Hy!
So the question is in the title: Where does shape save my models on my disk if I do not publish?
dswavley told me that its saved in .3dxml I searched for it but i can not find anything.
Last time a make a new project and saved it. When I startup shape next time its away.
Maybe you can tell me the folder where shape saves them, maybe shape just "forget" the models?
Would be good.
Best wishes
Hi,
I haven't been able to find them on my hard drive either, so I must be wrong. I have found them before, but they are elusive. Still can't find them this morning.
Don
So shape do not save them for real ?
But they can not be ghosts.- Just crazy.
But shape can not read anything other than .3dxml, or? - So why it should convert to another file format?
Nevertheless thank you for your fast help so far. If you get anything further to know tell me, please. 
3DVIA Shape was originally created in the CATIA environment where file security is everything. We have asked the developers where they are, but suspect that they are hidden on purpose, because of security concerns. When I learn more, I'll let you know.
They might very well be hidden from sight in either ProgramData or Program Files using the same method Winmend Folder Hidden uses to hide it's files...
It's true, Shape must save them in 3dxml...just look at C:/Program Files/Dassault Systemes/3DVIA Shape/intel_a/resources/Tutorial wow! Look at all those 3dxml files!
The definitive answer is that the files are hidden securely away and are in a format that is not 3DXML and not usable by the modeler. That is straight from the top.
Each time that I have "lost" models, it has turned out that I either didn't save them during modeling like I thought I did, or that I overwrote them in later sessions. As in any modeling software it is a good practice to save often. Any time that I need to stop and think about what my next steps will be I save the model just in case.
Oh, I see. So shape is not converting the files, it just split it up in locked files which can not be find or used by
the user. - Sad thing.
So yesterday I maked a test: I saved a simple model offline. If I restart shape directly it's still there.
When I restart the pc it was away. - That also happened if I restart shape a few times (my test model was away after
three times).
Maybe there is also a "time-out" for offline models?
That's a good question sieslu! I hope that is not the case. I shall have to find out!
Or maybe it's because you pressed later? I know it never happened to me in 3.0, so maybe the later button causes it? It could be anything.
This is a weird problem sieslu. I've been trying to re-create your problem and can't. All the models that I've saved all the way back to when Shape 4.0 was released show up in my list and I've opened and shut Shape hundreds of times.
Do your other saved models show up or is your list completely empty?
No, the problem is always there. So when that problem happened my list is completley empty. - No other models where shown.
The only reason on that problem I can do at the moment to be sure that my model is not deleted is to publish the model.
But auto-save (in case shape is shutdown for some reason sometime) works for one or two start-ups.
So you're right this is a real crazy problem.
3DVIA is a rip off. You pay for the software, yet you cannot save anything only upload files to thier site. Every draft save is actually a 'temp' file and can be easily lost by normal PC cleaning software that elliminates 'temp' files. In addition they get over written easily, because of bad programing on the 3DVIA team of developers, trying to impress people with the so called versitility of desktop to online synergy aspects....FAILED!!!
What is actually a simple coding aspect for saving files has been turned into a monstrousity of coding that more than triples that of normal saving processes and comes out short of being versitile in any way shape or form. the only thing it does accomplish is an ending product uploaded to thier site (if you upload that is). The coding aspect creates so much error potential problems for the user it is pretty much useless. I pay for a product i.e. 'Shape' so I can create and work on models easily and keeping adding and modifying them till it is done. This can weeks sometimes and I want to be able to be assured I can actually save the file and have it still be there, when I need it, or multiple versions if I feel the need to do so.
This cannot happen with 3D Shape. I had one project I had been doing ,recreating my room with all the furniture etc., maintain aspect sizing throughout each object. I would save and upload it each time I passed a certain area of completion. I also made (6) variations/steps that I saved, as well, incase something messed up along the way,. but never uploaded those. I decided before I got too far I would create muliple files of each object separately so as they could be easily used in other projects. Well clopy and paste doesn't work outside the existing file being used, so the easy way was out. I decided that I could simply delete everything but the object I wanted to save separately, and 'save as' individual object names etc. repeating the process through each object. Then I could upload each individual object and have them avaible for import anytime I needed them.
Good thinking I thought, if using normal software, but 3DVIA is far from normal it doesn't quite work that way, since all saved files are basically temp files. Once I deleted everything but the first object I wanted to save, and choose 'save as' and created a new title and tags, I clicked save then uploaded the file.
BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE!!!!! It over wrote the file I had been using, even though I chose 'save as' and changed the title, tags etc. Over (2 weeks of hard worked on project down the drain because 3DVIA developers think they are know-it-alls and can create things that seem good as an end prodocts for viewing purposes online without any regard to the user creating the actually scenes and objects. This is fine if it is freeware, but when you pay for the software you are using to create these objects in definitely is NOT FINE!!!!!
That would be like paying for a registered version of software but still only able to access the trial version, without any of the full version registered benifits.
