Missing Freeform Blend tool in Alias Design 2017

[stefanrdv]

On a fresh new install of Alias Design 2017

By trying to activate or find the Freeform Blend tool, it does not occur in the Palette>Surfaces>...

As an option to activate it does occur in Preferences>Interface>Menu editor>Palette>Surfaces>Multisurface Blend>Freeform Blend. Though even by setting a shortcut key there the Tool is not present and can not be used or activated.

No way to create a Blend surface with the Freeform Blend Tool as it is missing completely, though it can be seen in the Hotkeys/Menu Editor but can not be used.

Can please anyone help with this issue?

Thank you in advance

[duaxiong]

Licensing restriction perhaps?  It exists on my system and works just fine, but I'm running AutoStudio.

[stefanrdv]

The licensed version is permanent for Alias Design 2017.

The Freeform Blend tool exists since many past Alias Design versions.

Even now in the fresh new Alias Design 2017, there are options to set a shortcut key for it, but the tool is still inactive, inaccessible.

Tool locator also points the path to the tool, but it is not there.

[Anonymous]

Having the same problem as well in 2017 Mac version.  My guess is that Autodesk removed it from Desigin.  If that's the case, I'm REALLY PISSED!!  I use that tool all day long.  

Autodesk  .. PLEASE tell us this is not the case.

[QuasiLoci]

I sure hope this is not the case, I just bought the Alias Concept package (which includes Alias Design)..honestly the software would be pretty useless without this tool.

I am away from my computer at the moment, is 2017 showing up as an update now?

[stefanrdv]

@Alehnhar: I also tested the Mac OS version of Alias Design2017. Same issue.
@QuasiLoci: Alias Design had "Freeform Blend" since 2009 more or less. I had used that for many years on my previous job where they had older Alias versions.

We all depend on the Freeform Blend tool. Would be great if Autodesk could give us back that tool.

Otherwise Alias Design 2017 becomes heavily useless.

As of now into my account there is no new update to the licensed package (I have no maintenance or support).

Autodesk, please help us.

[QuasiLoci]

I basically based my Alias Concept purchase on Alias Design having this tool. I will expect a full refund should this be taken away.

[Anonymous]

Good news guys.. I heard back from Autodesk Support that they did take Freeform blend out but they are putting it back in with an update patch!  

Thanks Autodesk for hooking us back up!

[QuasiLoci]

Awesome news!

Thanks Autodesk

[stefanrdv]

This is quite positive news.

By when is it planned to publish the update patch for Alias Design 2017?

Will that be available also for customers who do not have a maintenance plan?

Until that update / patch is available, Alias Design 2017 remains quite functionally limited (unuseful).

[Anonymous]

stefanrdv.. I agree with you.. it's tough to get by without that tool!  I'm going back to 2016 until the update. 😞  No word on when that might be.  This is what Autodesk support sent me.. 

We just confirmed that we productized away that tool in Alias Design 2017.  It will come back with the next patch.

I sincerely apologize for it and I will contact you as soon as possible I get the release information of the patch.

You should be able to find the patches here when they come out.. http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/alias-products/downloads

[Florian.Coenen · Accepted solution]

Hello guys,

I can confirm, what alehnhar mentioned. The Freeform Blend Tool is missing by mistake. The development is working on a hotfix, which will be available for download soon. This hotfix is bringing back the tool again.

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

I see there is a hotfix for this posted on the Autodesk Knowledge Network, but when I attempt to install the downloaded file I get this error:

I have Alias Design 2017 Installed:

Any ideas?

[Anonymous]

I get the same error as well!  The update works on the Mac for me but not on the PC side.   

[Florian.Coenen]

Hello guys,

I can confirm that the installer seems not to work. I have the same issue here on my side as well.

Right now I received a confirmation from the development, that they have found the root cause and are working on that issue to fix that.

I am really sorry.

I will keep you updated!

Regards,

[stefanrdv]

Thank you very much for the help and information.

As there is a new release of the Alias Design 2017 mentioned earlier, I redownloaded Alias Design 2017 from my account and installed it.

Now the installation of the Hotfix did work out.

Although, it is important to mention that the Hotfix needs to be downloaded from the user account not the public knowledge base area!

If one does download from there, after applying the Hotfix the "Freeform Blend tool" would sitll be missing after the update.

By the way, there is another bug in the Diagnostic shading. When switching from diagnostic shading mode (used to evaluate surface quality) to Hardware shade (with already set Lighting Image based only with HDRI), the HDRI map and settings get lost, the whole work area becomes black.Even after placing the HDRI again into the slot, the work area stays black.

This is also an issue from Alias Design 2016. Please have a look into this bug.

Thank you in advance.

[stefanrdv]

The new Hotfix seems to have excluded the Freeform Curve Blend Tool, now.

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/alias-general-discussion/freeform-curve-blend-tool-in-alias-design-201...

Please help us have again a seamless experience of Alias.

Thank you in advance.

[joe.doyle.yyz]

Hello,

The Freeform Curve Blend Tool was not intended to be part of the Alias Design 2017 license. This functionality was intended for higher tier Alias products licenses. However, an error was made when assigning features to product tiers:Freeform Blend Surface was disabled from Alias Design while the new Freeform Blend Curve was enabled in the product. The hotfix reverses this error. 

Regards,

Joe

[Anonymous]

You guys are killing us!  Can you please give us a list of what else you have taken out or plan to take out in the near future??

[Anonymous]

Forcing users to subscribe instead of buying a permanent license for your products, and then removing features is really, really bad form...