Program interface...

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NewAtThis
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Program interface...

Post by NewAtThis »

Are there any plans in the pipeline to improve the user interface of Vectric software, please? I like the program and what I can do with it, but the interface is very 1990s :-(

Also, while I'm on a roll, is there any likelihood the forum is going to get a facelift? Archiving some of the history wouldn't be a bad idea either - I can't see information from 15 years ago is current or relevant.

Thanks
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Rcnewcomb
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Re: Program interface...

Post by Rcnewcomb »

Are there any plans in the pipeline to improve the user interface of Vectric software
It has a similar look and feel compared to other CAD/CAM packages I've used.

What are you thinking of? Can you post a screenshot of something with a more modern user interface? (It doesn't have to be CAD/CAM)
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Re: Program interface...

Post by scotttarnor »

I will disagree on the 15 year old information not being relevant, as a new hobbyist on a CNC I find searching old posts can help troubleshoot issues that may be mechanical. It is also full of knowledge that I enjoy reading when searching an issue.
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SteveNelson46
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Re: Program interface...

Post by SteveNelson46 »

Are we talking about the forum or the software. Personally, I think both are above and beyond most others I have seen. It's just a matter of learning how to use it. Newbie comments like that are not much appreciated on any website either.
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Re: Program interface...

Post by ctbjdm »

I would agree the interface feels dated...however I honestly don't care. It works, it's functional, and Vectric continues to improve the product functionality. I'd much rather they focus on that than the user interface - the projects I make/build don't look any better or different with a 'new school' or 'old school' user interface.

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Re: Program interface...

Post by adze_cnc »

This is my 1950s Iona blender. It looks and feels dated. But I will pit it against your blender any day.
 
iona blender ca 1950s.jpg
 
Its carafe is thick-walled glass. Yours is probably nasty brittle plastic. Its three-lobed cloverleaf design continually churns material into the blades. Yours is probably square and the material gets flung away from the blades into corners. Its motor is a vacuum cleaner motor and it is reasonably quiet.** Yours probably screams like a banshee. I could go on.

There are improvements needed to be made to the software (the trim tool is a good example). But remember it's easier to remove and re-pour the concrete for a driveway than it is to change the overall look and feel of any reasonably complex piece of software—the older the software the more difficult. (For the driveway, just get a few buddies together and promise them dinner and beer.)

** Iona was the kitchen products arm of Iona / Fantom. Fantom made vacuum cleaners.

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Re: Program interface...

Post by Adrian »

One of the things that I really like about the Vectric software (and this is coming from an ex-IT Director who specialised in UI design and productivity) is that they don't change the interface around every couple of releases as many other programs do.

Personally I don't think there is a lot wrong with the interface. I would like to be able to undock the 2D and 3D windows from the parent frame and be able to create user-defined shortcut keys/context menu links but other than that I don't see anything fundamentally wrong with it. The only "modern" feature I can see it really lacks is a dark mode.

The advantage of not doing wholesale changes to the UI is that the 15 year old posts on the forum are still relevant in many ways (many topics are 100% relevant) and there is a massive library of tutorials etc on the internet that are still relevant event though they are years old.

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Re: Program interface...

Post by Leo »

I have used a LOT of CAD - CAM software as well as Adobe photoshop and Adobe Video editing.

As to Vectric, it is simple, easy to read, easy to see, TONS of functionality. There is sooo much functionality that there is more than can be learned in a few weeks or even a few years. After 15 years using Vectric I am still learning new and useful functions and have yet to explore into new depths of what new possibilities are in there.

I like it as is - but maybe there is room for a few tweaks. I know for sure that Vectric DOES listen to ALL of us and they DO incorporate changes to improve the interface. Every update has some improvement that we all like.

Personally, I would like to see FULL 4 axis machining, but I have more than 80% of what I want with what I have. In regards to the 80-20 rule, Vectric wins.

Please elaborate on what you think needs to be improved.
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Leo
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Re: Program interface...

Post by Leo »

Please excuse the not so often comments that are offensive. On some occasion we tend to be "human" and make mistakes. We all do. I do too. I can assure you that 99.99 % of the time we do the best to help others, new users as well as seasoned users. This forum is a user forum, none of us are employed by Vectric. The STAFF is but all the rest of us are not.

I agree with you that being able to group our most often Icons would be nice. I use that in other places, but have never given it a second thought in Vectric. I have just gotten so used to knowing where I need to go that I just find it easy. There are keyboard shortcuts also. Press N for node editing - Press J for join - Press F9 to Center. I don't use undocking in other software even where it is available. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

This IS a good forum and ALL the posters in this thread are a GREAT resource of help. As I said we all slip up from time to time. I am absolutely so offense was intended.
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Re: Program interface...

Post by NewAtThis »

I'm just finding my feet on this forum - as only registered users can - and offensive comments aren't common, as you correctly point out.

I appreciate your sentiments and agree most of those who respond to my questions and queries do so positively, and I appreciate that. The learning curve for any technical software can be a steep one, but it's easy for those who are experienced with it to forget that.

It is a good forum. I wouldn't be here, otherwise!
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Re: Program interface...

Post by SteveNelson46 »

Sorry if my post was taken offensively. It's just that I have seen so many new software and hardware users that want to change things to suit their needs and think that it is the responsibility of the company to do so. I did not intend to offend.
Steve

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Re: Program interface...

Post by NewAtThis »

SteveNelson46 wrote:
Sun Jun 12, 2022 4:58 pm
Sorry if my post was taken offensively. It's just that I have seen so many new software and hardware users that want to change things to suit their needs and think that it is the responsibility of the company to do so. I did not intend to offend.
No worries. I wasn't trying to change things to suit me, and my apologies if that's what it came across as. There are worse interfaces out there, for sure, but I'm not a fan of Windows in the first place, much preferring the interface of MacOS software. Sadly, Vectric isn't available on that operating system, so I'll have to take the rough with the smooth, but it does seem a little outdated!

Thank you
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Re: Program interface...

Post by Rcnewcomb »

The Help file documents some of the interface options that are available. Options Dialog
Screen Shot 2022-06-12 at 10.52.09 AM.png
or even being able to adjust the icon size would help
An alternative that is available now is to use the Magnifier tool that is included with Windows.


Personally I think it would be nice to have an option in the program to magnify icons similar to the Dock Icon magnifier in Mac OS. It magnifies the icons nearest the mouse pointer. I'm not a fan of the rectangle that Windows uses for the Magnifier.
Screen Shot 2022-06-12 at 10.54.04 AM.png
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Re: Program interface...

Post by NewAtThis »

Well I didn't know you could 'float' the Drawing and Toolpath toolbars!

Looks like every day's a school day!
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Re: Program interface...

Post by Leo »

Nightowl4933 wrote:
Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:19 pm
Looks like every day's a school day!
YES it IS.
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