Technology
Spanner2 is a space planning (laying out products on retail fixtures) software programme.
It a .Net application build to run on Microsoft Windows machines using Microsoft .NET 8 and Windows Presentation Foundation.

Inputs/Outputs
Apart from user mouse and keystroke interaction, the main inputs are product dimensions and product sales data which are both usually loaded via spreadsheets, and Spanner2 uses Microsoft's DocumentFormat.OpenXml library to interface with Excel.
(DocumentFormat.OpenXml is also used for fixture exports to PowerPoint.)
The main outputs are images of, diagrams of, and reports about fixtures (planograms) produced by the software.

Deployment
By standard it is provided via a digitally signed Windows .msi installer, but also requires .NET 8 to run. Upon running the software for the first time a user will get a prompt to install the relevant .NET platform.
Spanner2 licences are via an annual subscription (per user per year) controlled via an installation specific licence key code. The software provides an installation code, and Productive Insights Ltd provides a time-stamped licence key code for use against that installation code.
For convenience, multiple licences can also be managed via a multi-licence multi-key file.

Files and Network
Spanner displays images of the products used in the application. Individual product images are accessed by reading image files that are saved according to a naming convention (e.g. product id code, name or UPC).
Where organisations have multiple users, they typically choose to store product images in a shared network location.
To minimise the reading of multiple images over the network, and to maximise user interaction speed, Spanner can include settings to replicate images between a local and a network location.
Spanner2 has its own file format *.spanner (zipped combination of text and image files). (Spanner can also read .psa space planning files)

Requirements
Spanner2 is designed for Windows 10 & Windows 11, for earlier technology please use Spanner1
Spanner2 is developed in a 16GB 1.7GHz Windows 11 environment but is also tested in an 8GB 2.2GHz Windows 10 environment.

For any other questions please message support@catmantoolkit.com

• 2.0.0.0 - 27/02/24
  • First release of Spanner 2.0
• 2.0.0.1 - 04/03/24
  • Options for facades and blocks in the animation environment.
  • Fix to a bug on and pasting bays without any fixtures.
  • When undoing multiple actions a check is not included to de-select any selected objects that have been deleted.
• 2.0.0.2 - 05/03/24
  • Warning shown if file is created with a new version of Spanner.
  • Capability to drag multiple positions from product list to fixture.
  • New automation command: Rename Outlet.
  • Animation can save and load environments.
• 2.0.0.3 - 06/03/24
  • Menu bar icon added for loading images for positions only.
  • Fix for minor bug on adding mutiple positions introduced in 2.0.0.2.
  • Import Planograms function added.
  • Position drawings updated on product edit.
  • Message shown when trying to drag a product on the fixture without dimensions.
  • Extra safety trap added to UPC to avoid null reference.
  • Option to select selected planogram outlet and channel in product selection list
  • Fix to Sales data match settings not updating internal values
• 2.0.0.4 - 13/03/24
  • Function to export PSA plans added.
• 2.0.0.5 - 13/03/24
  • Fix for some settings not always loading properly.
