MSCAD 2005 ignores commands

[cbunker]

We've run into this situation multiple times now on two different PCs - once on the first PC, and 5 or 6 times on a second PC. Both are running fully patched versions of Windows XP Pro, with SP1.3 applied to MSCAD.

At any given time, MSCAD will start to ignore commands, whether typed or chosen from a menu or toolbar. If it's one that we've chosen from a menu or toolbar, we'll see the command listed in the command window, but there's no response from MSCAD - not even an error message; we just get returned to the ":" prompt. The only way to fix it is to use the Task Manager to kill MSCAD, and then restart. Since the QSAVE command is ignored along with everything else, we can't even save the drawing that we're working on, and so lose our work since the last autosave. I haven't seen any other window/dialog box appear, or haven't been able to find one in behind another window that may be somehow stealing the focus and causing this problem.

We cannot reproduce this problem to test it. Has anyone else seen this, and have a fix for it?

Thanks,
Chris

[Brian Sloman]

Have you noticed any sort of pattern, ie if it happens after a certain command, or when working with a particular part of the program? MSCAD creates a log file showing which commands have been run, that we can use to see if something is not completing properly. If this happens again, please email the file C:\Program Files\MicroSurvey\MSCAD2005\ms_cb.txt to either myself or Glen, as it may shed some light on what is happening. This file is overwritten when MSCAD is started, so please make a copy of it or send it to one of us right away when this happens before re-starting the program.

[cbunker]

No, we haven't noticed any kind of pattern - it's happening in different drawing files, and with different commands preceding this behaviour. If it happens again we'll copy that file and send it off to you or Glen.

Thanks,
Chris

[Glen Cameron]

I have seen this a few times (or something similar at least).

In the cases I have witnessed, it had to do with the Dynamic Zoom or Dynamic Pan (often used while in COGO). It seems that if you use the commands from the toolbar, they do not always stop or exit correctly. Sometimes, using the wheel on the mouse to do a simple zoom in or out, or a pan, will sometimes get it to straighten out.

I have also seen it the other way round - where the mouse wheel was used to zoom in or out, or to pan, and get stuck, and picking the dynamic pan or dynamic zoom button will straighten it out again.

Maybe try these options if it happens again, and see if it helps.

Cheers,

[rwhatman]

I have seen this problem and I know what is doing it.

The Problem is AutoSAVE. If you doing anything while AutoSave is saving. It will look as though you are in a Lockup and your not.

The first Clue to look at your cursor if it changes then the program
is saving. Just do a Quick save and you will see the cursor change.

On Large drawings AutoSAVE is very slow to save.

Doing what Glen does not fix the problem and does not hurt ether, if
force commands while it is saving you can lock it up for sure.

That's what I think. Since I figured this out I have not locked up once.

[Richard Sands]

I have this happen and not sure it is just related to the Auto save. I wondered for ages whether the scroll mouse ( I use logitech laser and a Microsoft cordless on my Laptop) causes some disruption. I have never found a way to free my ignored commands other than shut down and restart. Time has no bearing on the outcome for me.
I also get times when if I use the mouse to select a layer to freeze nothing happens - the screen gives a blip and no change. Also unfreezing from the drop down list doesnt work at times. Only work around is to use I'Explorer to freeze/ thaw layers.
There's some odd things that happen (or dont) at most inapropriate time.
I notice a save may take a few seconds but a backup happens immediately - that seems odd to me.
regards Richard

[rwhatman]

[ianw2]

[tbunker]