>>Our models become very large with tons of data

What build are you using and is this ViaCAD Pro 9 for Mac or Windows?

Tim

I can relay some experience I had that might give an analog.
I do electrical installations some mechanically pretty complex.
I model and dimension some of them in 3D before installing.

I tried to build a fairly easy one in ViaCad ( I also have and use AutoCad and hate the 3D on that - really never made for it)
all went pretty well on VC until I started making the knockouts ( modifying solid objects )
about 15 or so of them, then the file started getting huge and essentially became buggy and unmanageable with huge files and long times to save and open.
I tried dropping the object resolution etc - really no difference.

This was with Version 7 VC Pro. I bought Shark LT 5.5 (got a good deal ) like you - hoping this would work better with it.
It did not - really no difference in this situation. Bought version 8 - same thing essentially. Now I am making simple projects without modifying the solid objects much with V8 and am somewhat happy. Have not totally figured out what I will have to do for more complex things ( perhaps back to SU. Pro and Inkscape).
I am running mine on Windows - I also have the feeling that Windows VC may be 2nd rate compared to the Mac version.

I also have Sketchup Pro ( a legal Google Promo copy ) and found I really do not like it overall. I really like having 4 windows ( I started doing 3D in the 80s with
Videoscape ( a predecessor to Lightwave ) where everything was entered with geometry (not bad for many things -sometimes faster ) the interface on VC seems pretty good and intuitive -
more so than blender at least for CAD - and I can open windows - the parametric data entry seems more friendly overall with VC also. Trimble seems pretty unresponsive from my experience and I really don't like dealing with companies that are too big and too successful to even really care about much less respond to individual users. With VC it too is a giant software company, but at least you have Tim Olsen and some users on this forum who seem to respond and listen.
This is very important as over time things may be addressed. I am somewhat concerned with the digital rights management / lack of physical product that seems to be evolving with VC.
It may inhibit me from purchasing V9.
If this later becomes and issue perhaps FreeCad or Blender may be practical by then.

Please post your experience especially if it gets better.

>>So send an email to tech support, see if they can supply you with the latest beta and try that.
http://support.encore.co...t/order_support_frm.aspx


The Development team is making updates weekly, sometimes daily. Today we are working on build 1162. We send builds constantly to Encore CAD tech support who use these builds to solve customer issues. If you are having an issue, I would recommend you contact tech support. Official builds go through a long process by Encore's QA team who just spent a couple of weeks going over Shark LT 9 1161. I'm not sure if the link above goes to sales or to tech support. The link below should get you to the right guy for CAD tech support.

EMail Technical Support
http://support.encore.co...frm.aspx?product_id=2820




Tim