Weld bump map not showing & Visual Styles / graphics issues (2013 IV)

[kwilson_design]

This morning Inventor started acting up. It will not display the bump mapping for welds anymore. I can go to another users machine and the same assembly will display the welds, so this is an isolated issue as far as I can tell. Unfortunately it's with my machine lol.

See below for an example...

I made sure the Bump mapping wasn't disabled for some odd reason. It isn't...

This may also be related as I'm now having issues with the Visual Styles. Realistic no longer works. Yes I have double checked in the Document Settings to make sure the check box is "checked" for the "Use Ray Tracing for Realistic Visual Style"..

Another thing related to the Visual Styles is that the bottom three Styles are throwing a graphics issue prompt asking to run Diagnostics......

If I select any of the Styles highlighted above I will receive this message...

When I click "Yes" to run hardware Diagnostics I am returned this report...

I believe this is some sort of driver issue or possibly one of my GPU's is going out? My rig setup is in my signature. I have already downloaded and installed the graphics driver again (same version I had which is the most current from NVidia 320.00).

Any ideas?

[blair]

Your hardware settings in the Application Options didn't get set to "Compatible" from either "Quality" or "Performance"?

I just ran across that this morning, why a texture wasn't showing up on a part.

[kwilson_design]

Hi Blair,

That was the first place I looked as I thought maybe it had reset itself from a recent crash I had, but it is still set to the Quality setting.

[blair]

Check and see if the Weldcat2_bump.jpg resides in the following directory:

Users>Public>Public Documents>Autodesk>InventorXXXX>Textures>Bumpmaps>

[kwilson_design]

Interestingly enough everything is working now without making any changes to when it wasn't working earlier! Go figure lol.

But to answer your question, ours is looking at C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Materials\Textures\1 Mats\

[kwilson_design]

Well this issue has reared its ugly head again, but now we're on 2014 IV.

I have tried several drivers to hopefully resolve this issue but so far no luck. My welds don't display, shadows don't work, visual styles don't work. So frustrated!!!

Here is the diagnostics report

This Direct3D graphics driver is Microsoft WHQL certified Graphics Hardware Description: NVIDIA Quadro 4000

Direct3D 10 Hardware Renderer

Graphics driver file nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um is version 9.18.0013.2049 Using Full optimization  (this is the recommended setting) The display is using 32-bit color

Inventor Version:

Build: 170, Release: 2014 RTM Update 1 - Date: Wed 04/10/2013       64-Bit Edition - 8192.00 GB

Loaded Inventor Add-Ins:

Routed Systems: Tube & Pipe Mold Design BIM Simplify Inventor Studio Design Accelerator Frame Generator BIM Exchange Routed Systems: Cable & Harness Drag & Drop Interoperability Simulation: Stress Analysis

System Information:

Operating System:   64-bit Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.120830-0333) Language:    English (Regional Setting: English) System Manufacturer:   BOXX Technologies, Inc. System Model:    3DBOXX W4920 BIOS:     BIOS Date: 01/03/13 17:54:04 Ver: 34.01 Processor:    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3960X CPU @ 3.30GHz (12 CPUs), ~3.3GHz System Memory:    65536MB RAM Dedicated System Memory:  0MB Shared System Memory:   32482MB Dedicated Video Memory:  1999MB Page File:    6792MB used, 62777MB available DirectX Version:   DirectX 11 DxDiag Version:   6.01.7601.17514

Graphics Device Information:

DirectX Version:  10.0 Renderer:   HAL Adapter Description:  NVIDIA Quadro 4000 DDI Version:   11 DDI Version Number:  b DxDiag WHQL Level:  0 Driver Signed Valid:  True Driver Signed:   True Manufacturer:   NVIDIA Chip Type:   Quadro 4000 DAC Type:   Integrated RAMDAC Revision:    Vendor ID string:  0x000010de Device ID string:  0x000006dd Graphics HW Memory:  1713 MB Display Mode:   1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz) VendorID:   10de DeviceID:   6dd SubSystemID:   78010de Revision:   a3

Graphics driver file:  nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um Driver file version:  9.18.0013.2049 Driver Date:   6/21/2013 07:06:36 WHQL Level:   1

Inventor Graphics Device Information:

Graphics Hardware Description: NVIDIA Quadro 4000 Hardware Library ID: Direct3D 10 \ 0x000010de \ 0x000006dd Direct3D Hardware ID: 10de \ 6dd \ 78010de \ a3

Inventor Options Information:

Options = 0x00000000 Warning Options = 0x00000000

Inventor Hardware Library Information:

HW Library Version = $Revision: #1 $ HW Library Date = $DateTime: 2013/01/15 11:05:45 $ HW Library OS Name = Windows 7 x64

Inventor Hardware Library Entry Information:

Autodesk Inventor Certification Status:   Gold Autodesk Inventor Tested Certification Status:   Unknown Graphics HW Vendor Supported for Autodesk Inventor:  False Hardware Library 2.0

Settings for optimized and conservative: Workarounds:  0x00000000, 0x00000000 rating  4, optimization level 2 Texture Font Precision: 256

Display Information:

Back Buffer Format = DXGI_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM Depth Stencil Buffer Format = DXGI_FORMAT_D24_UNORM_S8_UINT Monochrome Bitmap Format = DXGI_FORMAT_A8_UNORM

Graphics driver log information: Jun/24/2013-11:29:46: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10. Jun/24/2013-15:13:25: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10. Jun/24/2013-15:20:20: User changes the graphics driver manually: D3D10 -> D3D11. Jul/03/2013-08:39:48: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D9. Jul/03/2013-08:39:48: Fail to create D3D9 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D9 -> D3D11. Jul/03/2013-08:39:48: Fail to create OGS D3D9 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10. Jul/03/2013-11:02:45: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10. Jul/03/2013-13:10:08: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10. Jul/03/2013-14:06:18: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10. Jul/08/2013-08:16:54: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10. Jul/09/2013-08:33:12: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10. Jul/09/2013-16:40:01: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10. Jul/09/2013-16:44:55: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10. Jul/10/2013-07:28:18: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10. Jul/10/2013-07:40:50: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10.

