OPEN LETTER TO MACROMEDIA
Dear Scott Fegette

Denmark Nov. 3. 2003

I have decided to abandon DMX7 - which i find the worst peace of software Macromedia have ever published. Out of pure need i will have to return to DMX6 to (hopefully) be able to use the extensions (DMXZone ones and UltraSuite) i have bought for dreamweaver over time.

I have lost at least three full workdays - something i cant afford as a single person company. My customers are BIG companies in a danish context - and they depend on me doing my stuff on time - a feature NOT build into DMX7.

As i feel right now i would abandon Dreamweaver all together - BUT sadly its the only real option on the mac right now. I have had much use (still they where buggy) of previous versions - but DMX7 ruins it all.

I have had so many bugs i can hardly tell anymore - i have spent countless hours describing them to MM in their combined wishlist/Bugreport?!?!?. I have also spent much time in DMXZone forums / MM Forums to get responses from other users - and hopefully some fixes for my troubles - but no, they seem to experience the same problems.

I have also spent many hours on reinstalls - fresh system installs - fresh installs of DMXZone extensions - removing them again to find out if they where the root of all my trouble. I have spent countless hours going through repair routines to check if my drive was faulty - but nothing came up.

(Reinstalls to the same location even deletes all installed extensions so one has to reinstall all over again - which sucks)

DMX7 simply doesnt work;
It resizes columns in the site view all the time
it loses connection with servers
it runs to an almost grinding halt in different situations
it doesn´t redraw the screen - "hiding files" until one resizes the siteview.
It quits all the time
it uploads files it has just uploaded
It forgets the panels on restarts.
- just to name a few!....

Furthermore it will not edit CCS entries unless clicking around first - sometimes it opens the stylesheet itself instead of editing just one entry. and and and.

But this (below) just did it for me. Taking a completely fresh page and trying to insert something as simple as a basic table - resulted in a "cant do that". How am i to work when i cant insert a table?

(here should have been a picture of the error)
?
I cannot recommend this software to anybody anymore - i´m taking a step backwards in downgrading to DMX6 - hoping it will carry me through current jobs - but after that i will take a serious look around to migrate to something else. This is simply too expensive / killing my business - and too time consuming to do anything professionally.

I would love for Macromedia to fix these problems so i could keep using DMX as it always take a lot of effort to change "horses" and i generally like DMX´s workspace. But i dont think You guys ever will fix it.

Why? you ask; You didnt fix DMX6 - You say perfect software doesnt exist, and it never will - and thats supposed to be the reason for not fixing DMX6 instead of presenting DMX7.

Im not asking for perfect software, i´m just asking for working software - just deciding to leave the previous version behind in the dark certainly wont fix it - even pretending its ok to leave it behind wont make things right.

I would gladly pay much more for the program - if i got a garantie that it will work as specified (to the specs you gave yourselves) and that it would be fixed promptly if it didn´t.

200 dollars is a lot for faulty software - 800 dollars is a small amount if it works.

---

Thanx again for taking the time to respond in the DMXZone forums - hope you can bring this beast around, but i cant afford to wait for that.

A very disappointed Dreamweaver Pro User.
(but with regards for your personal effort)
Gunni Grahn
Denmark<b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b>

Edited by - enkidu on 03 Nov 2003 18:32:02

Edited by - enkidu on 03 Nov 2003 18:37:42

As noted in private email, Gunni- sorry to hear you feel that way. Obviously if the software doesn't work for you (which is surprising, as I'm typing this on a 17" powerbook w/Panther installed as MX 2004 runs in the background trying to duplicate your JS errors from another thread), you'll need to make the right decision for your own situation. Keep posted, obviously if and/or when a patch for MX 2004 is made available we'd love for it to address the problems you've seen on your system.



- Scott

scott fegette
macromedia, inc.

Ill give it a second try when a patch comes out - and report the results for everyone to see.

When i get the spare time, ill give it a go on my cube - but thats not the machine i wanna work on anymore - but ille do it just to see what happens - but itl have to wait untill i have regained the lost time.

Best regards
Gunni

You could try abandoning the Mac platform and all your problems will go away <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>



(to another area)!



<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
As noted in private email, Gunni- sorry to hear you feel that way. Obviously if the software doesn't work for you (which is surprising, as I'm typing this on a 17" powerbook w/Panther installed as MX 2004 runs in the background trying to duplicate your JS errors from another thread), you'll need to make the right decision for your own situation. Keep posted, obviously if and/or when a patch for MX 2004 is made available we'd love for it to address the problems you've seen on your system.



