ST4 Launch: What are you hoping to see today?

[toffeet]

Some of you might know that today is the launch of ST4. What improvements and new features do you hope to see today?

Regards,
Theodore

Solid Edge ST3 MP5 on WinXP x64
Insight Server on Win2008 R2 & SQL 2008 R2 x64
SharePoint 3.0 x64

 

[lapuser]

I don't have time to check this out but I believe that in ST4 there will be a direct link to the forum you can click on to go there and it will work off the "on maintenance" seat of software and not a sold to number login so anyone sitting in front of that workstation should be able to login.

I know this is cumbersome and overly restrictive but I think they wanted to do this in a large part to keep the trolls out. There is one who is particularly active right now that could just flood the forums with easily dozens of comments on software he has never used. The other aspect being I am sure a reward to those who bought their software. I was not there for the decision making so this is conjecture on my part.

 

[toffeet]

Does the name of the troll start with the letter "J" and his surname with "B"?

Solid Edge ST3 MP5 on WinXP x64
Insight Server on Win2008 R2 & SQL 2008 R2 x64
SharePoint 3.0 x64

 

[toffeet]

And I am not referring to John Baker.

Solid Edge ST3 MP5 on WinXP x64
Insight Server on Win2008 R2 & SQL 2008 R2 x64
SharePoint 3.0 x64

 

[lapuser]

Yes your surmise is correct.

 

[swertel]

Solid Edge users have always been a very close-knit community. The problem is, too close. The community itself wanted/wants a bigger community and to get the SE name more well-known in manufacturing circles. You can't do that with a closed newsgroup.

The newsgroup has been closed for years to allow UGS/EDS/Siemens employees to openly interact with users without fear of exposure to outside lurkers and data miners. It's what has helped keep the newsgroup so clean for decades with very few off-topic or flame-war type posts.

There was a change this year that allowed for creation of a newsgroup-only webkey. This allowed more company employees to access the newsgroup but prevent them from having full authority to download licenses and change other things through the GTAC website that their CAD Administrator did not want to give them access to. This next step is in response of user requests to wanting an even more open community, so potential new SE users can get real-user feedback as part of the decision making process. We'll see how it works and if the community grows in the way we all hope it will.

--Scott

http://www.wertel.pro

 

[JohnRBaker]

For the record, there was another often overlooked reason to allow newsgroup (AKA Siemens BBS) only webID's and this was to support students who had purchased 'Student Versions' of NX and Solid Edge. Technically these versions do not come with GTAC support but it was felt that access to the BBS would be useful for these people since many of the issues which might normally have been handled by GTAC can be gleaned from the various items posted and discussed on the BBS. And of course, there was a need to isolate these users from accessing any of the other support options available with a full-priviledged webID login.

And BTW, I KNEW exactly WHO you were referring to when you were talking about the 'troll' with the same initials as me since all of us at Siemens have been warned about this individual. Note that I've not yet seen any direct 'attacks' by him on NX or Teamcenter, but we do know that the Solid Edge people have had to deal with him for some time now within their social media activities.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.com/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[KENAT]

So, seeing as we've wondered into the weeds anyway...

How much better is the BBS or whatever it's called now?

I hung out there a fair bit back in 2006, then I discovered this place and frankly found it better.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[lapuser]

These are the advantages I have found. There is a wider variety of topics available with people to respond to them because of a much larger number of subscribers. I have not asked here for serious help mainly because there is a policy against putting users together, that is not true on the BBS. I have been able to get in direct contact with other users via email, phone# and in some cases I have been able to meet in person for mentoring. The SE developers and others like Dan Staples and Karsten Newbury hang out there and you have a direct line to them as a result.

If you do not like or have access to the BBS, Eng Tips is by far the next best thing.

 

[KENAT]

I found a lot on BBS were a bit too 'CAD' oriented rather than engineering oriented, if that makes sense.

That and the crummy lay out it used to have and the lack of answers I got on my question or two and I lost interest.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[lapuser]

I don't know about it that far back. When I was first there three years ago it was a bit stuffy and insular but it to has changed in all ways over the three years. It is my first choice.

 

[swertel]

Kenat,

You can still access the BBS through a newsreader if that is your preferred choice. Otherwise, they have changed the web format from DNEWS to VBulletin, so the format is much more familiar if you visit other online forums.

Yes, they are still more CAD/Drafting oriented than engineering/design oriented, but that's to be expected.

--Scott

http://www.wertel.pro