Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

Finally got around to updating from 4.82 to 5.10 last night and somehow borked my mill: The bottom quarter of my custom VCP no longer shows, including the Reset button, which means I can’t even get the machine cleared to start a session. Attached is a report and screenshot. Anyone got any ideas before I commit my day to fixing this?

I’m sure I did something stupid, but let’s face it, the CNC12 update process makes it all too easy to do something stupid. We Acorn users are asked to take screenshots of ~20 wizard screens, and then refer to them as we manually re-enter that information, a process prone to mistakes. There’s also at least one wizard screen that requires scrolling to the right to see it all (Homing and Travel), and I have more than once forgotten to grab the portion that is off screen. Grrr.

I don’t update that often (due largely to the aforementioned pain), so I don’t have the process memorized, nor have I written a clever script to help me out. Instead, I refer to the install documents, for which I have some suggestions. Following them linearly gets me in trouble every time because there are important steps for people like me with custom VCPs that are mentioned after the fact and with poor specificity, to wit:

“Note: If you have any custom macros or VCP buttons copy them over from the old install to the new install and restart
CNC12.”

Great, where do they live, exactly? What files & directories? A little guidance would help; we can’t be expected to have this memorized. Sure, I see a directory called “VCP”. I copied that over in its entirety, and I landed where I am now, a non-functional machine. So I’m left wondering if I got them all, and the documentation is doing nothing to put my mind at ease.

Suggestion for Centroid:

Create Acorn/Acorn 6 install docs separate from everything else. The current documentation asks users to jump around confusingly. Within the new Acorn docs, consider three sections:
- Fresh install
- Update, no custom VCP
- Update, with custom VCP

And in the last case, be very specific about what files need to be moved where.

Copying over the license.dat file should also be mentioned earlier. As I work my way though the wizard screens, I’m inevitably told that I can’t add back my wireless MPG because I don’t have a license. Argh.

Hope this is seen as constructive, rather than just catharsis, but I do admit to some frustration and a need to get this off my chest.

That section is now also user editable, you'll need to add the pertinent entries from one of the default skin files into your custom VCP skin file. Because there are some changes at the top and bottom of the default skin files, it's better to add your changes to a default one. Load up both in Notepad++ and compare.

More info...viewtopic.php?p=78587#p78587

Thanks for the reply, Sword; very helpful.

Anyone able to upload/send me the default 5.10 acorn_mill_vcp_skin.vcp file I can use as a template to get my customizations working again? I overwrote it when I copied my full VCP directory and would rather not have to completely reinstall and start from scratch for the sake of this one file.

BTW, Keith's video is super helpful, but *really* needs to be part of the install documentation (e.g. "if you're installing from version 4.X to 5.X and have customized your VCP, be sure to watch this video..."). I feel like an idiot for bothering the forum with an old issue, even though I carefully read the install guide before updating and did a forum search before posting (obviously using wrong keywords). It just shouldn't be the case that a CNC12 user must pay attention to every forum post in order to successfully update the software.

Just rename the install you're working on to something like "cncm_config in progress" or something that works for you, then install again. When that is done, rename that one to "cncm_Default" and put yours back to "cncm". Then you'll have all the default files you need to work with.

I'm thinking the new software should not let you load an old report. It gives a warning, but it will still let you do it. That way it's understood, that you have to remove the program and start from scratch.

From 4.82 to 5.10 you can now have diagonal jogging and dial in Rapid and Feed Rate individually and the color picker.

The best way is to choose ....diagonal_rapid.... skin on the fresh install, and redo your custom buttons.

Uwe

Ken Rychlik wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2024 9:03 am I'm thinking the new software should not let you load an old report. It gives a warning, but it will still let you do it. That way it's understood, that you have to remove the program and start from scratch.

only so much i can do to save people from themselves, all they have to do is read the instructions or watch a video. yes the software should be able to read your mind but we are not there yet.