Created Date: August 20,2005

Created by: elevmike

Originally posted by allukes:

........That is , if they choose to pay attention.

I can vouch for Host & AD in the "paying attention " department....

Long ago, I made a suggestion for DS to have a view showing a listing of I/O and internal component usage. Along with the suggestion I faxed a copy of the a similar function from another PLC brands software. Within days I got a phone call questioning me more on the idea. The very next release of DS included the suggestion: now known as the Documentation Editor.

I only wish that the Docuumentation Editor included some type of indicator to show if that element is currently in use or not. (a small check mark for each element would do).

Created Date: August 20,2005

Created by: franji1

Originally posted by elevmike:

I can vouch for Host & AD in the "paying attention " department....

Long ago, I made a suggestion for DS to have a view showing a listing of I/O and internal component usage. Along with the suggestion I faxed a copy of the a similar function from another PLC brands software. Within days I got a phone call questioning me more on the idea. The very next release of DS included the suggestion: now known as the Documentation Editor.

I only wish that the Docuumentation Editor included some type of indicator to show if that element is currently in use or not. (a small check mark for each element would do).

We were talking about this the other day. I am envisioning a single view (maybe 2 views?), basically a view that contains all documentation (nickname, wiring info, description), cross reference and/or usage information, along with some additional information like TYPE information for V memory registers (e.g. V2000 is 16 bit BCD, V2001 32 bit decimal, V2003 is a REAL) so that when you enter V2003 on your Data View, it KNOWS that it is REAL.

We 're already brainstorming ideas like this for Rel 6. Rel 5 is in Beta and testing is going well. I just hope we get all these ideas in for Rel 6.

Created Date: September 02,2005

Created by: chris.zeman

I suggested more of a variety in terminal block colors a couple years ago. It wasn't too long before they added colors to the product line. http://forum1.automationdirect.com/board/smile.gif

I'm still waiting for violet, which we use for DC power, though. I'm stuck using AB's garbage blocks that fall apart in the meantime. http://forum1.automationdirect.com/board/frown.gif

The point is, they do pay attention to customer needs (for the most part).

Chris

Created Date: September 06,2005

Created by: PLC_PM

Allukes:

Thank you for the suggestion. I believe you & Tech Guy are both correct. If you are looking to toss out a subject for discussion (especially a software related enhancements or suggestions), I would still use the Forum. There are a lot of members who use this forum which have spent a lot of time with our software (not to mention the occasional developer posting a reply http://forum1.automationdirect.com/board/smile.gif ).

However, if you have a specific request, the link that Tech Guy provided is by far the best course of action. As you mentioned, I am sure there are many suggestions buried deep within topic threads which we may or may not have picked up on.

The Product Suggestion area on our web site places all requests into a repository and requires a decision & possible follow on by the product manager. This gives us a method of tracking the request, much better than the forum.

Thanks again for the suggestions " PLEASE keep them coming. We are listening.

-Jeff

Created Date: August 18,2005

Created by: allukes

I think it would be helpfull to have a separate forum section for submiting Product improvements and/or enhancements. Most of the those suggestions (such as those for Directsoft) are burried deep within other topic threads. I know they have the Product Suggestion Feature on the tech support page, but it is not the same. If you post suggestions in the customer forum, just by judging the response, you can get an idea if it would be worth the resources to add the feature. I don't how many times, I have run across features in other programing packages wishing that DirectSoft had that. Then I could search the topics in that forum to see if anyone else had requested it and add my support to have the feature added. It also would be a central place for ADC, HOST or other developers to post possible product offerings, upcoming features in new releases or just to find out what the users comments are on something and get a wide response from the users. The users are doing that now in the Gen Appications, but I think it would have more of an impact on ADC product development if it was in ONE place That is , if they choose to pay attention.