If you're running Mastercam X MR2, go to the Files page of the System Configuration dialog box (Settings, Configuration). There, you will see an option called MCX Backup Files. This option prevents your files from being overwritten. Instead, when you do a save, Mastercam automatically renames the old file, so you can go back to it at any time. You can find more details about this function in the help. Just search for "Files Property Page" (include the quotes, so the phrase is treated as a single search item). On that page, click the Field Definitions tab, and then, in the MCX Backup Files section, click the Active link. --Clay Clayton Walnum Sr. Technical Writer CNC Software

You can begin to experiment with Mastercam if you read a couple of books on machining, just to get some of the basic ideas. (Been there, done that.) Without at least some of this basic knowledge, none of the settings will make sense and even if you get the software to do something cool, you won't know what it's really doing. After you do the reading, I would suggest creating very simple parts (even just a rectangle with a couple of holes in it). Then use the default mill to try out some simple contour toolpaths. The deeper you get into Mastercam, though, the more you need to know about machining. There are tons of settings that only a machinist knows what to do with. I have put together a mini-tutorial for absolute beginners that I'd be glad to share. However, this document is NOT IN ANY WAY AN OFFICIAL CNC SOFTWARE DOCUMENT. It's just a formalization of some of the notes I took as I was learning to use Mastercam. If you'd like to look at it, just send me your email address. --Clay

Once we get MR2 out the door, I will be looking into what's required to develop C-Hooks and NET-Hooks under Visual Studio 2005. Stay tuned! (And, in the meantime, if you come across any interesting solutions, please pass them along.) --Clay

What dialog box are you referring to? Mastercam's Customize dialog? --Clay

Yes, they're formulas used in 3D graphics programming. I'd be more specific, but it's been a long time since I've used them. :-) --Clay

SnagIt (http://www.techsmith.com/) is a wonderful tool for capturing and annotating screen shots and is inexpensive ($40) to boot. If you do a lot of screen captures, I can't recommend it enough. (This is a personal endorsement, not an official one from CNC Software.) --Clay

You might try creating your Excel object with the CreateObject() function, rather than with the Mastercam SDK function: Set XL = CreateObject("Excel.Application") I don't know whether this will solve your problem, but there are issues with the SDK function, which have been corrected for the next release. --Clay

BTW, I should also mention that the latest version of the SDK should install fine by just running its setup.exe program. You shouldn't have to do anything else. The setup instructions I've seen in this thread are no longer needed (although I believe they still work). --Clay

After you install the C-Hook Wizard, you should have a ChookWizard template in Visual Studio's New Project dialog box. You should choose this template when starting a new project. The Wizard only works for C++ C-Hook projects. It cannot generate a NET-Hook. --Clay

Your Mastercam reseller can get you the SDK, which comes with some documentation. We are currently working on more extensive docs and expect them to be released soon. In the meantime, feel free to leave questions in the SDK Inbox at [email protected]. --Clay

One thing that always seems to get overlooked in these discussions is that comparing MCX to a car is like comparing the space shuttle to a pair of roller skates. MCX is immensely more complicated than a car. Moreover, while a car needs to drive over only a few types of surfaces, MCX has to run on nearly an infinite number of different computer configurations. Now, if your car can double as a Mars lander, you might have a point. :-) --Clay

Yes, V7colors for X will be in MR1. --Clay

Hi, Scott. Renumbering has been added to the editor for the MR1 release. --Clay Clayton Walnum Sr. Technical Writer CNC Software