• 2.0.0.6 - 01/04/24
  • Fix for error processing caps on psa import
  • Option for export report to Excel
  • Improvements to import psa capping
  • Fix for major bug : numeric position id codes or document inventory model causing file open to skip lines in file read
• 2.0.0.7 - 17/05/24
  • Fix for not accepting/updating new matches made is import sales data interface
  • Fix for bug add new bay/shelf/pointofsale drop down positioned wrong when application not maximised on primary monitor
  • Fix for product library interface settings not picking up user name substitution
  • Fix for sales data interface not working with fixed values
  • Added functionality to change product sales data navigator settings through context menu
  • Added mousewheel scrolling in reports, and scroll rows/columns in to view with cursor keys
  • Added right click on position to scroll product in product naviagor in to view
  • Scale Document Command added
  • Black on white, white on black label options added
  • Position labels by sales added
  • Functions added to import fixtures (first planogram fixture ina file) and to Automate this import
  • Large open document and new document icons added to no documents screen
  • Fix for clone product error
• 2.0.0.8 - 07/06/24
  • Improvements to product library interface checking
  • Added product image package export/unpack
  • Fix for bug where highlighting doesn't work on rotated images
  • Fix psa export sales fields
  • Add psa export preformance data
  • Fix for match code skipping lines in document read
• 2.0.0.9 - 13/06/24
  • Products without dimensions show in list with Gray foreground text and warning symbol
  • Improvements to undo routine removing products dimensions with positions (previously not re-instating positions)
  • Fix for undo not working on Max Merch Height
  • Fix for paste positions not updating product list background colour
  • Positions Count added to product navigator
  • Improvements to cloning & pasting bays, fittings and positions
• 2.0.1.0 - 14/06/24
  • Improvements to shelf merchandising to take account of front facing clashes
  • Added function to highlight clashes
• 2.0.1.1 - 17/06/24
  • Fix for error on product library update failing when umatched products found
  • Added copy code to clipboard button to about screen
  • Avoids trying to add positions without dimensions from multi-add from list
• 2.0.1.2 - 21/06/24
  • Option added to remove product library custom commands in interface editor
  • Added menu bar an icon to reload product images
  • Fix for monir bug, dragging shelf only updates Y in quick edit area
  • Snap to bay tollerance in drag fitting increased to 4cm
  • Improvements to clash identification to account for sloping shelves
  • Updated the planogram filter on Product x Planogram reports to filter products (with positions) as well as planograms
  • Reports Show focus cell row and column in row headers and column headers highlighted black
  • Highlighted Editable Cells in reports take edit on keystroke (no need to put cell in edit mode)
  • Positions can be set to minimum or desired facings
  • Menu option to set all positions on planogram to minimum or ddesired
• 2.1.0.0 - 19/08/24 - Significant Release Point (new editors + range tools)
  • Fix for SideCapPlacement not updating drawings until positions change location
  • Bay editor added
  • Shelf editor added
  • Position editor added
  • Point of Sale editor added
  • Fix for change of shapes not updating in display
  • Fix for shapes paths not saving in settings editor
  • Option to change labelling in menu
  • Fix for spread facings gap needs shelf remerch on file open
  • Fix for position border thickness not always updating
  • Fix for new product libraries not saving in settings unless settings editor openned (& green tick pressed)
  • Fix for document editor not adding new classifications
  • Fix for undo/redo from menu not working if no planogram
  • Key strokes added to change merch style,(n, t, c, o)
  • Fixes to errors with document editor, outlet and classification management
  • Fix for document edit measure not working
  • Fix for status not displaying in planogram filter, or reports dropdown
  • Options for SharePoint-OneDrive sync added
  • Planogram Classification x Outlet report type added
  • Range Tools Functional Area Added
• 2.1.0.1 - 23/08/24
  • Fix for minor bug: can't edit or delete matrix reports columns
  • Improvments to maximum rear facings on merchandising angle not 90
  • Fix for sales data interface can't have outlets in same row as time or measures
  • Custom highlight added to animation
  • Fix for minor bug where losing images requires image refresh for 3D render
  • Improved error trapping speeds up product edit
• 2.1.0.2 - 23/08/24
  • Fix for error introduced in 2.1.0.1 where non desired 3D sides show
  • Addition of high resolution position only output for Sodalite Creative 3D renders
