Bring back the Version Number

[Webdad]

I've worked with Fusion 360 for 8 years, and developed workflows and SOPs that were heavily dependent on the version number in both the view as well as saving STL meshes.  The recent decision to not only stop adding the version number to mesh saves but also remove the visibility of the version number completely within Fusion 360 has severely crippled by ability to be productive with this software.

What recourse, besides moving to another CAD solution, is there for regaining lost / crippled functionality?

[joecamisa]

It is odd business practice in two ways:

(1) There was no comprehension of how users were using Versioning

(2) These issues were reported a month ago and there has been no timeline shared for resolution of the 3 issues:

    (A) Loss of Version Number Meta data

    (B) Restoration of the Versioning system

    (C) Versioning for Configured Designs

[anttiL5A4R]

I've worked with Fusion 360 for 10 years now, I have generally accepted all the changes so far, but this change is so bad that it is unacceptable in any way. The HUB changes have already caused us a lot of extra work, and now this is on top of everything. I understand that we need to improve, but not everything should be changed.

[b_velten]

@MikeSmell_ADSK

@lance.carocci 

Please note this thread and pass it on. It's an important community demand that the versioning as it's currently is has got to change (back).

The accessibility of versions and milestones is not sufficient in the current software version. There has been no update so far to whether this is worked on or when we can expect some improvement.

[onaeeniRUNPW]

The crappy AI code and terrible UI updates are ruining this software. 

Nobody asked for these changes. Why do you add features nobody wants?
At the very least give users the option to keep the UI the same. 

Every update is a UI change that deepens the enshittification of your software. 
We dont want UI updates, we want Lathe/Mill Turn functionality, a better machine builder, better rendering of small features in the Design work area, etc. 

Get rid of these awful changes. 

@onaeeniRUNPW - this post has been edited due to Community Rules & Etiquette violation.  

[victor.faraut8HTXT]

I'm joining force here. I do pay for this software personally and at my workplace (5 users with paid subscriptions). I'm using Fusion 360 for the past 8 years now and I used to enjoy it a lot. 

For @RajkumarIlanchelian  and other fusion team members. You cannot in any critical enterprise software change every 2 months how the software looks and work. 

First the UI change for the start menu.... bugged, slow and unresponsive compare to the regular project panel on the left. Even with this one being less responsive that I would like. But this annoyances can be reduced by starting a new part. 

And now you are removing a core concept of our own soft? How am I supposed to make sure my parts and sub assemblies are in the correct milestone now? How do I see if a file is activly worked one now that I don't see the version in the left panel? I need to do like 5 clicks to a unresponsive web UI that can then show me the changes. Even worst, I cannot see any comments on such version now. How am I supposed to comment out what I've done so far ?

Not even a confirmation windows while saving?

We were quite upset at Microsoft and windows at work for pushing untested software that wipes the wholes disk. And now you are doing pretty much the same thing. I was holding switching to Linux as Fusion wouldn't work on linux. Maybe I'll switch to OnShape and Linux until you fix you software. 

Please Bring back what was the "regular" fusion and allow some spaces to switch if they want. Not force the users and companies to do so.

@victor.faraut8HTXT - this post has been edited due to Community Rules & Etiquette violation. 

[ChrisHeerschap]

Joining in to say that this change has also made serious impacts on how I've been using - the same way I've been using it for years.

Sure, having a version happen each time you save might not work with industrial version control, but for single seat, non-collaborating users, it's just fine, and has been just fine.

Fun fact, folks -- the versions are still there. Install the Parametric Text plugin, create a sketch, and enter a text of "v". Open Parametric text (Modify, Change Text Parameters) and click on the "v" text in the sketch you just created, and it'll select in the window. Add "{_.version}" to the "v" in your text, and click OK, and you will see the text changes to something like "v4". Save the design (without being able to say why you're saving the design, another dumb change) and you'll see that version number increments.

So they haven't completely removed the old versioning, they just hid it from you. Does that make it better or not? 😆 Creating a new version (the new way, which was noticably slow) doesn't even touch the internal version number.

I've got to say, first the non-optional, unwanted "What do you want to do?" pop-up, then screwing around with this Part/Hybrid/Assembly, now nuking the versioning so many of us rely on... it's actually had me seriously thinking about looking at other solutions. The migration would be a nightmare, I've got years of designs that would have to be moved, but man, it sure seems like the Fusion team is trying to push me that way.

@ChrisHeerschap - this post has been edited due to Community Rules & Etiquette violation. 

[bwalker145]

---

@ChrisHeerschap wrote:

... it's actually had me seriously thinking about looking at other solutions. The migration would be a nightmare, I've got years of designs that would have to be moved, but man, it sure seems like the Fusion team is trying to push me that way.

---

You're not the only one. I mentioned in another thread that I've started the cost-impact analysis to move my department completely out of the Autodesk ecosystem at this point.

It would be a huge headache, but it's about to the point where it'll be worth the pain; I'm just not confident in the direction that Fusion is trending anymore. It's promising that they're allegedly working to revert/improve some of these changes, but time will tell.

