Tech

form•Z v9.0.0.3 (#A0F0) We have posted v9.0.0.3 today to address some reported issues with formZ v9. This version can be now installed using the link you received with you v9 codes. Here is a list of some of the more important improvements.: General • The on-line manual has an updated interface including a better Index and search features, and loads properly from the application. • The Action palette shows the active tool as expected. • The “Keep Proportional” option now works properly in the place component tool and the Component parameters of the Inspector palette. • Editing object names that are inside groups in the objects palette now show in the proper locations. • Resizing a palette while editing a text field no longer causes top edit field to move to the wrong location. • A detached Modeling tool palette can now be reinserted in the dock by dragging the palette such that the cursor inside the dock while pressing the Command (Mac OS) or ctrl (Windows) key. • Preview renderings for RenderZone or V-Ray for form•Z no longer hang or crash when clicking in the Materials or Material parameters palette before the preview rendering is complete. • Export to .skp no longer crashes when Keep textures is NOT selected. Windows Specific • The icon for “Delete Component” and “Delete Library” now shows properly. • Drag and drop now works properly in the Objects palette. OS X specific • Switching to another application and back to form•Z when there is more than one project open, no longer switches the active project. • The “options” button in the export file dialog no longer crashes on 10.14 and later. Draft Layout • Import from Modeling now available in File menu of Draft Layout app. This converts the model to drafting space using the current view or optional parameters defined in the new Import from Modeling options. • Import from Drafting now available in Modeling app imports the drafting space of a .fml file onto the current reference plane of the model. • Title blocks now show properly after loading a layout file. • Switching between layout and Draft spaces refreshes the window properly. Thank you for your feedback and patience as we work through these issues.

We are working on an update for early next week! The current version is 9.0.0.2 (A0D7). If you do not have this you can instal from the download link you received from us. We are investigating why the update manager is showing an empty interface.

Edit > Preferences; Modeling > Disable Scroll Wheel in Project Window

Can you please send the file to support? This is not a general problem so we would like to investigate what is happening with your file. You can still have multiple windows in the project with different settings (and which between them from the list at the bottom of the Windows Manu). You can also open an independent window (Windows menu) that is detached from the project window (like previous versions). Does this help?

iCloud uses a combination of local storage and server storage. iCloud always trying to keep things in sync between the cloud and all of the devices. It may hlep to understand the process when a file formZ is saved. formZ writes the project to a temp file ($$$fmz$$.zsr) to avoid overwriting the exiting file until we know the save was successful. We then delete the original file and rename the temp file to the real name. If keep backup option is on, the .fzb file is deleted first, the .fmz is renamed to the .fzb and then the temp is renamed file to the real name. The iCloud is trying to keep things in sync during this process and seems to be renaming the file because it sees another file with the same name (but different date, checksum) on the cloud. We are investigating to see if there is a way to detect that we are saving to a iCloud location (or Google drive etc) and the do things differently to avoid the issue. Also you may want to see if iCloud has any kind of setting to control how often it syncs.

We are investigating this. It is just the preview image, the settings work properly. This is working as fas as we can tell. It will not work until you have saved to a file location or opened an existing project. A new project "Untitlerd1" has no location until saved the first time.

Create a new project (or open an existing one). Its a bit of a quirk but ATM formZ needs a model window open for the registration menu item to be enabled.

No Problem. The option has been there for a few versions. There are circumstances where this is the only way to pick a face. In v9 there an icon in the in new Edit Options palette to control the 1 vs 2-click picking. Also be aware that form•Z maintains a separate setting for Wireframe and shaded views as often the 2-click method is more useful in wireframe and the 1 click in shaded modes.

Paul was a valuable member of our team as our tech support lead for many years and we miss him professionally and personally. Paul was enthusiastic and always someone who would be the champion of the end user to our team. However, he was never a developer of form•Z. False rumors like the lead programmer is dead simply do not help our situation. form•Z was created by Chis Yessios and David Kropp. Chris has retired but is still a valued advisor. David continues as president and leads the development team (not the rumored sole developer). The Joint Study Program still exists and between this program, the form•Z student edition and form•Z free there is a solid install base in schools (but it could always be better). We stopped the Partnerships in learning publication as it became increasingly difficult publish, as a younger generation of faculty became less interested in providing the student feedback that made the publication interesting. In general schools no longer teach software leaving the student to pick their own solution often without much guidance. We give the software to students and faculty for free (in Switzerland as well), yet others charge (some significantly). We are not sure where these market share numbers come from, but form•Z is used at a lot more than 930 companies, this number is at least an order of magnitude off. Are we a small team at the moment? Yes. But we challenge you to find another group that is as dedicated and believe in what they do. Do we make mistakes, sure, but we will always try to address the issues as fast as possible. Are we great are marketing? No. Andrew has provided some stunning images and kindly allowed us to use them in promotional material. We need to get better at marketing and ideas are always welcome. Thank you for everyone’s feedback, it will only make us better and we believe that the best is yet to come.

What is selected for the 2-click option in the Edit menu?

Ignore the extra icons in the "extensions palette". Just use the normal V-Ray tools palette.

If you detach the palette from the dock can you customize palette as you expect? The dock and the icons may be fighting each other on the sizing of the palette. Once you have it setup the way you like it, you can then re-insert the detached palette in the dock.