• 2.1.0.3 - 1/09/24 - avoid this release - bugs on tray images
  • standard floor and ceiling resource options added to animations
  • fix for minor bug : search image info cancel button partially inactive
  • Addition of high resolution position only output for Sodalite Creative 3D renders for positions as or on selected objects
  • Fix for minor bug when pasting in new product ids on table
  • Adjustment to psa export to allow for side caps with Unit merch style
  • Adjustment to product id updates, where product clone sets hidden code to empty
  • Fix for planogram exports not scaling down images
  • Fix for bay moveleft/right not working with manual positions
  • Trap to avoid pasting bays to left on same planogram
• 2.1.0.4 - 4/09/24
  • Trap to avoid grabbing first image when there is no image key
  • Product library interface propertyName=value custom command added
  • Added capability to use classifications as image keys
  • Fix for bug on images with tray sides
  • Fix for not copy blank ID to ID in automation command
  • Fix for error on rear facings
• 2.1.0.5 - 5/09/24
  • Function for export to library clipboard added
  • Fix for adding products as positions with invalid colours
  • Fix for incorrectly importing psa style colour numbers
  • Fix for edit image resources
  • Adaptations to add point of sale middle X or middle Y to middle of viewport
  • Added function for creating a automation fixture template from a planogram
• 2.1.0.6 - 7/09/24
  • Changes to delete planogram and delete point of sale to preseve references in animations
  • Preserves display of custom highlights in animation actions not in application
  • Automation commands of Change Obstructs and Change Txt added
  • GPU waiting option added to animation exports
• 2.1.0.7 - 8/09/24
  • Fixes for 3D display of sidecapping merch styles
  • Improved options for variable substitution on displaying calculated measure names in menu
  • Fix to menu oprion add viewpoint including Field of View
• 2.1.0.8 - 16/09/24
  • Change to SharePoint sync based on Sites.Selected
  • Openning sales data interface does not select an ignored sheet
  • Added basic highlight function in animation
• 2.1.0.9 - 17/09/24
  • Import Planograms no dialog check if only one planogram in file
  • Fix for mass paste in to reports : Excel copies a return at the end of each cell so selecting 3 rows copied four when broken by return to clipboard
  • Added function for set all selected outlets or channels to a value in planogram manager
  • Fix for document editor not updating time 1 and time 2 or latest and previous descriptions
• 2.1.0.10 - 18/09/24
  • Fix for calculations not always working with static numbers
  • Fix for reading wrong movement time period on position movement
  • Button to add a calculated measure added to document editor
  • Fix for Group, Dept, Cat, SubCat planogram coding not saving
  • Added table data function for sales of all products on a planogram using usual VALUE_OU_1_TY format
  • Fix for adding measure not correctly shunting datapoints
  • UnitsStock property added for planogram reports
• 2.1.0.11 - 19/09/24
  • Sales options in product-planogram reports using VALUE_pOU_1_TY notation
  • Classification selector scrollviewer added to drop list to take account of very many classifications
  • Image searching allows for 8 digit UPC with 13 digit filename and vice versa
  • Function to select column added to table
  • Images viewer in position quick edit area
• 2.1.1.0 - 27/09/24
  • Removed licenced requirement for sync to enable expired licence auto updates
  • Added product report finctions Planogram_WeightedAreaSpace, Planogram_WeightedLinearSpace, Planogram_StoresLinearSpace, Planogram_StoresAreaSpace, Planogram_StoresListings, Planogram_WeightedListings
  • Fix for bug where position editor trys to create rotated image for rotated positions even if no image is available
  • Hanging back bars added
  • Pegboards Added
  • Fix for point of sale 3D drag not showing live movement
• 2.1.1.1 - 30/09/24
  • Fix for minor bug: product edit undo classification edit
  • Fix to product edit image save when no image search methods
  • Checklist dialog doesn't show select all or deselect all options if only one option
• 2.1.1.2 - 3/10/24
  • Position calculated measures enabled
  • Fix for error trap springing on openning a document with Sales Labels
  • Added automation commands "Add Default Classifications"; "Add Default Measures"; "Add Default Calculated Measures"; "Add Calculated Measure"; "Add Measure"
  • Added ImageString function (to copy an image string and to add one via automation)
  • Added the capacity to select point of Sale to Disappear when mouse is over (e.g. fridge doors)
• 2.1.1.3 - 4/10/24
  • Calculated Measures shown in product editor
  • Fix for minor bug Spanner1 documents openning with WTD calculated changes in currency format
