does anyone have any updated comments on signlab V7?

[James kelly]

I’ve been running SignLab 7 for a few weeks and no crashes or mishaps yet. I find the multi-instances of the program a pain too, it is a slow way of opening files compared to the multi-document interfaces of CorelDraw and other graphics programs. It is a pain especially if I want ot open another file on its own or even just a new file. The Zoom Open command opens files in the same window and is quicker but I keep forgetting and use ‘control-O’ to open and then have to wait on another instance of SignLab opening, a shortcut key for zoom open would make things easier. I doubt if Cadlink will admit that multi-instance is a load of cr*p and revert to the time-proven mdi.

I hate the icons too. If, like me, you use small icons, it can be very hard to distinguish between some of the icons, they may look arty but they are very impractical. The old plain style icons were easily distinguishable. A perfect example of… ‘just because you can, dosen’t mean you should!’

[J. Hulme]

Sounds like its improved a lot then 😉

I too cannot understand why you cannot (or could not) have multiple files open
It really defeats the object of ‘windows’ completely.

I think I’ll stick with the versions I have,( unless they dish out free upgrade copies) it’s good, but it will never be @ ££££ that good.

[Alan Drury]

Thanks JSK – I wondered what zoom open was for, I’ve been opening 2 or 3 files then turning off multiple instances from the options tab, how dumb am I?. Multiple page opening would have been far far better, in fact I would have thought that is the obvious way to do it. Draw and others do display much smoother as well, although I think photgraphs are slightly better, still what do I know, I only use it to make my living. Slightly better than E6 (so far) and I do prefer it to V5.
Alan

[David Evans]

Hello,

There are two Microsoft API’s for multiple documents, MDI (Multiple document Interface) was the original spec and MI (Multiple Instances) which was added as an alternative.

PhotoShop, Corel and most applications went with MDI, as thats all there was at the time. But Microsoft have switched Word (probably the best selling application on Windows) to us an MI interface.

We did do a survey of customers (mostly in the US) as to which approach to take, there are a number of benfits to using MI over MDI.
First with MDI you cant be in the Cut-Plot state or Print and Cut state and still work on another document while with MI you can.
Second Signlab UI is heavily document based, for example the job palette contains colours of the current job and the shop palette is often job dependant. Based on this type of UI Microsoft recommend MI over MDI and it was for the same reasons MS switched Word to MI.

At some point we would like to speed up the time it takes to start a new instant, but while users have initially said they prefer MDI to MI, most would not want to lose it advantages MI has to offer and end up prefering the productivity advatages of MI.

Best regards

-David Evans
Cadlink.

[Alan Drury]

Fair comment David, having never had MDI I have not appreciated the restrictions it would have made. I’m glad Cadlink read and respond to the Signboard. Can you make us aware of patches as and when they are available?
Alan

[David Evans]

I will do my best, we are working on a Signlab 7 patch which should be out very shortly.

Best regards

-David Evans
Cadlink.