[victor.faraut8HTXT]

Yep, I'm computing and testing other CAD suite and I'm considering going to my management and port all our work to something a big more stable than fusion. We cannot run the risk of loosing money every time a new software release is launched because half of the workflow is missing. This were money is. The workflow and having the whole pipeline from idea to real part. Right now Autodesk or at least the Fusion team is missing this point. People are used to certain things now and you cannot just remove them without any real substitute that works the same way or at least let the user select the option to do so.

[engineeringNPFNM]

No longer having the "Version Description" dialog box popup automatically when saving is a huge sore spot at my company. Version Descriptions are an important part of our workflow. The dialog that pops up when you hit save is a fast, low-friction interface to add notes about what a user changed in a design, state of toolpaths being updated on a complex file, etc. The fact that the dialog pops up automatically is an important feature: it reminds users to do the right thing and enter their notes right on the spot.

With the recent changes to fusion, a user has to manually bring up the history dialogue, wait ages for it to load, before they can enter the Version Description. It's really slowing us down. Without the "Version Description" dialog box, people are also forgetting to make notes on what they changed, which is making it harder to collaborate.

Not having v-numbers visible in the user interface elements also makes it harder to keep everything straight when multiple previous versions of a design are open in Fusion. Lack of v-numbers also makes it harder for us to keep things organized in downstream processes that use files exported from fusion.

Autodesk: Please add user preference that allows users to show/hide v-numbers in all the UI elements and file export dialogs that used to show v-numbers. Please add user preference that selects whether or not to popup the "Version Description" dialog box when the user hits save. These two changes would solve so many problems!

[joecamisa]

I agree completely. 

We need the Version Number functionality returned as it was prior to CE Hub migration.

If this is done as a user preference that would be fine.

When can we have this functionality restored?

[olpprgeno]

I really don't understand how such an impactful (and negative) workflow change could have been implemented without extensive research on how users actually use the product.

Even more mind boggling is the lack of response to the groundswell of negative feedback.  Is anybody from the development team listening??

[DylanMKC]

Adding on to this thread. I manage a team of about 8 people using Fusion on a daily basis. I have personally and professionally used Fusion daily for the last 10 years. We rely heavily on version control for verifying our programs and CAD models. This new workflow added more work  and reduced clarity for the user. One example of this is the setup sheets that are generated from the manufacture workspace. These now have no reference to the file version. This has already caused confusion on the shop floor for operators trying to verify a setup sheet matches a set of prints. 

[DRTanner95]

I'm finding it difficult to work through this new change. I understand that Fusion updates, that is one of the nice things about it. Innovation and constant improvement. But this thread should show that your customers are not happy with this update and do not see it as an improvement.

[m_vandenbergelitac]

Decay in action here.

@m_vandenbergelitac - this post has been edited due to Community Rules & Etiquette violation.  

[joecamisa]

We have 74 messages in this thread alone. 

There are other threads with equally and consistently negative feedback.

Very disappointing that we have heard nothing about when the functionality will be restored.

[Junliang_FIR3]

Please disable collaborative editing for me. I have been forced to work in another friend's hub just beacuse I am unable to have verison saving and history in my hub, meaning my entire fusion subscription is completely useless, I dont think i will be using fusion later on because of this disadvantage.

[rob.holmesBKLJD]

This is an extremely frustrating change which means our standard business process of checking versions numbers is no longer possible. On top of the loss of the comment when saving (Used to track changes), this makes tracking what changes are made to designs and when files as saved extremely difficult. Very disappointing and means we're likely to be looking at alternatives going forward if these functions are not restored in some meaning full way.

[joecamisa]

We have 77 messages in this thread alone!

There are other threads with equally and consistently negative feedback.

Very disappointing that we have heard nothing about when the functionality will be restored.

On Saturday May 30 I will be 8 weeks without version numbers and continue to minimize my use of Fusion until Versions are restored.

Can we get:

(1) Version number functionality restored in June

(2) some assurance that impactful changes will be shared in advance instead of forced on users with no notice

[smsV496K]

Who the f thought this was a good idea?

[turtlecrawler]

I'll just add my own take on this update....

Part of why I like Fusion over solidworks for many projects (not all though) is that Autodesk pushes against the pushback when they decide it is time for major UI changes, though they might tweak how some changes are implemented to meet in the middle. This pushes the software forward, and over time the new work flow tends to just work better. Look at how dated Solidworks feels now, having to use one tool to extrude bodies, and another to cut bodies... Same with revolves, sweeps, lofts... They all have two versions. And push back against changes like this, are why solidworks is largely stuck in the past.

A big one many years ago, was to change the visability of parts from a lightbulb icon that was yellow when active, and gray when hidden, to the current eyeball icon. Though it did take some tweaking on the colors and placement for it to be better than the old UI.

Clicking the drop down now, and seeing what outside parts are used in a part does feel more useful, and having the used in tab as well.

Then clicking the new history icon brings up a list that feels easier to scroll through now, and maybe will encourage me to name my changes a bit more often on version/milestone changes? Personally I only ever needed the history maybe once a month if that, and often just to verify what had changed, and every now and then I might need to roll back to an earlier design. This new layout seems fine to me, for how often I use the history?