AutoSketch
cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Specific request for help

12 REPLIES 12
Reply
Message 1 of 13
Anonymous
534 Views, 12 Replies

Specific request for help

I was pleased to see that Anne Brown reads these submissions and in
order to present constructive and specific requests for help with
problems I am having here goes.. I wish to assure AB that the following
is meant to be totally constructive and presents areas where I and I
suspect many others would like some help.

1. I bought AS1 through all releases to AS7. I now see on the
Autocad web site there is AS8 but from reading the information therein I
am unable to discern what are the differences form AS7 and AS8. Please
can someone enlighten me as to the specific differences so that I can
decide if AS8 is a worth while investment/upgrade.
2. AS7 has some errors in it which have been reported in this
newsgroup. The error which affects me in particular is the use of the
mirror facility which fails to retain mirrored curves following saving
and file retrieval. Is this error going to be fixed and issued as an
update patched release to AS7 ?
3. Are any bugs/errors reported in AS7 going to be fixed and issued
as an update? I ask this question since I bought AS7 as a product which
worked according to the specification and fitness for purpose. As most
software products contain bugs I expected a correction update at some
time. I consider this to be a reasonable expectation, am I wrong?
4. The reporting of errors is a constructive part of helping the
application builders to produce products that match their documented
specification. Is it unreasonable to expect some positive feedback
regarding any action or acknowledgement of this input?
5. I think AS7 a wonderful product once the critical errors are
fixed, how can the client base achieve this? Having spent 30 years in
the software application industry and as a manager in product marketing
for a major IT company I can appreciate the difficulties in issuing
perfect bug free products but once errors are identified achieving
perfection is possible.
--
Graham Howe mail: (ghowe@mcb.net)
Home Web site: http://www.homepages.mcb.net/howe/
12 REPLIES 12
Message 2 of 13
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

> 1. I bought AS1 through all releases to AS7. I now see on the
> Autocad web site there is AS8 but from reading the information therein I
> am unable to discern what are the differences form AS7 and AS8. Please
> can someone enlighten me as to the specific differences so that I can
> decide if AS8 is a worth while investment/upgrade.

As far as I can see the only specific difference is the ability to draw
"clouds", oh and they changed the 7 to an 8 and put the windows XP logo on
the box! Is it worth the extra? Can I justify $100 clouds to the bean
counters????


> 4. The reporting of errors is a constructive part of helping the
> application builders to produce products that match their documented
> specification. Is it unreasonable to expect some positive feedback
> regarding any action or acknowledgement of this input?

I tend to think that developers get bored with having to respond to what
often appear to be "whingy-moany" customers, forgetting that if someone is
upset enough to talk in this newsgroup then they're upset enough to cause
real damage to the product rep. I'm a little dissapointed that there hasn't
been any consultation from AD about what the users of this group think about
AS. I know that we are supposed to make comments and suggestions to AD via
the website, but a little pro-active approach from AD would have been useful
and surely wouldn't have taken more than one morning each week to sort!

Also a shame we weren't offered time limited BETA testing. I have been
involved in many BETA programs, most of which turned out best when
interested party's were recruited from user newsgroups.

> 5. I think AS7 a wonderful product once the critical errors are
> fixed, how can the client base achieve this? Having spent 30 years in
> the software application industry and as a manager in product marketing
> for a major IT company I can appreciate the difficulties in issuing
> perfect bug free products but once errors are identified achieving
> perfection is possible.

Having developed software and being involved in testing software I too can
appreciate the problems faced here! I have been lucky in that using win95 I
have encountered very few of the bugs, although some of the quirks are a bit
annoying. Over the next few weeks I have about 500 pages to do for manuals
so I'm sure I'll end up back in here alot!
Message 3 of 13
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

>
>
>I'm a little disappointed that there hasn't
>been any consultation from AD about what the users of this group think about
>AS. I know that we are supposed to make comments and suggestions to AD via
>the website,
>
The wish list web site was a joke. Many of us tried to post suggestions
but they would not take. The web site never changed and the few
suggestions that were posted were completely ignored.

>
>Also a shame we weren't offered time limited BETA testing. I have been
>involved in many BETA programs, most of which turned out best when
>interested party's were recruited from user newsgroups.
>
I think they teach lawyers not to ask any questions that they do not
know the answer to. They know the types of answers that they will get
if they send a beta out to people in the news group. Better to round up
a few CAD reviewers who do not have to make their living using the
program. A few hours to make a simple drawing, eat some donuts, write a
few nice paragraphs and they are off to review monitors, 3D video cards
or plotters.

