I have one client who has went to 5.1 but they are not using the new Plotdata replacement feature. Still using the Plotdata feature.

I thing CSI needs to read all these complaints about the loss of Plotdata. I know Mr/Dr, Robinson reads this board from time to time, especially if Peakvue is mentioned, so why don't these desk riders who do not actually use the program on a day to day basis read some of the gripes being exhausted here?

In addition to complaining here on the World Wide Web, why don't we flood CSI with emails, phone calls, etc. with all these dislikes and gripes? If the guys who are planning to do away with the Plotdata option had as much experience as some of us do using it, I think they would think a different way. Why do away with something that works so well just for the sake of saying we have a new upgrade? There are already too many bells and whistles in the software that are not used by over 90% of the day to day analyst, IMO.

Sam,

Since you have the maintenence agreement, I think a phone call would get you the 5.1.

Ralph,

There are definitely CSI people who follow these discussions. On several occasions I have received unsolicited (and much appreciated) assistance from them based on what they have read here. I would imagine that their active participation here is discouraged by upper management.

As far as the value of what we write here, I don't know how far up the ladder the interest goes, but we can and should express our candid opinions about their (and everyone else's) products, both here and directly to them. If I were a manufacturer of any product, I would value candid, professional opinions about my product more highly than any other means of measurement.

Well how about that....you learn something new everyday (after seeing this I realize that I was really after a fixed scale - 14th icon, fixed but automatically fixed, does that make sense)....thanks for the tip Danny....it would be nice if that feature was automated somehow though, instead of having to select to it in the software for every multiple waveform plot...but, nonetheless, it's one more reason not to pass over to 5.1...

I have to say that the more I play with the new Vib Analysis module the more I like it. I'm using the 5.1 version. I probably haven't figured it all out yet but it does seem to be missing some of my favorite options from Plotdata. I'm hoping that when it's complete it will have all the functionality of Plotdata, like CSI is saying. I just figured I would try to learn how to use it in steps, as CSI adds more functions.

Hi All,

Peakvue, Peakvue, Peakvue, Peakvue, Peakvue, Peakvue. Now that we have the attention of Dr Robinson.....

I'm a long term user of CSI (standalone) and hear that since the Emerson buyout that support in the US and Europe has almost disappeared. I guess the large corporations don't see any value in this and only that support is a cost centre waiting to be cut. That's how financial types think. The first class support used to be an argument I'd use to set CSI above all the others. (apart from the worlds best analyzer 2120) I also worked for another 3 letter company, their support department in this part of the world was all the sales guys who would give up their demo units when a customer had a faulty analyzer. Forget about a department specifically set up to help customers (like CSI). Note I have not used 5.1 yet, in the past have always waited for new versions to bed in before jumping, there is usually no easy way back. Went to the CSI info session about the new 5.0 version and saw it demonstrated.

I used to complain that MT & RBM was not truly windows but have changed my mind about that (since working with 2 other 3 letter company vibe softwares) Why do we need to adhere to windows standards to the nth degree? I think the large companies do it such that all looks familiar to new customers who are perhaps more likely to send a po compared to something that looks, from the onset, a bit more difficult.

Once they get a little speed that is where they stay since they spend their lives clicking and right clicking forever to achieve anything. In plotdata however, everything is just a short cut away and if you know them all, can fly through the data like lightning. The other reason could be that programmers may only be trained in the “windows” way, and might not be able to think outside the square. I really don’t care that I can choose any of 7 trillion colors in paintshop pro or word and because that ability exists in the IT world it shouldn’t have to necessarily be in everything else inc vibe software – I just want a list of 12 colors easy to see (and not waste half a day thinking about which I would like to use out of 7 trillion!)

The need for simplicity struck me when I was shown through some accounting software not long ago. There was a choice, a windows looking gui or an old style black background with orange text and heaps of short cuts. All the people entering invoices and doing anything else used the old style, they took a long time to learn but they now absolutely fly to get through their work so much quicker. (Nobody was running around demanding windowisation, they all knew they were fast) And the number of invoices per day was enormous. People elsewhere in the company would use the "windows' screen, there was not such a need for speed and everything needed to be more "windowised" since they weren't familiar and only needed to have a look infrequently.

This is like comparing Consultants or Technicians who use the software all day, every day to site personnel who perform vibration work as an add on or part time job.

Shortcuts like CSI's "X" function that has been around for 10 yrs at least. The others don't have it and are frantically trying to include it - the NZ newcomer is rushing it, and the other 3 letter company is slowly waking up. For me the simplicity of plotdata is actually a benefit differentiating it from the others - granted, it is a lot harder to learn but once you get past the threshold, you will fly much faster than the others who spend their days clicking, dropdown, select, etc. etc, a 1000 times a day. Oh, and if there is a problem - you need a 3 yr IT degree to resolve installed database issues - and forget about maintaining a database for each client as most consultants do you, will be bitterly disappointed there is no such thing as copy paste a file like with CSI (hopefully that is still the case in 5.1....?) (the other company is trying to do something about that as well)

I'm all for progress, but things have to improve in the process, not take 10 yr step backward in efficiency and cost trying to do the job. Like Ralph said, there are already too many bells and whistles, and most only use a small fraction. Plotdata has all you need and no more - that's important! Imagine a Boeing 747 cockpit that has 5 times as many buttons and dials as necessary, we'd see a lot more crashes.

And if Plotdata is in 5.1 now, why does it need to be removed? Surely there are still not on-going issues with it after 10 yrs and more. Just leave it as an icon, or do they really want to remove the turbo option so we can all work as slow as the others. (maybe Emerson is trying to rid itself of the final few CSI masters?)

