Possible bug in XX5 - bevels on groups error message

I've reported this bug to Xara, but I just wanted to give you a heads-up...

If you group objects and apply a bevel, an error message pops up saying that beveled objects cannot be ungrouped and to ungroup, you must remove the bevel.

However, this error message keeps popping up after everything else you do in XX5 until you remove the bevel. There's no other way I could find to stop the error message.

This problem doesn't occur on Soft Groups, so you can use bevels on them as a workaround.

I also tested this in XX4 Pro and I didn't get the error message.

yes I see that - it seems the message continues to pop up whilst the bevelled group remains selected or if it is reselected with the bevel still in place

Well, I started XX5 again after rebooting, and this time, I only get the error message if I select the beveled group. Still annoying, but not as much as before. :)

When this first happened, I was getting the error message after deselecting the beveled group object and when selecting any other tool or menu. Maybe rebooting fixed that. I didn't reboot after registering XX5, and maybe something didn't get updated...

@pixeldust and @handrawm

Which CPU's are your PC's based on?

intel core 2 Duo E4500
2GB RAM
XP home SP3

Some tests I've made on different machines here at home.

Intel Core 2 Duo 4GB RAM Vista Ultimate. Bevel applied to a group opens warning message.

AMD Athlon 768MB RAM Vista Home Premium. Bevel applied to a group opens warning message.

AMD Athlon 256MB RAM Windows XP Pro. Bevel applied to a group opens warning message.

Intel Pentium III 256MB RAM Windows XP Pro. Bevel applied to a group DOES NOT open the warning message.

Tests made using Xtreme 5.1 Standard and Pro versions.

All versions of Windows have the most recent service pack for that OS.

Vista Service Pack 2. Windows XP Service Pack 3.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sledger

@pixeldust and @handrawm

Which CPU's are your PC's based on?

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Mine's a Intel Core2Duo E6600, 2.4 GHz. I'm on Windows XP Pro, SP3.

I get the error message when dragging the bevel tool handles to create a bevel, and when clicking on the group afterwards.

I sent Xara support a sample file. They said they got the error message when they clicked on the beveled group, but they didn't get the repeated error when clicking on other tools, menus or objects like I got the first time.

Hi,
I just tried on Intel Dual core e7300 cpu 2.66gh 4 MB memery and had no problems Windows XP
JIm

Hello PixelDust,

Can you try a very simple sequence to find the minimum required to trigger the message? E.g. run Xtreme, draw two ellipses, group them, go to bevel tool, drag handle (or preferably select flat from bevel type drop-down). Can you also save your document before going into the bevel tool and post it here if this process does give the error (and also try loading the file into a fresh run of Xtreme and see if you still get the error when the bevel is applied)? If it doesn't give the error then please modify the process gradually to more mimic your usual method and post details of the steps you needed to take to get the error?

Thanks,
Gerry

I followed your suggestions and here's what happened:

1. Open Xtreme Pro 5.
2. Draw two ellipses.
3. Group the ellipses.
4. Save file.
5. Select group with the Selection tool.
6. Click on the Bevel tool.
7. Drag the red bevel handles.
8. The error message appears.
9. Click OK on the error dialog box.
10. Click on the Selection Tool.
11. The error message appears again.
12. Click OK on the error dialog box.
13. Deselect the group.

If I don't deselect the group, and choose any tool while the group is still selected, I continue to get the error message until I deselect the group and then choose another tool.

However, If I deselect the group and then choose another tool, I won't get the error message.

I also tried your suggestion of selecting a flat bevel from the control bar rather than dragging the handles, and I got the error message.

I also tried loading the saved file into a new session of Xara Xtreme and the error message still persists.

By the way, by a "fresh run" do you mean I need to reinstall Xara Xtreme, or do you mean just starting up Xara for the first time in the day?

Also, in case it matters, I also have Xara Xtreme Pro 4 and Xara X1 installed.

I've attached the file.

Hope this helps!

1. Open Xtreme Pro 5. - Done
2. Draw two ellipses. - Done
3. Group the ellipses. - Done
4. Save file. - Done
5. Select group with the Selection tool. - Done
6. Click on the Bevel tool. - Done
7. Drag the red bevel handles. - Done
8. The error message appears. - Did not happen.

When I tried to ungroup I got the usual message about removing the bevel, but that was it.

My machine isn't even REMOTELY as powerful as the people having this issue and it uses an on-board video card stealing RAM.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PixelDust

I followed your suggestions and here's what happened:

<snip>

By the way, by a "fresh run" do you mean I need to reinstall Xara Xtreme, or do you mean just starting up Xara for the first time in the day?

Also, in case it matters, I also have Xara Xtreme Pro 4 and Xara X1 installed.

I've attached the file.

Hope this helps!

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The "fresh run" just means to quit it and run it again. Basically so the previous things you have done can't be affecting things.

Could you attach a file from before you apply the bevel (that does still give the error for you)?

Thanks,
Gerry

Gerry, here's a sample file. I saved it before trying to apply a bevel. Then when I applied a bevel, I got the warning message. I closed the file without saving, so the bevel isn't applied in this file.

I hope I understood your request correctly. :) Also, thanks for explaining what a "fresh run" is.

Thanks a lot for trying to solve this issue. I had also submitted it to Xara Support and they have also tried to duplicate the problem. You've all been very helpful.

Please note this:

After you get the error message, if you group (the group) again you don't get the error and you can continue to adjust the bevel (error free)

Sledger - sure enough, that works! How did you manage to figure that out?

EDIT: It works, with a couple of caveats... I did find out that you can't interactively change the light angle on the bevel unless you select the bevel object in the Object Gallery.

Also, if you open up the group and select the Bevel Group object directly again, you still get the warning message.

See the attached screenshot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PixelDust

Sledger - sure enough, that works! How did you manage to figure that out?

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My superior intellect of course :D:p

hehe - actually, one of the neat things with Xtreme is that grouping even a single object can often allow a second instance of an effect where normally only one is possible.
Transparency for example, apply a left to right linear trans' to a single object, group that object (you are actually grouping the object AND the effect), then you can apply another linear trans' in another direction.
This can be very useful :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PixelDust

EDIT: It works, with a couple of caveats... I did find out that you can't interactively change the light angle on the bevel unless you select the bevel object in the Object Gallery.

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No, I am able to change the light angle, elevation and contrast without doing this.
I don't even have the OG open by default.

OK, I figured out what was wrong. I can't move the light angle handle unless I click off of the shape, and then click back on it.

If I start trying to adjust the handle right after grouping, it won't move.

Sorry for the confusion... :confused:

Good news - I just installed the update, and the bevels on groups problem seems to be fixed! :D No more error message!

Thanks, Xara team!

Given that it is 5 months since Version 5 of Xtreme was launched on an unsuspecting public and there is still no fix for the bug which launches a sticky warning message that refuses to go away if one tries to bevel a group.
The fact that this was not a bug in Version 4 suggests that it should be relatively easy to fix in Version 5.
People who have shelled out cash and who don't have Version 4 to fall back on or who don't visit TG and are therefore unaware of the workaround, are probably mightily peeved at this ongoing situation. Perhaps a free downgrade to the non-buggy version 4 is in order for these people? This would be good PR for those who perceive this lack of a solution as uncaring.
Saludos,
Bob.

There's a new patch for XX5 available (you have to get it by opening Xtreme and selecting the Help menu > Update program). It seems to have fixed the bevel group bug. At least, I tried it with the sample file I posted in this thread a while back, and no error message so far. :D