Brother Pe Design 6 Manual

							Advanced OpreationDesign Database
223
Design Database
Design Database is used to organize the embroidery pattern files on your computer so that you can easily 
preview and search for the desired pattern. In addition, embroidery patterns can be opened with or imported 
into Layout & Editing or converted into other file formats (.pes, .dst., .exp., .pcs or .hus). Images of the 
embroidery patterns in a selected folder can be printed or outputted as an HTML file for quick reference. The 
sewing information for the embroidery patterns in a selected folder can be outputted as a CSV file (the data in 
each category is separated with a comma) for use in other database applications, such as Microsoft Excel.
Main Window
1Title bar
2Menu bar
Gives access to the functions.
3Toolbar
Provides shortcuts for the menu commands.
4Folder pane
Provides access to the folders on the computer 
and the results of any searches that were per-
formed.
5Contents pane
Displays thumbnails of all embroidery patterns in 
the selected folder.
2
5
4 1
3
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Design Database
Starting Up Design Database
1.Click , select All Programs, then 
PE-DESIGN Ver 6. Select Design Database 
to open the Design Database window.
bMemo:
If a shortcut for Design Database was 
created, for example, on the desktop, 
double-click it to start up the application.
 
→The Design Database window appears.
bMemo:
To fill the entire screen with the Design 
Database window, click the maximize button 
on the right end of the title bar.
2.Click a folder in the folder pane.
→All embroidery files in the folder are dis-
played in the contents pane.
bMemo:
Only .pes, .dst, .exp, .pcs, .hus and .phc files 
are displayed.
Organizing Embroidery Patterns
You can move your embroidery patterns to different folders in order to organize them. In addition, you can 
choose to display the embroidery patterns by thumbnails or by the pattern details.
Creating new folders
New folders can be created in order to better 
organize the embroidery patterns.
1.In the folder pane, select the folder where you 
want to create a new folder.
2.Click File, then Create New Folder.
→A new folder appears as a sub-folder of 
the one that was selected.
3.Type in the name of the new folder, and then 
press the   key.
→The name of the folder changes to the one 
that was typed in.
Moving/copying embroidery 
patterns to a different folder
From Design Database, embroidery patterns can 
easily be moved from one folder to another.
1.In the folder pane, display the folder where 
you want to move the embroidery pattern.
2.In the folder pane, click the folder that contains 
the embroidery pattern that you want to move.
3.Drag the embroidery pattern in the contents 
pane to the desired folder in the folder pane.
Enter
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							Advanced OpreationDesign Database
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Design Database
→If the two folders are on the same drive, 
the selected embroidery pattern is moved 
to the other folder.
→If the two folders are on separate drives, 
the selected embroidery pattern is copied 
into the other folder.
bMemo:
 To copy the file from one folder to another 
on the same drive, hold down the   
key while dragging the embroidery pattern.
 To move the file from one folder to another 
on different drives, hold down the   
key while dragging the embroidery pattern.
 The file can also be removed from the 
current folder (or copied) by selecting the 
menu command 
Edit – Cut (or Edit – 
Copy).Then, the file can be added to the 
new folder by selecting it in the folder 
pane, then selecting the menu command 
Edit – Paste.
Changing the name of the 
embroidery pattern
From Design Database, the names of embroidery 
patterns can easily be changed.
1.In the folder pane, select the folder containing 
the embroidery pattern that you want to 
rename.
2.In the contents pane, select the embroidery 
pattern that you want to rename.
→The embroidery pattern is highlighted.
3.Click the name of the embroidery pattern that 
you want to rename.→The name of the embroidery pattern is 
highlighted.
4.Type in the new name of the embroidery 
pattern, and then press the   key.
bMemo:
The file extension cannot be changed.
Deleting an embroidery 
pattern
From Design Database, embroidery patterns can 
easily be deleted.
1.In the folder pane, select the folder containing 
the embroidery pattern that you want to 
delete.
2.In the contents pane, select the name of the 
embroidery pattern that you want to delete.
3.Press the   key.
→The file is moved to the Recycle Bin.
bMemo:
 You can also delete embroidery pattern by 
using the menu command File – Delete.
 To immediately remove the file without first 
moving it to the Recycle Bin, hold down the 
 key before pressing the   
key.
aNote:
The names of embroidery patterns can be 
changed from Design Database only when 
the sewing information (menu command 
Display – Details) is displayed. (Refer to 
“Changing the contents pane display” on this 
page.)
Ctrl
Shift
Enter
Delete
ShiftDelete
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Design Database
Changing the contents pane 
display
The embroidery patterns in the contents pane can 
be displayed as large thumbnails or small 
thumbnails, or they can be listed by their sewing 
information.
1.Click Display, and then click the display 
setting from the menu that appeared. 
To display the embroidery patterns as large 
images, click Large Thumbnails.
bMemo:
You can also display the embroidery patterns 
as large thumbnails by clicking   in the 
Toolbar.
To display the embroidery patterns as small 
images, click Small Thumbnails.
bMemo:
You can also display the embroidery patterns 
as small thumbnails by clicking   in the 
Toolbar.
