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I can sum up the frustration caused with the new ribbon interface with one word: Training. (Or lack thereof) Our customers who attempted to use the new interface without training were also quite frustrated. Once they made the investment to get guidance through training, they were much happier. One comment I heard was: once you get used to the new interface and have to revisit the older interface you realize how beneficial it really is. Now, this isn't to say it is perfect. Customer feedback isindeed important, and PTC listened and reacted with Creo 1.0. Context sensitive RMB menus act upon the selection(or lack ofselection) with commonly used functions dependent on the selection/active tab, so yes, the menu will look differentif you have something selected vs.not having somethingselected even from within the same tab. The process of selection is user communication to the software that you are lookingfor features relative to the itemselected. I myself have to switch between Wildfire 4.0, Creo Elements/Pro 5.0 (Wildfire 5.0) and Creo Parametric 1.0 everyday, and I see the benefit of the new user interface each time I switch to earlier versions with the old interface.The ribbon is really not the evil interface users make it out to be...
I personally don't think a Ribbon UI is a bad thing. When a Ribbon UI is implemented properfly, it can become very productive with some training, practice and time.
The problem we had with the WF5 Ribbon UI, is the inability to click on something and interact with it. You must be in the correct ribbon tab to interact with the drawing contents. This can be bypassed by holding down the ALT key but it's still poorly implemented. There are other issues with it, but I won't bother listing them.
Creo 1.0 has improved the Ribbion UI from Wildfire 5. ( I REFUSE to call it Creo/Elements Pro 5.0 )
People just need to face the fact that change happens and you need to embrace it or be left behind. Going into anything with a bad attitude is not smart. You need to first learn it, understand it and use it. I think most will find that the Ribbion UI is not that bad and in many cases would never go back to the old way.
"Too many people walk around like Clark Kent, because they don't realize they can Fly like Superman"
HERE HERE! I am so happy to see this forum with sensable feedback on the ribbon issue. We've been on WF5 since it's inception and I love the ribbon. I've noticed a major increase in my production, particularly on drawings with large models. It is so much easier to target specific drawing items which limits the computer crunching to just what you need.
I personally did not recieve any training on WF5, and yes it did take me some time to acclimate to the ribbon. I will say however, it took me much longer to acquire Wildfire from pre-wildfire than the couple weeks it took to fully grasp the potential of the ribbon. Change is essential, and when given a chance can be a great thing. I would never go pre WF5 if I can help it, and that is the atmosphere in our workplace.
In Reply to Damian Castillo:
I personally don't think a Ribbon UI is a bad thing. When a Ribbon UI is implemented properfly, it can become very productive with some training, practice and time.
The problem we had with the WF5 Ribbon UI, is the inability to click on something and interact with it. You must be in the correct ribbon tab to interact with the drawing contents. This can be bypassed by holding down the ALT key but it's still poorly implemented. There are other issues with it, but I won't bother listing them.
Creo 1.0 has improved the Ribbion UI from Wildfire 5. ( I REFUSE to call it Creo/Elements Pro 5.0 )
People just need to face the fact that change happens and you need to embrace it or be left behind. Going into anything with a bad attitude is not smart. You need to first learn it, understand it and use it. I think most will find that the Ribbion UI is not that bad and in many cases would never go back to the old way.
"Too many people walk around like Clark Kent, because they don't realize they can Fly like Superman"
Tony,
You actually know people who don't use "Intent Manager"? WOW!
I have been using it so long, I forgot it was an option. 🙂
You mentioned that PTC should fully bake this stuff before releasing it. Well, Creo 1.0 still has some major baggage from Pro/E 2001 that PTC needs to fix. The old "Menu Manager" is still alive and well in Creo 1.0, which I find unacceptable. I created a post about it in the PTC Community forums which I am starting to use more and more. I like the options and the community features much better than what Pro/User provides. sorry. 😞
Here is a link to that post I created.
http://communities.ptc.com/blogs/Proximo/2011/10/27/two-things-that-worry-me-about-creo-10
In Reply to Anthony DelNegro, P.E.:
Well said, Damian. I agree, though I haven't had the pleasure (lol) of
using the ribbon in Pro/E or Creo as yet. I'm not sure I initially
liked the ribbon in Office 07, but I don't find any issues with it now.
I would hope that the programmers are focused on easier to use UI's,
which it sounds like, since the latest implementation seems better.
It's just a shame that it wasn't that good out of the box. PTC needs to
fully bake this stuff before releasing it, but that is typical PTC.
I still can't believe there are people not using intent manager. I
turned that on, on day one and haven't turned it off since. Not sure
how to function without it. In my opinion it's way faster, but I guess
if it's not for you, be thankful there is an 'off' button.
Tony
Gavin,
On Creo 1.0, you can add and remove icons, show them with or without text, small or large icon and even create your own tabs. I think there should be enough flexibility there to help you find a happy place. 🙂
You can also have the Ribbon autohide so it's not taking up screen space until you are ready to access it. 🙂
In Reply to Gavin Rumble:
I have used the WF5 ribbon on occasion and (mostly because it IS only on
occasion) I find it irritating. If I used it every day I would probably
find it infuriating. To me, the Ribbon tabs in MS Office (which I have been
using for 3 years) present a mash up of features that someone ELSE, ie, the
developers, thought should go together in a "typical" editing session. I
would rather they were in functional menu structures where you always knew
how to find them. They also take up a whole lot of screen real estate with
the large icons COMBINED with the command name which you are not allowed to
customize. Call me regressive, but leave ALL the commands in a logical menu
structure and then give me an icon toolbar which I can (and do) customize to
include the commands (or mapkeys) that I use a LOT (this addresses the
Productivity argument). Those (icons) you use a LOT are going to be
instantly recognizable...for the rest, the icons are completely useless
(IMHO). Quick, anyone, tell me what this icon in Word/Outlook does . Or
this one in WF5 . By contrast, everyone knows what these are... (all
from the customizable Toolbar). My point is, you can't memorize something
you don't use, or only use once in a blue moon, so why clutter up the sight
lines with it?
Gavin B. Rumble, PE
Solid Engineering
336-224-2312
Patrick,
If you want to turn any constraint or assumption off, you can right click the mouse. it will toggle from locking, to ingnore and back to intent.
Just saying. 🙂
In Reply to Patrick Fariello:
I thought I was the last one not to use intent manager. The intent manager on/off option goes away with WF5 so I finally took the time to learn to use it for when IT has time to move us past WF3. I use both ways now but for some sketches, especially editing sketch constraints, it is faster with it off.
Patrick Fariello