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Matt
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 400
Location: Sterling, Virginia
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 Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 12:28 pm Post subject: workflow PC8 no status window |
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import dwg, success.
select object, look for the status window to goto the layer it is on, oops, no status window. Find edit window, see layer, find layer window, search the scrolling list for identical layer name, find it, click to make active, #@%&* the absence of status window.
decide to change scale of drawing, search for status window, oops, no status window. check dashboard for scale, not found there. dig through menus to find and change the scale of the drawing, #@%&* the absence of status window.
engineered software, please restore the functionality of the Status Window. the #@%&*ing thing wasn't broken. |
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Greg
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 219
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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Matt,
I agree 100% with your request to have the scale display back (I'd like the % zoom display as well), as options in the Drawing Menu Bar.
You can make any object's layer the active one by a right (command) click on the object, and choosing "Activate layer" at the bottom of the list. This only works unfortunately if you have "Edit All Layers" turned on.
I much prefer to use Alfred's "Find Layer Tool" in WT, which works even if "Edit All Layers" is turned off. |
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huc
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 660
Location: ::caddpower.com:: (Aurora, CO)
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 2:12 pm Post subject: Re: workflow PC8 no status window |
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| Matt wrote: | | select object, look for the status window to goto the layer it is on, oops, no status window. Find edit window, see layer, find layer window, search the scrolling list for identical layer name, find it, click to make active, #@%&* the absence of status window. . |
Since the mouse is already on/over the object just selected, Try:
- control click/right click on the object
- see "Activate *Layer Name*" in contextual menu
- pick it to go there
No need to move your mouse to grab a tool, or open a dialog, or open a window. In fact, that method works even if the object is not selected, just control click to select the objects layer name and activate that layer.
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I hope that helps
Cheers
Brian |
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Matt
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 400
Location: Sterling, Virginia
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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the contextual menu does not identify the layer the object is on, it merely presents a list of all available layers. So what used to be two clicks is now click and search and read and identify and search for it again, find it and say ok.
What we had worked.
I miss my goto button. I miss my zoom percentage. and I miss seeing the #@%&*ing scale written on the screen somewhere. I find digging through menus tiresome. |
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huc
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 660
Location: ::caddpower.com:: (Aurora, CO)
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Matt wrote: | | the contextual menu does not identify the layer the object is on, it merely presents a list of all available layers. So what used to be two clicks is now click and search and read and identify and search for it again, find it and say ok.. |
Then we are seeing two different things, here is what I see when I control click on an item.
I see a Move To Layer contextual menu item AND an 'activate layer' layer
If the object is on the current layer then no item for "activate layer" is displayed in the contextual menu
I can't comment as to what was faster -- but either I'm not understanding what you're seeing or we are seeing some very different behavior.
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I hope that helps
Cheers
Brian |
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Matt
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 400
Location: Sterling, Virginia
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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Brian,
A comedian in the civil engineers office sends me an autocad file with 345 layers. the layers have names like
病-len-rail34-txt
病-len-rajl34-txt
病-len-rila54-txt
病-random-bs-name-with-seven-microscopic-meaningless-objects-on-it--yellow
病-random-bs-name-with-seven-microscopic-meaningless-objects-on-it--cyan
病-nother-al-most-identical-dumb-name-layer
鋲tc.
I click on an object. I want to make the layer the object is on the current layer and turn off all the other layers. So I can see if I should delete or keep the stuff on that layer, and which of my four layers I should move it to.
Before the "upgrade" to PowerCADD8, I clicked the object and pressed the goto button in the Status Window and then the hide button in the Layer Window. now, I need to learn a new workflow. Is there a simpler way? Did the tool improve somehow and I missed it? I used to do three clicks with no control key modifiers using a one-button mouse -- the second two clicks were to buttons that were stationary on my monitor and ALWAYS in the same position, so I didn't even have to look for them. I didn't have to read or decipher anything. It's a thing called muscular memory, there's probably some articles about it at asktog.com
click. click. click. done.
ah, that was workflow in the good old days in Mayberry. I think I'm still capable of learning, how has this been simplified? |
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Derek
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 568
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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Matt,
OT: It's interesting how you want to only show the one layer that the object is on. This sounds like a possible addition for Alfred's WT Magician Tool.
