New Calculator to try

[Ed Sause]

Wow, that was strange. I created a new recipe using the (Edit-Copy Recipe) function, saved it, and made it. Thinking all was good, I close the program. A couple of days later, I went back and couldn't find that recipe. I looked in several of the backup files and couldn't find that recipe listed. I went back to my main file and attempted to make that recipe again. When I tried to save I received an unhandeled exception, refering to the juice file. Tried to continue, and recevied another instance of the same exception. The exception forced me to quit the program. When I reopened the program I looked for the newly created recipe. Behold, it was there, , including the Last Made Date. So, to test that all was well, I followed the above steps and created another recipe. I could not duplicate the issue. I am still scratching my head over this one. I am using the program on a Windows 10 system.

 

[HotRod19579]

Wow, that was strange. I created a new recipe using the (Edit-Copy Recipe) function, saved it, and made it. Thinking all was good, I close the program. A couple of days later, I went back and couldn't find that recipe. I looked in several of the backup files and couldn't find that recipe listed. I went back to my main file and attempted to make that recipe again. When I tried to save I received an unhandeled exception, refering to the juice file. Tried to continue, and recevied another instance of the same exception. The exception forced me to quit the program. When I reopened the program I looked for the newly created recipe. Behold, it was there, , including the Last Made Date. So, to test that all was well, I followed the above steps and created another recipe. I could not duplicate the issue. I am still scratching my head over this one. I am using the program on a Windows 10 system.

Strange, if you get any future exceptions capture a copy of the message. If there is a details button capture as many details that you can.


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[VapnJunkie]

Just got this error message after adding notes on this particular recipe

 

[DaveP]

I tried to download the calculator from the link in post one. Macafee says the file is dangerous and contains spyware, viruses, or other potentially unwanted programs in the ZIP.

Comments?

 

[Fozzy71]

I tried to download the calculator from the link in post one. Macafee says the file is dangerous and contains spyware, viruses, or other potentially unwanted programs in the ZIP.

Comments?

mcaffee is crap and it is most certainly a false positive IMO but feel free to wait for confirmation from the developer if you don't trust my opinion. fwiw I do customer tech support for a software company for the last 8 years and mcaffee (and most other popular av software programs) give false positives on our software all the time and will actually cause other problems with our software's database and HUD functions.

 

[HotRod19579]

Just got this error message after adding notes on this particular recipe
View attachment 631417

If you can repeat the problem can you click the details button and send a copy of the details? The details are scrollable so it may take several screenshots.


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[HotRod19579]

I tried to download the calculator from the link in post one. Macafee says the file is dangerous and contains spyware, viruses, or other potentially unwanted programs in the ZIP.

Comments?

I can assure you that there are no viruses or malware. Most virus software will keep track of how many users have an .exe installed and if the number is low they block and generate warnings. I also create frequent new versions which makes a new .exe and starts the counter over again.


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[Burnie]

I tried to download the calculator from the link in post one. Macafee says the file is dangerous and contains spyware, viruses, or other potentially unwanted programs in the ZIP.

Comments?

Just downloaded it again and scanned it, nothing found.

Not sure what McAfee is seeing, but looks fine to me.

 

[DaveP]

I'm running the registered version of Malwarebytes, Defender, and the Macafee WebAdvisor utility. I run SuperAntiSpyware once or twice a week. None of the other real time virus/malware detection utilities reported anything either. I went ahead and downloaded and installed HotRod's recipe calculator and it runs fine.

Occasional false positives are better than missing one here and there. According to testing reports the ones I'm running are compatible for concurrent use.

 

[DaveP]

mcaffee is crap and it is most certainly a false positive IMO but feel free to wait for confirmation from the developer if you don't trust my opinion. fwiw I do customer tech support for a software company for the last 8 years and mcaffee (and most other popular av software programs) give false positives on our software all the time and will actually cause other problems with our software's database and HUD functions.

