CompuServe Thread

#Summagraphics Tablet

14 messages in this thread
#65305From: Gregory LeVasseurNov 7, 1993 1:49 PM
I have recently decided to start using my Summagraphics tablet instead of my mouse. I have it working perfectly in AutoCAD, Windows, and all other DOS programs except 3D Studio. The cursor sticks badly, sometimes for many seconds, in the dialog boxes. Is there anything I can do about this? Greg LeVasseur
#65396From: Yost GroupNov 8, 1993 9:15 AM
Are you using R3 or R2, Greg? We did a lot of work with the Summagraphics tablet to update the driver for R3, but I don't know the details. I don't have a Summa tablet, and Gary's out until December. Unless Nik Grant, or one of the online tablet people can jump in here with something on this, I'm afraid you'll have to wait for December 1st for an answer on this. (December 1st is going to be a busy day for Gary!) – Jack
#65420From: David J. MarksNov 8, 1993 11:01 AM
>>December 1st is going to be a busy day for Gary! December 1st is going to be a very busy MONTH for Gary! In the mean time have you considered changing your CIS ID to the Powell Group! 🙂
#65603From: Yost GroupNov 9, 1993 9:26 AM
I've considered joining Gary. <g> – J
#65424From: Jeffrey HeftNov 8, 1993 11:19 AM
PMJI – I am using R3 with the Summa II+. I also have "sticking" problems. I've never had it stick for as long as a few seconds, its usually only momentary. Seems to occur at boundaries of the various graphics areas, i.e. moving from an inactive window to the active window, or from the side menu area to a work window (and then only when moving the cursor in a specific direction). BTW, did I say THANKS for fixing the problem with the Summa II+ and the keyframer? HUGE THANKS to those involved with straightening that one out! JDH
#65604From: Yost GroupNov 9, 1993 9:31 AM
Thanks for the thanks. (I guess we must have heard more complaints about the Keyframer spin than the border sticking, or we might have solved both of them. Now if only Summa would write a proper ADI driver for their tablet, we could put this whole thing to bed.) – J
#65653From: Jeffrey HeftNov 9, 1993 12:29 PM
>> Now if only Summa would write a proper ADI driver for their tablet, we >> could put this whole thing to bed.) Here, here! Is there an electronic path to their door here on CI$? I'd sure like to beat on it a bit. Maybe other Summa users here could sign an electronic petition to zap their way. JDH
#65428From: Gregory LeVasseurNov 8, 1993 11:30 AM
Jack Oh! Sorry. I'm using R3 and it doesn't matter whether I'm on a network or not. I am using a SummaSketch Plus which is a slightly older (and better made) tablet a bit earlier in the MM series. Nevertheless, 3DS is the ONLY program I have which has a problem with it. This includes all my DOS programs, including Acad, and all my Windows programs. By the way, the cursor not only sticks, it often jumps about 2 inches. Whenever it does that, it freezes for about 15 seconds.
#65606From: Yost GroupNov 9, 1993 9:34 AM
Thanks Greg. I'll pass it on and see if we can't get something done about it. – J
#65491From: Gus GrubbaNov 8, 1993 5:02 PM
Hey Jack, I have the exact same problem. The cursor freezes every now and then. Sometimes the whole thing locks up and the little led in the tablet goes crazy. I then turn the tablet off then on again and everything comes back to normal. What I do now is to use as a mouse instead of the internal SUMMA driver. Haven't had a problem ever since!
#65609From: Yost GroupNov 9, 1993 9:39 AM
Gotcha Gus. One more to the list. – J
#65628From: David TaffetNov 9, 1993 11:14 AM
PMJI, but with R3 I have exactly the same symptoms as with R2, regarding use of my Summa tablet. If I use mouse emulation via the Summa-supplied driver, I can use the puck as a mouse, no problem. But, why bother? I might as well use my mouse, so I do. The stylus/pen, which I want to use, freaks in 3DS, even using the mouse emulation. If I use the 3DS built-in support, 3DS freezes immediately upon switching in the configure menu and requires a soft boot to get out of it. Not good. Works fine everywhere else… FWIW. David Taffet
#65414From: David J. MarksNov 8, 1993 10:32 AM
>>The cursor sticks badly, sometimes for many seconds, in the dialog boxes. >>Is there anything I can do about this? Is the tablet on a network machine managing the MCS? If so, you may need to tinker with your 3dsnet.set file, in particular, look at NET-POLL-TIME. I've had some "sticking" that I could clear up by shutting off and restarting the tablet. Lastly, I've heard that Summa is developing a 3DS specific ADI driver, due out near the end of the year. Email Steve McGuinness from Summagraphics if you need additional help. His CIS ID is 73144,2412.
#65429From: Gregory LeVasseurNov 8, 1993 11:30 AM
>> Is the tablet on a network machine managing the MCS? Nope. Just sticks without any help. >> Email Steve McGuinness from Summagraphics… Thanks for the info, I'll check him out. Greg LeVasseur