To display the sewing information for the 
embroidery patterns, click Details.
bMemo:
You can also display the sewing information 
for the embroidery patterns by clicking   
in the Toolbar.
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Design Database
Opening Embroidery Patterns
Opening embroidery patterns 
with Layout & Editing
You can easily open any selected .pes file with 
Layout & Editing.
1.In the folder pane, select the folder containing 
the embroidery pattern that you want to open 
in Layout & Editing.
2.In the contents pane, select the embroidery 
pattern that you want to open.
3.Click File, then Open in Layout & Editing.
bMemo:
Double-clicking the file name also opens the 
embroidery pattern in a new Design Page of 
the Layout & Editing window.
→If the current Layout & Editing work area 
has already been saved or has not been 
edited, the selected embroidery pattern 
immediately appears in a new Design 
Page of the Layout & Editing window.
→If the current Layout & Editing work area 
has not been saved, you will be asked 
whether you want to save the changes.
bMemo:
 To save the work area, click Yes.
 To abandon the work area, click 
No.
 To return to the work area, for example, to 
modify it or save it with another file name, 
click 
Cancel.
c“Overwriting” on page 194 and “Saving 
with a new name” on page 194
Importing embroidery 
patterns into Layout & Editing
You can easily import any selected embroidery 
pattern into Layout & Editing.
1.In the folder pane, select the folder containing 
the embroidery pattern that you want to import 
into Layout & Editing.
2.In the contents pane, select the embroidery 
pattern that you want to import.
3.Click File, then Import Into Layout & Editing.
→The selected embroidery pattern appears 
in the Layout & Editing window.
bMemo:
Double-clicking the file name also imports 
the embroidery pattern into the Design Page 
in the Layout & Editing window.
Checking Embroidery Patterns
Previewing embroidery 
patterns
A preview of the embroidery pattern can be 
displayed.
Toolbar button: 
1.In the folder pane, select the folder containing 
the embroidery pattern that you want to 
preview.
2.In the contents pane, select the embroidery 
pattern that you want to preview.
3.Click , or click Display, then Preview.
aNote:
Be sure to select a folder that contains .pes 
files.
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Design Database
→A Preview dialog box similar to the one 
shown below appears.
bMemo:
To close the dialog box, click Close.
Checking embroidery pattern 
information
Sewing information such as the file name, size, 
stitch count, color count and modification date can 
be checked in the File Property dialog box. With 
.pes file, additional information about the 
embroidery pattern can be viewed.
Toolbar button: 
1.In the contents pane, select the embroidery 
pattern corresponding to the information that 
you want to view.
2.Click  , or click Display, then File 
Property.
→The Property dialog box appears.
bMemo:
 The thread colors are displayed as basic 
colors. Thread colors in .pes files are 
displayed according to the thread colors 
set when the file was read by Layout & 
Editing.
 To close the dialog box, click 
Close.
→If the Design Page was set to Custom 
Size, a Property dialog box similar to the 
one shown below appears.
bMemo:
 The first line of the dialog box shows the 
position of the displayed pattern section 
within the embroidery hoop installation 
order.
 To display information for other pattern 
sections, click   or  .
 The pattern sections are displayed in order 
from left to right, top to bottom. Pattern 
sections that do not contain any stitching 
will not be displayed.
 To close the dialog box, click 
Close.
Non-PES files
PES files
aNote:
 cannot be clicked when the design 
corresponding to the first hoop is already 
displayed. In addition,   cannot be 
clicked when the design corresponding to 
the last hoop is already displayed.
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Design Database
Searching for an Embroidery Pattern
The Search function allows you to quickly search for the desired embroidery pattern (.pes, .phc, .dst., .exp., 
.pcs or .hus file) within the selected folder according to the various search conditions that you can specify.
1.In the folder pane, select the folder that you 
want to search.
2.Click Edit, then Search.
→The Search dialog box appears.
3.Specify the search conditions.
To search for a file with a specific file name, 
select the File Name check box, and then type 
the file name in the box beside File Name.
bMemo:
The wildcard characters “*” and “?” can be 
used to represent one or multiple characters.
To search for a file with a specific format, 
select the Format check box, and then select 
the check box beside the desired format.
To search for a file with a number of stitches 
within a specified range, select the Stitches 
check box, and then type the range in the 
boxes beside Stitches.
To search for a file with a number of colors 
within a specified range, select the Colors 
check box, and then type the range in the 
boxes beside Colors.
To search for a file with a width within a specified 
range, select the 
Width check box, and then type 
the range in the boxes beside 
Width.
To search for a file with a height within a specified 
range, select the 
Height check box, and then type 
the range in the boxes beside 
Height.
To search for a file with a modification date 
within a specified range, select the Date 
Modified check box, and then type or select 
the range in the boxes beside Date Modified.
To search for a .pes file with a design name that 
contains specific characters, select the 
Design 
Name
 check box, and then type the desired 
characters in the box beside 
Design Name.To search for a .pes file with a category that 
contains specific characters, select the 
Category check box, and then type the desired 
characters in the box beside 
Category.
