a flavor base or pre blend just click on
edit
create flavor base from recipe..

From there you give your flavor base a name as a new recipe and you can add the pre-mix as a flavor concentrate to your ingredients "stock"

It will create a new ingredient with the default percentage that should be used when you want to add it to your nic, PG and VG

[edit] The creator of this magnificent app has joined the forum. Welcome @HotRod19579

Website - DIYJuiceCalculator.com
Latest Version - Version 8.0.0.8 (it is not what the website says but if you download it you will get the latest version)

 

[Viper_SA]

It is a great calculator @GregF
I used to use eJuicemeUp, but noticed that it calculated 24g of VG on a specific recipe, while this one calculater 29.8g. This has smoothed out my juices so much. Great tool to use and the flavor base function rocks!

 

[RichJB]

I don't really use any of the advanced functions, I just use it like eJuice Me Up but with a premix batch function. However, the one function that strikes me as potentially useful is the "Adjust recipe to use all available inventory of one ingredient" which is under Edit. I hate having 0.5ml of concentrate left in a bottle, I'd rather mix a larger batch and use it all up so that I can start the next mix with a fresh bottle. However, I have to wonder how accurate it is? If the vendor overfills the bottle to 11ml and the calculator thinks you have 3ml left and adjusts the recipe to use that amount, you're still sitting with 1ml left in the bottle and have to use it up next time.

For those who'd like to use such a function, I'm wondering if it would be viable to weigh an empty concentrate bottle from the vendor, then weigh new bottles that come in and subtract the weight of the empty bottle. If you know the specific gravity of the concentrate, that would give you a fairly accurate idea of how much is in the bottle. So if you have assessed that the bottle contains 10.6ml, you add that to your inventory rather than 10ml. Then the "use it all up in this mix" function should be pretty accurate. But it's quite a lot of PT to weigh every new concentrate you buy.

 

[HotRod19579]

Hi, y'all. I just learned of this forum and came across this thread. I created and maintain the JuiceCalculator and I like to monitor threads and provide assistance with any issues that people may have using the calculator. I also get my ideas for new features from threads such as this one and invite you to throw ideas my way.

 

[GregF]

Welcome @HotRod19579 and I love your calculator, well done.

 

[RichJB]

Hi, welcome and happy New Year, @HotRod19579 - and many thanks for a great DIY app. I don't really use the advanced features but it's great to have them should I ever need them. My main problem was the initial setup of the app, particularly the nicotine. I found it confusing and frustrating to click the drop-down box for nicotine and to have nothing to add. It took me a while to figure out how to add nicotine as an ingredient. What would make it easier and more noob-friendly imo is to have an "add a nicotine type" option in that drop down box if you have no nicotine ingredients saved. Clicking that would open the New Ingredient window with "nicotine" already pre-selected in the "Ingredient Type" box.

One feature I really love is the default % setting. There are certain flavours which I almost always add at around the same percentages. For eg, FA Meringue will invariably be at 0.5% - 1.5%. So setting the default for 1% means I'm right in the ballpark the moment the flavour is added.

 

[Andre]

Here is a picture tutorial on how to create pre-blends with the JuiceCalculator. Updated after @GregF found the easy way.

Most welcome to the forum @HotRod19579. Great app, thank you so much. I do have a question:

I am now on Version 7.0.0.6
I had it set to check for updates. Some time ago I did an update and the app would not work properly after the update. Cannot remember exactly what was wrong, only that it was a complete balls up. Did a roll back and have not done any updates since. Using Microsoft Windows 10. Any ideas, please?

 

[GregF]

@Andre I kept up to date without any issues. Windows 10.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[Andre]

@Andre I kept up to date without any issues. Windows 10.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Thanks, maybe it was a problem at the time, which has since been fixed.

 

[HotRod19579]

Hi, welcome and happy New Year, @HotRod19579 - and many thanks for a great DIY app. I don't really use the advanced features but it's great to have them should I ever need them. My main problem was the initial setup of the app, particularly the nicotine. I found it confusing and frustrating to click the drop-down box for nicotine and to have nothing to add. It took me a while to figure out how to add nicotine as an ingredient. What would make it easier and more noob-friendly imo is to have an "add a nicotine type" option in that drop down box if you have no nicotine ingredients saved. Clicking that would open the New Ingredient window with "nicotine" already pre-selected in the "Ingredient Type" box.

One feature I really love is the default % setting. There are certain flavours which I almost always add at around the same percentages. For eg, FA Meringue will invariably be at 0.5% - 1.5%. So setting the default for 1% means I'm right in the ballpark the moment the flavour is added.

I like the idea and thoughts about the nicotine ingredient (adding). Over the past few years I have added a lot of features. The downside to many features is that it overwhelms the new user. I am always looking for ideas on how to make it easier to use for beginners.
Let me see what I can do with your idea.

 

[HotRod19579]

Here is a picture tutorial on how to create pre-blends with the JuiceCalculator. Updated after @GregF found the easy way.

