[Manifold-l] FW: 7x display issues

[Dimitri Rotow]

> It's happening more on our relatively new fast and loaded 
> with RAM desktops than the older laptop so I'm not sure it's 
> simply resources unfortunately. I've tried running it 
> straight after a cold boot with nothing else launched and get 
> the same problem - once it's started with a particular map 
> file it seems permanent. What I don't get is why it's OK for 
> a while and then changes - it's not as if it's being banded 
> around between different machines for example.
> 

I've never heard of anything like this so my first guess would be that it is
something specific to the machines in use.  You can only debug this sort of
behavior through extremely close attention to details.  

Such details include, but are not limited to, an exact and highly detailed
description of the hardware in use, all software in use (including the
specific versions of Windows and updates thereto), the Manifold editions in
use, an exact and complete description of the projects, etc.

Anything involving rendering would lead me to consider *all* parts of the
rendering pipeline, beginning with a consideration of what graphics cards /
chips are in use, checking the Use GDI-compatible Screen Cache setting in
Tools - Options, making sure the latest drivers are downloaded, etc.

I'd also check for anything else that might affect rendering or user
interfaces: Windows GUI "enhancements" and the like. 

Also leave no stone unturned in straight hardware issues, such as
insufficient free space for temp folder, page file, hard disk, etc.

I'd also consider what is going on in the project, for example, are the
target windows in any way connected with linked data sets (images, etc.)?

Probably the last thing I'd consider would be a bug in Manifold, assuming
you are working with the latest 7x update.  Although rare, the possibility
of a bug is always something to keep in mind.  But experience shows that if
there is a bug in the rendering pipeline we'd be getting a lot of reports,
almost certainly to the degree that even those of us who don't work in tech
support would have heard of it.

Hope this helps!

Dimitri