Makes me think, as heavy users we are probably only a small part of these companies customer bases and maybe if the majority of their target customers wants slow windows because it looks easier (and don't realize that), if that is what market wants that is what market gets. The new standard will be slow and cumbersome and let’s not care about consultants, they would work against selling more product. Cynical view I know but sometimes less is better, much better.

There have been lots of threads about expensive maintenance agreement – I support it but wish it was cheaper, it’s a lot of money. The question we also need to ask is how are newcomers going to fund their support once growth in the market slows or stops. Will that be when 5 yrs maintenance free disappears?? All have to pay for it somehow. Regards.

Hi Vibe-Rater,

Thatz really a nice article!!!

I still didn't get an opportunity to use CSI's new version..We ordered it last year and still waiting!!But now, reading these comments i think itz better to go for their early version..
Really big companies like CSI should consider their customer's feedback..Or is it like this-"when the company gets bigger,their support to the customers become lesser"!!

I prefer RBMware to Machine Analyst because of the Plotdata only..Itz so simple and direct and if you know the hotkeys,your hands will do magic..Itz really sad to lose it in the new version if it is not replaced by a better and stronger tool!!

By the way, did anybody heard about a re-arrangement in CSI employees/management? The cause for the delayed delivery of our instruments is pointed out as something like that!!Did anybody got new 2130 this year?

Have a nice day!!

Hi Jenish,

Hopefully I could replicate something that sounds like the 6th by reading the music sheets and hitting the ivories.
However, I think that Beethoven would do a better job. That is what I think you mean by "Itz so simple and direct and if you know the hotkeys,your hands will do magic"
rgds

ok so I meant the 4th or whichever tickles the ivories
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7ODJHUX_EM

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Vibe-Rater,

Well said Vib-Rater.

Why lose soemthing for the sake of change.

You spoke of "flying" through data with Plotdata. No truer statement has ever been said. After usibg CSI from DOS all the way through to RBMware, Plotdata makes it a smooth sailing experience when analyzing, especially using the Autoplot option.

Bottom line is CSI, leave Plotdata where it is. Us old folks have used it so long and adjusted to the changes you have made and lost a few things along the way, but it is still the greatest analyzing, day to day, program on the market, IMO.

Vib-Rater says it better than I. It just rattles me the way you guys try to change things. Progress is good but leave what works alone, and just add better features to work with the already great program.

Jenish,
we ordered our 2130's the latter part of Novemember. Because of some so-called "year-end" money the accountants found..the 2130's had to be delivered by Dec. 31. We actually got the 3 of them on Dec. 27. This was on the trade in deal with our old 2120's som maybe that had something to do with getting them so quick.

quote:

Originally posted by Scott Harper:
Plot data showed all of the frequincies, the problem was that there are some new files (mhm remote) that were not set to the proper privilages.


Scott

Scott,

Which file needed privileges? I have a couple of machine proper databases that do the same thing in vib analysis.

Aubrey

I was told by our IT dept. that there were two files that the privilages had to be set.
CSI data transfer and CSI mhm remote.
Before these were set we could not bring up any fault freq that had an ID# (brgs, fult sets, etc.) After the privilages were set the fault freq's worked fine. You still do not get near the information with 5.1 that Plot data shows.

Hope this helps,
Scott

Billy:

Set your fixed amplitude scale in multiple waveform to 0 and it will autoscale.

Thanks David, works like a charm...

Guys, what we need is the name and mailing address of someone in the Emerson organization (not CSI anymore) who is high enough up to effect change in some meaningful way, but not so high up that he can delegate the responsibility down to someone else. The we need to write well-written, well thought-out letters on our company letterhead listing our concerns. Emails are too easy to just hit the delete key and - poof! - they're gone (often unread). Letters on the other hand, carry more physical weight and you actually have to physically wad it up and toss it... and it's harder to say "I never saw" a letter.

If we'd all get behind a letter writing campaign, we'd get their attention.

Good idea Rusty.

So who knows the name? Drew Mackley?? but he might be the last remaining CSI master. Or Mr. Ken Piety??(typed name in google found this - beautiful!)http://www.compsys.com/drknow/aplpapr.nsf/19fcc759cbee3c3c8525659800528caa/5297c04865908203852565a20062f412?OpenDocument

They would at least know who we should send letters to!!! cheers! Come on CSI give us a name!!!! Dare to be different.. I know... borrowed it from somewhere..don't know where.

Ken Piety is no longer with CSI (Emerson). He left and was working on wireless monitoring development but has since joined Azima Corp. (as director of engineering I think). Some of you may know Don Rainey who is also with Azima, and Nelson Baxter is there also. They have some pretty cool products which actually work. One of the coolest is a cell-phone enabled system. Hook up the sensors, provide power to the "box" and (if you have a cell signal) you have instant access to the machine's vibration data from anywhere in the world that you have internet access.

!Vendor Alert!

To all fellow predictive maintenance industry participants.

CSI brand products are very much alive and being actively developed, hence the reason for the topic of this thread. Emerson's Machinery Health Management business is very interested in what our customers think, and any product suggestions they may have to make our products easier to use and more powerful for determining machinery health. I am product manager for core portable CSI brand products and would welcome any direct feedback/suggestions you may wish to share with me and the engineering team here in Knoxville.

Send suggestions/feedback by by mail or e-mail(no I won't delete them):
Drew Mackley
835 Innovation Drive
Knoxville, TN. 37932
drew.mackley@emerson.com

Sincerely,

Drew Mackley
Core Portable Products Manager
Emerson Process Management

Drew,

I have been using CSI products exclusively since 1989 and this is the first time I've ever been given the "name" of someone to talk to directly about product improvements. Needless to say, I am ecstatic! I for one, will be in touch.

Thanks for listening,

Rusty Castleman

Does 5.1 have a "multiple route load" option?