General TechWizard™ Questions

Can TechWizard™ communicate with other software programs?
Yes. TechWizard™ can be configured to import or export information to most software programs.

I am a product developer and I need to reformulate foods to have less sugar, less fat, more fiber, or meet a particular health claim. How can TechWizard™ help?
TechWizard™ was made for this task. You simply enter your original formula’s information. Tell TechWizard™ how you would like to improve the formula and TechWizard™ will create a recipe that meets your needs.

I would like a special report that is not available in TechWizard™. Can it be added?
Yes. Owl Software is more than happy to modify TechWizard™ to meet your special requirements.

Why should I purchase TechWizard™ if I already have an alphabet soup of software programs such as ERP, PLM, LIMS, SCADA, and so on?
TechWizard™ is a comparably inexpensive application that provides features that complement these other software packages and can communicate with them to save you money and time.

Can I import ingredient information directly from my ingredient supplier?
Yes. Using the Ingredient Request Wizard™ you can submit a form to your supplier. They fill it out and send it back as an email attachment. You click a button in TechWizard™ to retrieve the information. This is very useful for adding new ingredients or updating existing ones.

Can I add non-nutritive components to the ingredient database?
Yes. You can create any type of property you require to help you develop a formula.

Can I update pricing information for ingredients?
Yes. You can enter the information manually or Owl Software can build a data bridge to automatically update the information.

Can TechWizard™ provide ingredient and formula cost information?
Yes. TechWizard™ can provide both ingredient and formula cost information for any amount.

Can I use a formula as an ingredient in another formula?
Yes

Can TechWizard™ estimate what a given volume of mix will weigh?
Yes. Furthermore a variety of density equations are built into the program to provide you with the best estimate.

Can TechWizard™ estimate what a given volume of an ingredient will weigh?
Yes. Furthermore a variety of density equations are built into the program to provide you with the best estimate.

Can I print a spec sheet for an ingredient or formula from TechWizard™?
Yes. The spec sheet can include your company’s logo, nutritional, allergen, and other pertinent information.

I need a special feature added to TechWizard™. Is that possible?
Yes. Owl Software has a great deal of experience customizing TechWizard™ to meet the needs of our customers.

How can I determine if I have the latest patch for TechWizard™?
Click the Check for Updates button in the Front Panel of TechWizard™ to determine if you need to install the latest patch.

Why does TechWizard™ run in Microsoft® Excel®?
This makes things much easier. If Microsoft® Excel® (2010 – 2019) works on your computer or network then TechWizard™ will work. Furthermore, this allows TechWizard™ to be a very robust software package while taking up very little space on your hard drive. Microsoft® Excel® can communicate with most software programs. TechWizard™ takes advantage of this to quickly establish a link with other software programs to import and export data. Installation is simple. TechWizard™ and all its dependent files fit in one folder.

Is there a Mac Version of TechWizard™?
No. You need to load Windows on your Mac and a Windows version of Excel to use TechWizard™. One way to do this is by using VMWARE® Fusion® software. It allows you to run Microsoft® Windows® like any other application without rebooting. Once VMWARE® Fusion® is installed, follow the instructions provided by VMWARE to install Microsoft® Windows®. Next, install a copy of the Microsoft® Windows® version of Excel®. The last step is to install TechWizard™.

Can I view multiple formulas at the same time?
Yes. You can open 2 or more copies of TechWizard™ at the same time. In TechWizard™, Click the File menu, select Open Other Files, and click Open Another Instance of TechWizard. When TechWizard™ opens the window is maximized. Resize TechWizard™ windows to see both.

Will TechWizard™ help my hair grow back?
Possibly. If the cause of your hair loss is from pulling out your hair with frustration then it may help.

What does TechWizard™ consider to be a formula?
A formula is a list of ingredients and their percentage of the total weight. You can create a formula by selecting ingredients and enter amounts for each in any unit. Or, TechWizard™ can create a formula if you select the ingredients and use the least cost formulation capability.

How does TechWizard™ assist with reverse engineering food products?
The user enters the information from the nutrition facts panel and ingredients from the ingredient statement in TechWizard™. This provides TechWizard™ a composition to match and a list of ingredients to use. The actual composition of the food product is estimated taking into consideration the rounding rules that are implemented when creating a nutrition facts panel. TechWizard™ uses this information along with any other information you can supply such as chemical analysis to create a comparable formula.

TechWizard™ Nutrition Facts

I’m a small business and need to use TechWizard™ periodically. I cannot justify the cost of purchasing a nutrition labeling program. Do you have an affordable solution for me?
Yes. Owl Software offers a subscription option. This allows you to use our TechWizard™ product development and labeling software for a given time period at a cost which is much lower than the purchase cost. At the end of the subscription period, you have several options. 1. You can let the program go dormant until you need it again, 2. You can renew your subscription, or 3. You can subtract the first year’s subscription fees from the purchase price for a permanent TechWizard™ license.

I am interested in creating a Nutrition Facts panel, ingredient statement, and an allergen statement. I do not require software that has all the extra features found in TechWizard™. Why should I purchase this software?
TechWizard™ offers many features to meet a variety of needs and it costs less than other nutrition labeling programs. Use the features you need today and feel secure that the other features are there if you need them later.

Can I create a Nutrition Facts panel for a product that loses moisture during processing?
Yes

Can I create a Nutrition Facts panel for a product that gains fat during processing?
Yes

Can I create a Nutrition Facts panel for a product that gains fat and loses moisture during processing?
Yes

Least Cost Formulation

What is least cost formulation?
This is a method of obtaining a recipe blend while also trying to minimize cost. Generally the user will set limitations on the composition that is required and possibly on the amounts of certain ingredients too. For instance, I want to use a certain amount of fat, protein, sweetness, solids, etc. and I want you to pick from a particular list of ingredients to come up with a recipe. In TechWizard™ you click the formulate button and it will come up with a recipe that fits all your requirements at the least cost.

I need to prepare least cost formulas for my products. I do not require a nutrition labeling program. Why should I purchase this software?
TechWizard™ offers many features to meet a variety of needs and it costs less than other least cost formulation programs. Use the features you need today and feel secure that the other features are there if you need them later.

Can I provide a list of candidate ingredients, provide a required composition, and have TechWizard™ provide the best recipe?
Yes

TechWizard™ Meat Questions

Can I use TechWizard™ to formulate meat and sausage products?
Yes. TechWizard™ has special features that make formulating meat and sausage products easy. You can meet necessary requirements for components such as fat, moisture, protein, etc.

Frozen Desserts and Dairy Products

Can TechWizard™ formulate a frozen dessert to have a particular texture and mouthfeel?
Yes.

Can TechWizard™ estimate the ice content of a frozen dessert?
Yes. Furthermore, you can formulate to achieve a required ice content at a given temperature. You can compare the freezing properties of multiple formulas at the same time.

Can TechWizard™ create a liquid milk ingredient based on the total solids and fat information?
Yes. You can create a new ingredient based on adjusting the solids, fat, fat and solids, or skim milk solids and milk fat of the original ingredient.

Products Containing Alcohol

I need to formulate a product to have a particular Alcohol by volume value. Can TechWizard™ do this?
Yes. TechWizard™ has special features to assist with this.

My ingredient supplier provided alcohol by volume data. I need to convert it to alcohol by weight. Can TechWizard™ do this?
Yes. TechWizard™ has special features to assist with this.

Processed Cheese

Can I use TechWizard™ to formulate processed cheese?
Yes. TechWizard™ has special features that make formulating processed cheese a snap. You can meet necessary requirements for components such as fat, moisture, protein, cheese solids, intact casein, FDM, etc.