[kwilson_design]

OK I have uninstalled all drivers and I don't think this is a driver issue now. I noticed in the diagnositics report that there is a conflict with DirectX versions. However we have checked my machine and hardware using DXDIAG and it shows I'm using DirectX 11 across the board. Inventor thinks otherwise ....so what gives???

[kwilson_design]

OK I can't edit my post above for some reason but here are the screen shots from using dxdiag. Display 3 is using my Quadro 600 so that's why I didn't include it. Inventor's issue is with the 4000 since that is how I have the cards configured.

[blair]

Yesterday was Microsoft "Patch" Tuesday. I might try a system re-boot and see if anything changes. I might also look at the "View installed updates" and see if you machine got "Patched". If so, check and see if anything changed to the DirectX portion or possibly graphics drivers.

[kwilson_design]

I still have this issue! Can someone with Autodesk please help resolve this issue with the product? Basically the software keeps looking on my system 'thinking' to use DirectX / 3D 10 even though I have DirectX / 3D 11 installed on the system, as you can see in the screen shots posted above. Yet Inventor continues to get 'confused' which to use. We need a fix ASAP as this has gone on long enough IMHO.

As it sits now:

- shadows do not work

- render styles do not work

- any appearance that uses a bitmap (welding) does not work

This is unacceptable and has been going on for two releases now. I don't recall this issue being prevalent in the 2012 build when these features were added along with ribbon. Seemed to have happened along with the MTL/Appereance changes of 2013 but I can't be sure.

[blair]

Have you tried a complete un-install of the Nvidia drivers, reboot and re-install of the drivers?

Not sure why it thinks you have Dx10.

Try setting your system to a Windows Aero theme (it's fixed some issues for some people, don't know why but it has).

[kwilson_design]

Hey Blair,

Yes I have frustratingly tried everything under the sun. Several NVidia drivers, clean uninstall and re-install of Inventor, Update 1 and 2, etc.  The frustrating thing is that Inventor will behave correctly for a few days and then BAM it goes back to looking for D10. At first I thought that running Dxdiag somehow forces the system to correct itself and Inventor would behave normally again but now that clearly is not the resolution as I sit here with a drawing that looks like I added a bunch of lofts on my assembly because the welds don't show the bitmap.

BTW I did some Google searching trying to find help and I'm definitely not the only one who has seen this issue in Inventor. Unfortunately any old post I found about it didn't have a resolution

[blair]

I wonder if it has anything to do with the Tesla C2075. Truly odd.

[kwilson_design]

It is odd indeed. As I type, it is now all the sudden working again . Go figure. I have no way or knowing what causes it to freak out and worse, no workflow to correct it. I can deal with a bug if there is a work around but the no rhyme or reason thing drives me nuts heh.

[blair]

I might do a good deep defrag of the hard drive and system reboot. Possibly even a defrag of the Windows Registry prior to the reboot.

[LT.Rusty]

My boss has this same issue with his computer with 2013. I attributed it to the fact that he's running Vista x64, which 2013 doesn't technically support ... I'd be interested to see the resolution to this as well.

[kwilson_design]

---

@LT.Rusty wrote:
My boss has this same issue with his computer with 2013. I attributed it to the fact that he's running Vista x64, which 2013 doesn't technically support ... I'd be interested to see the resolution to this as well.

---

I have filed a case with Autodesk Support today, so I will let you now what resolution they find, if any. Hoping for the best. Tired of this issue coming and going.

[kwilson_design · Accepted solution]

Folks we have a resolution per Autodesk Support!

We switched user profiles to see if Inventor would work correctly...and it did! So we unregistered Inventor and cleaned up the registry. After that it seems to be working great now. Crossing fingers but at least I know what we have to do to get it working again.

[kwilson_design · Accepted solution]

All was working well for a month but today it decided to act up again. Thankfully I know how to resolve the issue now.

For anyone else who runs into this issue this is what I do to fix it:

• Close any open Inventor or Autodesk applications
• Create a new Inventor shortcut on your desktop.
• Right click the icon and select Properties
• In the Shortcut tab, change the Target to "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Inventor 2014\Bin\Inventor.exe" /uninstall
• Click Apply and close the diaglog box.
• Double click the icon to run the modified Inventor shortcut. You may see some dialog boxes pop up. If they do close them.
• Go back into the Properties of the shortcut and change the Target to "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Inventor 2014\Bin\Inventor.exe" /unregister
• Click Apply and close the diaglog box.
• Double click the icon to run the modified Inventor shortcut. You may see some dialog boxes pop up. If they do close them.
• Go back into the Properties of the shortcut and change the Target to "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Inventor 2014\Bin\Inventor.exe" /install
• Double click the icon to run the modified Inventor shortcut.
• Delete the modified shortcut.
• Launch Inventor with your normal shortcut.
• The weld material, bump maps and visual styles should now display properly.
• You will need to change your project default as it will revert back to Default.ipj after doing these steps.