research

[PLCGuy]

I was sitting here thinking about what Bobo and other have said about there are things not so obvious in Do-More. So I decided to be more active on my part. I actually sat down and went through all boxes (F7). I actually found some interesting boxes I did not know existed. One being ALDEV.  Several times I wanted to monitor air supply. I was doing it in several rungs or the math box. Actually using both air sensor outputs. That can be a pain. With the ALDEV I can look at the analog from the sensor and set my upper and lower values then display alarms or visuals as necessary. Just one example of being more pro-active and not totally depending on Host to make things more obvious. I do understand there is no official manual, so maybe I just need to sit down and learn more about the software I am really liking.

By the way, no way I am going back to DS6 unless I have to connect to older existing or do a very very simple project. Sorry.
I am actually going to read through the help file. lol

[BobO]

This is a major challenge that we face. We've discovered that our users spend about 95% of their time using about 5% of our product. To be successful selling through ADC's business model, it is imperative that we make that 5% falling-off-a-log simple to find and use. We have in the past actually tried to make some of our more advanced features obvious...but...in doing so we complicate it for the new guys trying to learn. Some people get over the hump and love Do-more, others never make it and abandon it. To continue to grow and build all of the cool stuff we want to offer, we have to get better at integrating new users, which means even a greater emphasis on simplifying.

The guys that need cool features and are loyal fans of the product will dig around and find them. That's always been true. But it really important that we do a better job with the new guys.

[PLCGuy]

"Some people get over the hump and love Do-more, others never make it and abandon it. "
I do not see Do-More any more frustrating to use then other brands. Are you sure it is just other user are so "use" to what they been using, they do not want to spend the time to learn. I say that cause I did that with a couple other brands, tried it, could not figure it out and abandoned it. Went back to what made me feel warm and fuzzy.  Believe it or not, I actually had a co-worker say he did not like AD products cause he can not copy and paste like in AB. Really! Even though Do-More is much more powerful then RS500, he picked on copy and paste. Personally, I think it was just an excuse to stick to what he knows.

If it helps maybe a more interactive help file. Seems you can only type in one word and end up with a huge list to pick from. I do not come from a strong programming background so trying to use programing like "if" and "then", I struggle, the help file was not that big of a help. I got more understanding on the forum. Saying that, is it possible to make a more intuitive help? Something like Microsoft has for Word. You type in what you are trying to do and it gives you choices.

I just think it is the more advanced features that I struggle with. I am refering to the math box. There is so much you can do within it. I just do not know how to write commands in the math box.

there are videos, how is that working out?

Did not mean to rang on and on.

[ADC Product Engineer]

"Some people get over the hump and love Do-more, others never make it and abandon it. "
I do not see Do-More any more frustrating to use then other brands. Are you sure it is just other user are so "use" to what they been using, they do not want to spend the time to learn. I say that cause I did that with a couple other brands, tried it, could not figure it out and abandoned it. Went back to what made me feel warm and fuzzy.  Believe it or not, I actually had a co-worker say he did not like AD products cause he can not copy and paste like in AB. Really! Even though Do-More is much more powerful then RS500, he picked on copy and paste. Personally, I think it was just an excuse to stick to what he knows.

We definitely see a lot of this.  However, we also see a lot of people who just can't make it over the hump.  There are a lot of different reasons for this issue.  Believe it or not we actually do listen to our customers and pay attention to trends in what  is said and done. 

Do-more is a great product for ADC.  But we hear time and time again about certain things being said.  If more than a few folks talk about a certain aspect of the software being an issue, then maybe it is an issue and we should take a long hard look at it.  This is what BobO is talking about.  As an example; There isn't any need to jump trough 10 hoops to get connected to a PLC anymore.  It should just happen.  We know that the PLC is out there, we know how to find it and we know how to help you get connected.  Why aren't we doing it?

If it helps maybe a more interactive help file. Seems you can only type in one word and end up with a huge list to pick from. I do not come from a strong programming background so trying to use programing like "if" and "then", I struggle, the help file was not that big of a help. I got more understanding on the forum. Saying that, is it possible to make a more intuitive help? Something like Microsoft has for Word. You type in what you are trying to do and it gives you choices.

This is something that I personally would love to see.  More standard definitions attached to what we do.  A lexicon if you will. 

I just think it is the more advanced features that I struggle with. I am refering to the math box. There is so much you can do within it. I just do not know how to write commands in the math box.

You and me both.  I always have to open the help file.  Luckily there are some things that can be done to help this out.  I think HOST is working on this one.

there are videos, how is that working out?

Did not mean to rang on and on.

The videos are doing extremely well.  We would love to do more (pun unintended) as we have time and resources.  Somehow it's always about resources.

I don't think you rang on and on.  I think you brought up some extremely valid points.  I wish more of our customers would be so candid.