Slow Help Menu's

[bet338]

Hey everybody,

When I click on any of the help menu's in MC it takes about 30-45 secs to appear. Anybody know why? Is there a setting to change? I'm running a Dell OptiPlex GX620,Intel Pentium 4 CPU 2.8GHz,1 GB of ram. I'm hopeing to get an new pc in a couple months. But for now I'm stuck with it.

[Karen Graf from CNC Software]

Hi Brian,

 

Sorry you're having problems. You're right, this may be due to the fact that your PC needs to be updated, but I'd like to try to help you just in case it's not.

 

Please provide me with answers to the following:

 

1. Do you have multiple installs of different versions of Mastercam?

2. If you're working with multiple versions of Mastercam, does the Help on the other versions work OK?

3. What is your install path for the version Mastercam that isn't working correctly (i.e., C:MCAMX)?

4. For the version that's not working properly, do you have a "Help" folder directly under your Mastercam install folder (i.e., C:MCAMXHELP)?

5. If so, do you have a bunch of CHM files there (probably about 38 CHM files)?

6. When the Help finally shows up, is it the right topic?

7. Are you having problems getting the Help just from the Help menu at the top of Mastercam, just from the Help buttons, or both?

 

Let's start there. OK?

 

Karen Graf

Senior Technical Writer

CNC Software, Inc.

[Steve Biehl - Cimquest Inc]

Brian,

1Gb of RAM is not even enough to run Windows, never mind a Mill Level 3 seat. You should have 2Gb minimum.

[Chris Rizzo]

At a college i help out at we have the same situation. The first time you access help it takes easily 1 minute to open. After that going into help takes slightly less time, still not snappy though.

 

 

answers:

 

1. Yes

2. same delay for all versions

3. I'm not in front of those pc's now, but all the installs are standard as far as I can recall

4. yes

5. again, not in front of pc now.

6. yes correct topic

7. Both

 

this is a nethasp educational environment. All the pc's there perform with this delay.

[bet338]

Karen,

Sorry to have taken so long to reply. I have been out of the office this week.

 

Answers:

 

1. C:Mcamx2-MR2 & C:mcamx2-mr1 (don't know why mcamx2-mr1 is installed)

2. Do not know as I have never used mcamx2-mr1

3. All the installs are standard per the reseller

4. yes,path is C:Mcamx2-MR2help

5. Yes,48 files

6. Yes

7. Help from the Help menu is slow, but Reference Guide opens ok. Help buttons and See Field Definitions are slow to open

 

Thank you for your reply and assistance

[Karen Graf from CNC Software]

Hi Brian & Chris,

 

Brian, from your answers, I'm going to have to assume that your problem is due to a "weak" computer. Your system paths are set up correctly and Mastercam is accessing the Help successfully, just slowly. I'm sorry that I don't have any quick answers for you other than updating your PC.

 

As far as the educational NetHasp setup that Chris is talking about, it doesn't surprise me that the Help takes a while to open, especially the first time. HTMLHelp systems (.CHMs) rely on temporary files to "remember" where you were in the Help the last time.....kind of like cookies or bookmarks. If a bunch of people are logging on and off for fairly short periods of time and using the Help more often than someone who is more familiar with the product, those temporary files need to be overwritten more often, and that takes a bit more time.

 

I wish that I had more helpful answers for you, but at least you’re both experiencing behavior that sounds “normal.” If you have any other troubles accessing the Help, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me.

 

Thanks,

Karen