--
Len Rafuse
Vision Engineering
Message 4 of 13
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

You know, After downloading thru the years every Cad Demo I could find, Trying
out every new and improved cheapy 2d and 3d cad program that was available (under
$200 US), Wrestling thru some of the others..... Well, it makes me ponder.

Other than those little annoying bugs all have repeatedly reported, we've all
worked around them and continue to use the product. Why, well it is quite obvious
that Sketch has been a goldmine for the user. Truly an incredible Cad program for
cheap.

Could it be that it actually threatens a good portion of possible A-Cad lite
purchasers ? There is a big price difference.

I sat down to update some drawings I made to represent out Phone system with the
fellows who installed it. They informed me they needed a new copy of the changes
that we had them do. They've been using A-Cad Lite since it came out. Well, one
guy does anyhow.... It's way to difficult for the newer employees to figure out.

After a few minutes they noticed I was not using ACLite and became quite
interested in knowing what the program was. As they stood by stunned in silence,
literally amazed at the blazing speed and pinpoint accuracy that I could make the
necessary changes, they became even more interested. After I finally told them
the story behind Sketch and it's ability to save DWGs and what not, they wondered
why they were not using it. They only need a 2d program for floorplans and
diagrams. Sketches Drag and Drop Symbols would be Ideal for them.

I never personally could get a grip on A-Cad light because it had too much carry
over from their heavier apps. You know, all the command line junk that you really
don't need, or at least individuals who learned on apps without it didn't need
it. I really cut my teeth on Ashlars 2d engine when it was sold under the
"DrawingBoard" Label. Anyone who is familiar with Ashlar will agree that they set
the CAD standard some time ago. Many programs today actually pay royalties for
Snap and Ortho concepts they developed. I had to retire it when I needed long
file name capability and also the Database stuff. Then I found Sketch.

I am thinking that, it would not take much to make Sketch into an "A-Cad lite",
at least conceptually. What then would happen to the A-Cad Lite Market ?

If we were looking at a future A-Cad Lite, One could maybe see why they would
ignore it at this $100 level. If they would fix it they could easily ask more.

Who of use would not pay more to have the few things requested fixed or added ?
Sheez, we're not asking for a CAM program to be added..(even though I think it
would then literally "blow away" a lot of what is out there)

Just fix the "growing files" issue. The stupid line width fiasco. The Macros
concept. Really, how hard could it be ?

Macro's...... There are literally dozens of 3rd party techniqes that do similar
things...... TypeitIn, Sensiva, AutoIt, PowerPro..... But, how hard could it be
to add them BACK IN in an intregal fashion ?

Line widths: I think this is the first EVER time there was no adjustment in a
.cfg or .ini file to set the lines to the size you want in a program I use. Is
this asking too much ??

File Size and "Growing" ??? Well, that just shouldn't happen.


Makes you really wonder, Eh ? Well, it makes me wonder anyhow. It could be that
AD developers somewhere along the line created a truly great little program when
management was looking the other way. When they found out..... Maybe They Fired
them !!

Well, it's too bad. Too Bad they reprinted a box and shoved the old version in
it, if indeed thats all they did. I guess the jury is still out but thats what
it's looking like.

I am still watching for Anne Browns response but I am not holding my breath.
Maybe they canned her too for occasionally making an appearance in the group.

Something just isn't quite right.

Chris L

"L. Rafuse" wrote:

> >
> >
> >I'm a little disappointed that there hasn't
> >been any consultation from AD about what the users of this group think about
> >AS. I know that we are supposed to make comments and suggestions to AD via
> >the website,
> >
> The wish list web site was a joke. Many of us tried to post suggestions
> but they would not take. The web site never changed and the few
> suggestions that were posted were completely ignored.
>
> >
> >Also a shame we weren't offered time limited BETA testing. I have been
> >involved in many BETA programs, most of which turned out best when
> >interested party's were recruited from user newsgroups.
> >
> I think they teach lawyers not to ask any questions that they do not
> know the answer to. They know the types of answers that they will get
> if they send a beta out to people in the news group. Better to round up
> a few CAD reviewers who do not have to make their living using the
> program. A few hours to make a simple drawing, eat some donuts, write a
> few nice paragraphs and they are off to review monitors, 3D video cards
> or plotters.
>
> --
> Len Rafuse
> Vision Engineering
Message 5 of 13
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Chris -

I haven't gone anywhere! You said <
response but I am not holding my breath. Maybe they canned her too for
occasionally making an appearance in the group.>>

I administer the newsgroups, do not do technical support or become
involved in answering users questions. I do, however, bring repeating
problem reports to the attention of autodesk product managers. Others
will make the technical answers.

