# 5.5.1 Setting up: Oval Cut Direction = NONE in Settings

# Setting up: Oval Cut Direction = NONE in Settings

<span style="font-family: monospace; color: #6b7280;">5.5.1</span> <span style="border: 1px solid #d1d5db; color: #4b5563; padding: 2px 8px; border-radius: 3px; font-size: 0.85em;">oval method</span>

Before using the Oval Calculator, Spectre Cloud needs to know how your drill press handles oval cuts. The **Oval Cut Direction** setting tells the app which axis your press moves along when cutting an oval — or, if your press does not support directional oval cuts, you can set this to **NONE**. This page explains what the NONE option means and when to choose it.

## ⚙️ What Is the Oval Cut Direction Setting?

Found in **Settings → Oval Calculator**, the Oval Cut Direction preference controls how Spectre Cloud presents oval measurements to you during spec sheet creation. It has three possible values:

- **NONE** — Your drill press does not use a fixed directional axis for oval cuts, or you prefer to enter oval measurements without a directional reference.
- **Forward / Back (F/B)** — Your press cuts ovals along the forward-to-back axis.
- **Left / Right (L/R)** — Your press cuts ovals along the left-to-right axis.

**📌 Note:** The Oval Cut Direction setting affects how oval measurements are *labeled* on spec sheets, not how they are calculated. The underlying math is the same regardless of which option you choose.

## ❄️ When to Choose NONE

Set Oval Cut Direction to **NONE** if any of the following apply to your shop:

- ✅ Your drill press does not have a dedicated directional oval mechanism.
- ✅ You cut ovals manually and do not reference a fixed axis.
- ✅ You are just getting started and want to explore the Oval Calculator before committing to a directional setting.
- ✅ Your workflow records oval measurements as a single value (e.g., `1/4"`) without specifying which axis it applies to.
- ❌ Do *not* choose NONE if your press has a defined cut direction and your spec sheets need to distinguish between F/B and L/R measurements — choose the matching directional option instead for accurate labeling.

## 🛠️ How to Set Oval Cut Direction to NONE

1. Click or tap your **pro shop name** in the top-right corner of the screen to open your Profile menu.
2. Select **Settings** from the dropdown.
3. Navigate to the **Oval Calculator** section.
4. Locate the **Oval Cut Direction** field.
5. Select **NONE** from the dropdown options.
6. Click **Save** (or your settings will save automatically, depending on your Spectre Cloud version).

**🖥️ Desktop &amp; 📱 Mobile:** This setting is accessible from any device. Changes sync instantly across all devices logged into your Spectre Cloud account.

## 📋 What Changes When NONE Is Selected

With Oval Cut Direction set to NONE:

- ✅ Oval measurements on spec sheets appear as a single unlabeled value — no F/B or L/R axis indicator is shown.
- ✅ The Oval Calculator still computes oval sizes normally using your span and finger measurements.
- ✅ Previously saved spec sheets are not affected — historical records retain whatever labels were in place when they were created.
- ❌ Axis-specific labels (e.g., `Forward 1/4"` / `Back 1/8"`) will not appear on new spec sheets until you switch to a directional setting.

## 🔄 Changing This Setting Later

You can update Oval Cut Direction at any time in Settings. Switching from NONE to a directional option (or vice versa) only affects **new spec sheets** created after the change — existing spec sheets retain their original labeling. There is no need to re-drill or re-enter historical data.

### Related Sections

- 5.5.2 — Setting up: Oval Cut Direction = Forward / Back (F/B)
- 5.5.3 — Setting up: Oval Cut Direction = Left / Right (L/R)
- 5.1 — Overview of the Oval Calculator
- 2.x — Settings: Oval Calculator Options

**✨ Tip:** Not sure which direction your press uses? Start with NONE — you can always come back and update this setting once you've confirmed your equipment's oval cut axis with your drill press documentation or manufacturer.