- Scott

scott fegette
macromedia, inc.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I just do not understand all of problems others are having with DWMX7. It has ran flawlessly for me, just as DWMX6 did. Maybe I am just one of the lucky ones with just the "right" setup. I work on many, many sites, both static and dynamic and DW has never let me down. (I am running a PC with W2K.)

I use DW 6 on OSX and it's been generally pretty reliable but there have been issues and I have noticed that Macromedia has been very unresponsive about addressing them. Case in point, a thread that I started about a week ago.

www.dmxzone.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25667&FORUM_ID=544&CAT_ID=2

As I said in the post, I was amazed that Macromedia used preview code in DW and that the solution to this bug was implemented by a 3rd party. Not a peep out of Macromedia on this.

Another issue I find very annoying is that they admit that DW doesn't support PHP/MySQL on OSX servers. Let's see here...

They put out a product for OSX

They claim it supports PHP/MySQL.

Isn't it natural to assume that you can run your PHP/MySQL on an OSX server! Which aren't some special flavor of PHP/MySQL. They're the standard Open Source versions.

Very annoying!

Chris Desautels
Financial Communications Inc.
Bethesdsa, MD 20814
301-657-1711

A few notes:

1) YDNA- I've personally been using MX/MX 2004 on Macs for quite some time and many others are too. Do you really want to start a platform war here? <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

2) Chris- where did you hear that PHP/mySQL doesn't work on Mac servers? That's how I'm connected at this very moment- and although I've upgraded PHP/mySQL to more current (and less stable) builds I'm rather curious as to where this quote/admission came from.
(could be wrong, but I doubt it.)

PHP support is v4.2 for DWMX 2004 as many of the underlying global code was updated to use more current syntax, can't remember what the default installed version is for the last version of OSX server but an upgrade is also relatively easy.

3) DMXzone staff- of all the 'pull quotes' to use in your weekly email, rather strange one from me to use this week. Obviously as mentioned n times before we can't discuss any details of future versions (which yes- includes patches) until they're announced. Just seemed kinda weird to lead with a pretty standard quote as a breaking news item. Obviously from the various threads we've looked into each of Gunni's specific problems, but not all of them reproduce- even on the same hardware/configuration. We're still looking into them all the same, however.

- Scott

scott fegette
macromedia, inc.

Hello,

I am considering upgrading to DWMX 2004 and not real clear on wheather I will benefit from it over DWMX. My primary function is deveoping webbased applications in php mysql and I am using the interakt extensions.

So why Should I upgrade to the DWMX 2004?

Jeff

jphilapy,
If you are happy with DWMX6 and DO NOT do much with CSS then I would not upgrade. It seems to me the biggest advantage to DWMX7 is vastly improved CSS support.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> DMX7 simply doesnt work;
It resizes columns in the site view all the time
it loses connection with servers
it runs to an almost grinding halt in different situations
it doesn´t redraw the screen - "hiding files" until one resizes the siteview.
It quits all the time
it uploads files it has just uploaded
It forgets the panels on restarts.
- just to name a few!....<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I just wanted to say that I to have experienced every one of these bugs. Most of them are carry over’s from DMX6 but the one about the program just up and quitting is a new one for me with MX 2004. It’s horrible. It's never one certain thing that causes it. I might open a side panel or open a file and the whole program just quits and its a very random but often problem. I don't have any other applications that do this so its very clear that its a dreamweaver issue.

Also I have talked to a friend who was giving MX 2004 a try and has had the issue of the application using up memory and grinding the system to a halt.

I've had the same issue, if I leave it open over night or for many hours at a time which I frequently do my CPU slows down and I have to shut it down to free up memory. This is the only application I use that causes this effect.

I co manage a MMUG and its very hard for me to recommend this product and we often talk about our problems with it. It greatly concerns me that Macromedia says they don’t see these issues in their test environments. It makes me question how they test their products.

None of us have these issues with any other product we use by other companies so it really makes Dreamweaver stand out like a sore thumb.

I just wanted to voice the issues I’m dealing with that let some of you know you are not alone.


P.S. Also I have no extras installed, no third party extensions, its a fresh install of DMX 2004 and DMX 6 that I have these problems with. No other applications on my systems (and run alot from Adobe, microsoft, and other Macromedia products as well) have these issues or cause these problems. I am running a fresh well maintained Win XP machine with a gig of ram.



Edited by - ajy on 07 Nov 2003 02:18:36

Running DMX7 for a few weeks now...

I, too, ran into the CSS issue. I was used to highlighting text, TD, table, etc and clicking on the CSS style I want associated with it. Well, I found that didn’t work with 7. 7 is actually set up better; for me that is.