I do read ever message posted on all public discussion groups daily but
very seldom make a public comment.
--
Anne Brown
Manager, Moderator
Autodesk Product Support discussion groups
Discussion Q&A: http://www.autodesk.com/discussion

Chris L wrote:
>
> You know, After downloading thru the years every Cad Demo I could find, Trying > out every new and improved cheapy 2d and 3d cad program that was available (under > $200 US), (snip)
Message 6 of 13
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

In message <3C0311B5.CE38D4F1@lakefield.net>, Chris L
writes
>we've all worked around them and continue to use the product
Accepted, can you please advise me of the work-around for the mirror
problem. e.g.. Draw a complex set of curves for the LH side, say as
used in the design of a bell pattern, and then use the mirror command to
create the RH side. This is what CAD is all about, not having to do
more work than is necessary. You will find the curve appears on screen
for both the LH and RH, great, just what was expected. Save the file
and reopen it - no RH curve!!!! Continue to use the product - well
based on the product description one bought the product and then
invested countless hours to become proficient - if you take all that
into account then Autosketch is a very expensive product all-up and it
is a crying shame that the company who sells and promotes this product,
of world renown and considered as leaders in the field appear to be
content to let errors and complaints fester - I live in hope.
--
Graham Howe mail: (ghowe@mcb.net)
Home Web site: http://www.homepages.mcb.net/howe/
Message 7 of 13
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Nice to know your still around !!

Chris L

Anne Brown wrote:

> Chris -
>
> I haven't gone anywhere! You said <
> response but I am not holding my breath. Maybe they canned her too for
> occasionally making an appearance in the group.>>
>
> I administer the newsgroups, do not do technical support or become
> involved in answering users questions. I do, however, bring repeating
> problem reports to the attention of autodesk product managers. Others
> will make the technical answers.
>
> I do read ever message posted on all public discussion groups daily but
> very seldom make a public comment.
> --
> Anne Brown
> Manager, Moderator
> Autodesk Product Support discussion groups
> Discussion Q&A: http://www.autodesk.com/discussion
>
> Chris L wrote:
> >
> > You know, After downloading thru the years every Cad Demo I could find, Trying > out every new and improved cheapy 2d and 3d cad program that was available (under > $200 US), (snip)
Message 8 of 13
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Graham,
I have no proble doing what you mention you cant ! I just drew a bell
shape... one half only. Then I selected the Mirror tool and KERPOW !! There
she was, the other side! So I saved it as an skf file, closed it and
re-opened it. STILL THERE !!

I guess that is the funniest thing about this program, Some have problems
others have not ever seen. Then we kind of forget about it because it ain't
OUR problem. I guess that is human nature.

Let me suggest though that I at one time could not draw an elipse
whatsoever. The Program would not allow it. I did find that you need to
update video drivers and remove your printers while troubleshooting such a
problem.

Sure, It took me a month to find what was causing the problem but I did make
it work. It was simply that AS does not like an HP 4000 laser. So much for
Cheap Cad !

If it works for me. I think you need to try some driver changes. Try to
cause the problem in Safe Mode too.

Regards,

Chris L

Graham Howe wrote:

> In message <3C0311B5.CE38D4F1@lakefield.net>, Chris L
> writes
> >we've all worked around them and continue to use the product
> Accepted, can you please advise me of the work-around for the mirror
> problem. e.g.. Draw a complex set of curves for the LH side, say as
> used in the design of a bell pattern, and then use the mirror command to
> create the RH side. This is what CAD is all about, not having to do
> more work than is necessary. You will find the curve appears on screen
> for both the LH and RH, great, just what was expected. Save the file
> and reopen it - no RH curve!!!! Continue to use the product - well
> based on the product description one bought the product and then
> invested countless hours to become proficient - if you take all that
> into account then Autosketch is a very expensive product all-up and it
> is a crying shame that the company who sells and promotes this product,
> of world renown and considered as leaders in the field appear to be
> content to let errors and complaints fester - I live in hope.
> --
> Graham Howe mail: (ghowe@mcb.net)
> Home Web site: http://www.homepages.mcb.net/howe/
Message 9 of 13
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

