Kevin Mikelonis

Bummer Jon.

I'll suggest this to you, and it comes from experience.

We lost 4 days production and training because not one of our 3 machines could run SI5 for various reasons that all collided at once.

The solution was to uninstall SI5 AND remove all remnants...every trace of SI5 from each machine.

The uninstall process does not do this.

Dustin dug into all the directories and did it for me.

Perhaps a sticky could be posted on the forum for instructions on performing a complete uninstall including which directories to find SI5 files and wipe them out.

It was after doing this that the kind of problems you have been describing went away for us and we were back up and running.

Now, stability is good, access to all features is consistent, and we are pushing through a significant project that I would not want to manage with anything else but D-Tools.

The Beta, Pre-release, and Service Packs do not seem to have been thoroughly reviewed for how they perform when installed over existing installs, and we saw our SI5 copies get more lethargic and unuseable with each SP that delivered features that were missing, but broke others. Perfect example is the repaired 'smart title frame' which is in SP3 does not install if you already have the defective 'smart title frame' on your machine - duh! does'nt everyone have that! Inexcusable! So I have to deduce that many other issues are handled like this throughout.

I do not know how the 'code' side of this software works, we focus on how to make it run at its best, so technically I could be making improper assumptions, but we have been where you are, lost money because of cancelled trainings we could not deliver since we had no working copy of SI5 in the building, and have come out the other side and see the light.

This uninstall and reinstall will take a few hours and I am betting that the crippling issues you see will go away.

So how about that 'How to REALLY uninstall SI5 instruction set'

Randy?

__________________
Kevin Mikelonis
Process Dealer Services Group
D-Tools Certified Partner
PO Box 3443
Paso Robles, Ca
805.275.2308
www.processdsg.com
info@processdsg.com

Stuff That Works

priblejr

I put these in the "feature request" area, but I am borderline on the bug area, so I am just reposting some additional finds:

Quote:

Hey Everyone, This is a list of requested changes that would make life easier for everyone and ease up the aggression that seems to build every time I create a project. Deep Breath. 1. Shift-Click Edit in the DM currently only changes the last field, which is inconvenient. I don't want to change the price except for these specific units, so I have to do it for each instance, which is also inconvenient. Group Edit would be fantastical. 2. CTRL-Click Option in DM would be great as well. If I want to select items that are not in order, I shouldn't have to filter each time. That wastes vasts amounts of time. Also single click, right-click, delete is as much a waste of time as filtering. I just want to delete items, not change the world. 3. Each time I open and close the Add Product Window from within the SI Text editor (DM), I have to adjust my window size, every time. Not to mention, the scroll bar enjoys defaulting to the top of the SI Text list, which the hunt in a text-filled window that looks something like: Lower Level: BallRoom: NorthSide Lower Level: BallRoom: SouthSide Lower Level: BallRoom: DanceFloor Lower Level: BallRoom: Band Stage Lower Level: BallRoom: Restroom Of course, after I add an item, the windows expand out to look like this: [pre] Lower Level: BallRoom: NorthSide Audio: Speakers Sonance S623T *bracket mount Receivers Crestron CN-TRACK *Cresnet Cable Lower Level: BallRoom: SouthSide Lower Level: BallRoom: DanceFloor Audio: Speakers Sonance S623T *bracket mount Receivers Crestron CN-TRACK *Cresnet Cable Lower Level: BallRoom: Band Stage Lower Level: BallRoom: Restroom [/pre] Super. 3. One thing that would help the above, is a color code (which can be edited per user) that can separate visually the different levels. Light Gray for each Zone, Light Yellow for each Category in a Zone, Light Green for each Accessory, etc. This SHOULD Be editable per user. 4. This one is really annoying: The SI TEXT List needs to have sorting options besides alphabetize. If you want to view the list like you created it in the proposal (which is extremely helpful because I create locations in a bottom left to top right order based off of Blueprints). Going alphabetical is just plain inconvenient. There should be default choices/customizations for sorting (like iTunes) and just as easy. 5. This is really really really irritating me: When adding a product to a project in SI Text or Adding an Accessory or Item to a Package (all 3 instances), the window change is inconsistent. Basically, I go to add product. I filter the manufacturer (which I have to actually click the check box twice initially to give control to that window, then again to check to box for manufacturer), then I can actually start to filter. I see what I want on the product side, but realize I have to scroll down on the item list to get to it. I put my cursor over the list and start to scroll but doesn't move. I just want to give control to that window so I click inside of it on the item name to give the window preference (NOT the check box). However, unlike the Manufacturer side, the check box is checked just for switching over to the window. If you work quickly as I do, this can screw up the entire add product function, and lots of time has to be spent doing collateral damage clean up. 6. In addition to the above issue, if I am working in the add product window, I select the products I want to add...add them to the location I choose. Now, if I want to add the product to a different location but I don't want the last two pieces I added to the previous location, I have to go up and hunt for the products that are checked. Again, time and aggravation. If I miss the item (or switching between the windows like the issue above, "accidentally" check boxes that shouldn't be) I have just now added unwanted products to the location. Again, time has to be spent doing clean up. You need to add a "clear" function just like manufacturer filter AND a "remove last" option that works each time you click it (much like Undo Last, Step Backward) feature on Adobe Products. These buttons should sit right below the product list. 7. In SI Text, the Location headers do not auto fit to the largest name. What I mean is if I have a location that is called "Main Ballroom Band Location" the name gets cut off to "Main Ballroom" This isn't exactly correct, just for illustration purposes only. If I drag items over, I may put them in the wrong location, especially if there are multiple areas in the Main Ballroom (such as dance floor, stage, pro audio booth, etc.). 8. Backtracking a little bit. With the whole window sizing issue, the window doesn't remember its last location and size. This really sucks when you are trying to use dual monitors and want to leave windows in their particular areas/screens. Each time I open the "Add Product" window, it adjusts center to the same small size it is initially. Internet Explorer and Firefox remember. I think this can too. These are just a number of issues that I have experienced within the program. I will continue to post other necessary/accessibility changes that should be implemented for optimal performance. Thanks. Jon