I started with CP/M and Radio Shack OS machines in the 70s back before Microsoft released its PC OS. I wrote application software part time at home for a few businesses in town until it began to take up too much of my spare time. I also worked full time as a tech rep for a Multinational company.

For Me, McAfee isn't worth spending my money on, but I like McAfee Webadvisor because it tags browser links that have been tested for safe browsing. I use several virus and spyware utilities that are registered and play together nicely. I hardly ever get a hit on anything, but Visual Basic files sometimes trigger false positives.

 

[BRFoster77]

A few months back I started a thread about a new calculator that was available. Since that post I have received a lot of good input and have made several updates and added new features. I encourage you to download and try out the latest version. All feedback is welcome.

Download links:
Juice Calculator

A summary of its features:
Define and save ingredients

• PG/VG percentage levels
• Nicotine level (pre-mix ingredients)
• Drops/ml and grams/ml
• Cost of ingredient
• Notes associated with ingredient

Define and save recipes

• Nicotine, PG and VG level
• Selection of defined ingredients to add
• Notes associated with the recipe
• See resulting amounts to add (drops, ML’s, grams) and total cost of the recipe

Modify an existing mix
Have you ever created a mix and would like to change the nicotine level, increase or decrease a flavor percentage, change the PG/VG ratio or add additional ingredients while maintaining the same ratios of your other ingredients? The “Modify recipe” option will do this. After making your changes you will be informed how much of each ingredient to add to bring your existing mixture to the new levels.

Build a recipe by entering ingredient amounts
Have you ever mixed something up by throwing together several ingredients and wanted to create a repeatable recipe by specifying the amount of each ingredient added? The “Build recipe” option will do this. Enter the amount of each ingredient added and then save the new recipe.

Includes a calculator to “Dilute nicotine” to a different mg/ml level and dilute to obtain a different PG/VG ratio.

Export your recipe(s) and ingredients to Excel.

Import your existing recipes from other popular calculators.

Search your existing recipes to find recipes that contain one or more of the ingredients specified.

Before you start using the calculator, make sure you setup your preferences on how the calculator operates by going to the “Options” window.

View attachment 262394

Been using this calculator for a while now, went to use it after the latest update, I dont have any recipes available in the drop down menu?? Help?

 

[HotRod19579]

Been using this calculator for a while now, went to use it after the latest update, I dont have any recipes available in the drop down menu?? Help?

Below is a couple of copy/paste, this should help. I am without the use of one hand for a while so trying to avoid typing.
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When you first started using the calculator you were prompted to save the file and give it a name. The name will have an extension of .xml. You could have saved the file into a folder of your choosing but by default it would have been a subdirectory in your documents folder (My Documents). The subdirectory would have been either "EJuiceCalculator" or "JuiceCalculator".

Look in the directory/folder referenced above for a file called xxxx.xml where xxxx is a name you provided. When you find it open it in the calculator using File->Open. Let me know the results.

You can also see if you have a file listed under "File->Recent files".

Also, did you ever turn on "Backups"? You do this in Tools->Options and go to the Backups tab. Let me know if it was already turned on, there are other restore options available if it was turned on. If it wasn't turned on, turn it on.
-------------------
The calculator "remembers" the last file that it had opened and when it is launched, it is automatically opened. There has been an occasional issue where the calculator forgets the last file and doesn't automatically open it when the calculator is launched. When this happens the first reaction is thinking that all of your recipes and ingredients are lost which is not the case. I haven't been able to determine why the calculator is forgetting the last file that was opened, it has only happened to a few users and I don't know the trigger.

The fix for this is easy. You just need to do a "File->Open" and open the juice file that you have been working with. The problem for many users is they don't know the name/location of the file in order to open it. In case this happens to you, make a note of the name of your file, shown in the title bar of the calculator, and also make note of the directory that you have the file saved in. By default it is in a subdirectory of your "My Documents" folder with a subdirectory name of "JuiceCalculator" or "EJuiceCalculator".

