Don't get me wrong. The old web client was a dated looking design and needed to be updated for a more modern look and feel. I'm all for Autodesk allowing for more properties and files to be seen but it just seems like the new thin web client was designed by Ray Charles and that Mr. Charles has never been in a shop floor environment.
First I'll discuss my positives:
Now I'll discuss my gripes which far outweigh my positives:
I could go on and on as I find these types of annoyances throughout the new web client. To be honest we upgraded our Vault yesterday mainly for this new highly touted thin web client upgrade, only to be completely disappointed with it's lack of thoughtful layout design and drawing view quirky workflow. Yea the older design looked like a 80's Caddy Seville but it was efficient and to-the-point at displaying exactly what the shop floor needed to be focused on.
Sorry for the long-winded rant/vent session. I feel other subscription members should know up front what they will be upgrading to IF they decide to use the new thin web client. Maybe you will like it. Maybe it will fit your company and their chaotic workflow. But for every user that I've shown it to here that is familiar with the old crusty web client, none of them like it. They all agree that it has potential but it just seems like ZERO thought was put in actually creating a pleasant experience to quickly find what you're looking for. For this, we have decided to keep ole crusty and no use this new thin client until Autodesk actually spends real thoughtful time on it in the future.
As a long time Subscription user who spends thousands upon thousands of dollars each year to Autodesk in licensing, maintenance, services, etc I'm pretty disappointed. It s good thing I didn't go to AU this year. I would of been that guy in the room blowing real world holes in all the marketing hype.
Kenny,
Bravo!!! Well put! I can only picture what the meeting this was pitched at was like...
I continue to be amazed at the sheer stupidty of their solutions as of lately. Well at least you know someone else shares your setiments.
Again great rant, I thourghly enjoyed it.
Todd P.
I would like to discuss your comments on the Thin Client.
Please send me a private message with your contact information.
Hi, Experts
Today I upgraded my Vault to this new "version". I totally agree with kwilsonamerex.
Honestly I expected more, because this feature didn't have modifications for many years.
I am not sure if in AU2013 this class (I am going to attend): PL1721 - The Ugly Project Data Management Duckling Takes Flight, will talk about this and if it will pay off
The support (visualization) of LINKS inside the web client, would be great!.
We would like to know what is the position of Autodesk about this and if these issues will be attended soon or not.
Thanks!
How does one get (or avoid getting) this new web client? We upgraded our server from Vault Professional 2013 to Vault Professional 2014. Other than different background graphics at the top of the screen, I'm not seeing much difference.
Hi, Bill Schmid
The old web client will still be available here
http://servername/AutodeskDM/webclient
The new Thin Client URL is as follows
@Anonymous wrote:
How does one get (or avoid getting) this new web client? We upgraded our server from Vault Professional 2013 to Vault Professional 2014. Other than different background graphics at the top of the screen, I'm not seeing much difference.
this is a separate download/installation from the subscription center
http://crackingthevault.typepad.com/crackingthevault/2013/10/autodesk-vault-2014-subscription-release-1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fcrackingthevault+%28Cracking+the+Vault%29
DarrenP
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Any luck with getting the thin client to display Links?
We engineer and manufacture ROVs for many different clients. Our base ROV system uses the same drawings, then as we modify for each role we add and change only certain drawings. So we link back to a main drawing pool for 90% of the drawings as they are common across all platforms.
So when other users go to use the web client they CAN'T see the Linked drawings, so they have to go to the drawing pool and wade through 100s of drawings to find what they're after.
AUTODESK: Why does your thin client not show Links. This is not a smart move.
Hi SeanMacOz,
Would quoting the URL of the vaulted file meet your requirement?
Meanwhile, i will bring this 'Display Link' request back to feature team.
Regards,
Chear Huat.
"Would quoting the URL of the vaulted file meets your requirement?"
How does this make the linked files visible in the thin client?
Please explain.
Hi SeanMacOz,
Could you walk us through how you create those linked files? This will give us a better understanding of the reported case.
Meanwhile, Thin Client feature team is aware of the feature request on showing shortcut link (created thru VE > Copy, and VE > Paste as Link workflow) in Thin Client main grid. Do let us know if this is indeed the same case you reported as 'Linked file'.
Again, thanks.
Regards,
Chear Huat.
Hi Huat
Thanks for the reply.
Okay, what on earth is "VE >"...
The process with which I used to create the links is as one would expect. I right click the .dwg file and drag to the destination folder. A pop of menu then appears at which point I select "create link". In the example below I have selected a drawing in "T18-T21 Only", I then right click-drag to the "surface electrics" folder and then select "create link" from the pop up menu.
The links show up as normal within the vault client, but from within the thin client the links can't be seen. This causes major issues as you can see from the structure below. We have 4 folders containing (1 to 4) containing common drawings across the ROVs, then there are two folders for build specific items (customisations). We then create links to the drawings within the projects folders (just above the templates folder) but then the links can't be seen by anyone having to use the thin client.
I guess the question is, why does vault not show files created by vault itself? These links are created within the vault client, surely the thin client should be able to see them too. This is a massive oversight, this negates almost half the value of purchasing the vault in the first place. What are the guys on the floor to do as they can't see 90% of the files they need (linked files) and it is time consuming to sift through the drawing pool to find what they are after.
Thanks for your time.
Sean Mac
Hi Sean Mac,
VE = Vault Explorer, or the Vault Client in the context.
Indeed, we're referring to the same 'link' objects, which could be created either thru 'Paste as Link', or drag-n-drop 'Create Link' workflow.
We're developing Thin Client in phases. And, rest assured that i'll escalate this request to the feature team.
Regards,
Chear Huat.
That would be excellent, and will promote you to my christmas list 😉
Thanks mate, I look forward to the progress of this one, it will have a massive impact on our vault environment.
Sean Mac
After reading Kenny's rant, I tend to agree with all points. We just installed Vault Pro 2014 and the subscription pack in our test environment and could not agree more. It does nothing but confuse the user.
Keep the old crusty interface. It works. Simple is good. You can use the old crusty interface on small monitors on the shop floor (which is where old outdated monitors go to die). That is the beauty of the simple interface. It doesn't require a jumbotron.
Just add change orders, custom objects, and the ability to save multiple advanced searches for the more savvy users. To the old interface.
If you agree with these as strongly as I do then please give Kudos to these ideas.
Josh Hunt
Ford Motor Company
Vault Pro 2014
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Vault-IdeaStation/Subscription-Web-Client-Obvious-View-and-Download-Bu...
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Vault-IdeaStation/Sub-Release-Thin-Web-Client-Allow-for-resize-of-DWF-...
If I could give this post a 1000 'kudos' I would; I totally agree. The new client was designed to be 'modern' but with little regard for functionality and usability. We use the viewer almost exclusively for the shop floor and I don't see the new version as even usable in that context. Luckily we can still use the old version. If things don't change we are considering using a different PDM system entirely. Preferably one that uses PDF's, like the rest of the world.
in 2015 is the same case... autodesk is working with this? thin client is horrible...
Ditto all of the comments.....I just want to view the idw's/dwg's on a mobile device.
It's got to be...
Fast
Easy to Use
No Clutter
Ability to lock out Project Explorer and only view thru Items
Ability to view change orders
And..really getting crazy here and wishing they could approve CO's too.
Biggest thing to remember....."We are dealing with non-CAD users here!!"
Is there any news in the TC for Vault 2015R2?
We urgently need the file linking process showing in th TC.
Regards,
Achim Schröder
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