pip/Colin, re: QuickMask File Utiities for X3 I see that the emastercam Forum FTP site is STILL down! I can email you the ZIP package containing all the QMF stuff for X3 I just need an email address that can accept a ZIP attachment. You can click on the 'email icon' at the top of this posting to send me the email address you wish to use. zDog

pip & Colin I have the updated Quick Mask File Manager / Quick Mask File / Mask File Linker utilities running on X3. But the Forum FTP is still off-line. If I cannot get the ZIP containing this 'Mask File Power Pack' uploaded by mid-day tomorrow, I'll contact you to see about emailing it directly to you.

pip, Which file are you looking for? If an 'X3' version, you'll not find since I've not updated it (as I mentioned in my previous post). quote: The chook wont work on my X3 install.. Very frustrated. So the X2 version doesn't work for X3? Lat me take a look and see what it will take to update the Quick Mask File & Quick Mask File Manager utilities.

pip, You're the only one that's brought up the subject for X3. I am bit surprised by that, as it sounded to Colin was a big fan. Topic: Quick Mask - using mask files Anyway, I assumed that everyone had migrated over to the new QuickMask capability in Mastercam. Of course QMF gave you the ability to (more easily) use MASK Files. If there is enough demand, it’s possible I could be persuaded. Say… A pre-paid trip to Switzerland? quote: I used the C-Hook from X2 and it seems to be working.It is possible that it might.

Colin, Just for you! On the forum FTP site in -- X3_Add_Ons is the package for X3. It contains updated versions of-> *QuickMask Manager *QuickMaskFile *MaskFileLinker A few notes.... 1> You can copy over your MaskLinked .DLL & .FT files from X2 over into the X3CHooks folder and the add-on will handle this "old" .MASK files. *Of course the actual .MASK files being "run" must still be in the X2commonmasks folder. (Recall the "Mask Linked" items have a hard-coded path to the .MASK file) 2> The (X2) limitation of having to restart Mastercam after adding a quick mask item to a toolbar - has been eliminated. 3> Right click (Only) mode now works, even if the quick mask item is placed on the right-mouse (RMB) menu. *I have no idea this version of the add-on will work with X2-MR2 -> I assume that it will not, but I did not have time to test that. If was getting late and this old dog needs his sleep If anyone wishes to try it using X2-MR2, do not be surprised if it does not work, or even *crashes* Mastercam. You have been warned! Colin, If this works and makes you (and your group) massively more productive, you can show your appreciation by sending a BBJ (you know what that is! think...think... ) my way. My needs are small, any configuration will do just fine! I anyone has any feedback and/or suggestions, I'll be happy to listen, but just an FYI - I will not be able to look at (or respond) to any inquires for a least several weeks. [ 05-05-2008, 02:18 PM: Message edited by: Zerren Gedeon ]

A new Mastercam X2 utility from zDog. zDog Utilities presents the Delete Control Definitions Utility Available now on the Forum FTP site the in the X2_Add_Ons folder. This utility was prompted from this plea that was placed in the thread for the wildly successful MD_CD_PST Path Assignment Utility Steve Biehl – “Could the utility also be setup to allow deleting of 'extra' posts listed in Control?” *If you don’t know why you would need this , that means this utility is probably not for you. Note that the ‘extra’ posts Steve refers to are actually ”Control Definitions”. Listen closely grasshopper and I’ll tell you a story... The term ”Control Definition” can be confusing. What is it ‘physically’? A .CONTROL file is not really a Control Definition, but a file that “contains” (one or more) Control Definition(s). Got it ? A Control Definition in a .CONTROL file is identified by... It’s Type and the (full) PathName of the PST file assigned to it. (Type being one of these; Mill, Router, Lathe, Wire, Mill-Turn) So even if your .CONTROL file contains only one Control Definition, calling that file your ”Control Definition”, while not really true, in this case is close enough that you don’t care! But a .CONTROL file can more than one Control Definition. And if you wish to get rid of unused Control Definitions in a .CONTROL file, while that certainly can be done, the method to do that is a bit of a pain. That’s the reason for the Delete Control Definitions Utility (and the other zDog utilities) - to hopefully lessen some of that pain. Please be sure to read the Delete Control Definitions Utility.doc!

Don't you just hate it when that happens! On the forum FTP in the X2_Add_Ons folder is a new build -> MD_CD_PST Path Utility (X2-MR2).zip It comes up OK for me using X2-MR2, but I've no time to check it out any further right now. (Hopefully nothing else has changed). zDog

I believe that last build of the path utility is available on Forum FTP in X2_Add_Ons folder -> MD_CD_PST Path Utility.ZIP Does it not work with X2-MR2? If not, was does not work?

