History bar at the bottom disappeared

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

The awesome history bar that is normally at the bottom of the screen disappeared. How do I get it back?

Thanks

Luke

[jeff_strater · Accepted solution]

Hi Luke,

Glad you like Fusion's design history!

A couple of questions:

1. Are you sure that this design is a history-based design?  Fusion supports both a history-based design and a direct modeling design type.  If you open a direct modeling design, the timeline (history bar) won't be shown.  Imported design are today converted to Direct Modeling designs, so if you imported something it might not yet be history-based.  If you right click on the root of your design, do you see a "Capture Design History" menu item like this:?

if so, then your design is not a history-based design.  Selecting this menu item will convert it to one, but you will not have history for any features already in your design.

2.  If you are sure that your design is history based, then it is possible that the UI for the timeline has been lost.  If so, try executing the Reset to Default Layout command:

This will reset all the UI to the default state (you may lose some customization of the toolbar).  That may bring back the timeline UI.

Let me know if neither of these work for you, we can see what else might be the cause.

Jeff Strater (Fusion development)

[Anonymous]

Hello Jeff:

I tried your suggestions on reset to default layout above to enable history bar at tbottom.

It still did not show up.

And I am only doing a sample tutorial like this one:

http://help.autodesk.com/view/NINVFUS/ENU/?guid=GUID-195A1C75-1C94-47AE-A10F-DBCC17C2A212

Also set in Preferences, this is set:

General > Design > Design History > "Capture design History (......) "

Why is  it missing?

[jeff_strater]

Hi @Anonymous,

Did you also try the first suggestion?  Turning on design history in the design?

It's possible that you are not working with a history-based design.  If you can turn history on this way, and the timeline appears, then that was the problem.  As to how it got to be a direct modeling design, either the design was created this way inadvertently, or because it was started from an imported design (which is unlikely if you are working from a tutorial), or the design history was turned off, using this command:

If you would be willing to share your design, I could maybe tell you more about the problem you are seeing.

Jeff

[Anonymous]

Hello Jeff:

>> If you would be willing to share your design, I could maybe tell you more about the problem you are seeing.

It happens on multiple files.

I have tried to turn on everything i know.

I can create a new files and it wil have the same missing history bar problem.

How do I sent the file to you?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

hi @jeff_strater:

I am aware you are busy.

This is not an emergency, so no need to rush.

But I want to make sure you got the memo.....  about you request...:

>> If you would be willing to share your design, I could maybe tell you more about the problem you are seeing.

It happens on multiple files.

In fact it happens on ALL my tutorial files, all with history already enabled!

I can create any new file and it will have the same missing history bar problem.

I did not see any means to save the file to my local drive. 

Can this be done so I can email it to you?

How do I sent the file to you?

Thank you for your generous time.

[jeff_strater]

Thanks, @Anonymous,

Here is probably the easiest way to do this:  Use Share Public Link.  Here is a short screencast showing how to do this:

You can either send this to me in a private message on this forum, or post it here, if you are not concerned with others seeing the model.

I'm sure we can figure out your problem.

Thanks,

Jeff

[Anonymous]

Thanks @jeff_strater:

Here is an example of a missing history bar:

http://a360.co/1R1ci1U

[jeff_strater]

Thanks, @Anonymous,

The good news (I guess it's good) is that your design is correct.  It is, indeed, a history-based design.  Here is what I see:

So, the problem is just a UI problem.  There are a few more things to try.  You have already tried one of them:  Reset to Default Layout.

The other thing to try (which should not be related, but is worth a try) are these two reset commands.  They are accessed via the right mouse button in the top toolbar:

Try both of these.

Finally, and I hate to keep asking you for stuff, but would it be possible to create a screencast of your session, so I can see what you are seeing?

Thanks,

Jeff

[Anonymous]

@jeff_strater:

How do I send the screencast as private to you?

The Autodesk screencast said it was uploaded.....  Where did it go?

[jeff_strater]

Eventually, when the screencast is fully baked, you will get an email address at the account you use to log into Fusion/Screencast with.  In that email is a link you can private message to me, or post here.

However, you can also find it by following the "manage screencasts" link in the screencast app:

This will take you to a web site that has all your screencasts on it.   Something like this:

Use the Options dropdown, and the Copy Link command will copy the link to the copy/paste buffer on your computer.  You can then paste it into a private message to me or post it here.