In message <3C040C54.F9BFD268@lakefield.net>, CL
writes
>I have no proble doing what you mention you cant ! I just drew a bell
>shape... one half only. Then I selected the Mirror tool and KERPOW !!
>There she was, the other side! So I saved it as an skf file, closed it and
>re-opened it. STILL THERE !!
I find that really strange and welcome a view from others and
Autosketch. It should have absolutely nothing to do with video drivers
since the data for the curves is held in a file. I believe that in my
case the mirrored data whilst displaying is not being copied to the data
file thus does not exist on reload. That behaviour must surely rest in
the Autosketch program files. The only other possibility, and one I
find extreme, is the use of shared dll files which often differ from
system to system. Can Autosketch please check this out. Are all
Autosketch version and builds the same?
I really would like to get to the bottom of this. I have been in the
Application development business for 30 years from programmer up and
this latest input is very confusing
--
Graham Howe mail: (ghowe@mcb.net)
Home Web site: http://www.homepages.mcb.net/howe/
Message 10 of 13
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

In message <88M7$wAobCB8EwEu@ghowe.mcb.net>, Graham Howe
writes
>>I have no proble doing what you mention you cant ! I just drew a bell
>>shape... one half only. Then I selected the Mirror tool and KERPOW !!
>>There she was, the other side! So I saved it as an skf file, closed it and
>>re-opened it. STILL THERE !!
Sorry to immediately follow up on my own post but I think I may have
sussed this out.
If you use the sketch polyline to draw the curve then the mirror works,
was that what you used. I used the 3 point arc to draw three joined
curves for my test and every time it fails.

--
Graham Howe mail: (ghowe@mcb.net)
Home Web site: http://www.homepages.mcb.net/howe/
Message 11 of 13
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Both work here.........
First I just "Splined" something up. Mirrored fine, saved and re-opened fine.
Then I took the 3 point Arc tool and made 3 connected arcs. Mirrored, Saved,
Reopened, Worked fine.

My version number is 7, build 54 october 15 1999

Chris L

Graham Howe wrote:

> In message <88M7$wAobCB8EwEu@ghowe.mcb.net>, Graham Howe
> writes
> >>I have no proble doing what you mention you cant ! I just drew a bell
> >>shape... one half only. Then I selected the Mirror tool and KERPOW !!
> >>There she was, the other side! So I saved it as an skf file, closed it and
> >>re-opened it. STILL THERE !!
> Sorry to immediately follow up on my own post but I think I may have
> sussed this out.
> If you use the sketch polyline to draw the curve then the mirror works,
> was that what you used. I used the 3 point arc to draw three joined
> curves for my test and every time it fails.
>
> --
> Graham Howe mail: (ghowe@mcb.net)
> Home Web site: http://www.homepages.mcb.net/howe/
Message 12 of 13
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

In message <3C04F22F.39F9F261@lakefield.net>, CL
writes
>Both work here.........
>First I just "Splined" something up. Mirrored fine, saved and re-opened
>fine. Then I took the 3 point Arc tool and made 3 connected arcs.
>Mirrored, Saved, Reopened, Worked fine.
>
>My version number is 7, build 54 october 15 1999
>
>Chris L
Thanks for your efforts. My program is the same as yours. I am now
totally confused. I do wish Autosketch would respond to this as they
are the experts and could advise me.
--
Graham Howe mail: (ghowe@mcb.net)
Home Web site: http://www.homepages.mcb.net/howe/
Message 13 of 13
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

You may just need to re-install, modify the registry, remove all your
printers, change video cards AND drivers, Try it on a different
OS.......
just like the rest of us !!

But you know, I am still here. This program has real potential. Fix it,
give
all of the NG guys an unbelievably cheap upgrade price for their
patience,
and raise the retail price! If they have been claiming that they need it
to
be easier for an MS office user to use........ Wel, just look what they
charge for THAT buggy, patch it every week wordprocessor mess!!

I use Lotus Smartsuite. Now under $20 just about everywhere and didly
for
patches. Why bother with MS Office ? If it is their goal to truly match
MSO, maybe they acheived it. Numerous little annoyances, bugs,... Send
out a new version and let people find the new bugs.

Graham Howe wrote:

> In message <3C04F22F.39F9F261@lakefield.net>, CL
> writes
> >Both work here.........
> >First I just "Splined" something up. Mirrored fine, saved and re-opened
> >fine. Then I took the 3 point Arc tool and made 3 connected arcs.
> >Mirrored, Saved, Reopened, Worked fine.
> >
> >My version number is 7, build 54 october 15 1999
> >
> >Chris L
> Thanks for your efforts. My program is the same as yours. I am now
> totally confused. I do wish Autosketch would respond to this as they
> are the experts and could advise me.
> --
> Graham Howe mail: (ghowe@mcb.net)
> Home Web site: http://www.homepages.mcb.net/howe/

Can't find what you're looking for? Ask the community or share your knowledge.

Post to forums  

Autodesk Design & Make Report