Impact 2024 now released, bringing with it a host of new features. Details here.

Longer than expected Save time (One_Up type layer with multiple Cut profiles)

A drawing layer, containing many closed Cut profiles (similar to the following) takes an extended amount of time to Save and/or Update:


Example Impact drawing with multiple Cut profiles

Symptoms

Typically, a Save and/or an Update operation may take several minutes to complete, and you may see the following popup message (on several occasions) during this time:


Script warning message

Cause

Impact performs a series of functions (aka 'Value Mappings') on a drawing layer, at specific times. These times include (but are not limited to) Save/Update or running the Layout tools


The functions performed are dependent upon the layer TYPE.


For ONE_UP type layers, the functions typically include determining the Cut extents of the layer (Blank_X, Blank_Y, First Way, Second Way), calculating the area of the Cut palette (assuming a single, closed profile) and (if a suitable material has been assigned), Impact will also attempt to calculate the blank weight


Impact will perform the calculations and then write the data to the database.


For MULTI_UP type layers, there are no actual calculations to be made - instead Impact simply looks for data that's been generated by the Layout Tools and (if there is any data), simply writes that data to the database.


If multiple closed Cut profiles exist in a ONE_UP type layer (like the example above), the area calculation can take several minutes to complete and then return an empty value.


Solution

In the first instance, check the layer TYPE.


You can do this by hovering the cursor over a layer tab and checking the popup hint:


Popup hint for layer type


You can double-click the layer tab itself:


Layer Properties dialog


You can right-click on the layer tab and pick Properties (to display the Layer Properties dialog shown above):


Layer tab context menu


You can check the Drawings Hierarchy tab of the Impact Explorer:


Layer type in the Impact Explorer


In each of the screengrabs above, the layer type is ONE_UP - which means that at Save/Update, Impact will be running the extents, area & weight calculations. And because of the many (many) closed Cut profiles, the area calculation will take some time to run (and then generate an empty value, anyway).


If a layer consists of multiple closed Cut profiles, it's inappropriate (as well as inefficient) to use a One_Up layer TYPE.


Changing the layer TYPE to MULTI_UP is not only making better use of layer TYPES, it also means that Impact will not run the area calculation - which takes the bulk of the time at a Save/Update.


Display the layer Properties, CHANGE the layer TYPE to MULTI_UP (as shown), and click OK:


Layer Properties dialog


Re-try the Save/Update operation - this time, it should be virtually instant.


Still Not Working

If the above solution has not resolved your problem, you may have found another cause of this error. Please create a support ticket and describe the problem you're having in as much details as you can. You may be asked to provide the following information so to expedite a solution, it would be useful if you could add the appropriate information to your ticket.

  • The date and time the problem occurred and the user name or names that has experienced the problem.
  • Screenshots showing the problem including the entire site and address bar. Please do not zoom in on an area as important information can be easily missed.
  • A screen recording of you reproducing the problem.

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