Most welcome to the forum @HotRod19579. Great app, thank you so much. I do have a question:

I am now on Version 7.0.0.6
I had it set to check for updates. Some time ago I did an update and the app would not work properly after the update. Cannot remember exactly what was wrong, only that it was a complete balls up. Did a roll back and have not done any updates since. Using Microsoft Windows 10. Any ideas, please?

Very nice tutorial. Would you mind if I add the tutorial to the calculator? I recently added a button for a tutorial made by another user and would like to add yours with it. The tutorial is accessed on the Create Flavor Base window by clicking "Show instructional notes". Added in the last version.

 

[HotRod19579]

Here is a picture tutorial on how to create pre-blends with the JuiceCalculator. Updated after @GregF found the easy way.

Most welcome to the forum @HotRod19579. Great app, thank you so much. I do have a question:

I am now on Version 7.0.0.6
I had it set to check for updates. Some time ago I did an update and the app would not work properly after the update. Cannot remember exactly what was wrong, only that it was a complete balls up. Did a roll back and have not done any updates since. Using Microsoft Windows 10. Any ideas, please?

I would be curious to know what issue you were having and would like to help you resolve it. I am also using on Windows 10 and haven't had any issues. If you can send me any details of the problem that you had it would be helpful. If you would like to try to install again, the latest version, I will help with any problems.

 

[Andre]

Very nice tutorial. Would you mind if I add the tutorial to the calculator? I recently added a button for a tutorial made by another user and would like to add yours with it. The tutorial is accessed on the Create Flavor Base window by clicking "Show instructional notes". Added in the last version.

You are more than welcome.

 

[Andre]

I would be curious to know what issue you were having and would like to help you resolve it. I am also using on Windows 10 and haven't had any issues. If you can send me any details of the problem that you had it would be helpful. If you would like to try to install again, the latest version, I will help with any problems.

Thanks, shall try to update again and let you know.

 

[HotRod19579]

I have made the two changes discussed earlier and hope to make the new version available tomorrow.
1. I added the post by Andre to the help function on the create flavor base window.
2. If a juice file is open and it has no nicotine ingredients; When a recipe is created or displayed there will be a button on the nicotine ingredient labeled "No nicotine ingredients, click to add". When clicked a nicotine ingredient will be added and the ingredient window will be displayed allowing changes to be made to the defaulted values. I hope that this will help the next new user more quickly figure out how to create their first recipe.

 

[Raindance]

Hi, y'all. I just learned of this forum and came across this thread. I created and maintain the JuiceCalculator and I like to monitor threads and provide assistance with any issues that people may have using the calculator. I also get my ideas for new features from threads such as this one and invite you to throw ideas my way.

Hi @HotRod19579 , Welcome to the forum. Your calculator does have a decent following here and glad to see you joined us. Keep up the great work, it is surely appreciated!

Maybe start a thread here keeping us updated on updates to the software so we know whats new. I have it on auto update but don't always know what has been changed. @Silver, maybe a sticky thread?

All the best for the new year and regards!

 

[kyle_redbull]

Nice

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[HotRod19579]

Hi @HotRod19579 , Welcome to the forum. Your calculator does have a decent following here and glad to see you joined us. Keep up the great work, it is surely appreciated!

Maybe start a thread here keeping us updated on updates to the software so we know whats new. I have it on auto update but don't always know what has been changed. @Silver, maybe a sticky thread?

All the best for the new year and regards!

I can start a new thread or given the title/subject of this thread post the updates here. I don't want to hi-jack this thread but it appeared to be the proper thread for an initial engagement.

 

[Raindance]

Maybe a thread under its own title under DIY. Not sure though, would not want to give the wrong advice. Maybe best PM one of the administrators to find out the best way of going about it.

http://www.ecigssa.co.za/admin-mod-team-ecigssa.t37/page-15

Regards

(Edit: Upon reviewing the thread, this may in fact be the correct placement for the suggested updates after all.)

 

[GregF]

I can start a new thread or given the title/subject of this thread post the updates here. I don't want to hi-jack this thread but it appeared to be the proper thread for an initial engagement.

I don't see it as a hi-jack, you are definitely on topic being the creator of the app so if you want to keep using this thread then please carry on.
If you would like to create your own thread then that is fine as well, your choice.

 

[HotRod19579]

Version 8.0.0.6 is available. Changes include:

1. When installing the standard version of the calculator, don't prompt for a new installation location. The prompt was misleading and for the most part accomplished nothing since Windows would still install in the Program Files directory. The portable installation is used for installing in different locations.

2. Ingredients on the recipe window that have notes associated with them will display an information icon. When the mouse is over the icon a tooltip will be displayed showing the notes.

