I know Apex has been available in beta for some time now and that it is due for full release but I avoided it so far as I didn't want the potential problems of a new application while I was productive with ID 9x.
So, just wondering if anyone can summarize the main differences and advantages of Apex. I think I read somewhere that it has some sort of System Builder-like functionality? :(
Anyone saved time and created a successful project that way?
Of course I'll have to get into it sooner or later but it would be good to understand its benefits ....... assuming those exist.
Thanks.


 

RTI is pushing APEX webinars beginning next week.

They also have a class at CEDIA this year covering the switch. I dunno if I'll get to the webinars, but anything free at CEDIA is a good thing :)

One is available now and the other in 2 weeks.
;)

Thanks for the heads up. I did register for the class at CEDIA, just not sure I want to burn the cash and time by going there and a refundable hotel reservation makes me less than committed right now.
I do remember going to RTI training at CEDIA in Denver (2014??) when they tried to show us an early build of Apex. Nothing worked, they borked their pc ........ and I missed lunch.
Huge fan of new software releases.

I downloaded and played with it last night. Copied an existing project, opened it in Apex and tinkered some.

So far, I am kind of unimpressed. Then again I have 10+ years of dealing with ID so the workflow being totally different might be throwing me off. But just the look of the software almost feels like a step backwards.

Not going to diss it totally just yet but so far I am pretty meh about it.

Watched the 2 hour webinar yesterday. It's a step forward for RTi once you understand the new way of doing things but still has some issues.

They've incorporated the ProControl IR library which is nice.

The one issue for me that has always held them back and still does in this new Apex is multiple touch panels each have their own graphics file. As far as I can tell, if you modify a layout for one, you have to do the same to all to make them look similar. I create ONE layout in VTPro for every touch panel in my project of the same size.

They now have room macro, controller macro, source macro and global macro. Same for variables. So you have to make sure which one you want before creating.

They had some stuff with Tags that just made zero sense as to why you would ever do it that way, confusing as sh*t.

Am I doing a major house with this? No, still small resi.

Based on watching the webinar:

While you need to approach things a little differently, I think that one can be more productive in APEX.

It's easier to move from task to task and there are some options to layout your work space to match your style. It seems to me that there will be less "clicking around" and "drill down".

One little example that was very interesting is the channel icons that can scale and adapt to their background.

It is important to adapt your style to follow their "Workflow" concept.

---

Back in the day, ProntoEdit Professional two required a new mindset and many of us needed to restructure our programs, but once you got over that hump, productivity improved dramatically because code was more easily reusable. Details that previously required copy and paste all over the place (and could become a maintenance nightmare), became drag and drop boilerplate. There were, however, some programmers who refused to crossover.

If feel like RTI is listening a little bit more to customers these days according to latest CEDIA announcements.

Finally ProControl Zigbee remote integration for low cost and reliable touchscreen.

Finally reduced pricing and universal app license (free would be better of course)

Finally a rack mountable XP6s processor.

Not a whole lot but significant I think.

Hopefully all available closer to two weeks.