Ez-Mix - a new mixing calculator - I need your help

[VitalSparks]

Hi folks,

I started DIY mixing at the beginning of the year, and tried all the usual mixing calculators. In the main, I found them generally accurate, but they didn't inspire me as being models of good programming practice. But, hey, they were free, so what...

Anyway, as a professional programmer, I decided to write myself a new one that ticked all my boxes. But here we are, 5 months later, and I now have something that I think is worth sharing (for free) with a larger audience.

From its humble beginnings, I rapidly developed it using professional product cycle techniques - consultation with professional mixers, development and coding, then on to Alpha and Beta testing cycles, and finally to the pre-release stage - which is where it is at the moment. Maybe I went over the top a bit for a free hobby-program, but that is what I am used to - its my job.



What I need now, before I release it, are some volunteers to check it out in the real world of mixing, using their own variety of computers, printers, and operating systems (used XP and Win7 so far), and to get some feedback on how they found it to use. I am particularly interested in anyone with a MAC, who knows how to run Windows programs on it - I have not been able to check this aspect out here.

If you are interested in doing this, send me a PM, and I will respond with a link to a private area of my website where there is a description of the program, and a download link (approx 900k). All I ask is that you provide me with some feedback.

As for timescales - I am planning to go live with Ez-Mix in about 10 days, unless someone finds a show-stopper.


I am in the UK, so the time difference may mean a slight delay in responding, but unless I get swamped with PMs I will get back to you ASAP.


Thanks.

 

[VitalSparks]

Well, everything seems to be going nicely - I am getting a slow trickle of volunteers, which is encouraging. Keep on coming folks!

You can respond with your comments either by PM, or here in this thread. Here might be a good choice, as everyone can then see what is going on.

 

[yellowxboy]

can't wait for the release. i'm still fairly new to vaping but have been slowly mixing my own stuff. Still trying to find the right amounts by trial and error.

 

[Discord]

I've started doing some reading into getting started with DIY, and I haven't found any calculators I like yet. One of the more popular ones doesn't even run for me I wish you all the best luck and look forward to checking this out when it's ready to roll

 

[VitalSparks]

look forward to checking this out when it's ready to roll

Why not give the pre-release version a try? The help file has a lot of info on mixing that you might find useful

I'm not planning to make any changes before release, unless there is a good reason for it.

 

[Beer980]

Is it intuitive enough to allow you to use 0 for the nicotine amount? I am contemplating DIY but the couple calculators I checked out seem to have an issue with no nicotine as an option. Maybe I do not know enough about the DIY calculators but 0 should still be an option. Perhaps as I investigate it will become more clear. Looking forward to this calculator when you release it.
Ken

 

[VitalSparks]

Yes, you just set the Nic strength to zero. Why don't you join in, and give it a try. Just PM me, and I'll send you a link.

 

[areinike]

I wrote my own in excel, but am interested to see what yours is like. I can compare results. I'd like to give it a shot. Running Windows 8 64-bit.

 

[VitalSparks]

Got your PM - have responded

 

[BMWRTMike]

This is awesome!!! I absolutely love it. Working great on my pc. Avast gave a bit of fuss, but nothing too bad. The only thing I would like to see is maybe a spot for adding the cost of a bottle and label in. It doesn't need it though, Probably not many people are interested in that functionality.

 

[VitalSparks]

Avast problem - was that with download, install, or running?

I have to admit that I have now given up with commercial AV programs - they are getting too top-heavy and intrusive. I have now switched to using Microsoft's Security Essentials. It is free, and updates daily without any intrusion, and my PC is now a whole lot faster to start-up and run. Check it out.

Glad you like Ez-Mix. Did you look at Help? and printing utilities?

 

[simate]

I've started doing some reading into getting started with DIY, and I haven't found any calculators I like yet. One of the more popular ones doesn't even run for me I wish you all the best luck and look forward to checking this out when it's ready to roll

If you are referring to ejuiceup it could be that your .net framework needs updating, ejuicemeup requires Microsoft .net Framework 3.5 to work.

 

[BMWRTMike]

If you are referring to ejuiceup it could be that your .net framework needs updating, ejuicemeup requires Microsoft .net Framework 3.5 to work.

Right, but this calculator takes the best of the Ejuicemeup and the best of the Scubabatdan calculator and and adds some very good extra functionality on top of everthing else. Very impressive calculator.

 

[Turbo]

Are you still needing a Mac tester? I use one if so.

 

[VitalSparks]

Thanks Turbo - PM sent.

 

[lbjustintime]

I am also a Mac user and avid DIYer. Going into the lab tomorrow so I'd be willing to give it a whirl then.

 

[vernhall]

Probably not many people are interested in that functionality.

I have to agree. I know I'm not all that interested in the cost of a batch. I already have invested in the ingredient and have a general approximation of what the cost is in my head and, to me, it really doesn't matter that much anyway since a lot of my batches are experimentations to begin with... But that's just me...

 

[BMWRTMike]

I have to agree. I know I'm not all that interested in the cost of a batch. I already have invested in the ingredient and have a general approximation of what the cost is in my head and, to me, it really doesn't matter that much anyway since a lot of my batches are experimentations to begin with... But that's just me...

I sell a fair amount of juice, and that would add a nice touch to be able to have the cost of a bottle and label built in. It is easy enough to just do the math manually. I am sure there are other folks here sell a fair amount of juice as well.

 

[SouthernBliss]

I really like the cost component personaly because it means I an keep tabs with ease on just how much I am saving. Bottle and lable cost would be nice but not if it ment a lower number of flavors used. I can be a very complex person at times so I need all 6 on occasion.

I'm finding this one very easy to sort out and use by the way. It does seem to ding at me often but no red boxes (A better que for me anyway) so it is all good. I LOVE the way the file is saved. That is really lovely.

If I could change anything at all it would be adding the ability to resize the box so it is larger. But that is more about my eye sigh than the program I suspect!

I think you have done a billiant job with this!

 

[VitalSparks]

If I could change anything at all it would be adding the ability to resize the box so it is larger.

Which box do you mean? Do you mean the entire window?

It does seem to ding at me often but no red boxes

There aren't too many instances when this should happen. It's usually when someone types an alpha-character when a number is expected, or data/text exceeds the width of a box. The ding shows that the program has detected the error and put it right, rather than letting Microsoft scream at you with an exception-error window containg some undecipherable gobbledegoop, and offer to close the program down. The program is constantly checking for errors of all sorts, every time a key is pressed, and taking appropriate action - that's why the Status window is there, to give you confidence that all is OK.