OT: Companies moving to WF 5

ptc-1932745 · ‎Aug 25, 2009

OFF TOPIC -----

Just to defend the CADD users out there... The frustration is the lack
of 'voice' in the process. As a good CAD admin, (or any other leader,
for that matter) you have to at least give the illusion of giving the
users a say in the process.

I'm sure that your users have a top 5 want list, and they are trying to
be more productive with the software. Limit them to five for each
functional area, (Design, Manufacturing, Analysis, etc...) and provide
feedback and/or training as needed. Having feedback that those critical
things are being addressed will go a long way toward answering the
griping. Even printing from Pro-E can be a pain when it stops working
right.

Just speaking personally, some of the changes from V19 to WF1-4 seem to
make little sense, starting with the datum plane color scheme change.
Sure, you can change it back, but it is one of many changes to the
software that seem to be made for marketing reasons, vs. technical
reasons.

Top four things I would like to see in WF 5:

1) Completely update the Pro-Man interface / command structure,
including the Machinability Database.
2) Update the help topics / docs and include actual examples of the
feature usage.
Newer Modules like Behavioral Modeler are better than
Pro/Surface, for example. None are up to the level they should be.
3) De-mystify Mapkeys, Pro-Program, Pro-JLink, Pro-Toolkit, etc...
functionality and usage
(See #2 above)
4) Keep the main window size 'static' or non-resizable.

I started out with 5 things, but frankly I couldn't come up with five
that were 'hindering' my application of the software. (I'm not all about
griping...)

As an example or less than helpful documentation, I have just downloaded
the free 'feature recognition' add-in from PTC for WF4 M060. But am now
halted, trying to register the app as the 'Readmefirst.txt' file only
tells me the following:

The Feature Recognition Tool (FRT) is a Toolkit application that must be
registered to Pro/ENGINEER. The FRT help documentation includes
instructions for installing and registering this application.

Gordo0510 · ‎Aug 25, 2009

Re: OFF TOPIC -----

Chris:
In addition to #4 on the list, "the main window size 'static' or
non-resizable", could we have the model tree be able to set to a fixed
size also?

And as far as #2, perhaps PTC could solicit help file topics written by
actual users. There is a wealth of gurus out there who know how to
explain the topic better than the programmers. (No offence meant by
that to anyone.)

Maybe PTC could give a discount on upgrades to companies / individuals
who assist in writing the help files? (Weak attempt to stay on
topic....)

David

Pure Fishing

TerryMcFall · ‎Aug 25, 2009

Wow - are we the only company that has to take compatibility w/IL 3.4 into consideration? For us the decision to go to WF5 also requires an upgrade to Windchill.

Considering dollars, training, compatibilities AND crossing all fingers hoping the software delivers as promised - this will not be your ordinary upgrade.

-Ter

colmacpro · ‎Aug 25, 2009

We also have the Intralink 3.4 issue. we have a functional test environment of Pro/I 9.1 M020 running. we will probably migrate to Wintralink9.1 m030 some this fall/winter.

That will give time for more build codes to come out after WF5 first ships in maybe September

WF5.0 looks to be a very good release. The sketch of points pattern is on the top of our list. There are several other enhancements that our users are looking forward to, some little some big.

I don't think the manufacturing wildfirization is complete in WF5. WF5 PP definitely has some improvements in MFG.

Joe

proed · ‎Aug 26, 2009

We're also still using Intralink 3.4, and will remain on Wildfire 4 for a while yet: probably until we get fully on the PDMLink bandwagon... As Ter says, "it will not be your ordinary upgrade" - and will impact a range of things. I'm sure some will try out Wildfire 5 with Intralink 3.4 - see if that even works, and what stability is like.

On the topic of Wildfire,I reckonit's taken until the latest M100 to get a decent Wildfire 4.0 build, ridding it of several bugs that directly impacted our work... and I'd rather PTC remove existing bugs than push new versions. We still have a problem with "Variable Sheet Size" in WF4 not auto-filling as WF3 did: I've mentioned it here before, but still no fix yet... PTC initially said it wouldn't be fixed again until Wildfire 5.0 - though now after some angry words from me to our PTC contact, tech support was back in touch to say they hope to fix in WF4... progress!?

I look forward to folks posting their experiences with Wildfire 5.0 - from PTC's blurb they've delayed the release by months because of quality concerns - interesting to see how stable WF5 turns out to be. As mentioned, we'll stick with Ilink 3.4 on 13 dataservers for a while yet...

Edwin

In Reply to Terrence McFall:

Wow - are we the only company that has to take compatibility w/IL 3.4 into consideration? For us the decision to go to WF5 also requires an upgrade to Windchill.

Considering dollars, training, compatibilities AND crossing all fingers hoping the software delivers as promised - this will not be your ordinary upgrade.

-Ter