Processing card frustrations - numbering and DAs

[SAmmerman]

I have 2 questions:
 

1) Why are Distribution Amps not available as normal device symbols?
I have had to fight Connect CAD - to the point of creating a new device from scratch in the "none" category and deleting the version in the DA category - to get my Ross 8705A OpenGear DAs to show up as boxes in the schematic display. Having them as rectangular symbols, with the port layout set up to mimic the actual connector layout, is extremely helpful when troubleshooting a device whose real-life port labels are hidden by connectors!

 

2) Why can't we specify a starting number for a series of ports in Device Builder, or at least save a device with a numbering scheme other than the standard one?
On the 8705A, there are 8 outputs - 4 per side - and, as aforementioned, it's really helpful to have them laid out as they are in the real world. ConnectCAD insists on numbering this layout 1-4 and 1-4, which means I have to manually re-number them and then copy/paste the corrected version as I place additional 8705As, because Device Builder won't save my numbering. This also would be very helpful when setting up large patch bay banks leading into and out of a video router, because the router I/O number that's connected to a patch point is a lot more important than the patch point's number within its bay.

[Conrad Preen]

@SAmmerman Interesting food for thought. Just to give you perspective, we have to tread a fine line between having a feature-rich product and one that is simple enough for a new user to get useful work done in less than a week. The learning curve is massively important.

 

So now some answers:

 

1) you do not have to use our DA tool. You can create your own devices with the sockets laid out the way you want them. Nothing constrains you to rectangular boxes either. You can use any graphics you like inside a ConnectCAD device. You only have to create the device your way once - just click the Save as Symbol button to keep it and share it to other documents using the Resource Manager.

 

2) Well that's an idea. But maybe even better just allow the Prefix to have a numeric suffix that determines the starting socket number. Say the Prefix entry is PORT05 then the series created would be PORT05, PORT06, PORT07... formatting and start number in one go without any extra UI.

 

Conrad

 

 

[SAmmerman]

On 2/28/2023 at 3:02 AM, Conrad Preen said:

The learning curve is massively important.

 

So now some answers:

 

1) you do not have to use our DA tool. You can create your own devices with the sockets laid out the way you want them. You only have to create the device your way once

Okay…. but having one category in Device Builder that looks exactly like all the others but destroys the custom layout of any devices you’ve created and saved in there, then uses an insertion tool for them that isn’t even selected - how is that helping with the learning curve??

 

It’s not made clear anywhere I saw that saving a device in a Distribution Amp folder is telling ConnectCAD “please always insert this with the DA tool in the future regardless of how it looked when I saved it.” That’s not at all intuitive, especially since no other kind of device acts that way, so if it’s going to keep working like that, there needs to be some extremely clear guidance about that workflow in future versions. 
 

Also, the ability to create a custom category in Device Builder would be helpful. As it stands, every DA type I use is in the “None” category, which doesn’t make them the easiest to find, especially if one of my co-workers who didn’t build the file is the one doing the looking.

 

[Conrad Preen]

@SAmmerman It's always the same at this time of year. The questions we get are 90% stuff that is about to change for the better 🙂.

 

I understand your frustration. However in the last 20 years no-one else has raised this issue. The way DA's are drawn is pretty standard, and it's useful to be able to quickly set the number of outputs. That doesn't mean that I don't want to accommodate your wishes, but I also have to consider all the other users too and prioritize the use of limited resources.

 

I've noted these points as matters to be improved.

 

Conrad