 

[benjy337]

Is there a way for me to import my list of flavors?
I have them as a text file, but could easily create an Excel file if needed.

 

[Hoggy]

Is there a way for me to import my list of flavors?
I have them as a text file, but could easily create an Excel file if needed.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but there may be a possibility if you create an Excel file with one ingredient per line.. And use the menu item "Edit/ingredient editor" and copy-paste that row. I would try it on a blank JC file first though - IIRC, HR might have said doing that is sort of beta (unless I'm thinking about something else that he said that about).

 

[OlderNDirt]

Thanks for the great calculator, @HotRod19579 !

I'm am fairly new to DIY and have been getting along fairly well with things. But I still have a lot to learn and have run into a couple questions:

My latest order included a couple flavors previously ordered, but in larger bottles resulting in a reduced cost per ml. I tried to find or figure out how to record the increase in inventory reflecting the reduced cost and came up short of how to do that. Am I correct that entering the new acquisition as a separate flavor (that is recording them as vanilla #1 and separately as vanilla #2) is the best or correct way to do this?

While searching the thread, it also appeared that some might be doing something similar when changing a recipe with the same ingredients, but with different percentages. I have been simply changing those percentages when mixing a new batch and making notes for any adjustments. Seems to be working, but wondering if I am heading down a slippery slope doing it that way. Am I eventually going to hit a chuck hole or a dead end road doing it this way?

Thanks for any help getting me back on the right road if I am drifting into the ditch!

 

[Ed Sause]

OlderNDirt, other than having multiple entries for the same ingredient, that are not really necessary. The calculator already handles that for you. When you update a flavor with a new quantity, price and purchase date, the calculator figures out you overall cost per ml.

With the receipe, that is the way I fine tune. When I am happy with it, I save it to a different juice file and go to the next flavor. There is really no wrong way. Just your way.

 

[IDJoel]

Thanks for the great calculator, @HotRod19579 !

I'm am fairly new to DIY and have been getting along fairly well with things. But I still have a lot to learn and have run into a couple questions:

I am without the use of one hand for a while so trying to avoid typing.

Hi @OlderNDirt! I'm gonna .... in as @HotRod19579 has recently been through some surgery and typing is difficult for him right now. So I am going to see if I can help him out and answer your questions. If ANYONE has different answers; PLEASE share and/or correct me.

Am I correct that entering the new acquisition as a separate flavor (that is recording them as vanilla #1 and separately as vanilla #2) is the best or correct way to do this?

IF you are trying to track both costs (or an average cost); then yes that is the only way the program will track both monetary values. Keep in mind you will need to select the correct "ingredient" to reflect the correct purchase price. This can also give "false" positives for showing "Not enough inventory" warnings when you get down to the last of your original inventory.

Precise reflection of actual cost has not been critical for me so I just enter the new cost when I update the volume of the ingredient. This DOES lower the cost for stock already in inventory too. The result may be slightly lower than the truth but I have found it to be rather insignificant. I suppose if I was mixing a high flavor percentage, or many flavors (in the same recipe) that all had substantial price changes, the results could be more dramatic.

I could see this being of greater import if you were mixing commercially and needed to track ingredient cost for tax purposes.

I have been simply changing those percentages when mixing a new batch and making notes for any adjustments. Seems to be working, but wondering if I am heading down a slippery slope doing it that way. Am I eventually going to hit a chuck hole or a dead end road doing it this way?

I don't see any "slippery slope;" more a matter of personal choice and what works best for you.

Some prefer the "Recipe V1, V2, V3,... " method for preciseness. This can be most useful when you have a good "base" or "stone," but may want to explore multiple variations, this method can help by providing trunk and related branches. As an example, I may have a good cream base and I want to explore using it with fruit, caramels, nuts, tobaccos, and even bakeries.

Others would rather not clutter up their list of recipes by having multiple versions of the same thing so they will do like you are doing, and simply changing the ingredients in the one recipe and making notes of those changes down in the notes section. This can be more useful when you have a single target/goal in mind (e.g. "I want my perfect melon slushy.").

