Some issues with V8 (coming from V6)

jgb

I've been using Version 8 free for a few days now, and just have a few plugins to bring over, and some tweaking of the shortcuts and toolbars.

I have 4 main issues (so far).

Whenever I create a component, or edit a component from a V6 model, the component thumbnail goes all black, even SU standard components such as Susan, or Greg. This happened sporadically in V6, and sometimes self corrected, but it is 100% all black in V8. The components thumbnails come into V8 OK, but go black if I edit them.
When I make a tweak to my default template and want to save it, I really welcomed the "Save as template" menu item. BUT, when I want to save it over the existing default template, the dialog box does NOT give the name of the current loaded default template, nor does it allow you to see a list of templates in the template directory. I now need to open Windows Explorer, then find and clip-copy the filename in order to save the tweaked default template.
In V6 I maintained a drawing title text comp in the upper left corner and a proprietary title in the lower right corner. Both are closer to the screen edge, and do not move as I pan and zoom. However, if I load a V6 model into V8, the 2 comps disappear beyond the outer edges of the screen. Its as if the V8 screen is smaller than the V6 screen. I have to edit the comps in order to drag them back into the visible workspace.
I doubt there is a fix or workaround for this, but compared to V6, V8 is a bit sluggish in displaying the selection tool bounding box. This has thrown off my selections on many occasions. Anybody else notice this?

Dave R

I haven't seen any of the things you're seeing but my first inclination is to check to see that you have the most current drivers for you graphics card. I don't know if that will fix all of the issues you're seeing but I'll guess it takes care of at least some of them.

jgb

Maybe, but my card was high-end ATI when new, 6 years ago, and there are no updates for it anymore.

Been giving some thought to a new card, so I can run a wide screen HD monitor and perhaps a dual screen, so I can draw on the big HD and put all my dialog boxes for layers, components, etc on the 2nd screen.

But then, that costs $$$$ and I really want one of those navigator pucks for my left hand first, but it too costs $$$$.

Dave R

I've got two of those Space Navigators sitting in a box. I don't like them for SketchUp. I'll make you a deal on one of them.

jgb

Well my Point #1 in my orig post is getting worse.

Not only are my comp thumbnails going black as I edit them, but now my 2D .JPG exports are all black as well. In V6 a 2D export was around 660kb-900kb. In V8 the black image is only 17kb. Preview is also black. This is the very same file. I have no such problems with 2D exports in V6.

I need to export photos of my WIP so the SU model can be reviewed for errors. The model of the 1909 Canadian Silver Dart bi-plane needs to be accurate to the flying replica, and my work is reviewed by the replica builders. I am working from a few hundred photos of the replica and a very few poor quality copies of the original drawings.

Although there is very little of V8 features that I use in this model, I have many others started in V6 that can really use V8 features. I would hate to revert to V6 for this model or any other.

jgb

I was advised to update my GPU drivers as SU made some driver changes in V7.

SU8 needs Open GL 1.5.
The highest available for my old ATI-9200 card is OGL 1.3.

So I need a new GPU; which means an upgrade to my old power supply as the new cards are power hogs.
But my old case may not be able to mount the new form factor P/S, so I may need a new case, which may not mount my old Gigabyte M/B.
And so it goes............