User friendly calculator

[Switched]

Hi folks,

This simple calculator was inspired in no small part by the membership. There are many calculators around. I had downloaded Dan's calculator, but found it cumbersome. Many recipes from DIYers resulted in varying degrees of unit etc... making duplicating buddy's recipe nearly impossible.

This is not by any means a slam wrt Dan's calculator. I followed the entire development of Dan's calculator, and have use it. It just wasn't for me. I needed something that did the job and was easy to use with all recipes, provided on line.

I think I have come up with such a calculator and welcome any feedback. This calculator can be downloaded here for free.

See signature for link.

 

[Nikhil]

Your link is to mediafire.com/myfiles.php not the file. Could you take a screenshot?

 

[Switched]

Try this link folks.

Simple Calc

Please let me know if it works.

 

[blue9]

Seems good to me.... Thanks very much !!

 

[Switched]

You are welcome.

Here's a screenshot. The functionality of this calculator is that regardless of how someone publishes his/her recipe:

• percentages;
• drops; or
• ml

You simply enter the data as published, in the appropriate cell. Once all the data is entered take a look at the last column of the right (%). You can now change all the entered data to %.

By copying the entire template and pasting it (in the same sheet) you can save your recipes. The neatness of this calc, once the data is entered in %, then changing the amount to make, will automatically change the recipe proportionately.

 

[NCC]

I've downloaded it, and it looks pretty good. I've got some mixing to do tomorrow (later today) and I'll give it a road test! Thanks!

 

[Nikhil]

It's great but I really wish it wouldn't force the water dilution. Sometimes I like to vary the viscosity and also, your dilution is not exactly what I use (or even what the explanation at the right states).

 

[Switched]

Thanks for the feedback PV. You must remember I designed it around my needs.

WRT the automatic water/PGA dillution, the formulae is only activated by the percentage column. If you select to add ml or drops it will not trigger the auto dilution. e.g if you are making a 10ml batch of X and wanted 20% VG, just add 2ml in the VG row or 44 drops (or whatever your drippers equate to).

The same goes wrt the nicotine final strength, it is activated by the % column, not the other 2.

All formulas are visible and can be changed to suit your or any individual needs. The formulas are all contained in the yellow areas.

It folks have a simpler method to do what I have designed by all means, please provide feedback. I have one head only, many minds can create great things. Keeping in mind it needs to remain simple.

 

[MacDiver]

Dan’s is actually easier to use than this one. Besides, all Dan would have to do to incorporate this one is to unlock the ml field an add a column next to the ratio field in the “Make a Recipe” box for drops and it would do the same thing as this one as far as being able to convert ml and percents to drops and the other combinations because it shows percents, ml and drops now, but the conversion is only based on ratios right now.

With his it will automatically calculate the water/or PGA and do the subtraction for you on the other ingredients based on the numbers we supply. The cell isn’t locked so the value can be changed. With this one we’d have to keep adjusting the numbers of water and PGA to make it go to above negative using guesswork and just plain ole playing with the numbers to get it right.

I like accessing the recipes on Dan’s with the dropdowns rather than each recipe being on a separate tab. They are harder to get to using tabs than using dropdowns if you want to compare another to the one you are working on quickly. Even quicker than that, you can switch to the Recipe tab and see all of them on a single page and scan it quickly. You can’t have but so many tabs on a spreadsheet until they get unmanageable.

Dan’s looks confusing at first but it’s really simple to use. The easiest way I've found to use it is to go to the Recipe tab and go to Tools/Protection and unprotect the sheet. That way you can enter your own recipes at the bottom. Enter your recipe (I name mine like Mac's Apple so I know I'm looking at ones I created). If I make another Apple to tweak the recipe I create a separate line and name that one Mac's Apple2, etc. That way you don't lose the percentages of the first one and it preserves your mix history.

Next, go to the main page of the calculator and at the bottom right box- not the top one - and use the dropdown to choose your recipe you entered. Now, when you enter the info needed in the top left box, Nic, VG, PG, PGA, the one on the bottom right will tell you how many drops or ml of flavor(s) to use for the amount of juice you want to make. You MUST put a number in the Water/Vodka/PGA field or it won’t calculate correctly. If you aren’t using those put a low number in it like 0.10.

I don’t even mess with the top right box “Make a new Recipe”. It’s not really needed if you do it this way. To use it you’d have to go to the Flavors page and enter any new flavors that aren’t on the flavors sheet. That’s too much trouble to keep up with. There are 23 flavors for Perfumer’s Apprentice on the sheet when you get it at this point, version 11. Linda has over 50 flavors now, hehe.

 

[Switched]

I hear you Mac D, it just wasn't for me. The fact that I can enter to 2 decimal points is a plus, something other members were frustrated and have asked for.

As previously stated when you follow the original thread, it started off simple and got more complex as the thread progressed. If folks don't want to use it, fine, the option is there. My feelings won't be hurt in the least. Out of 7 calcs out there, none of them did what I wanted them to do. One did this, that one did that, the other one looked after the mid-section. Too much bother.

 

[portguy]

Thumbs up Switched! Now let me try some flavourart mixing...

 

[Mr.Mad]

looks good. thanks IMO simple is better.

 

[Switched]

Thumbs up Switched! Now let me try some flavourart mixing...

looks good. thanks IMO simple is better.

You are welcome. Any questions please ask.

 

[Nikhil]

I was thinking you could make one or two extra boxes so people could modify the dilution ratio of the VG. One way to go about it is have a box that just has the % water of the final VG+water mixture, but to really remove that bit of guesswork to hit exactly 100% as MacDiver said, you could also have a box where you can put in your recipe's amount required of VG+water mixture. Most recipes call for X% VG and don't say how much water was used to dilute, so it would save people from having to reverse calculate it every time using their preferred dilution percent if they could just enter it in.

I'll probably do it myself if you don't, but it would look ugly.

 

[Switched]

No reverse calculation required. Instead of using X% of VG, just add it in ml and if wont' auto default.

e.g for a 30ml batch 20 % VG = 6ml input 6ml instead of 20%

You can do the same with water and PGA.

Folks are free to improve the calc and modify it to suit their needs and the way they work. All formulas are open. They are contained in the yellow areas.

Only piece of advise is to make a back up copy before you start messing with the formulas.

I'm heading out of town for a week or so so I won't be messing with it perse. One thing is for sure, as stated folks can modify their own, but I will not develop a calculator that becomes cumbersome. I wish to keep this one simple, multi-functional yes, but simple.

Edit: I will come up with a tutorial when I have a chance, because it is indeed an extremely simple calc, once you have played with it a bit.

 

[Switched]

Thumbs up Switched! Now let me try some flavourart mixing...

Have you had a chance to take it for a spin yet Port?

 

[Switched]

Simple Calc V2

By popular demand Version 2 is out. Use either PG or VG sheet dependant on what base nic you use.

The PG sheet has the same previous functionality e.g Whatever % of VG you add, the calc will auto calculate the H2O and PGA to a ratio of 4/1 or 20%, making you mix the consistency of PG.

Should you not care for auto dilution, use the VG sheet and manually input all your own quantities.

This is a win win situation, because it still keeps the calc relatively simple. Hope you enjoy the new and improved V2.

 

[Switched]

Since I can't edit the original posts...

Bump!

Simple Calc V2