  • Export to Excel now takes account of %total reports cells
• 2.1.1.4 - 7/10/24
  • Disappear point of sale extended to 3D
  • Fitting drag added to 3D
• 2.1.1.5 - 8/10/24
  • Fix for minor bug, colours not coming through in settings strings
  • Use of Escape key in quick edit area puts value back
  • X Offset Added as option for preset shelves
• 2.1.1.6 - 9/10/24
  • Shleves narrower than bay snap to middle of bay on drag
  • Shift while drag for fittings or points of sale makes lesser of delta X or delta Y =0
  • Tool for making video out of image sequence export added
• 2.1.1.7 - 16/10/24
  • Fix for minor bugs on automation adding measures and calculated measures
  • Fix for edit shelf position, moving positions location too
  • Position editors added for pegboards and bars
• 2.1.1.8 - 20/10/24
  • Product Library Interface Dialog widened to 900px
  • Mass image whitespace removal and image scale down functions added
  • Fix for minor bug Automation add shelf adds two shleves from named settings
  • Fix minor bug, image string code not working
  • Fix for minor bug automation add image string not working
  • Automation functions for setting time 1, time 2, latest and previous added
  • Calculated measures displayed in shelf position quick edit
• 2.1.1.9 - 21/10/24
  • Fix for minor bug in loading tray images on product edit
  • Merge products facility added
  • Highlight legend included with Snapshot
  • Press shift with snapshot to get hi-res image
• 2.1.2.0 - 24/10/24
  • Tooltip added to Animation Objects Images Browser
  • Various fixes to save and load settings
  • Fix for potential of missing screen grab adjustment settings causing animation imaging error
  • Gray-Out and Clear Gray-Out options added to animation
  • Function for clearing 3D, to speed up 2D working on large planograms
  • Facade viewer added to Animation editor objects tab
  • Angle right renamed horizontal angle
  • Fix for minor bug imageover-ride not working in product editor
  • Buttons in animation objects reflect or propogate images and establish depth to facade elements
• 2.1.2.1 - 25/10/24
  • Product Image option for PPT/PDF positions export
  • Barcode output option for PPT/PDF positions export
  • Image propogation functions for facades with depth expansion (e.g. useful for gondola ends)
• 2.1.2.2 - 5/11/24
  • Fix for highlighting animations with rotated positions
  • Adjustment to sales data import to rake account of formulae in Excel cells
  • Fix to sales data import custom commands not saving
  • Sales data import custom commands added for not loading ignored sheets, scaling measures, and adding check digit where missing from import IDs
  • Sales data import expanded to importing measures in rows
  • Sales data import options for custom commands to aggregate time data (e.g. individual weeks to 52 weeks)
  • Sales data import options for custom commands to calculate data on import
  • Time scaling option added to sales data import custom commands
  • Preset Shapes added to settings editor
  • Hard settings option for colour scales
• 2.1.2.3 - 7/11/24
  • Common commands dialog added
  • Clean Web Text automation command added
  • Labels on semi transparent backgrounds added
  • IRI2UPC Custom Command Added, plus can be invoked as part of product library import
• 2.1.2.4 - 11/11/24
  • Fitting labels added
  • -ve Z Offset allowed
  • Tooltips to explain image orientation suffix codes added to product editor and settings editor
  • eidt functions to move all shelves up or down a notch added
• 2.1.2.5 - 13/11/24
  • Allowed for .xlsm as well as .xlsx libraries
  • Virtual 3D image option for Visual Exports
  • Sales data interface Move Header Text command added
  • Sales data interface intelligent time match added
• 2.1.2.6 - 15/11/24
  • 3D not processed unless initialised
  • 3D tab has warning highlight if too many units to display
  • Making of 3D face images for blocks tests for very large images
  • Planograms with too many units to display in 3D defaul to front views
  • New Clear 3D button next to 3D Tab
  • Option to clear 3D from entire document
  • Correction to Cylinder shapes image indices
  • Adjustments to the way 3D items are added to windows to speed up processing time
  • On sales data import if some time is matched and other time is half matched, then remaining guesses will be made
• 2.1.2.7 - 15/11/24
  • Fix for minor error on automation setting riser colours
  • Adaptation to internal stack trace calling
  • Trap to avoid colour change moving objects
  • Further 3D improvements
• 2.1.2.8 - 17/11/24
  • Further traps to avoid rendering too many 3D models
  • Improvements to Point of Sale crop as part of visual exports
• 2.1.2.9 - 19/11/24
  • Fix for settings editor buttons not working for preset bars and preset pegboards
  • Improvements to new fittings fitting in appropriate notches
  • Transparency option in colour picker for selected colours e.g. riser colour