<ul><li> CSS is built into the 'properties' window and you apply the style there. You can also see what the style looks like there. </li>
<li>Styles are edited with the 'rules' palate window. Just highlight the style and you will see it in the 'rules' window. No need to double click.</li>
<li>In design view you can highlight what you want to work with and change related CSS in the 'relevant CSS' window.</li></ul>

I still get an error connecting to FTP as well. Always have with DW. Logged off, not uploading the files correctly.... but I have learned to live with that.

I am not condoning DMX7. I actually think that paying for a new suite every year is too expensive.

As far as Mac or PC, we use both. But 99% of our development is completed on a PC. Including print. There just isn't a difference any more. We keep a Mac around to open HFS discs, master multi-platform CDs, or check browser compatabilty. But as far as running day to day, it isnt condusive to our business. Not to mention the cost <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle>

Sorry to hear about the rebuilds and all. I thoght that was limited to Windows <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

<b>I stand corrected (partly)</b>

After continuing to read all the forums on this site and on macromedias site i got the feeling that MDX7 works for some and not for others. I decided to dedicate a full day to do some serious bughunting.

I backed up my drive and made a complete reformat- then i installed a fresh, clean version of Panther, followed ONLY by photoshop and DMX7, and lo and behold, DMX7 runs "fine".

It still have allmost all the bugs i have mentioned earlier - BUT it doesnt quit that often (same rate as DMX6 or less) and i could insert tables again. Other than that the errors are the same.

Now it was not less usefull than DMX6 - it was even a bit better due to the new functions it incorporates - CSS support (why cant i still not make a .txt:hover by pressing the + button?) and more.

So i decided to keep it and tried to install the extensions i "need" - which is DMXzone extensions (works fine) and Ultrasuite, alternate rowcolor, horizontal loop and a few others from kaosweaver.

Boom it crashed when inserting tabels - the cullpritt was Technocurve Alternate rowcolors. I found another extension to do the job- and i now use DMX7 on a daily basis - still irritated by all the other bugs in there.

On the issue suggested of changing platform - no i dont wanna shift to PC (been there done that) and dont wanna start a system war here, but i would like to state something (that should be obvious):

People use different tools for work and no matter what computer system people find best suited for their needs is the best for them.

If a system is out - and a program is too - one that states it runs on this or that system - it basically MUST run on that system - otherwise dont publish it.

The bottomline here is - DMX7 for PC/win2k/XP should work in that configuration AS stated on the package. The same goes for DMX7 on OSX.

If it doesnt - FIX IT - preferably before publishment or quiickly after that.

I think Scott is doing just that - he is all over the place to gather info it seems. Lets give the man credit for that - all he deals with is complaints, and he does what he can to help everybody.

If only everybody at MM where the same.

I shall still post my findings - and continue to use DMX7.

I stand (partly) corrected
Great Scott! <img src=../images/dmxzone/forum/icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle> (pun intended)

Gunni Grahn

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Also I have talked to a friend who was giving MX 2004 a try and has had the issue of the application using up memory and grinding the system to a halt.

I've had the same issue, if I leave it open over night or for many hours at a time which I frequently do my CPU slows down and I have to shut it down to free up memory. This is the only application I use that causes this effect.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I have the same problem here. I run DW MX 2004 on a Win 98 (!) pc with 384 MB RAM and it freezes when I edit a simple HTML page. This new version is using cpu and memory in a inefficient manner!?! Editing the same simple HTML page with DW MX didn't generate any cpu-usage or memory related problems.

I don't know how well or bad the new version works as I dont have much time to play with the demo. In anycase I don't doubt it because I have the same problems in DWMX and I am running a dual 1.5 ghz xeon processor and 1.5 ghz ram.

Are your sites large by any chance?

Jeff


<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Also I have talked to a friend who was giving MX 2004 a try and has had the issue of the application using up memory and grinding the system to a halt.

I've had the same issue, if I leave it open over night or for many hours at a time which I frequently do my CPU slows down and I have to shut it down to free up memory. This is the only application I use that causes this effect.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I have the same problem here. I run DW MX 2004 on a Win 98 (!) pc with 384 MB RAM and it freezes when I edit a simple HTML page. This new version is using cpu and memory in a inefficient manner!?! Editing the same simple HTML page with DW MX didn't generate any cpu-usage or memory related problems.


<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I don't know how well or bad the new version works as I dont have much time to play with the demo. In anycase I don't doubt it because I have the same problems in DWMX and I am running a dual 1.5 ghz xeon processor and 1.5 ghz ram.

Are your sites large by any chance?

Jeff
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

No, the site is about 9MB!!

You could always the tips at: www.dwteam.com/Articles/speedhints/index.asp