State of designing screens for Mach3?

[ozzie34231]

Hi Benny and All,
It's hard keeping up, if you don't keep up!
A while back I used a fantastic design tool, Jetcam Screen Editor 1.01.
I created some Turn screens for myself and the program was way better than the Artsoft program at the time, Designer 4 maybe. There were a couple glitches but I've been living with them. I inquired and the author said he was working on a new editor that would address the shortfalls but he was very busy etc.
He also said the screens created with the old program wouldn't load into the new one, nor would they load into the Artsoft designer. The latter is true, I've tried.
So my question is where are we now? What is the state of Mach 3 screen design. I don't think I'm interested in Flash, what I've seen doesn't impress me.
(Benny, I went through your tutorials back then, and they were great.)

Thanks,
Ozzie

[ozzie34231]

Me Again, Ozzie.
It seems to me the problem with Designer 4 then was that one couldn't create or edit button scripts from within.
The problem with Jetcam was that it didn't recognize certain reserved words, the handling of LEDs was poor, and a ferw buttons that worked in stock screens just didn't work when copied or pasted.

Ozzie

[ger21]

Originally Posted by ozzie34231 Me Again, Ozzie. It seems to me the problem with Designer 4 then was that one couldn't create or edit button scripts from within.

That's due to a change in the way Mach3 operates. All button scripts are now done in Mach3. This changed quite a long time ago.

From what I've seen on the Mach forum, Stan still hasn't finished his screen designer, so your options are Flash, or Screen4. Art retired from mach3 development on January 1st, so I wouldn't count on seeing a new screen designer any time in the near future.

I was starting to learn how to do Flash screens, but the learning curve is a bit steep compared to the regular designer. But Flash gives you a lot more options if you need them.

[Switcher]

Originally Posted by ger21 That's due to a change in the way Mach3 operates. All button scripts are now done in Mach3. This changed quite a long time ago. From what I've seen on the Mach forum, Stan still hasn't finished his screen designer, so your options are Flash, or Screen4. Art retired from mach3 development on January 1st, so I wouldn't count on seeing a new screen designer any time in the near future. I was starting to learn how to do Flash screens, but the learning curve is a bit steep compared to the regular designer. But Flash gives you a lot more options if you need them.

Does that mean, no more Mach3?

Or is someone else stepping in, to continue developing for Artsoft?

.

[ozzie34231]

Gerry,
But after that the jetcam product could, and still can, edit from within! It just has a few other short comings.
Switcher,
I understand Mach3 and its development will continue, although for a hobbiest like me, it's pretty damn complete.

Does anyone know if Stan still intends to complete his new Designer?

Ozzie

[ger21]

Last I heard Stan does plan on finishing his designer when he has the time.

Switcher, Mach3 is now being developed by Brian Barker, who is now ArtSoft USA. Brian has been working with Art on Mach3 and LazyCAM for the last two years, in anticipation of Art's retirement. I doubt he'll be anywhere near as prolific as Art, but Mach will carry on as it always had. And Art has said that now that he will no longer be spending 18 hours a day on Mach3, that you may periodically see some Mach3 related goodies from him. He's retired from full time development, but is still around in the background.

[ozzie34231]

Thanks,cool.