To search for a .pes file with an author name 
that contains specific characters, select the 
Author check box, and then type the desired 
characters in the box beside Author.
To search for a .pes file with a keyword that 
contains specific characters, select the 
Keywords check box, and then type the desired 
characters in the box beside 
Keywords.
To search for a .pes file with a comment that 
contains specific characters, select the 
Comment check box, and then type the desired 
characters in the box beside 
Comment.
bMemo:
 To also search through the subfolders 
(folders within the selected folder), select 
the 
Search Subfolders check box.
 All characters entered in the box beside 
File Name will be considered as a single 
set of characters. However, you can 
search for files matching multiple words in 
the boxes below 
Search Conditions 
(only for PES files) by separating the 
words with a space.
 With search conditions that contain a 
range, values must be entered for the start 
and end of the range.
To clear the search conditions, click Clear all.
4.Click Search Now.
→A list of files matching the specified 
search conditions appears.
bMemo:
To quit the search, click Search Cancel in 
the message box that appeared during the 
search.
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Design Database
Converting Embroidery Patterns to 
Different Formats
Embroidery files can easily be converted to a file of one of the other formats (.pes, .dst., .exp., .pcs or .hus).
1.In the folder pane, select the folder containing 
the embroidery pattern that you want to 
convert.
2.In the contents pane, select the embroidery 
file that you want to convert.
3.Click File, then Convert Format.
→The Convert Format dialog box appears.
4.From the Format selector, select the format 
that you want to convert the file to.
bMemo:
With the DST format, jump codes are used to 
indicate when the thread must be cut in order 
to change the thread color. Since the number 
of codes differ depending on the sewing 
machine being used, type or select the 
appropriate value in the 
Number of jumps 
for trim box. (This setting can only be 
specified if the .dst format is selected.)
5.Under Output, select whether the new file is 
added to the same folder as the original file 
(Same folder) or to a specified folder 
(Following folder).
bMemo:
 If multiple files with different formats are 
selected to be converted while Same 
folder is selected, any file with the same 
format as the new one will not be 
converted. However, if the files are being 
added to a different folder than the original 
one, any file with the same format as the 
new one will be copied to the different 
folder, instead of being converted. To change the folder where the new file 
will be added, click  . 
In the 
Browse for Folder dialog box that 
appeared, click the folder, and then click 
OK (or double-click the folder) to select it 
and to close the Browse for Folder dialog 
box.
 To create a new folder, click 
New Folder, 
and then type in the name of the new 
folder.
6.Click Convert.
→The file is converted, and the new file is 
added to the specified folder.
bMemo:
 If the file is converted to a .pes file, the 
thread colors are converted as if the file 
was imported into Layout & Editing.
 If the path to a folder that does not exist 
was typed in, a message appears, asking 
if you want to create the folder.
 If a file with the same name already exists, 
a message appears, asking if you want to 
overwrite the original file.
 The name of the file after the conversion is 
the same as the name before the 
conversion, except the extension is 
changed to the one corresponding to the 
selected file format.
aNote:
Files cannot be converted to the .phc format.
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Outputting a Catalog of Embroidery 
Patterns
Printing
Images of all embroidery patterns in the selected 
folder can be printed as a catalog.
1.In the folder pane, select the folder containing 
the embroidery patterns that you want to 
catalog.
2.Click File, then Print Setup.
→A Print Setup dialog box similar to the 
one shown below appears.
3.Under Print Layout, select whether each 
pattern is printed on a separate page, 4 
patterns are printed on a page or 12 patterns 
are printed on a page.
4.Click Print.
→Images of the selected patterns are print-
ed.
bMemo:
 If one or more embroidery patterns were 
selected in the contents pane, only the 
selected patterns are printed.
 The catalog can be printed immediately by 
clicking the menu command 
File – Print. 
The embroidery patterns are printed 
according to the settings already selected 
in the 
Print Setup dialog box.
Outputting as an HTML file
Instead of being printed, the catalog of embroidery 
patterns can be outputted as an HTML file.
1.In the folder pane, select the folder containing 
the embroidery patterns that you want to 
catalog.
2.Click File, then Create HTML.
→A Save As dialog box similar to the one 
shown below appears.
3.Select the drive and the folder, and then type 
in the name of the HTML file.
4.To add a title at the top of the file and in the title 
bar, type the title in the Page Title box.
5.Under Page Layout, select how the patterns 
appear on the page.
6.Click Save.
→The HTML file and a folder containing im-
ages of the embroidery patterns are out-
putted to the selected folder.
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Outputting as a CSV file
A .csv file containing the sewing information (file 
name, dimensions, number of stitches, number of 
colors, file path, file properties (.pes files only) and 
the names of thread colors) for selected embroidery 
patterns can be outputted.
1.In the folder pane, select the folder containing 
the embroidery patterns that you want to 
catalog.
2.Click File, then Create CSV.
→A Save As dialog box similar to the one 
shown below appears.
3.Select the drive and the folder, and then type 
in the name of the .csv file.
4.Click Save.
→A CSV file containing the sewing informa-
tion for the embroidery patterns is output-
ted to the selected folder.
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