Now appearently these saved temp files are somewhat tied together somehow, because not only did it over write my uploaded file but also wiped all (6) previously saved files, as well, leaving only the draft of the TV Stand I simply wanted to save as an independent object. Luckily I uploaded that file or else I would have lost that one also, after I did a PC cleaning which also elliminates temp files. You guessed it, which also DELETED MY NEWLY saved TV Stand file.
Inovation is only good if it works both ways, not soley on one ending purpose of creating a 3D Vision capable display online. The two products should not be tied together and act independently of each, except for uploading purposes only, upon which they can activate whatever security protocol they choose, as it won't effect my long hard worked projects, simply so they can feel safe.
I PURCHASED 3D SHAPE and wish to use what I PAID FOR, meaning saving features included!!!!! Other wise I might as well continue using a trial version.
I VERY WHOLE HEARTEDLY DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE PURCHASE 3D SHAPE, IF THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO SAVE AND WORK ON ANY SERIOUS PROJECTS!!!!!
Additionally, by allowing a copy/paste from one file to the next in (2) separate open 3D Shape windows, would have improved this problem as well. I could have simply only lost a new unworked file, but doesn't allow this type of application.
If I had known I wouldn't have spent so much time creating this TV Stand within another file (as well as the numerous other pieces of furniture I had been planning to save as individual objects, as well). Took long enough and was really tedious I didn't want to do the whole process another time simply to save it as separate object >.< .
Also I wouldn't have lost all the sub-assemblies I had set aside to recreate all the furniture, beds, TV's, desks and dressors, contained in the lost file (all done to exact dimensions).
Let's be serious for a moment. How hard is it to create a simple save program that can actually save to one's harddrive. Seems to me the current saving process is much more involved to design and implement and works like a piece of crap...lol.
Designers that operate this way are simply trying to impress people by creating something that seems really elaborate and took some time to create the coding aspect. "Hey look look at this, took forever to create and see what it does". Yet the same thing could be accomplished much simplier and more versitle, only without the glorified "look at what I did" scenario. They create it for glory alone and do not take in the user aspect, only the defining ending result. It is the user that now has to deal with their glorified incompetence.
"But look at how good it looks in fullscreen 3D Vision". All that doesn't matter if the basic design and utilization is poorly designed and cannot save hard worked on projects or if managed to be saved in a temp file can be lost forever, by having such a poorly designed saving system. One that requires a special degree of it's own to fully understand what can and cannot be done with it.
When someone sees an option to save, they expect that the file will actually be saved to thier harddrive for future use and not wiped out by attempting to save a revised version, while maintaining the original for backup, or by PC Cleaning software that elliminates temp files. Temp files are for saving space and buffered not for use for saving files. Saved files should be actual full fledged files, not temp files. It takes additional programming to actually do this type of saving process...lol. So extra work to create something less versitile...hmmmm...nice job.
Another aspect is uploading also changes the saved (original) temp file????? What's with that...lol. Do the designers do thier own Beta testing???? lol. "It is 100% flawless, tested it myself. Gee I do Great work". Makes for quick turn arounds of project processes...xD
I'm very sorry you lost all your work, but you are correct 3DVIA Shape is ment to work in conjuction with 3DVIA.com. It is also free, you only need to pay for a hosting account if you are using the 3DVIA.com in a profesional way and require uploading private content or some of our other advance features.
There is a difference in perspective when one considers 3DVIA Shape as a stand alone application when it is ment to be viewed as an online application. It is a bit of forward thinking, and it takes some getting used to, but once you realise that saving locally and "publishing" or saving to your 3DVIA Account is the same thing, it really starts to make sense.
Local "Saving" was intended as an ability to allow you to start your work offline until you had an internet connection were you could properly "Save" your work. Great for when traveling or presenting when there is no internet connection available, and was only recently added.
This forward thinking is inline with our company wide vision for data handling. Many companies now a days incorporate asset management and turn local saving software into online enabled software that is ment to work in conjunction with each other.
I hope this helps explain the product and alievates some of your concerns with 3DVIA Shape. Please let us know if you have any other problems, we will do our best to respond and correct them.
First things First then. These elements of the saving process and what can and cannot be done with it, should be included in the 3D Shapes description and described fully and explained in full. The product promotion/description is very misleading, as it seems that the user is gaining a fully operational 3D modeling program with saving features, not temp files. Then you add the save/save as which in all reality are the same thing not the same traditional save/save as format used by 99.9% of programs that utilize a save/save as process for their files.
Also it should also be stated that uploading does effect your currently saved files as well.
The array of processes that can actually effect the saved files should also be disclosed, so the user can be aware of what can actually effect/wipe out all their hard work that they feel is safely saved in an actual save file, when in reality it is simply a buffered temp file.
Excellent feedback, thank you waynehr1! I have forwarded this conversation to our marketing people and our managers.
As you have used the product extensively, if you have any other feedback for the developers please let us know. Again we are sorry for the loss of your work!
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