At the moment that Tool hides the layer of the object you click on, but what if a shift-click hid all the rest?
Or perhaps the tool could have two modes and a tap-shift would toggle between them: Hide-this-object's-layer OR Hide-all-the-other-layers.
Derek
PS. Back on topic, I also vote for the return of the Status Window even though I haven't yet lost mine (still on PC7).
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Greg
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 219
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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As I mentioned earlier, I tend to use Alfred's Find Layer Tool to take me to the layer an object is on (works even if Edit All Layers is off). It also shows you the layer you're going to in a yellow rectangle before you click, so you don't even need to divert your eyes over to the Layer window!
Then a second click on Hide would leave only that one layer visible and active.
It does take 2 clicks, but it is pretty easy. |
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Matt
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 400
Location: Sterling, Virginia
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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I use WildTools all the time, thanks for the reminder about that one. Maybe I can prevail on Alfred to write a tool that lets me set the zoom percentage too. or maybe a Wild Status Window.  |
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pbacot
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 856
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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Identification of object's layer. If this is gone (goto or not), that's just wrong. I often want to check an object's layer on the fly. Keeping objects on the right layer is difficult enough. Sooooo ,now I guess choosing a tool (WT find layer) is the only way? (By "now" I mean if ever I get v.
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Peter B |
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huc
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 660
Location: ::caddpower.com:: (Aurora, CO)
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| Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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| pbacot wrote: | | Identification of object's layer. If this is gone (goto or not), that's just wrong. I often want to check an object's layer on the fly. Keeping objects on the right layer is difficult enough. Sooooo ,now I guess choosing a tool (WT find layer) is the only way? (By "now" I mean if ever I get v. |
Just Open the Edit Window to see which layer an object is on
_________________
I hope that helps
Cheers
Brian |
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pbacot
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 856
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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Oh I see that is now in the edit window. looking at the V8 Preview pdf, it appears this function sometimes doesn't work.
I also see that there's an abbreviated edit window option. But does that make it more compact?
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Peter B |
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Greg
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 219
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
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| Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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Actually the Edit window behaviour is a bit funny. Yes, it does toggle between a "full" version and an "abbreviated" version (which simply shows less information). However, neither version shows the layer!
You have to actually pull the window manually to a larger size to see the layer, as well as the area and perimeter (depending on what type of object you have selected). Took me a while to figure this out.
Seems to me the layer information should be visible at all times, since this is the only place it now shows. Although it may take a bit of getting used to, I do believe this is the place for it though, as it is a "property" of the object. |
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MUGO
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:28 pm Post subject: comments |
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In general the upgrade seems nice but I have a few problems:
1. THE STATUS WINDOW
I agree. Why can't we have the status window back? Why should we be forced into a new way of doing things. Is it that complicated to bring it back ? I am very busy and i really don't have time to try and figure out new ways of working. It really ticks me off when things like this are done.
The status window was the most usefull window in Powercadd! I cannot understand why it was taken away. So theres a new way ? okay fine. So why can't we have the option of using our old habits. I feel like the flexibility of having several ways to do things is being taken away !
And how do we tell what the scale of the drawing is ? It used to be displayed in the status window. It was a very easy way to change the scale. Now what do we do ??? Do we have to go into drawing setup? That takes much longer.
BRING BACK THE STATUS WINDOW, PLEASE !!!
I'm sure it just takes a very simple update.
2. DWG
Another problem I have is the dwg translator. The whole thing is changed around. We don't have as many options when importing a dwg. From what I gather the person making the dwg must zoom out before he saves his dwg or else. we cannot get the whole drawing ?
3. Edit window
If I draw a line and want to edit. I must press tab to access the edit window. Or else it wont work.
I never had to do that in pcad 7. I used to draw a line and just click directly in the edit window to modify the length. I cant do that anymore. I now have to press tab. Does anyone else have this problem ? |
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Steve Mouzon
Joined: 16 May 2004
Posts: 30
Location: Miami Beach
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 10:23 am Post subject: |
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| I agree 100%... please bring back the Status window!!!!! |
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