3. Added a shortcut for entering the purchase date on the ingredient window (also the last made date on the recipe window).
You can enter the following values and when you leave the date field the date will be populated:
T = Today's date
Y = Yesterday's date
"T-nnn" where nnn is the number of days to subtract from today's date
LW = Last week (today minus 7 days)
LM = Last month (today minus 1 month)

4. This change was made to help new users. When a new juice file is created and there are no nicotine ingredients a new user may struggle figuring out how to add a new nicotine ingredient. If you have a juice file open with no nicotine ingredients and have created or selected a recipe, the nicotine ingredient will show a button on the recipe window allowing you to click it to create your first nicotine ingredient.

5. Updated the "Show instructional notes" help file with a post from Andre in the ecigsSA forum.

6. On the label definition window changed the number of decimal places displayed from 2 to 4.

7. Made a new field available for "Ingredient" type reports in the "Tools->Build/Generate custom report" window. You can now define a column with a value of {RecipeCount}. This will display how many recipes an ingredient is used in.

 

[GregF]

Just found something that I have obviously missed before.
Viewing your ingredients to see what is low and then add to shopping list is a little easier than this.
Looking at your recipe you can see how many mils are left in one of the columns.
Just right click on the ingredient and then select "add ingredient to shopping list"
There you go, easy as as that.

 

[GregF]

Version 8.0.0.6 is available. Changes include:

1. When installing the standard version of the calculator, don't prompt for a new installation location. The prompt was misleading and for the most part accomplished nothing since Windows would still install in the Program Files directory. The portable installation is used for installing in different locations.

2. Ingredients on the recipe window that have notes associated with them will display an information icon. When the mouse is over the icon a tooltip will be displayed showing the notes.

3. Added a shortcut for entering the purchase date on the ingredient window (also the last made date on the recipe window).
You can enter the following values and when you leave the date field the date will be populated:
T = Today's date
Y = Yesterday's date
"T-nnn" where nnn is the number of days to subtract from today's date
LW = Last week (today minus 7 days)
LM = Last month (today minus 1 month)

4. This change was made to help new users. When a new juice file is created and there are no nicotine ingredients a new user may struggle figuring out how to add a new nicotine ingredient. If you have a juice file open with no nicotine ingredients and have created or selected a recipe, the nicotine ingredient will show a button on the recipe window allowing you to click it to create your first nicotine ingredient.

5. Updated the "Show instructional notes" help file with a post from Andre in the ecigsSA forum.

6. On the label definition window changed the number of decimal places displayed from 2 to 4.

7. Made a new field available for "Ingredient" type reports in the "Tools->Build/Generate custom report" window. You can now define a column with a value of {RecipeCount}. This will display how many recipes an ingredient is used in.

First time I have used that custom report feature. That's quite handy, thanks @HotRod19579.
@RichJB I know you don't track your concentrate stock but you mentioned that you want to consolidate your concentrates. This will be helpful in knowing what concentrates are high in demand in your recipes.

 

[Andre]

Version 8.0.0.6 is available. Changes include:

1. When installing the standard version of the calculator, don't prompt for a new installation location. The prompt was misleading and for the most part accomplished nothing since Windows would still install in the Program Files directory. The portable installation is used for installing in different locations.

2. Ingredients on the recipe window that have notes associated with them will display an information icon. When the mouse is over the icon a tooltip will be displayed showing the notes.

3. Added a shortcut for entering the purchase date on the ingredient window (also the last made date on the recipe window).
You can enter the following values and when you leave the date field the date will be populated:
T = Today's date
Y = Yesterday's date
"T-nnn" where nnn is the number of days to subtract from today's date
LW = Last week (today minus 7 days)
LM = Last month (today minus 1 month)

4. This change was made to help new users. When a new juice file is created and there are no nicotine ingredients a new user may struggle figuring out how to add a new nicotine ingredient. If you have a juice file open with no nicotine ingredients and have created or selected a recipe, the nicotine ingredient will show a button on the recipe window allowing you to click it to create your first nicotine ingredient.

5. Updated the "Show instructional notes" help file with a post from Andre in the ecigsSA forum.

6. On the label definition window changed the number of decimal places displayed from 2 to 4.

7. Made a new field available for "Ingredient" type reports in the "Tools->Build/Generate custom report" window. You can now define a column with a value of {RecipeCount}. This will display how many recipes an ingredient is used in.

Great stuff. Number 7 is the one I have been looking for, shall be extremely useful. Thank you.

 

[HotRod19579]

First time I have used that custom report feature. That's quite handy, thanks @HotRod19579.
@RichJB I know you don't track your concentrate stock but you mentioned that you want to consolidate your concentrates. This will be helpful in knowing what concentrates are high in demand in your recipes.

I struggled with how to lay it out for a user to define their own reports. If you have any suggestions on how to make it more intuitive I am all ears. The current concept is to:
- Create new report, provide a name and indicate if it is for ingredients or recipes
- Define columns that you want on the report. The rows will contain either recipe information or ingredient information depending on the type of report.
- When you define a column you
1. provide a "Column Name", that is for your reference.
2. Provide a column heading to display on the report.
3. Define the data that will be displayed in the column. I have a list of keywords and they are entered within {}. The sample reports are there to give you an idea on how to define what you want displayed.