Better help documentation and videos

[burnandreturn]

I for one think you need to make better how to videos and documentation.  For all the time you all spend sorting out problems people are having trying to sort out how use the program you could invest some time in much better more comprehensive videos.

I vote for a step by step video series for dummies!  You all have changed so many concepts from "traditional" CAD programs that the program is not at all intuitive to all but the brightest.  I am not one of that group so need more help!  It seems the help and videos jump all over the place without a lot of consistency.  It seems I spend as much time looking for a video or help topic as I do watching and reading.

Just my .02 cents worth of observation.

[Anonymous]

hobbymate.net 😉

Jesse

[burnandreturn]

Can anyone say SPAM!!!

[Discussion_Admin]

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@burnandreturn wrote:

Can anyone say SPAM!!!

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I would say more like a shameless self promotion  as @Anonymous is a long time poster here helping many users.

Thanks
Discussion_Admin

[Discussion_Admin]

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@burnandreturn wrote:

I for one think you need to make better how to videos and documentation.  For all the time you all spend sorting out problems people are having trying to sort out how use the program you could invest some time in much better more comprehensive videos.

I vote for a step by step video series for dummies!  You all have changed so many concepts from "traditional" CAD programs that the program is not at all intuitive to all but the brightest.  I am not one of that group so need more help!  It seems the help and videos jump all over the place without a lot of consistency.  It seems I spend as much time looking for a video or help topic as I do watching and reading.

Just my .02 cents worth of observation.

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As for the first post I think it would make a great post in the IDEASTATION.

I would post the idea then post back in this tread suggesting support for the idea linking to it

Thanks
Discussion_Admin

[burnandreturn]

A shameless self-promotion is the definition of SPAM.   His post was certainly not germaine to the thread and his website sucks!

[Anonymous]

Hi, sorry you thought my post was spam (it was perhaps a bit sparse 😉 ), but if you would have looked at the link, you would see that I'm putting together a free learning system for Fusion 360 just along the lines of what you were talking about (that incidentally is to support a very new kind of high performance low cost multifunction machine for CNC machining and 3D printing...to help further the cause that Fusion 360 is a big part of, of empowering many more people than present). 

Signing up at hobbymate.net will enable you to get updates on the progression of this, which is now nearing completion, and potential beta testing.

In the meantime, keep posting your questions here in the forum 🙂

Jesse

[Pedro_Bidarra]

I have to say this...
I for one was amazed at how well made the tutorial videos are. CAD programs are some of the most complex programs to use because of the quantity of functions they accumulate.

Autodesk has made an incredible job in making a smooth learning curve on F360.

As CAD for dummies goes I would suggest starting with 123D Design.

[burnandreturn]

Your post is a shameless plug for your kickstarter ploy. I read some of your shameless plug but the structure of your website is so poorly done that I gave up. I hope your CNC machine is better designed than your webpage! Hopefully your kick start launch will be better presented. I have "donated" to many kickstarters but theirs were much more professionally presented so as to give the impression that the business would be sucessful also. First impressions and all.

The fact that you posted twice about your website and the moderators let it stand and actually defended your digression surprises me.

So please give it a rest in this thread.

[burnandreturn]

I use SpaceClaim and GeoMagic mostly. The problem I have is the different concept of Fusion. I don't say it is not good just I for one need better help to understand the differences and how to structure things in the design phase so everything holds together down the road so to speak. Sometimes I think it would be easier to learn Fusion if I didn't have a background in other CAD systems.

[Discussion_Admin]

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@burnandreturn wrote:

A shameless self-promotion is the definition of SPAM.   His post was certainly not germaine to the thread and his website sucks!

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Actually universally most community managersd describe the term "spam" as slang that refers to unsolicited commercial email or unsolicited bulk email.

We inforce the same here with our ground rules.

You sound very frustrated in your posts. Have you considered my earlier reccomendation?

Is there anything I can help with or get help for you from the fusion team?

Thanks
Discussion_Admin

[Anonymous]

That's awesome you "donated" to Kickstarter campaigns (I hope you got something out of them though).  Also, sorry to hear that my website was difficult to understand.  The function of it presently is essentially a "heads up" to begin awareness of what I'm working on (which I believe is better than coming out of the blue suddenly), and of course signup.  I'm not quite sure why you seem to be bothered by it, but I hope you can understand my intention.  

