Every dieline is folded up in software with the board's real thickness before you can download a die file. The check runs by itself a moment after you stop typing (Checking fold…). A passing check shows a small Checked chip (Checked (beta: confirm with a sample) on a Beta style); only a problem speaks up.
What it checks#
- Closes: every side of the box is covered (trays and sleeves leave their open sides).
- Inside size: the clear inside matches what you asked for, within 0.05 mm for cartons and 0.15 mm for corrugated, and is not bigger than the allowances should give.
- No clash: no two panels overlap or cut into each other when folded.
- Glue: each glued flap meets its partner over the part its partner can reach. The flat joint gap, or a seal end's outer flap that stops short of the back panel, leaves a narrow strip unglued by design.
- Flat-glued: tube styles lie flat with the joint gap in range.
- Outside size: the outside matches the size shown under the inputs.
Reading a clash#
A failure names the two panels and the amount, such as "Top closure meets Dust flap (0.2 mm)". Click it to highlight both panels. When the size fails for another reason, such as the inside size or the glue, the chip says which check and why. Usually a different size or option fixes it; if a standard size of a Stable style fails, tell us.
The glued lap note#
A corrugated box with plant allowances shows "Clear inside at the glued joint": the lap takes one caliper over its width. It is a note, not a failure. Switch the board or the box to the rigid joint to add it back.
What a failure blocks#
A failing check blocks the dieline PDF, DXF and CF2, with the reason. The artwork template, the SVG preview and the price stay available: you can quote the box, but not order a die from a dieline that doesn't fold.
Size and option messages#
Before a dieline is drawn, the Box designer checks the size, the board and the options. An Error stops the drawing: the last good one stays, dimmed, and the field says what to fix. A Warning draws the box but asks you to check it, and a Note is for information. The numbers below are examples; the Estimating API returns the same codes.
| Message | Kind | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Pick a box style. | Error | unknown_style |
| “window” isn't an option of this style. | Error | unknown_param |
| Tuck must be between 5 and 60 mm. | Error | out_of_range |
| Set the caliper of your board (from your supplier). | Error | no_caliper |
| For this style the length must be at least the width. Swap them? | Error | l_less_than_w |
| The glue flap is wider than the side panel. | Error | glue_too_wide |
| The tuck is longer than half the depth. | Error | tuck_too_long |
| The tuck flap won't fit inside: raise the lock inset to at least 1.2 mm. | Error | tuck_too_wide |
| The bottom flaps are too long for the flat carton to lie flat (max 75 mm). | Error | flap_reach |
| The flat blank would be 5200 × 1400 mm: the largest we can draw is 5,000 × 2,800 mm. | Error | blank_too_large |
| This size can't be drawn. Try another size or style. | Error | internal |
| The joint gap should be between 1/8 and 1/2 in (3.2–12.7 mm). | Warning | kd_gap_range |
| A glued joint under 1-1/4 in (31.75 mm) may not meet US freight rules. | Warning | lap_short |
| The outer flaps leave a gap of 12.5 mm (more than 1/4 in). | Warning | flap_gap |
| Short dust flaps: check the carton closes firmly. | Warning | dust_short |
| The side panel is narrow for the tuck locks: check a folded sample. | Warning | small_panel |
| Beta style: check a folded sample before ordering a die. | Note | beta_style |
| The sheet's grain isn't set: blanks may be turned 90° on the sheet. | Note | grain_unknown |
| Allowances for F flute are estimates: check with your plant. | Note | allowance_unverified |
| The glued lap takes 4 mm of inside length over its 35 mm width (plant allowances). Use the rigid joint to add it back. | Note | joint_lap_overlap |
| Shorter inner flaps need a die or trim knives. | Note | trimmed_flaps |
| This style needs a folder-gluer with a crash-lock section. | Note | needs_crash_lock_gluer |