I am interested to hear any other issues people are having regarding accessibility of the program and/or ease of use.

Thanks!

Jon

BDG

Quote:

6. In addition to the above issue, if I am working in the add product window, I select the products I want to add...add them to the location I choose. Now, if I want to add the product to a different location but I don't want the last two pieces I added to the previous location, I have to go up and hunt for the products that are checked. Again, time and aggravation. If I miss the item (or switching between the windows like the issue above, "accidentally" check boxes that shouldn't be) I have just now added unwanted products to the location. Again, time has to be spent doing clean up. You need to add a "clear" function just like manufacturer filter AND a "remove last" option that works each time you click it (much like Undo Last, Step Backward) feature on Adobe Products. These buttons should sit right below the product list.

AMEN

curt.hayes

Just to add another voice, I've been using D-Tools for over 6 years (since 1.5) and have been a big proponent. My company does nothing but design and documentation, so I'm in D-tools all day every day...it absolutely has to work. I have tried since the initial release and at every subsequent release to convert to 5.0, but have encountered enough of these issues each time to retreat to my tried-and-true 4.6. I'm not going to tell anyone what to do, but until I can work BETTER AND FASTER in 5 than in 4 it will continue to sit on the shelf.

audioplanit

I have been fighting this software for many months now. Since the end of September I believe. I installed it once when it first arrived and could not get so much as a simple bid out of it. At this point I know I will find something new everyday - not working mysteriously....Wow. Im mean really wow. What is going on here. Do we have lemon laws in California for Software. Please already do something about all this. Is anything really being done about these issues. I feel like this could be the downfall of my business if I dont jump ship soon and find a new software. Dell Inspiron 2000 Dollars..... Dtools Software Thousands and Thousands of Dollars....... The look on my clients face when i tell them sorry I cant provide you with the information you need because my fancy shmancy software just wont work right........Priceless

Craig

Hello All,
Our company has been loyal D-tools users since 1.5 and with each version have been very pleased, until the recent 5.1. We had 5.1 waiting to be installed for a couple of months hoping that the majority of bugs would have been eliminated, much to our suprise, not only were there still quite a few bugs waiting for the "next service pack release", but more importantly some major key reports/capabilities that were available in 4.6 are now just gone! Probably the most frustrating thing that we are encountering is the lack of "gold support". I can not understand how a software integration company (D-tools) that touts "they will help you win more jobs and help you complete your jobs on time" can not reply to a request for technical support in a timely manner, if and when they do reply typically the answer is that will be in the next service pack or that part of the software we do not support, you are best off finding your answers in the forums. Please tell me how this is helping me get my jobs done on a timely manner when I am spending valuable time searching forums for a solution to a problem. We just ask please support what you are selling us, not just taking the money and running. Good day to all!

Samk

D-Tools should take their list of suggestions and cool features they're working on and file it away for awhile. How about just getting the software to do what it's supposed to do.
On a good day we're lucky just to be able to open d-tools let alone get it to get through the day without a slew of various error messages.