"the default of backing up and writing the log file is not on by default" Really...? I'll look into that. "Can this utility be used to alter paths of the files also?" NO This does not replace the MD_CD_PST Path Assignment Utility. "Seems it can only rename the files" YES That's what is does!

To all interested parties... The MD_CD_PST Rename Utility is now available on the forum FTP site in the X2_Add_Ons folder. Please read the DOC file before using. *Even though the utility makes a Backup File, it would still be a good idea to have backups of the file(s) you are having this utility alter! Always better to be safe, then sorry! If you find an bugs and/or have any enhancements requests, please post them here in this thread.

I’m back!!! I know that there were some requests that the well received MD_CD_PST Path Utility also allow for renaming of the MD/CD/PST files. I actually gave this a shot, but the result was so hideous, it never got out of the doghouse. Anyway... “Someone” dangled some dog treats in front of your truly and... Look what’s coming to a Mastercam (X2-MR2) system near you -> The MD_CD_PST Rename Utility ! This purpose of this utility is to simplify the process of altering the “names” of the (.CONTROL & .PST files) files referenced in a Mastercam Machine Definition, as well as the name of the Machine Definition file itself. It also renames any .PSB files that match the name of any PST file that is renamed. It also updates the Post Text reference [CTRL_LATHE|GENERIC FANUC 2X LATHE] in any PST that is renamed. It should be available after the first of the year, after some more testing has been completed. Happy Holidays! zDog

Almost a year ago I did a BoltCircle CHook for X2. It was basically a replication of the BoltCircle (NETHook) that ships with Mastercam. Seeing your plea for a "No Points" option, here you go... In the Forum FTP site in the X2_Add_Ons folder is the updated Chook -> BoltCircle (CHook for X).ZIP Note that you cannot replace the 'BoltCircle' command in the main menu to call this CHook, you'll need to run it as a CHook. There is an FT file to allow for adding its icon to a toolbar and/or keystroke (Its icon will be found the the 'Geometry' category in the Settings-Customize dialog) Enjoy... zDog

Colin, You're a bit too quick on the praise. I realized last night that I'd missed setting a switch properly, so... There is a new version of utility on the ftp site. The original one always assumed that X2-MR2 was loaded in C:Mcamx2-MR2 This brings to light a topic for possible enhancement -> Currently the full path/name of the .MASK file is stored in the DLL that is created. This means if X2-MR2 on your system is on C: and a co-worker's is on D:, you cannot just share the DLL & FT files created by MaskeFileLinker. But, this setup would be desirable in this case -> If you place the .MASK files in a common location on your network so that all your team can share the same .MASK files, now you do want the this full (static) path. I was thinking of adding a "Relative Path" option checkbox. If checked, the DLL that gets built would always look the .MASK file "relative" the the 'base' folder of the active X2-MR2 session. Any opinions? zDog

All, We had enough #$&^#@! weather recently that allowed for more computer time. I don't know if that's a "good" thing or not! The result is... MaskFileLinker ! Notes: #1> This only works with X2-MR2 (So you non-Beta users are going to have to wait awhile longer ). #2> The MaskFileLinker.dll requires that the QuickMaskFile.dll exists in the CHooks folder. (The QuickMaskFile.dll is the file that actually ‘reads’ the .Mask file). The QuickMaskFile.dll (if you don’t have it) is available as part of the original QuickMaskFile.zip in the X2_add_ons folder of the forum FTP site, which is where you'll find the MaskFileLinker.ZIP that contains this new MaskFileLinker utility. (A single DLL that goes into the CHook folder). 3> If the TipString is left blank’, the TipString (what you see when you hover over a toolbar icon) will be defaulted to the full pathname of the .MASK file that was “linked”. Enjoy... All feedback is appreciated. No guarantee that I’ll be able to act on any suggestions, but I will listen.

Thanks for the feedback. I just got a 'proof of concept' NEThook project working that "creates" a (NETHook) DLL that executes a specified MASK file in ALL or (right mouse click)ONLY mode. So we're half way there. Still lots of work to do hooking it up with an interface and tying into the original QMF Manager. BTW, The original QuickMaskFile will also be reworked using this new API functionality (detect right mouse click activation) to eliminate the need of having the QuickMaskFile icon on a toolbar prior to starting Mastercam. I'll be back once I have something for you...