I happen to use both methods. I find I use the separate versions/recipes for the three friends I do a little mixing for. They all like the same recipes; but with slight tweaks that emphasize (or minimize) particular notes of the recipe. However, when I am developing an individual recipe, I will change the recipe as I work on it and keep notes of the changes withing the Notes section.

I guess it boils down to whether I think I am going to want/need to refer back to earlier versions and how often.

I hope this helped. If it didn't, or if I muddied the waters even more, please don't hesitate to say so and maybe someone else can clear things up.

 

[OlderNDirt]

OlderNDirt, other than having multiple entries for the same ingredient, that are not really necessary. The calculator already handles that for you. When you update a flavor with a new quantity, price and purchase date, the calculator figures out you overall cost per ml.

So I can just go into "Add or update ingredient", select the existing ingredient, enter purchase information under "Definition", and click on "Add to inventory" and that will combine current inventory/cost with new purchase volume/cost for a resulting total inventory/cost? Makes sense and sounds easy enough.

Thanks!

Hey, @IDJoel ! Thanks for the information!

As far as the inventory, I am not as concerned with cost as I am with volume. So far I have small enough inventory that I can surely make a note if running low on something. But don't want to mess something up at the early stages that may cause a big problem later. Wasn't even sure how to add an additional purchase, but thanks to @Ed Sause 's post, may have that solved if what I wrote above is correct. As far as price variance, I was more concerned with the change in price per ml when going from a 9ml trial bottle to a 30ml or 60ml bottle with subsequent purchases. But if what I said above works, should be good enough.

I don't think I will be mixing for anybody else, having very many different recipes, or doing a whole lot of experimentation. So until there seems to be a benefit in having multiple recipes saved for just changing percentages, figure what I am doing now should work for me.

 

[Fozzy71]

@OlderNDirt I do what @IDJoel said. I don't worry too much about the ingredient price and I just make variants of a recipe: i.e. v1.00, 1.01, etc and use the categories for filtering with things like steeping, keeper, to adjust, to test, to test next, etc.

 

[IDJoel]

the calculator figures out you overall cost per ml.

To be clear; the program does NOT cost average. It only reflects the most recent $/mL applied to the entire current volume.

To illustrate I created a fictitious ingredient (via Ingredients->New) and added 10mL at a cost of $2.00 which creates a cost per mL of $0.20/mL. You can see the initial ingredient results when you view it in the Ingredient Editor (Edit->Ingredient Editor):

I then added an additional 10mL at a cost of $1.00 (a cost of $0.10/mL) which should have provided an adjusted total cost per mL of $0.15/mL but instead only reflected the most recent cost of $0.10:

This is why some people who want a more accurate cost per mL choose to create a second, third, etc., separate ingredient so they can select a true current cost per mL for the actual ingredient used.

I am NOT suggesting that this is the "right" way. I am only pointing out the limitation of the current software. I do not want to imply that HotRod's program is doing something that it is not. To take it to the next level would require HR to develop a whole first-in/first-out inventory management component.

Right now you can track the multiple purchases separately, manually cost averaging (either in the Ingredients window, or directly in the Ingredient Editor), or (like the majority of us (?)) be content with the current cost.

may have that solved if what I wrote above is correct.

So I can just go into "Add or update ingredient", select the existing ingredient, enter purchase information under "Definition", and click on "Add to inventory" and that will combine current inventory/cost with new purchase volume/cost for a resulting total inventory/cost?

YES; that is how you go about it. NO it doesn't cost average; it will apply only the most recent purchase price entered to the entire quantity on hand.

I don't think I will be mixing for anybody else, having very many different recipes, or doing a whole lot of experimentation. So until there seems to be a benefit in having multiple recipes saved for just changing percentages, figure what I am doing now should work for me.

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! For me, I only find it a benefit to save as separate recipes if I see myself wanting to go back to the previous versions for any reason.