Well SW2004 and no Pro-E import of 2001+ files

[Rocko]

Well i am disappointed that the SW2004 does not have the import for Pro-E wildfire files like the beta of sw2003 had for a short period of time. I wish SW would communicate the status of this instead of burying there head in the sand. and before everybody goes on about bringing in dumb solids the decryptor allowed for the feature tree to come in, so there is a big difference between the two. We bought SW2003 with the capability being advertised and available when in it really wansn't. Sorry to get so irritated by it but hey if they did not advertise it then it would not be an issue. Plus there lack of communication on the issue is deplorable.

 

[J-C]

Well I'm not sure why they don't come out and tell us but it seems that it will never happen. They pulled out all references to it in 2004.

Jason Capriotti
ThyssenKrupp Elevator

 

[bobsheets]

When negotiations in business don't go well, it’s seldom a good choice to publicize them. There is always the possibility that further talks can bring results. Can you imagine having to negotiate with a prime competitor for the rights to use something he thinks he owns? I’ve been there and it takes lots of patience. With the incredible amount of money at stake for the 3D CAD leadership position, I think is wishful thinking that everybody will play nice and share their toys. You never could stick a VHS tape into a Beta machine, but you could get the data from one to the other with a few patch cables and time and loss of quality.

 

[SnowCrash]

With regard to the Pro-E to SW translator, the PE files are an encrypted proprietary format. Once upon a time they were text files of vector lists and anyone could read them, even wordpad.
It is not something that Solidworks created, it is an ego issue with Pro-E. Their marketing approach has always seemed selfish and foolhardy to me.
I recieved notice today that they are closing another sales office near Pittsburgh. Would not break my heart, but I would love to show the cast off sales force how to make a legitimate income to replace their loss.

Crashj 'sorry for your loss' Johnson

 

[JNR]

I agree with Snowcrash. It is a sad fact that the Pro-E boys, after all their SEC and financial problems seem to continue even now to plough on without regard for the fact that they are merely repeating past errors in judgement. The graveyard of "big" CAD vendors is littered with similar cases and attitudes. It does seem to be a niave ego thing. They need a clean sweep in their upper managment and get some poeple who are realistic and logical.

To be fair, I have seen statements from SW to the effect that the Pro-E translator will not be available due to the amount of cash PCT wants for the license to decrypt. Alos it is always a difficult thing to balance how much you announce you plan (and reasonably expect at the time) to include in a new release. Too little just because there is some risk and it an hurt just as much. There will also be those who will lament that they went a different way because they did not know something might become avaialable. (Marketing is tough too.)

If you look at the total number of licenses sold and then at the percentage of those who really need to use the decryption translator for Pro-E, it becomes difficult to justify spending the money to buy the licence, rather than spending it on some other area which would benefit the majority. It would even be nice if SW were to make an exception to their (generally) "all inclusive" policy and offer it as a separate purchase. Unfortunately Pro-E want so much for it the license that this would not be ecconomical.

I do sympathize, but don't be too hard on SW, I think they tried their best to please the majority in this case.

BTW: The dumb thing is that it is not going do make any more sales for either Pro-E or SW or take business from either in any measurable amount. People have chosen their systems for other reasons and are not going to change just for this. So why do the Pro-E boys take this stupid brute force attitude to life? They have a good product, why do they kill themselves with poor business plans like this. Maybe they are getting desperate - I hope not. Mind you, remember that SW was founded by an ex Pro-E man!!!! He knew what not to do.......

3/4 of all the Spam produced goes to Hawaii - shame that's not true of SPAM also.......