Hello all, I've been away for awhile doing "other" things. ----------------------------------------------- Colin (and others), You asked for QuickMaskFile functionality like ScriptLinker. The ability to create and assign a Mask file to a toolbar icon and/or keystroke. More that just the one the current QuickMaskFile allows for. You’ll note my post on 10-30-2006 moaning about what a pain this would to do. And it would have been (I tried!) prior to now. I submitted a couple requests to CNC and they’ve implemented 2 features in the NETHook and CHook APIs (in X2-MR2) that now makes this project reasonable to do. New API features -> 1> The ability for Mastercam to tell your add-on that the user right-mouse clicked on your button. (This was key!) 2> The ability to have your add-on “dynamically” supply a text string to be used as the TipString you see when you hover the mouse over a toolbar button. Now with these new features and knowing that using functions in the (.NET) CodeDOM namespace is the way ScriptLinker does its thing, I could do something. So, I have a question for all you Mastercam users... Are you still interested ?

This very crude (CHook) utility does the following.... You select 2 (MCX) files and it scans each one looking at the ‘geometric’ data in each file’s database. It checks the ‘unique id number’ that every piece of geometry has and the modification (creation) time stamp of each entity. It then reports its findings. I said it was crude ! This reports that T.MCX contains '7' geometric entities and that T1.MCX has '8' and that '7' of the entities in each file "match". It does not check for matches on the same color, level, etc. It certainly would be easy to do so, but I think that would be redundant after looking for identical id's and modification times. Obviously this utility would have to be enhanced and expanded to really be useful. It could compare one file against each file in a folder of MCXs. And the reporting needs some work! (I see that I misspelled “comparison” and entity! ) Did I mention that this was a quick 'proof of concept' job ? Questions... 1> Is this what you are looking for? 2> What file<=>file, or file<=>folder of files comparisons do you need? 3> What type (and format) report needs to be generated? 4> How detailed does the report need to be? Just an overall "matched" count? A "matched" count for each type of entity? (e.g. a line match count, arc match count, etc)?

On the Forum FTP site in this folder -> /Mastercam_forum/X2_Add_Ons you'll find a BoltCircle (CHook for X2).zip file. It contains (suprisingly enough) an X2 add-on that creates creates Bolt Circles. It allows pasting into the fields of the dialog and supports the "standard" right mouse click options. Just extract the (2) files in the ZIP into your CHooks folder. Now in Settings - Customize, under the Geometry category you'll finds an icon for 'BoltCircle-X2'. *** Note!!! This does not replace the original Create - BoltCircle in the menus. (It that is even possible, I don't know how to do it.)

"How will it save time and money in the long run?" It all depends... I'd say you first need to identify what you want to have it do. Only then can you make a guess at - Is it worth the time and effort to create an add-on (C-Hook or NETHook) for that functionality. And if that time/effort is cost effective. Some of the time/effort I put into the projects I do is definitely not cost effective, but I do 'em for the fun and learning experience. I'm kinda sick in that way

Colin, You're very welcome. "What program do you use to write your code?" -> MS Visual Studio 2005

I noticed this thread on the Beta forum… -------------------------------------- How about an Inverse Selection option? Many times it would be easier to select what I don't want, then inverse it. I currently do this by: 1. changing colors (or levels) and select all colors except for the newly created one. 2. create a Group, as you can choose what you want to remove from a group after selecting all entities. Both of these work, and there may be others, but it takes quite a few steps. -------------------------------------- Well - this just made to much sense and sounded easy to do. You can download the InvertSelection.zip (a Mastercam X2 CHook) from the forum ftp folder X2_Add_Ons. Enjoy… zDog

markov, Microsoft changed the way Wizards are done from VS2003 -> VS2005, so the "old" CHook Wizard will not work with VS2005. To update your CHook project so that it will compile using VS2005, you need to make the changes shown here to add the needed items for the 'UI' stuff.

Strange indeed... How about trying the 'GraphicsBackground' CHook available on the forum FTP site in the C-hooks folder -> GraphicsBackgroundSwitcher (X2).zip Maybe that will jog the video ?

I've been very busy and have not been to the forum for a few days, so I'll respond to several items here... ------------ Bryan, Q. Regarding all the MD/CD/PST files in one ‘local folder’. A. Of course you can do that with this utility and if you do not want them all in the same folder you can to that also. ------------ Greg, Q. "Can we add C Hooks and config files to this?" A. No. Those are unrelated items the MD/CD/PST file placement issue. ------------ Kevin, Q. "Is this for X2 only" A. Yes. As noted in the 'Important notes' in the (.CHM) Help file.

quote: What is your thought on changing the MD and CD to simply 1st look for files in the local folder? "in the local folder" What local folder? Is this what you mean? If you put the MD & CD & PST all in the same folder, the folder that the MD file is in is the local folder?