snow

This would be great. Or perhaps something along the lines of model configurations like in SolidWorks or Rhino would be really beneficial. Duplicating a model to show an exploded version is not ideal in terms of data (or convenience). If you could assign configurations (and name the configurations) it would save a lot of headaches and duplicate geometry.

looks like it's available on mac and windows too...

2013 MacBook Pro (personal) running stronger than a 2019 Dell Precision 7530 (work) here. But I suppose if IT actually purchased something with a price tag things would be different.

I have various keyboard shortcuts (m = move, r = rotate, p = pick, etc.) and I found they work about 60-70% of the time, so your 50/50 isn't far off. If the shortcut doesn't work I'll usually hit the space bar and start typing the tool to pull it up. after this maneuver then the shortcuts work. And yeah, I don't understand two pick tools either. I imagine if you have a frame type selected you should be able to choose Lasso or Polygonal as well within the same tool.

in wireframe mode, go to Edit and make sure "2 Click Face / Outline Selection" is checked.

I couldn't spend more than 6 hours trying the Modo demo because "Modo isn't yet HiDPI compliant" which I found mildly appalling given the popularity of 4K screens these days. But yeah, Blender is HELLA refined. Open source will do that to a program haha.

Yes. But the issue with giving up formZ is the speed in which I work and the ability to share my files with SolidWorks users. VectorWorks and Rhino come close to formZ in terms or how geometry is modeled and sharing with SolidWorks (Rhino is arguably better because .3dm files can be opened directly into SolidWorks), but if you look at the forums of each respective software you will find droves users posting about bugs, suggestions and other grievances. I think the more you use a certain piece of software then the more aware you are of it's shortcomings which makes the OTHER software look so refined and polished, only to find out years later you're again aware of all it's shortcomings. wash, rinse, repeat.

I almost always have better luck rounding the individual edge instead of rounding the face.

try starting with a large cylinder for the cap and a small cylinder for the notch and boolean difference the two objects. then use rounding to make the corners nice and soft.

Pick your object, go to the Tool Options and click on Attributes. Then in the drop-down select Cross Section.

"All this computer hacking is making me thirsty.... I think I'll take a TAB."

I've run across this many times. I don't think it's as much of a bug as it is just a limitation in the current ortho snap in shaded modes. I after selecting my object I usually go into wireframe mode to move it along an axis. It's not ideal, but it's a bit of a workaround.

No, it was right the first time. Trashing the Autodessys folder will solve all formZ problems 🤣

hahaha lovely description.

I've used various 3D software over the years, been on many forums, and I think formZ is the only software that recommends trashing the preferences at the system level to solve problems.

There is a GUIDE tool, but I'm not certain if that tool is available in formZ Free.

Honestly I have a hard time seriously recommending formZ to other designers. Yes I am very fast in creating models but find a seasoned 3DS/C4D/Sketchup/Rhino user and they could likely build the same model within a comparable time frame. Unfortunately speed isn't the only thing that matters. 3DS and C4D might lack a level of precision that formZ inherently has, but there's a level of parametric modeling that formZ doesn't have i.e. live booleans. Couple this with NUMEROUS 3rd party plugins and rendering engines and you have a hard time trying to pry a visual artist from those programs. Blender and Modo can be tossed in this mix too. C4D also has one of the cleanest interfaces in the business, especially considering the scale of the program. Blender and Modo both have VERY nice interfaces that are modern and sleek. 3DS is a little behind in this category but they have the backing of Autodesk so it plays well with everything else that is popular from Autodesk (Revit, Maya, Inventor...). Sketchup is extremely basic and intuitive right out of the box, which is very attractive, but the program has the ability to grow with the user because of the extension warehouse. Don't want to manually fillet that edge? Well there's a plugin for that. It was also free for a very long time and was initially backed by Google. Rhino, IMHO is the most comparable program to formZ but I find it a bit more flexible. The Rhino for Mac interface is super clean and the more I work with the program the more aware I've become of it's expansive tool set. However it's not inherently a solid modeler so there always seems to be an extra step or to to get what I need to the engineers in my office. It also has a LOT of 3rd party plugin/rendering engine support. Oh, and Grasshopper is awesome. I feel like formZ is best with users who know it best. I know that if I recommend it to someone they would undoubtedly come across one of the many "quirks" of formZ and I'd have to steer them away from certain tools or actions to prevent a crash (i.e. components). Having known a number of people who work in these other programs and having worked in them myself I can see why they are so popular and why many never return back to a previous program. The unpopularity of formZ isn't because it's a bad program. It's not. It's a very GOOD program..... BUT.... the many other 3D modelers/visuallizers that have a number of pros that outweigh the cons compared to formZ.

+1 the axes of grouped objects needs to ALWAYS be center of volume (or center of bounding box). i don't know what causes the axes to go haywire anytime objects are grouped together.

Have you thought about using software that is more geared towards visualization such as C4D or 3DS Max? FormZ is a great modeler, but anytime I'm rendering an entire scene I just export parts of it into C4D for ease of use. Models that render formZ useless when simply panning or rotating seems to work just fine in those other programs. I've been using C4D for over 2 years for this reason and I have yet to see it crash. It's arguably the most stable program I've ever used.

I've had some good luck with SKP files after it's been exported to FBX. The materials are a little wonky, but the model is fairly clean. Highlight all and Ungroup a few times followed by Object Doctor and it should help. Granted, I've grabbed some models from the 3D warehouse that are beyond the grasp of formZ triage. It largely depends on the SKP user.

Allow the selection of multiple objects / group, select Edit Axes, and change to Center of Gravity, etc.

I experience this DAILY (without the MIMI script).

Yes formZ and Catalina work fine together... but Catalina is still a little buggy. I'd suggest waiting until the first or second patch arrives. It's also worth noting that Catalina drops support for all 32 bit apps.

I use a Logitech M720 and it works fine. Did you download Logitech Options? Maybe something isn't configured properly on the mouse?

here you go! lowpoly trees.fbx.fmz