Supported file types & upload guide

OptimalCutter can read cut lists from spreadsheets, documents, PDFs and even photos of handwritten lists. This page shows which formats work best and how to write a clear handwritten list so the system can recognise it.

1. Supported file types

1.1 Spreadsheets (recommended)

The most reliable format is a simple spreadsheet with one row per cut:

• CSV (.csv)
• Excel (.xls, .xlsx)

Typical column layouts that work well:

Qty | Length
Amount | Size (mm)
Number | Cut length
        

Column names do not need to be exact. The importer looks for a column that behaves like a quantity (small whole numbers) and a column that behaves like a length (larger numbers, usually millimetres).

1.2 Documents

Simple tables can also be read from:

• PDF (.pdf)
• Word (.docx)

For best results:

• Use a table with two main columns: quantity and length.
• Avoid merged cells and very complex layouts.
• Keep notes and comments on separate lines, not in the cut rows.

1.3 Photos & images

The upload tool can use OCR (optical character recognition) to read clear photos and scanned pages:

• JPG / JPEG
• PNG
• Scanned PDFs that contain only images

This works for printed lists and neat handwriting. The cleaner the page and the photo, the better the result.

2. Handwritten lists

When writing a cut list on paper for upload, follow these rules:

• Use a dark pen (black or blue) rather than a faint pencil.
• Write one cut per line.
• Keep numbers clearly separated (no overlapping or touching).
• Write on a clean, light background.

Valid line formats include:

5 @ 1200
10 x 1700
50 x 500
        

or:

1 nr 1500
1 nr 1200
        

or simply:

5 1200
10 1700
3 500
        

The order of the two numbers does not matter. The importer treats the smaller number as the quantity and the larger number as the length.

3. Taking a good photo

To help the system read your handwritten list accurately:

• Place the paper on a flat, plain surface.
• Take the photo straight above the page, not at an angle.
• Use good lighting with minimal shadows across the text.
• Fill most of the frame with the page while keeping all lines visible.
• Make sure the image is in focus (no motion blur).

4. What happens after upload

After you upload a file, OptimalCutter will:

• Try to detect all length and quantity pairs automatically.
• If confidence is high, fill the required cuts table for you.
• If confidence is lower, show a review window so you can edit the list before importing.
• If nothing usable can be detected, ask you to correct the file or enter the cuts manually.