Wildfire model bugs

Doug, I hate to answer a question like this because I'm sure that about two minutes after someone writes such a note out of frustration with a new interface, they'll be playing around with it and figure out what happened. It'll just be another 'OOPS' and I'll just be wasting my time. The other reason I hate answering is that you are upgrading, thus, an experienced user. The steps I'd advocate taking might sound like I'm speaking to a newbie, so again, I hestitate. Thirdly, I am also wary of my own prejudices which contend that the problems in Pro/e are not those of recent origin, but those which have been with it from the beginning. So, pardon me if I don't take this particular 'bug' quite as seriously as you do. Mostly, people find to be bugs what they don't understand. Again, just my prejudice. But, no, I've not had your particular problem with Wildfire.

As to a debugging procedure, I can't look over your shoulder. So, what else did you do. For example, did you click on the featue in the model tree? Did it show the wireframe in red? Does it look as if the feature should have been extruded to the outside of the part? or is it possible that the feature is just extruded in the wrong direction and, in fact, 'buried' in the first feature? I've never used model check, so I don't know what kind of messages it gives. But, from that message and the changes in the interface and your unfamiliarity with it, that's the first thing I'd check. As another check, highlight the featue in the model tree and RMB the drop down menu. Pick 'Edit defintion'. (This is the old 'feature>redefine') You should see some square handles used for adjust dimensions interactively. Drag the white one to adjust depth. Also, play with some of the other defintion elements on that bar: remember, with that little line of icons, you can change the direction of the extrusion, whether it adds or removes material and even whether it makes a solid or a surface. A lot can go 'wrong', depending on what you are trying to do. If you have the definition which should produce a solid protusion extending out of the base protrusion, you may have a bug. But I bet you fix it and get a solid protrusion. First rule, whenever you encounter a new situation and things don't go right ~ don't panic! Give yourself time to get used to it.

David Janes

Thank you for your reply, No I am not a Newbie although I have only been with ProE, 4 years, I do have considerable experience with it and have had 20 years experience with other CAD systems.. However we all must go back to basics at times to resolve problems.

As to your suggestions,

- The feature that I extruded is to both sides and is definitely outside the first feature.

- The feature does show up as a wire frame in red if I highlight it in the model tree but will disappear on a regen.

- I have tried using the edit handles using "edit definition" and it makes no difference. The length will change but the feature will not show on the screen.

- No I don't usually panic, I have had too much experience with buggy programs for that and I will stay with this until I can make it work

- I contacted Rand Tech support and the had the same problem. An SPR was submitted to PTC development and they agreed it is a bug and are tying to fix it.

If you are interested, I would be happy to send you a file of the part.

Doug

David, Your dialog about Desktop interests me. How does that really stack up against real Pro. Other than rendering, which I don't need, and how does it compare to the student version. Student 2001, not Wildfire, which I haven't heard there is one as of yet. Surface, pro/program, analysis and evaluate features, assembly, layout, etc. Just curious.

Thanks in advance, Doug

There is a student edition of Wildfire. they are giving it away (with a 60 day license) to all who attend a PTC update training class. To buy it is $295.

train-wreck-in-progress.

Just a guess, but check your system colors. It might treat a cut vs. protrusion differently, therefore it could even be made invisible. Also look at model tree settings.

Just a couple of thoughts.

A different Doug

BTW, here's an update on the problems I was having with strange screen colors, disappearing dimensions and disappearing parts. Reasoning that a black screen in sketcher requires some goofy setup to put it into 2d, I changed the config.pro options 'start_sketcher_in_2d' to NO, meaning no goofy setup, screen colors stay as they were, no zooming in or out when you change a dimension. Suddenly, all the other problems went away, as well. Oh, and you can put the sketch in 'sketch view', but it just reorients so that the sketch plane is parallel to the screen, no messing with screen colors.

DJ

: >

: :

Hide/unhide, hunh, I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to remember that if it ever happens again. But I did something similar which has worked in the past ~ blank and unblank a layer. Probably similar internal processes in Pro/e. Goes deeper into the display code to do a screen reset than a 'repaint'.

DJ

I tried the hide/unhide trick with the model I was describing on my original post. There are only 2 features in this part. The first one does not hide even when the model tree indicates it is hidden. The second feature that will not show at all does not have the hide option on the menu when You use the RMB.

I have had Wildfire now for about 6 months and have been trying to make it work. With the sort of problem I have been having, I can't trust it to show what I want. As far as I am concerned, Wildfire is a disaster. Even if you can get something to work by hid/unhide, we pay too much for this program to have to debug it for PTC. 2001 does all I want for now and I will not change until the bugs are fixed.

Doug

retain_display_memory or

: > Hide/unhide, hunh, I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to remember that if : it ever : > happens again. But I did something similar which has worked in the past ~ : blank : > and unblank a layer. Probably similar internal processes in Pro/e. Goes : deeper : > into the display code to do a screen reset than a 'repaint'. : >

: > DJ : >

Doug, PTC builds and releases at least once a week, depending on how fast they fix stuff. But, in spite of the gobs of money you give them for license, maintenance and support, they don't tell you about it. They make you ask, then they'll tell you if there's a build with the fix. Or, you can just ask them to send you the latest build which accumulates all the fixes to date. It's possible that's all you need to fix this problem. In spite of what they said about concentrating on quality for this release, they still stink on quality and service is their own 'proprietary' brand. BUT DON'T LET THEM OFF THE HOOK AND JUST GIVE UP!!!

I just checked with PTC to see my call status which is marked "Urgent". the call status is marked as resolved. I have not heard anything from them. I called Rand today and they have no resolution.

I definitely will not let them off the hook and eventually I will get a resolution but it may be a switch to Catia or UG!!

Doug

Dave Low, very talented plastics and mold designer in the Chicago area, presented a 40 minute talk on Alternatives to Drafting, (the process of adding draft to surfaces for free ejection from injection molds). He had sweeps in there, he had revolves, he had blends, every technique he'd ever used to avoid touching their abominable draft function. Never worked right, he got up in the national Pro/USER conference, 2002 in Atlanta, and said so. Must have embarassed the shit out of them, cuz it's fixed in Wildfire. I'm not sure if it's bullet proof, but it works and works very well. It just took a big struggle on a lot of people's parts to get it done. But it is getting done and in many respects, it is getting better. Not fast enough, not consistently enough, but with enough people kickin' their butts, it is happening. Your company needs to get behind you, get hold of the sales rep and get an application specialist out there and get you some working software installed. They own you some working software! Period! Ever mention getting your money back from them? That should be good for a couple laughs.

DJ

: > : > Hide/unhide, hunh, I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to remember : that if : > : it ever : > : > happens again. But I did something similar which has worked in the : past ~ : > : blank : > : > and unblank a layer. Probably similar internal processes in Pro/e. : Goes : > : deeper : > : > into the display code to do a screen reset than a 'repaint'. : > : >

: > : > DJ : > : >

: > Doug, PTC builds and releases at least once a week, depending on how fast : they fix : > stuff. But, in spite of the gobs of money you give them for license, : maintenance : > and support, they don't tell you about it. They make you ask, then they'll : tell : > you if there's a build with the fix. Or, you can just ask them to send you : the : > latest build which accumulates all the fixes to date. It's possible that's : all you : > need to fix this problem. In spite of what they said about concentrating : on : > quality for this release, they still stink on quality and service is their : own : > 'proprietary' brand. BUT DON'T LET THEM OFF THE HOOK AND JUST GIVE UP!!! : >

: >

: :