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Messages - lesspaul

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1
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How to re-pack (zip) a Screenset?
« on: July 07, 2023, 05:25:04 PM »
We use just plain ZIP and UNZIP from INFOZIP.  Old school. 

Steve
Thank you! Consider me (old)schooled.

2
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How to re-pack (zip) a Screenset?
« on: June 28, 2023, 04:51:39 PM »
Good suggestion, but I've already tried Windows zip and 7-zip. 7-zip has multiple compression options and I tried quite a few with no success. Maybe there is a magic setting combination that is evading me, but for now I can only get PKZip compressed screensets to load.

3
Mach4 General Discussion / Re: How to re-pack (zip) a Screenset?
« on: June 28, 2023, 02:44:24 PM »
A reply to my own: I have found that the 30 day trial of PKzip compresses to a useable Screenset file, but I'd realy rather not pay $30.

4
Mach4 General Discussion / How to re-pack (zip) a Screenset?
« on: June 28, 2023, 02:25:30 PM »
The Mach4 screensets are simply renamed zip files and I'm able to unpack them and directly edit the XML (at the moment I'm trying to do a font replacement)
Unfortunately, I can't seem to figure out how to re-zip the file such that Mach4 is happy with it. I've tried taking a screenset, unpacking, and then re-zipping without making any changes and have had no luck. Mach4 responds that there was a problem loading Screenset.  I *think* it uses zip "Deflate" encryption but that's all I've been able to figure out. Any help much appreciated.

5
Thank you Bill and Joe.

6
I have a basic 24x36 CNC router based on the Fineline Automation FLA-100. I've added a few features, but all-in-all it is not complex. I've written a few Lua scripts to automate tool change and finding top (ideas taken from Gerry's Screenset 2000 for Mach3).
Many of the features on the default Mach4 screensets are of little use to me.
But I'm torn between keeping it simple and just ignoring what I don't use, or redesigning to meet my needs.

It occurred to me that the latter might not be the best idea if there are significant changes from release to release with the code integral to the screensets. Are there significant changes to the screensets from release to release?

7
Fwiw, I don't use any features not included in Hobby.

8
For a long list of reasons I have not been able to use my CNC for a while, and am happy to be getting back at it.
My current installation is Mach4 Industrial version 4.2.0.4118 and Warp9 ESS version 232.

I am assuming I can simply update to newer versions without major issues -- is this a valid assumption?
And I know that -- at least in the past -- the official Mach4 release can be quite a bit behind from what many are using.  Looking for any advise as to what would be my best bet (version) in terms of upgrading.

Much thanks in advance -- Paul

9
Regarding Acorn:
I recently set up an Acorn based system for a friend. The setup was more straight-forward since hardware and software are well integrated. The user interface was was very polished and easy to use. The documentation was very complete.  Whether or not it is the better choice depends on the user. For those who want to tweak, modify, and tailor their system to work exactly the way they want it to, and are willing do the extra work, Mach4 is the better choice. Those who are willing to accept the functions and workflow of the machine more-or-less as-is, and would rather get straight to cutting rather than configuring, Acorn might be the better choice.
That said, despite terrific support from Centroid, my friend was not able to get his system running (thus my involvement). More straight-forward does not mean it is easy.
On an aside: One of the things that happened when I transitioned from Mach 3 to Mach 4 was that I had to learn more about how everything works. In the end I am happy that this led me to a much better understanding of how things happen "under the hood" which has been immensely helpful in all aspects of the work.

10
A tardy thank-you.
I was getting an error message with the latest versions, but it turned out that I needed to delete the *.mcc files in my profile's Macro folder and allow them to be recompiled. Now all is well.

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