Support Forum
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Front Panel Designer Tutorial
Hi
I downloaded the Front Panel Designer but does anyone know where I can download and read the tutorial before I can use it?Posted By: Gary on Aug 04, 2018 12:10AM Category: Front Panel Designer
Hi Gary,
Welcome to the program! We do not offer a manual on using the software but we do have a YouTube channel that will show short clips of how to do key elements as well as manuals on how to design certain features. The manuals can be found under the 'download' tab above. Please also check out the 'Online Help' right above the 'Forum' tab at the bottom of the page.
If you have any specific questions please feel free to send us an email to info@frontpanelexpress.com or you can call customer support at (206) 768-0602.
Best regards,
HannahPosted By: Hannah on Aug 04, 2018 01:04AM
ReplyHi Hannah
Thank you for your reply. It is very helpful and informative.Posted By: Gary on Aug 04, 2018 06:46AM
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User-Provided Material
Why does FPD reject 10mm anodized material provided by the user? FPD issues an error message with the combination of 10mm panel and color black is selected. The message says that 4mm is the maximum panel thickness for anodized black. I'd understand if FPE did not have 10mm anodized black stock, but I am supplying the material.
Posted By: Scott Leventhal on Aug 02, 2018 04:29PM Category: Whishes
Hi Scott,
In the designer we only list the maximum thickness for each color that we offer, if you would like to supply black 10mm material we can work with that. You will need to change your material color selection to natural to be able to select 10mm thickness.
Best regards,
HannahPosted By: Hannah on Aug 03, 2018 09:45PM
ReplyHannah:
You've explained away a software flaw that should be corrected. If the "user-supplied material" b***on is checked, FPD should allow for thickness / color combinations that differ from FPE's offerings. This ought to be a simple fix.
Regards,
ScottPosted By: Scott Leventhal on Aug 04, 2018 05:33PM
Reply -
dxf frustration
Hi! I have used FPE over the years for my production needs and I have NEVER, never ever; no matter how I export and how I prep the data- never been able to import a dxf exported from illustrator. I am trying to design some from panels for 2 new products and am completely blocked by this. I contacted support and was curtly pointed to the pdf guide, which tells me nothing about file preparation (and that I've read, and then told it would be 100$ an hour for possibly 3 hours of work to get a simple dxf outline into front panel designer.
Does anyone have a succinct set of operations to perform in order to get a simple curved outline out of illustrator and into FPE using DXF? Paying 300$ per set of outlines will be a bit steep.
Anyway here's the perpetual error:Attached File: Screen_Shot_2018-07-23_at_3.30.29_PM.png
Posted By: Greg Francke on Jul 24, 2018 12:38AM Category: Front Panel Designer
OKAY!!! Important advice for illustrator users: if your art contains any bezier curves, go to object/path and add anchor points. Repeat this until there are enough anchor points to approximate the curve in the following step: go to object/simplify and click on 'straight lines'. Make sure preview is active to catch any potential butchery of curves. Select the outline, export as dxf (default settings work ok), and import.
Posted By: Greg Francke on Jul 24, 2018 12:50AM
Reply:( the above still only works for 1 out of 2 outlines. why is this so hard?
Attached File: Screen_Shot_2018-07-23_at_5.48.32_PM.png
Posted By: Greg Francke on Jul 24, 2018 02:49AM
ReplyHey Greg! Sorry this has been a frustrating process. The team is working on your issue and will be in contact with you through email soon. Thanks!
Posted By: Front Panel Express on Jul 25, 2018 12:38AM
Hi Greg,
Send your.dxf files to info@frontpanelexpress.com and we will help by email.
ThanksPosted By: Adrian on Jul 25, 2018 12:41AM
ReplyThank you Adrian I will send the one last file that I can't covert later today
Posted By: Greg Francke on Jul 25, 2018 03:42PM
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Front Design launch problem
hello... I have ordered dozens of panels over a dozen years... and never had this issue...
I get a pop up that says:
the current issue of front panel designer is not reacting. please close all dialog boxes and try again.
the program was running when I had a crash... it spun endlessly, so I had to force quit... now it will not open... I rebooted computer.. I dragged the old program to the trash... downloaded again... and reinstalled... still nothing... I found the Applications Support folder, but could not see any old files to delete...
I sent an email yesterday. no reply...
any help appreciated...
Mac 10.13.1
Posted By: jeff on May 23, 2018 05:45AM Category: Front Panel Designer
Hello Jeff,
Thank you for your message. Sorry to hear that you are having issues.
We tried to Email you back yesterday to ask a couple of questions but for some reason our Emails are not going through to you. I just called you and left a message.
I wanted to give you an update. The questions that we had for you have been answered in this post and we have forwarded this information to our IT.
Thank youPosted By: Front Panel Express on May 23, 2018 07:22PM
ReplyI figured it out... you have to just delete the entire Front Design folder under Application Support... once you do that, and delete the actual application and reinstall, it will start back up...
thanks for the reply.
Posted By: jeff on May 23, 2018 08:14PM
ReplyI have this same app launch problem as Jeff in OS X 10.13.6
I designed something now I can't get back in the app to order it.
Also all the files are save w/o the file extension '.fpd' and all seem to 1k bytes in file size??Posted By: Joe on Sep 12, 2018 11:42PM
ReplyHi Joe,
Follow Jeffs instructions and see if that fixes your problem. The extension issue could be happening due to your settings. Mac OS operating systems offer you the option to not add extensions on files once downloaded or saved so that could be your issue. Turn that option 'on' so extensions are added to files.
Email us back at info@frontpanelexpress.com if you have any more issues.Posted By: Adrian on Sep 15, 2018 03:47AM
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power connector for FrontDesign
Is there a macro element I can install for a 110 power cable, like a EAC309X?
Posted By: Allen on May 15, 2018 08:41PM Category: Front Panel Designer
The fact that they have stopped producing any new 'connectors' is sad. The one thing that could save this software is a full selection of 'macro's for the connectors that most people want.
Just not likely to happen . . . .Posted By: Charles Roberts on May 15, 2018 08:52PM
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US Prices
The pricing window is showing prices in euros. How do I get US $ pricing?
Posted By: Robert on May 11, 2018 09:33PM Category: Front Panel Designer
Hello,
Do you by chance have the Schaeffer AG version of the Front Panel Designer downloaded?
That is our sister company and their version is in Euros.
You can download our version here:
www.frontpanelexpress.com/downloads/front_panel_designer/
If this does not work. Please feel free to call or Email us:
206-768-0602
info@frontpanelexpress.comPosted By: Front Panel Express on May 11, 2018 09:47PM
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