Thanks,

Jeff

[Anonymous]

@jeff_strater

>>You can then paste it into a private message to me or post it here.

How do I send it as private message to you?

[jeff_strater]

I just sent you a private message.  You should get an email notification of it.  If you follow the link, that will take you to your private messages, and my message will be there.  You can just reply to that.  If you don't get the notification, I can lead you creating a private message.

Jeff

[Anonymous]

@jeff_strater:

I have just responded with a private message and a link to screen cast.
The only reason I did the private message is because i rather leave my name out as shown on top left of F360 app.

Is there a way to do that in future recordings with Autodesk screencast?


Thanks.

[jeff_strater]

Thanks.  I see what you are seeing.  However, I'm not sure what to do about it just yet.  The only difference between my setup and yours is that you have "Comments" visible.  but, that should not matter.

Did you try maximizing the Fusion window?  (Complete shot in the dark)

I'll keep asking around about this.  Sorry not th be of more help to you.

Jeff

[Anonymous]

>> Did you try maximizing the Fusion window?

The window is already maximized when I have this problem.

It was reduced slightly by the screencast app to improve screen capture quality.

Also forgot to mention this:

I was using Win 7 with F360 for a week or so, .

then upgraded to Win 10.

Just now, I also did this:

Unisntall and then reinstall F460.

Did not solve the problem....

Thanks for trying.

[jeff_strater]

I still haven't given up.  It seems to be a problem with what we call the "layout" of the controls in your session.  No one that I know has seen this issue, so we are shooting in the dark here, I'm afraid.  Here are a couple more last-ditch things to try:

1. Randomly try turning things on and off in the View menu:


Just do things like turn the browser, comments, Navigation Bar, etc on and off a few times, followed by more "Reset to Default Layout", etc.  The idea here is to kick the layout into submission.

2. Clear the user cache data.  This is a command under the help icon in the upper right hand corner:

This shouldn't have any effect, but we're getting desperate.

3. Finally, the nuculear option.  I'm not exactly sure here where these files are, because my computer is also a development machine, and has had a lot of old versions installed on it.  But, I think this is where things are stored:

3a.  With Fusion not currently running, open up a windows explorer window.

3b.  in the address bar, type "%appdata%" (not the quotes)

3c.  navigate down to "Autodesk\Neutron Platform\Options"

3d.  there should be a folder there with some random characters.  On mine its "\GFYCRMPLKPEB".  go into that folder

3e.  one more level, to "options"

there should be a file there called "NULastDisplayedLayout.xml".  If you can, send this file to me in a private message.  I'd like to see what's in it.  This is a description of your app's UI layout.  If you are curious, open it in a text editor.  There is an entry there for the timeline.  Mine looks like this:

          <Area Contents="Timeline" InternalPadding="25,4,4,4" Name="Timeline" Placement="Bottom" Rect="0,1276,50,0" Resizable="False" Stretchable="True" Visible="True">

If anything looks bad in there (like Visible is not true, or the rectangle is tiny, or in some strange place), that is probably what is going on.

At any rate, this file is not necessary.  It will get generated when you start up the next time, if it is gone.  So, just delete it.  Or, rename it to something else (safer).  Then try starting Fusion again.

If none of this works, we may have to try a screen-sharing session, so I can poke around your system and try to repair it.

I appreciate your patience.

Jeff

[Anonymous]

@jeff_strater:

Thanks Jeff:
I would try it later.

But if it does not work, what about this proposal......
Is there a way to do clean delete, as in (manually?) deleting ALL the configuration files or any other file types related to F360 after an uninstall?

I tried uninstalling it earlier, but I wonder if some F360 files may still exists, which may cause F360 behavior to remain unchanged after the reinstall.

Thank you for your generous time.

[jeff_strater]

yes, you can do that as well.  If you follow the instructions here how-to-uninstall-fusion-360, it should do a complete removal of everything.  Some details may have changed, but, I think by removing all the folders listed here, you should have a complete uninstall, including all the cached files, layouts, customization, etc.  It's a bit more extreme, but might be a good idea.

Jeff

[Anonymous]

@jeff_strater:

Solved:  may be

File > View > Show Text Command

displays the history bar and text command bar.

Toggling with "Ctrl+Alt+c" show and hides both simultaneously.

May be this solves it.

Thanks again.