MESSED UP VECTORS- WHY WILCOX?

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

Doing some pretty basic programming, vector points. I have noticed that when picking the vector points, the vectors only show 3 decimal places in the auto feature window. No big deal, I kind of figured that was partially due to the fact that I have it set to report 3 decimal places (or the fact that some 'new' programmer didn;t like to see all those numbers in a little bitty box). Then, when I create the point, the vectors carry out to 7 places, just like they did in V3.5 and ALL previous versions. Then, just for shitsandgiggles, I clicked on FIND (not FIND VECTORS) to see what it would give me for an answer (I had previously noticed that when using FIND, the vectors went out to 7 places) and I got some bogus values.

I click on the surface and it gave me a vector (in Z) of 0.657
I created the point and in the edit window the vector was 0.6570417
FINE SO FAR!
I clicked on FIND and got a vector of 0.6569384!
Tried on the next point, FIND VECTORS and they STILL don't match what is created in the edit window.

I didn't change anything, no values, nothing. By clicking FIND it should give me all the same values as I had when I clicked on the surface since thepoint isn't moving. SO, WHY is the vector not 'calculating' the same when you click on the surface as it does when you then tell it to FIND? They should match 100% all the way out to 50 decimal places.

SO, which vectors are right and which are wrong? Granted, it isn't much, BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM BEFORE (V3.5 and older), WHY IS IT ONE NOW? Just yet another case of something that was working correctly now being totally MESSED UP!!!!! WHY IS THIS? WHY IS SOMETHING as basic as the VECTOR POINT, something that EVERY VERSION OF PCDMIS HAS, BEING MESSED WITH WHEN THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG TO BEGIN WITH, nor has there been for, what, 10 years? I can do this all day long in V3.5 and it will give me the same vector, over and over and over and over, point after point. But OH NO, NOT IN THE NEW VERSION, it's messed up there!

"Here ya go, bend over, and receive the blessing of B&S/Wilcox/Hexagon. Sorry, no lube today!"

Gee, it really makes you start to wonder if ANY PART of this software can be trusted if something as basic (to CMM's) as the VECTOR point can be messed up after all these years of working correctly. What else is messed up that no one has caught yet? Something else that is so basic, so simple, and has worked correctly as long as anyone can remember, and so are not even looking now to see if it is still right?

Well B&S/Wilxcox/Hexagon, anyone looking? Y'all say that you "try" to keep up with what's happening on the forum, but "no guarantee" that you will look. Well, are you looking now?

[\v/inston]

matt i think they did it just to pi$$ you off.

[T Miller]

Welcome back

[Jeff Hunt]

Matt, I feel your pain, but in all reality how much does that small change in vector affect the dimension? Im not saying that you dont have a very valid point...Im just saying that there are WAY bigger problems that should be adressed first.

Something really needs to be done about Willcox & B&S's attitude tword customer issues & concerns. Since the PCDmis 2.0 release there have been bugs that should not have been there. Im not saying that the software should be absolutly bug free, but it should **** well function for what it is sold to do. Now this whols SMA thing is a joke. 3k a year for what? Updated software with more bugs then fixes once a year? Tech support that we have to wait for a call back from? Honestly, the way I see it is that it is not in Wilcox & B&S to fix all of the bugs in the software because people might drop the pricy SMA.

There needs to be some sort of conferance set up so we can air out all of these problems. Why not have a scheduled time on here when a B&S & Wilcox rep would be on to answer or questions?

On my end, I have ended my SMA for Datapage/Dataview & am now looking into other software options. I have not yet renewed my SMA on PCDmis even though I am 3 months late, but I see no reason to do so. My company is a world leader in automotive stamping & we have many good contacts throught DCX, Ford, GM, Harley Davidson, Europe, and now China. We are letting these contacts know our concerns with this software & telling them to look at other options in the future.

