Version 4.0 Release....YIKES!!!

[gsepan]

We currently installed Version 4.0 on 3 of our machines and although it has some tremendous capabilities it is plagued with bugs. Square Slot Auto Feature doesn't work, have to program the slot the old fashioned way. We were told by tech. support that we would have to wait for the next release and they were aware of the problem. Saving RTF files in text only mode causes my text to shift and I end up with one letter or number per line and the file size is astronomical! The new True Position dimensioning is giving me fits but I've just found out that us folks who like the old way of true positioning have that option but you first have to locate something called "Legacy Dimensions" which I have found on the bottom of the dimension pull down menu. I sure do miss 3.7 MR3!!!

Anyone else using version 4.0 yet and if so was it a smooth transition for you?

How easy is it to convert back to 3.7???

[Lawrence Hardtacke]

I have the disk, but I am refusing to load it until I get some postive feedback from this forum. Most likely will wait for a couple MR's.

[craiger_ny]

Man you should have done a search first.

Craig

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

Well, IF you have back-up copies of all your programs (and you should have them) and IF you installed V4.0 into a COPY of the V3.7 directory, then all you have to do is go back to V3.7 and re-store your programs from archive and you are good to go. You can also 'save-back' from a new version to an older version and then open them from the older version. However, I do not know what kind of problems that will give you from bad things in V4.0 and saving back to V3.7.

New version procedure that has worked perfectly for me for years:

1) Make a copy of the current, working install of Pcdmis and rename it (I use versions as part of the directory name - PcdV35MR2, PcdV37MR3, etc.)
2) Install the new version into the renamed, copied directory (in this case, PcdV40MR0)
3) Before opening ANY program in the new version, archive them, including the probe files (or simply make copies of those directories as well)

You are now ready to play with the new version and you can ALWAYS go back to a previous version and have good, working programs and probe files. Hard drive space is VERY cheap these days, if you had to, you could simply add a second hard drive for you to put the backups of the programs and probes.

NOPE, I am NOT using V4.0. Heck, I have not even gotten the disk from B&S/Wilcox/Hexagon yet. I think I am on their 'ignore' list. I wouldn't use it if I had gotten it. The only reason I started using V3.5MR0 was that I was getting too many IGES files that would not translate properly in V3.2063 MR3. The next version I used was (is) V3.7 MR3. I have several versions installed (6 at this point) because I use the programs in the versions they were written in. I do not 'migrate' programs from one version to another. The reason I have the other versions is for the rare instance when I get a customer supplied program, I will run them in their 'native' version as well.

[Paul Sarrach]

Just a bit of advice, only upgrade ( I use that werd loosly) 1 CMM, until you master your latest foe.

[Bill **********]

As always, I'll wait for the impatient to find some/most/all of the bugs, then I'll wait a while longer before I "Downgrade" to a newer release. I still dont have an official version of 3.7 MR3.

Bill

[craiger_ny]

As always, I'll wait for the impatient to find some/most/all of the bugs, then I'll wait a while longer before I "Downgrade" to a newer release. I still dont have an official version of 3.7 MR3.

Bill

They probably wont send you the MR. He11 they won't even send me the regular release.

http://www.wilcoxassoc.com/Downloads/dl_pcdmis.htm

Craig

[Paul Sarrach]

Now, we should all learn from this. The reason there are so many bugs in all the new downgrades, is because they dont have enough R&D money. And its all our faults. See if we would just cooperate and give them there blackmail money, I mean if we would just give them the SMA money they deserve each year, we would get a no bugs release. So run to your bosses and demand that they send in the money so that we can get our bug free releases.

[gsepan]

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, We had our machines all calibrated the same week and we were informed from the cal tech that this version was the cat's meow. He installed in the windows program directory which caused us bigtime headaches when using another CMM due to our user profiles that were set up by our I.T. department. Most companies only allow you do do certain things on certain computers. My profile allowed me to write to my local computer but only allowed me to read from any other company computer. Apparently, PcDmis is not to fond of this and it took some real smoozing to get them to allow us Administrator privileges to do our job! The tech also removed all our old versions because he said it would cause conflict with version 4.0. We used to install new versions just like Matt has been doing without any problem... I'm going to try to hang in there as long as possible as I do see some real neat enhancements. If it don't work out I think we'll need to revert back to 3.7 and let someone else be the guinea pig as I'm wasting alot of time just trying to do basic reporting.

[craiger_ny]

as I'm wasting alot of time just trying to do basic reporting.

OH no! You are using 4.0 and trying to do BASIC reporting. You are hosed. Search Matt's posts. There are plenty of legitamate gripes there on reporting. And 4.0 does not make it any easier from what I understand.

Craig

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

Unfortunately, We had our machines all calibrated the same week and we were informed from the cal tech that this version was the cat's meow. He installed in the windows program directory which caused us bigtime headaches when using another CMM due to our user profiles that were set up by our I.T. department. Most companies only allow you do do certain things on certain computers. My profile allowed me to write to my local computer but only allowed me to read from any other company computer. Apparently, PcDmis is not to fond of this and it took some real smoozing to get them to allow us Administrator privileges to do our job! The tech also removed all our old versions because he said it would cause conflict with version 4.0. We used to install new versions just like Matt has been doing without any problem... I'm going to try to hang in there as long as possible as I do see some real neat enhancements. If it don't work out I think we'll need to revert back to 3.7 and let someone else be the guinea pig as I'm wasting alot of time just trying to do basic reporting.

Oh, you poor boy! Was it a B&S tech who did the calibrations? What a surprise! Hey, I got some beach-front property to sell. Got a 1963 'Vette too, it was only driven by a little old lady back and forth to church on Christmas Eve and parked it in a temperature-controlled garage all the rest of the time. Sorry, I just couldn't resist this. NEVER TRUST anything out of the mouth of B&S personel. Sorry, as you can see, they just made you bite your own rump on this one.

[craiger_ny]

I agree with Matt on the above. If that same tech comes back in your shop again I'd heart punch him. I don't allow B&S in my shop unless I'm desparate. Even then I have to make sure I'm not here that day because the sight of them..........

[J. Pick]

My B&S tech told me NOT to install 4.0. He said, as most users do, to wait at least 4.1 to upgrade. I owe him a drink.

[Paul Sarrach]

Matt, what color's the vette?

[dfiola66]

SMA $$$

Now, we should all learn from this. The reason there are so many bugs in all the new downgrades, is because they dont have enough R&D money. And its all our faults. See if we would just cooperate and give them there blackmail money, I mean if we would just give them the SMA money they deserve each year, we would get a no bugs release. So run to your bosses and demand that they send in the money so that we can get our bug free releases.

I guess it depends on what you get for your $$ that makes the difference.

My wife sells software also. They charge big $$ for maintenance agreements but they also, as far as I can see, provide UNPARALLELED customer service and support and a product that isn't bug-filled out of the box.

I guess different software companies have different ideas on quality.