Problem loading models

[KQD]

I have just installed TsElements and activated it. I turned on the add in and can see .obj and tsm files but when I open the file nothing happens - see video. This is the latest download of tsElements.

http://www.screencast.com/t/bxLPRi625

I was part of the initial testing group and had an older version on the machine, but I uninstalled this first, restarted the machine and installed the new version, then restarted again. This is on SolidWorks 2010 32 bit under XP Pro. Any ideas?

The beta version was working fine before it expired, so I know the software should run on this hardware OK.

[Adam Helps]

OBJ is a pretty messy format, and a lot of our work leading up to the recently released 1.1 was fixes for various types of problematic OBJs. Every modeler seems to interpret the standard in a slightly different way. In any case, it looks like it attempted to load your OBJ, but something crashed; SolidWorks refuses to close when its add-ins crash, and doesn't even give a warning message when this happens.

Anyway, even if it's not a well-formed file, it should have given you an error message or something -- a blank screen isn't really an acceptable result. If possible, I would like to look at that file so that I can see exactly what's happening. My email address is adam at tsplines dot com -- I promise I'll keep it confidential. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[KQD]

Adam, if you take alook at the video you can see I was trying to load the sample T Splines surface files and the hand OBJ Matt used in his original demos to the beta group in December - these same files imported fine before. I had this issue on both .obj and .tsm format files - nothing is coming in.

I was planning on testing the route to T Splines from Modo via .obj but can't get anything to work. As I said, during the beta period and initial trial these same files came in fine. I have not updated SolidWorks or the machine in that time.

[Adam Helps]

OK, I just got a note from one of the tsElements developers. Our initial installer had some extra files in it, and it looks like these files have the potential to confuse SolidWorks. We noticed the problem and replaced the buggy installer shortly afterward, but folks who downloaded right away might see symptoms like this.

There are two possible ways to fix this problem (thanks Andrey):

For KQD, I'd suggest either of 2 ways:
1. Uninstall his current installation, and download & install new one from the site
2. In the Windows Start menu click Run, type "<SolidWorks_Installation_Path>\sldworks.exe /Regserver", where <SolidWorks_Installation_Path> must be replaced with actual path to the directory where SolidWorks is installed, usually "C:\Program Files\SolidWorks Corp\SolidWorks".

I've double-checked that the current installer is not installing those incorrect files anymore, just to be sure that this problem won't recur.

[KQD]

So if I have this right, if I don't wish to have to manually edit the runtime path each time I should simply uninstall and reinstall? Sounds like a better plan to me!

Just a word about the timing though. I downloaded that installer earlier today, and that update has been up there for a week or two now.....so has the installer been updated since earlier today (say 10am UK time)? If not, then maybe the Run command might be a better option.

I'll try the run command option first and see how that works.

One issue this might raise is how you are handling updates to tsElements? What is the correct update procedure? Should we uninstall via the Windows control panel, or just run the installer over the top of the existing installation? Or will the updater do just that...update?

[KQD]

This morning I uninstalled T Splines and reinstalled it. Same issues.

I then tried the run command as well but it came back with an error saying "Windows cannot find program...." and yes I did type it correctly - several times. I also checked that Run was picking up the directory and running solidworks by leaving off the /Regserver bit. I also tried \Regserver, and both versions with and without a space in front of the slash. Still the same error.

Just to be clear - this is on Solidworks 2010 SP4, Windows XP Pro SP3, 32 bit. As I said I was running the initial tsElements beta release no problems and I am trying to open the exact same files.

I'm happy for you guys to run a GoToMeeting to look at the installation as I'd like to get this up and running now I have forked out the cash

I'll also install on my laptop as well (that is a Macbook Pro Windows 7 with SolidWorks 2011) later today or tomorrow...got work to do!

[Andrew D]

Hi KQD,
Could you please post full error message you're seeing?
Also please confirm that you're able to run just SolidWorks from the command line without /Regserver flag.
Just for example, that's what I type in my Run window:
"C:\Program Files\SolidWorks Corp\SolidWorks\SLDWORKS.exe" /Regserver
(quotation marks aren't necessary, but desirable)

[KQD]

Thanks Andrew, that has sorted it!

I copy and pasted your exact Run string and that worked.Without the quotation marks it failed, with the marks (exactly as you did) worked. Don't you just love the precision of Windows/DOS

Also noticed a couple of other things. I was send some sample Modo files to test and none came in - but - you do get an error message. To be frank I wasn't expecting them to come in as they are fairly complex objects. My use would be for much simpler surfaces.

Thanks!