B&S & Willcox, if you are listening, your users are at the end of their rope & are about to jump ship. Listen to us & answer our concerns or you will see no further purchases from my company & I will try my ****dest to make sure any company we are associated with will not purchase your software. If you think this is a joke, just try me.

[John Kingston]

guess whos back?

Is it really you?! We missed you. Welcome back!

Matt, you are correct to be upset. Remember that Don Ruggeri and Jared Hess DO read this site. They seem to listen to us, so it may be a help. I recall some issues a few years ago where a Sales Manager or VP was logging in. We were to get "updates" as to the status of future releases. That didn't last long. Maybe that needs to happen again.

[T Miller]

Everyone who has a valid SMA should call (800) 343-7933 support
even if you get a work around from the forum.. flood them with calls then they will be to busy to add more bugs to the software

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

Oh, and while I am whining, I might as well add this one:

I ABSOLUTELY HATE the new AUTO FEATURES window (V3.7). I want the tabs back, not the drop-down for the type of feature. V3.5 (and ALL previous versions) have a tab for each feature, all showing RIGHT THERE where with one click of the mouse, you are working with what you want to work with. NOW, you have to 'open' the drop down, scroll around to find the type you want, click again, then you can go on. VERY CLUNKY in my opinion, and since I am in the 'real world', my opion matters more than some programmer at Wilcox.

Once again, these changes are 'user driven', so they say. OK, no big deal. If the other users want it this way, that's fine and dandy, I'll go along with the croud, but only if it is the croud of USERS, not programmers. So, any of you 'request' this change? Is it, in fact, USER driven or some new programmer liked DROP-DOWNS better than tabs?

I have asked this type of question in the past about these 'user-driven' changes and not a single user spoke up and said "YES, I WANTED THAT CHANGED!", so, lets see, is THIS one user driven or 'developer' driven?

[JamesMannes]

With regards to Tom's response,
The Tech Support line is handled by BNS. The software is created by WILCOX. Calling Tech Support would only bog down an already slow service. Don't think of my reply as a defense of either BNS or WILCOX as I think that everyone that has responded to this thread has some valid points. I don't have an answer as to how to get a response from the people that need to here our concerns. Perhaps if everyone were to e-mail their Representative?(BNS not Local/State/Federal). For the most part I am satisfied with the software(3.7mr3). I am not going on to 4.0 until a .1 or .2 revision. I do like some of the added features that are found in the 4.xx release but I can wait until the BIG F'n BUGS are fixed to move up to the 4.xx platform.

[Don Ruggieri]

Changing vectors

I did read Matt's post early this morning, and I am not sure yet what the answer is. I will try to look into it asap. As suggested, it doesn't seem to be a high priority bug, but is interesting nonetheless.

[Wes Cisco]

Welcome Back \v/inston!

Matt, please take it easy on me if I am wrong here, but doesn't the autofeatures toolbar allow you to access any autofeature with a single mouse click? View>toolbars>select "auto features" HTH

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

Priority or not, the thing is, something that HAS worked, and worked properly for 10+ years does not work properly any more and that does nothing for the confidence level for anything else.

[William Johnson]

Welcome back \v/inston It is great to have you back.

Matt I agree with you I don't like the new autofeatures.
I WANT THE TABS BACK ALSO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DaddyBluto]

WMS

I hate the drop down. Give me back the tabs. Also there are new auto-features that are greyed out. I have CAD++. Isn't that the top end? Shouldn't I have all features? What is a "Blob"?

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

Isn't it that "thingie" that tried to devour Steve McQueen?

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

If you use the toolbar, it probably does, but when you are in the 'window', it is a drop-down. I do not know if the toolbar will change from one to another or if the window closes after each feature or what, I do not use it. I go into the autofeatures (CTRL-F) and stay there, programming the part as I go. When I come to an edge point, I program it, vector point, hole, slot, etc. I HATE popping in and out of windows, I just want to GO and GO NOW!