Have a great day!

Jesse

[Discussion_Admin]

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@burnandreturn wrote:
I useSpaceClaim andGeoMagic mostly. The problem I have is the different concept of Fusion. I don't say it is not good just I for one need better help to understand the differences and how to structure things in the design phase so everything holds together down the road so to speak. Sometimes I think it would be easier to learn Fusion if I didn't have a background in other CAD systems.

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That can be a common issue with some software your'e not alone.

But the up side is you have found the best resource for getting help. The fusion team, Expert Elites and other users here really go above and beyond to help users out  it;s a good community

So keep plugging away at it. Ask any questions you have nothing is to small and when you post be specific with the issues and what you are trying to do if it's something in one of the programs you are more comfortable with use that as an  example add you machine specs and art they love screen caps or screencasts are even better.

Thanks
Discussion_Admin

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@Anonymous wrote:

.... Also, sorry to hear that my website was difficult to understand.  ...

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The font is way too small against a very busy (read confusing, perhaps irrelevant?) background.

Also - I did not see any way to get to any useful information without giving you my email.

If interested - I can give you a link that shows how to "do it right".

[Anonymous]

He he, I guess the background is a little busy?  Any info is appreciated, although I'm not quite to the point yet of making an actual website.  As to additional information, at this point there currently is none except what is posted on that "placeholder" webpage and repeated in Email updates if you currently sign up. 

Stay tuned though!

Jesse

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@Anonymous wrote:

... As to additional information, at this point there currently is none except ...

Jesse

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Ah, I see.  So your Post 2 in this thread doesn't even rise to the level of "spam".  Not only does it not provide information relevant to Post 1 - it doesn't provide any useful information, it doesn't even provide any real Spam (pun intended) for the hungry.

Don't like to hijack  threads, so I leave with this. Not impressed.  I think you should re-think your approach.  You've lost my attention, and even worse, made a poor initial impression in my mind.  I've already "tuned out".  Give it some reflective thought.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll definitely consider that 🙂  The current webpage only provides the information it provides, which as I said is mostly a heads up of what I plan to release to the world ASAP.  Since I believe it will be very beneficial to many, my main intent currently with the website, with response thus far being positive, is to raise awareness and provide Email updates, especially for those who may infrequently or never revisit this forum. 

Jesse

[Oceanconcepts]

To return to the subject of help, I’d like to suggest that someone on the Fusion team do a critical read through of the basic tool descriptions that come up when searching for help. Specifically to fix a very common problem therein where the “help” describes only what the tool is supposed to do, without actually helping the user understand what, specifically, they need to do in order to achieve the result. 

As an example, the silhouette tool’s first option is to set a view direction. The help tells me:

View Direction

Sets the direction you look at the design to determine the silhouette.

Which is essentially just telling you what the results should be. What it doesn’t say is that, for instance, selecting the option and setting a direction of the current view in the view cube will not do anything.  I would suggest:

View Direction

Select a plane, face, or origin plane to set the direction you look at the design and determine the silhouette.

Help should provide guidance to the user as to what they need to do to accomplish the desired ends.

[burnandreturn]

Documentation is best reviewed by people that do not have a deep understanding of the software.   They don't fill in the blanks so to speak that the developers and employees of the company do when they read the documentation.   It would be best if they snatched someone off the street and sit them in an interogation room with a computer and the help documentation and videos then hand them some real life object,  slap the desk real hard(like Gibs on NCIS) and yell at them,  "design this"!!!!!

All the geeks are behind the mirror taking notes as to the questions the abducktee will be asking!  Or a trained employee will then show them how to do what is a problem.  Film that.

Then you will have good documentation!

[Pedro_Bidarra]

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@burnandreturn wrote:

Documentation is best reviewed by people that do not have a deep understanding of the software.   They don't fill in the blanks so to speak that the developers and employees of the company do when they read the documentation.   It would be best if they snatched someone off the street and sit them in an interogation room with a computer and the help documentation and videos then hand them some real life object,  slap the desk real hard(like Gibs on NCIS) and yell at them,  "design this"!!!!!

All the geeks are behind the mirror taking notes as to the questions the abducktee will be asking!  Or a trained employee will then show them how to do what is a problem.  Film that.

Then you will have good documentation!

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Could you show me an example of such a good documentation in software? I'm curious.