MCEDIT is an older editor that we licensed years ago and have not been able to get updates to. One of its shortcomings is that we cannot tell it to open up with a filename that contains spaces. If we encounter a filename with spaces, we automatically launch CimcoEdit. So it's not really 'old NC' vs. 'new NC' files. I bet you've got a space (or more than one) in the path to the old ones. I know the explanation's a weird one, but it's the truth. PDG

Sorry about the double post - my answer has been moved to the next post ( couple weighty blueberry muffin crumbs fell on my enter key when I wasn't really finished typing) PDG

Codebreaker, Got a file I can look at which only brings "a few" features across to Mastercam? We know there are things we can't support yet (so we'll turn the model up to that point into a 'brick'), but a lot of feature types are supported. I'd be interested to see that particular types are causing problems. (And you could get your hands on some fixes...) PDG

Code_breaker, It sounds like you may have moved your Mastercam directory from where it was originally installed. Use REGEDIT (very VERY carefully) and browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareCNC Software, Inc.V9 Mill. (Or V9 Lathe, or whatever) You'll see a string under there titled "DIRECTORY". This is where double-clicking on a file is going to think Mastercam is installed. Does it match where you really run Mastercam from? If not, edit it by right-clicking on "DIRECTORY" and choosing 'Modify'. Type in the actual path to where Mastercam is installed. IF YOU'RE UNSURE ABOUT EDITING THE REGISTRY, PLEASE FIND SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THEIR WAY AROUND IT. ALL SORTS OF THINGS CAN GO WRONG IS IT GETS MESSED UP! CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED! PDG

I checked with our Applications Manager and he says: "There isn’t a HFAPP_V9.DOC file. It was converted to a powerpoint. Yes, it’s available on CD. It’s about 65MB with the .AVI files, 2MB without. He can get the CD from his dealer. If the dealer doesn’t already have the files, he can download it from the extranet under sales/ demo tools/ all products." PDG

Pro, it is currently not possible to "stitch" surfaces together to make a solid from within a C-Hook or a VB Script. PDG

Pro, Please e-mail me at [email protected] and I'll help get you started. PDG

I'll save you from asking QC. The answer is no, it's not configurable by the user PDG

A bit of clarification... We do Not convert the STL file into a solid during machining of STL files. But, it might sound cool to convert the STL file (remember it's all triangles) into a solid, but you'd very quickly end up with a solid with 1000s (if not 10000s or 100000s) of flat faces. And it's usefulness will probably fade. PDG

ssneller, Nope, sorry. We'll output a rectangle as 4 separate lines PDG

Anything in the "Help" sub-folder of the folder where Mastercam is installed?

Sure - let's verify once & for all that there really is only one problem here. We know we can't handle the "block references" and "proxies" are often problematic. A note regarding "proxies". These are essentially an entity type that AutoCAD will know nothing about, even if made in MDT. Programmers can write add-ons to AutoCAD and make any kind of entity they like and call it a "proxy". MDT is really just an add-on to AutoCAD. You can e-mail it to me at [email protected] PDG [ 01-22-2004, 05:51 PM: Message edited by: ProductDevelopmentGuy ]

Avs_fan, No - nothing in the January patch affected the DWG/DXF importer. Are your problems limited to DWG/DXF files which contain solids stored as "Block Reference" entities in AutoCAD? That is the only entity type that we are aware of which we are not handling properly. PDG

You did indeed find the way to convert surfaces to solids. Whoever told you we cannot do this was mistaken. PDG

I uploaded chainingSample.DOC to the C-Hooks folder on the FTP site. It's got some code snippets and explanations regarding how to make chains from entities and how to associate the chains with an operation PDG

There's a PTS2ARCS C-Hook on the forum FTP site that'll do that. Something that we wrote a while back but haven't included in the product. PDG

-------------------------------------------- i didnt know it was that easy to get what I want -------------------------------------------- It's not. It's that easy to ask for it. Getting it is something completely different. That's why it's only called a 'request'. PDG

No, sorry. I checked the code and it always defaults to Acad2000. I can log it as an enhancement request for you here. It's a good idea. PDG

Paul, I would recommend that you: 1) take Glenn Bouman's advice and look at the MPWAGEVO.PST. 2) if that doesn't cut it for you, send an e-mail to your dealer AND to [email protected] explaining why it's still not working for you. 3) express any displeasure with your dealer's support directly to [email protected]. Doing so on the forum won't help solve that problem. Good luck and keep us informed of your progress. PDG

Hardcopy in V9.1Sp2 only supports linewidths between 1 and 5. Yeah, I know, there's nothing to stop you from entering a larger number than 5, but truth be told 5 is as high as you can go. After that all bets are off.

I don't think the "PATH" problem that Bullines is talking about will help with this particular file. We've gotten several like it in the last couple weeks - people are getting MDT solids stored as "Proxy" entities and our latest Autodesk import can't read them. We're working on it. If you have access to MDT, open the file there and export it as an SAT file (I think they call it "Export->Desktop ACIS"). That SAT file will then come into Mastercam. That will get you the solid. Like I said, we're working on it. PDG

Please send any SolidWorks files that will not open with the newest SolidWorks importer (Dec 3, 2003) to both [email protected] & [email protected]. Happy to look at them for you. PDG

Avs fan, If you can send a file or two to me ([email protected]) or post them on Jay's FTP site, I can probably narrow down the problem for you. Are they Acad2004 files? With Solids? PDG (a Bruins fan) P.S. and Webmaster Dave is right - you do not need to be a Maintenance customer to get these file importer updates. [ 12-10-2003, 08:26 AM: Message edited by: ProductDevelopmentGuy ]

I put a fresh version of NOHIST.ZIP back into the C-hooks sub-folder on the FTP site. PDG

I agree with 'Smit'. Getting the CD is the safe route. PDG