Although we are reseller and Authorized training partner of Siemens PLM software, and got chance to participate in its beta testing, I decided to not to opt for beta testing. There are 2 reasons for that.
1. I don't want to get bounded by any agreement, which restricts my freedom of expressions
2. and more obvious I didn't had the time.
So here I am with no restriction and all latest info which can actually easily be found on Internet.
I have been following NX for quite long time now. I have seen its transition from UG V18 to NX. Then NX4 to NX5 & 6 when synchronus was added. And now the latest NX9. It seems a major update.
There has been a lot of hype around its latest version release. Now what they have done is upgraded their old menu based screen into dashing new ribbon based interface. And I don't think they have done a bad job.
Here's a pic to it.
Unlike most other applications using a Windows-style 'ribbon' interface, the NX 9.0 implementation will be fully customizable. This customization can be accomplishable either using the normal interactive customization tools and saving the changes in a Role or by creating/editing the 'Ribbon Tab' and 'Ribbon Group' files, roughly equivalent to the old 'Menu' and 'Toolbar' files. In fact, if you've done extensive UI editing in pre-NX 9.0 versions of NX using 'Menu' (.men) and 'Toolbar' (.tbr) files, there will even be tools which will convert these into 'Ribbon Tab' (.rtb) and 'Ribbon Group' (.grb) files so that you can at least get a starting place based on your past file-based customizations.
Though there are many who will resist to move on as its a human nature, for one thing I am sure. Looking at the history of all the updates NX usually doesn't remove anything permanently. That is both the options will be visible. Either you can start directly in new ribbon based interface. or your can switch to old menu style screen.
"There will be an option to run NX using the so-called 'classic' interface, at least for the next couple of NX releases. However, those days will be numbered since ALL future functionality will be designed for locating them in the product interface based on what would be best for a 'Ribbon-style' interface and NOT necessarily for a menu/toolbar style interface (and resources will NOT be wasted spending a lot of time trying to optimize BOTH interfaces as part of these future functionality projects). This means that over time the menu/toolbar interface will start to suffer from a sort of software 'arthritis' as less and less care will be taken to keep up with the mainline changes being made to the 'Ribbon' interface."
Though old user who still want to stick with menu while trying for new ribbon based interface here is a good option for them.
"While using the 'Ribbon' UI, NX 9.0 will also have a 'menu' style optional path to all of the functions based on the 'classic' menu scheme. We expect that existing users who migrate to using the Ribbon UI will still find this menu useful for accessing functions based on their experience with older versions of NX. However, totally new user will probably be more likely to use the full Ribbon, and it's various secondary 'galleries' to find the necessary functions."
Basically I liked this concept. I have seen in the past many software failed measerably while in transition from one style of interface to another. But since here one will be having access to both the interface, its pretty much easy to move.
Another doubt that one may have is how many command will be accessible in this interface. Alot.
Apart from these gallery one can also edit and dock side bar or border bar.
And editing those side bars should be easy as well
"there will also be a quick way (without even having to go into Customize) to copy frequently used items, either temporarily or permanently, to one of the so-called 'side-bars', which you could think of as a sprt of fixed toolbars (which can be toggled ON/OFF):"
"Also there will still be something that we used to call the 'Selection
Bar' where you can place popular functions as well as what's called the
'Quick Access Bar' across the top of the NX window where we've also
added a full-time direct access to the 'Command Finder' something that
people have been asking for since we introduced this feature:"
Hope this much information at this time is all you are looking for. More information will be shared as I get my own seat. Till then happy NX8.5.2
[P.S. These are not my observation and collected data from open forum. Big big thanks to Mr. Baker from Siemens PLM for his open and generous discussion. ]
1. I don't want to get bounded by any agreement, which restricts my freedom of expressions
2. and more obvious I didn't had the time.
So here I am with no restriction and all latest info which can actually easily be found on Internet.
I have been following NX for quite long time now. I have seen its transition from UG V18 to NX. Then NX4 to NX5 & 6 when synchronus was added. And now the latest NX9. It seems a major update.
There has been a lot of hype around its latest version release. Now what they have done is upgraded their old menu based screen into dashing new ribbon based interface. And I don't think they have done a bad job.
Here's a pic to it.
 | |||
| NX9 screen |
Unlike most other applications using a Windows-style 'ribbon' interface, the NX 9.0 implementation will be fully customizable. This customization can be accomplishable either using the normal interactive customization tools and saving the changes in a Role or by creating/editing the 'Ribbon Tab' and 'Ribbon Group' files, roughly equivalent to the old 'Menu' and 'Toolbar' files. In fact, if you've done extensive UI editing in pre-NX 9.0 versions of NX using 'Menu' (.men) and 'Toolbar' (.tbr) files, there will even be tools which will convert these into 'Ribbon Tab' (.rtb) and 'Ribbon Group' (.grb) files so that you can at least get a starting place based on your past file-based customizations.
Though there are many who will resist to move on as its a human nature, for one thing I am sure. Looking at the history of all the updates NX usually doesn't remove anything permanently. That is both the options will be visible. Either you can start directly in new ribbon based interface. or your can switch to old menu style screen.
"There will be an option to run NX using the so-called 'classic' interface, at least for the next couple of NX releases. However, those days will be numbered since ALL future functionality will be designed for locating them in the product interface based on what would be best for a 'Ribbon-style' interface and NOT necessarily for a menu/toolbar style interface (and resources will NOT be wasted spending a lot of time trying to optimize BOTH interfaces as part of these future functionality projects). This means that over time the menu/toolbar interface will start to suffer from a sort of software 'arthritis' as less and less care will be taken to keep up with the mainline changes being made to the 'Ribbon' interface."
Though old user who still want to stick with menu while trying for new ribbon based interface here is a good option for them.
"While using the 'Ribbon' UI, NX 9.0 will also have a 'menu' style optional path to all of the functions based on the 'classic' menu scheme. We expect that existing users who migrate to using the Ribbon UI will still find this menu useful for accessing functions based on their experience with older versions of NX. However, totally new user will probably be more likely to use the full Ribbon, and it's various secondary 'galleries' to find the necessary functions."
Basically I liked this concept. I have seen in the past many software failed measerably while in transition from one style of interface to another. But since here one will be having access to both the interface, its pretty much easy to move.
Another doubt that one may have is how many command will be accessible in this interface. Alot.
Apart from these gallery one can also edit and dock side bar or border bar.
And editing those side bars should be easy as well
"there will also be a quick way (without even having to go into Customize) to copy frequently used items, either temporarily or permanently, to one of the so-called 'side-bars', which you could think of as a sprt of fixed toolbars (which can be toggled ON/OFF):"
Hope this much information at this time is all you are looking for. More information will be shared as I get my own seat. Till then happy NX8.5.2
[P.S. These are not my observation and collected data from open forum. Big big thanks to Mr. Baker from Siemens PLM for his open and generous discussion. ]
