Duet 3 Extruder control disabled

Ralms

@Phaedrux said in Duet 3 Extruder control disabled:

Thanks for the feedback. I think you chose the hardest path possible to update unfortunately.

I just followed what the documentation said to do, didn't know that was an option.

@droftarts said in Duet 3 Extruder control disabled:

@Phaedrux I said https://forum.duet3d.com/post/171768:

You should be able to upload the Duet2and3Firmware-3.1.1.zip
file in DWC from https://github.com/Duet3D/RepRapFirmware/releases/tag/3.1.1 to update firmware and DWC at the same time.

Not sure why @Ralms took the Bossa route!

Ian

When I searched for how to update the firmware I got to here:
https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Installing_and_Updating_Firmware

Which mentioned right at the start "The Duet 3 stand-alone process is similar; the Duet 3 + Pi process is quite different. See Getting Started with Duet 3 for more information."

So I followed the link "Getting Started with Duet 3" which sent me to:
https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Getting_Started_With_Duet_3#Section_Updating_Duet_3_main_board_firmware

Where mentions 3 ways:

"Raspberry Pi SBC" - Don't have one right now, doing standalone.
"Use Duet Web Control" as usual - When checking that link, mentioned about going to Settings, then General Tab, and upload the files.
Neither on DWC 2 or 3 this matches the real options on my board.
First there are no tabs, just the menu on the left.
And in "Settings -> General" there is no upload button.
As I was in the version 2.1, I assumed it was something new on Version 3, so this wouldn't work for me.
I do see now the note of "(For DWC2, go to the system page)", but these shouldn't be layed out like this.
Instead should be DWC1 + Steps
Then DWC 2 or 3 + steps.
"As a 'fallback' recovery, update firmware via BOSSA on USB" - This was the last and only option that fits my scenario, that is why I took it.

This is mainly the reason on my criticism with the documentation.
Although I'm fairly handy with PCs and electronics, getting a Duet board for the first time is still scary at first due to being an expensive part considering the average Chinese printer price or even something like a Prusa Mini, as such I didn't want to make any mistakes.
The fact that the documentation is so fragmented resulted on a lot of questions. For example almost all docs about Update firmware clearly mentions on the start to be for "Duet 2 WiFi, Ethernet and Maestro", so as a user I was like: So where is Duet 3?

Like I've recommended, I would be to try centralize everything that is possible, such as Microsoft does with their docs.microsoft.com.

Windows articles will say on the top: Applies to X, Y and Z Windows.
Then any particularity is mentioned as a note or as sections on that document, but that topic is all in the same place.

droftarts

@Ralms Thanks for the feedback, I see where it's not clear and will aim to rectify this tomorrow. We're in the process of updating a lot of the documentation (and there is a lot!) for Duet 3, RepRapFirmware 3, and DWC 2/3.

Windows articles will say on the top: Applies to X, Y and Z Windows.

That seems like a good approach. Will confer with my colleagues. 3-axis Windows!

Ian

Ralms

@droftarts You welcome.
I'm glad to provide feedback.

So far I've been pretty happy with the product, even though I was one of the unlucky guys with a board that had those defective diodes pin solders.

Here is a better example of what I've mentioned regarding Microsoft documentation.
Is more common with developer stuff:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.windows.controls.button?view=netcore-3.1

In the end there is almost 2 options:

On top left there is the drop down to select a version.
Although this option, depending on how the wiki is organized, might result on a bigger overhead with duplicated pages.
On the top middle of the page, clearly identifying the applicable stuff.
In my example page is a Namespace, Assemblies, Classes inheritance, etc, but it can be adapted in this case for multiple products.

You got the point

Thanks,
Ralms.

droftarts

@Ralms Thanks for the example. Unfortunately, we are rather limited by the Dozuki software (developed and used by ifixit.com) we use for documentation. There's no drop down selection, tabbed content or even ability to hide sections. It would be good to have documentation specific for each board and RRF version, but that would mean a lot of duplication of pages, so it's a case of putting the most relevant information first, then having notes for other variations. Not ideal, but all that can be done within the current limitations.

We're always on the look out for alternatives (preferably open source or at least with a low cost of entry), particularly if the existing documentation can be ported easily, so welcome any suggestions.

Ian