IMPORTANT: If you are updating to Mastercam X7 from a version prior to Mastercam X6, please request the Mastercam X6 Transition Guide. This Mastercam X7 Transition Guide is designed to help you update your Mastercam X6 files for use in Mastercam X7. A standard installation to the default locations is assumed. If you need assistance with a non-standard installation you should contact us. Use the information included here to automatically migrate the majority of your files, manually copy any files not included automatically, and to get up and running with the latest version of Mastercam.
Before You Begin
To ensure you have the latest release of Mastercam you can (and should) visit CNC Software’s download page. As of the time of this writing, Mastercam X7 SP1 is available for download. The file you download will install the software on its own; after it is installed, use your DVD to install extras such as sample files, the Catia Translator, additional wire libraries etc.
Mastercam X7 includes a powerful, yet straightforward, migration utility. You merely need to select the target directories and set the destination location to update the majority of your files to the current version. Some of the Mastercam X6 files updated by this utility are:
- Part files
- Defaults files
- Operation and Tool libraries
- Control Definitions
- Machine Definitions
The utility updates other file types as well. Click the Help button from the Migration Utility dialog box for a complete listing. Remember that only files in the Mastercam X6 format are migrated.
Many factors affect the migration utility’s processing time. The most significant of these is the number of part files you have stored in your personal and shared directories. You may choose to relocate your part files to shorten the migration process. Update them at a later time by opening each file as needed, or by running the Update Folder utility.
Running the Migration Utility
Run the migration utility the first time you launch Mastercam X7 and before you begin to make changes to the X7 setup.
- Launch Mastercam using your preferred method. (Icon on your desktop, start menu etc.)
Select File, Migration Utility. The X6 to X7 Migration Utility dialog box opens.- Select both My McamX6 and Shared McamX6 to migrate all available files from Mastercam X6.
- Enter or use the browse button to select the destination location. Use the default locations provided for standard installations of Mastercam. Windows 7 and Windows 8 users are defaulted to a structure beneath C:\Users
- Click OK to begin the migration process.
If it encounters any errors, the Migration Utility halts the process until you take appropriate action.
IMPORTANT: If you are logged on as an administrator, the Migration Utility processes the nethasp.ini file (..\Program Files\Mcamx7\) at this time.
Handling Remaining Files
Certain files are not migrated through the utility and must be manually copied into the X7 structure. These include files that are outside of the default installation locations as well as the following:
Machine Simulation Files
Machine Simulation files are located in your ..\Shared McamX6\ModuleWorks\Machsimfolder. If you have created any custom machines or layouts, you should bring them into X7. Simply copy the entire Machsim folder, including all sub-folders and files, into your..\Shared McamX7\MachineSimulation\MachSim folder.
Cimco Machine Files
Cimco Machine files are located under your ..\Program Files folder. In order to copy files into for your X7 installation you must be logged in as an administrator. Copy all of the files with a .MCH extension from / to the locations shown:
If you are not logged in as administrator, the files will be found in your user directory: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\mcamx7\common\Editors\CIMCOEdt6\Machines\
Tool Libraries
If you have tool libraries named differently than the ones included with the install, you will need to rename them after they are migrated to X7 and the machine definition will need to be modified to point to the new library. If you do not, the the machine definition will create a new library based on the old name with no tools in it.
Example: FRED.tools-6 will get named to FRED.tools-6.tooldb by the migration utility. This should be renamed to FRED.tooldb and the machine definition needs to be edited to point to the new name.
Miscellaneous Files
Miscellaneous files include:
- Graphics files (i.e. JPG, BMP)
- NC and NCI files
- Native format files from other applications (i.e. DWG, STL)
Copy these file types from their location in the X6 structure to a corresponding location within the X7 structure. They do not need to be run through any kind of update process.
NOTE: Use the Update Folder utility to update files in non-standard locations. Select File, Update folder to see which file types are supported. When manually changing the folders, the source and destination file paths must match. [/box]
This concludes the Mastercam X7 Transition Guide. All that’s left is to launch Mastercam X7 and enjoy the upgrades and enhancements.
If You Need Help
For assistance with installing Mastercam, its HASP or NetHASP or to obtain more information on using Mastercam, please contact us or ask in the eMastercam.com Forums where Mastercam users from around the world unite to ask questions and share their knowledge.
