Cryptic Error Messages Are Useless

[Bruce Kieffer]

I've said it before, I say it again. I just tried to fillet an edge of an object and the error message says: "edge filleting failed." Oh really, like I didn't know that when I saw nothing happened! I need to know why it failed and how to make it work. That would be helpful.

[VincentCuclair]

+1

[Benson Shaw]

+1

And, as others pointed out: Along with more illuminating error message text, please highlight any/all offending geometry, object, parametric value field, etc.

-B

[AndiACD]

+135 seeing as we're on the Cryptic hoohars but i'd really prefer it if Fillets and Chamfers just worked.

But i know we've all said that before as well.

Please fix it.

[Bruce Kieffer]

AndiACD,

Yes they need to be fixed so they just work. My fillet "failure" today was I tried to fillet the edge of a shape with a short curved section. I set the radius, shift clicked the edges I wanted filleted, clicked the checkmark to process, and I get the dreaded bing sound and dumb error message. Now I have to figure out why it doesn't work even though Vectorworks know why it doesn't work. That's the sad part. So I mess with it for about 15 minutes, I still have no idea why it won't work, then I try selecting each edge segment and filleting them one at a time. That works. Go figure. Just more wasted time.

[AndiACD]

Bruce, this is my biggest grievance with VW, that the basic 3D Tools all struggle at best, like EAaP and friends are still a sad offering for a fundamental necessity, that after, what is it, 20 years? We have a CAD App that can't do a simple Fillet or Chamfer without complaining.

Please NVW stop faffing with the cheap tiles in the kitchen and sort the foundations of the structure out first.

[RickR]

I would like to remind the programmers that what is not cryptic to them can be very obscure to users.

There was a similar issue with another package with a message button. "System Crashed" or some such friendly message and the only button said OK. I pointed out that it this situation is NOT OK!

So they changed it to "Close", a very easy solution to an emotionally charged moment for users.

[AndiACD]

Here Here!

It can get on one's nerves when dialogues either offer "Cryptics" that would delight Mr S. Holmes or treat us like 4 year olds with learning difficulties.

No offence intended to the later.(4 YOs that is)

Edited February 4, 2014 by AndiACD