Hello Snap-On Programmers.
I think its time to refresh an old post and ask Snap-On again for some additional capabilities that other competing scan tools have that we don't. As well it would be great to improve upon the current tools/software. These suggestions are in no particular order and feel free to add your own. Hopefully if we keep asking we will get some results. We have made some significant improvements but things can always be better. Snap-On needs to raise the bar and should not be outdone by companies that sell much cheaper tools with better capabilities. Most of the items below apply to the Verdict and Verus platforms but some are generic across all scanner models in general.
1. Add some scroll bars along the sides of the vehicle worksheet sections where the codes are now recorded by controller or system so that as this fills it is easier to A, see there is more info and B. scroll through it. Additionally, you should be able to resize the sections of the worksheet, especially the “Technician Notes” section. I also think it would be beneficial if the reported codes were listed with the most current at the top of the list instead of at the bottom. I almost always reload a saved vehicle from history. That way I can review my comments and previous codes retrieved. Some records that I have are over 5 years old now and the vehicles have been back in several times. The most current info would be at the top and there would be less need to scroll then too.
2. The PID recordings are saved automatically to the vehicle record but not screen captures, lab scope recordings or GMM recordings. Why not? Additionally we need to be able to add comments to the recordings or at least change the name before saving. This also applies to Freeze Frame data. It should save to the record. If you can’t do this then at least streamline the process of adding new attachments to the record. As it is you must add each file individually and you can’t hold down the shift or alt keys to select multiple files when adding them.
3. Automatic VIN decoding has been available on selected systems since 14.2, thanks! Please continue to increase the number of applications that support this. It just saves time and reduces error.
4. All system DTC scan finally arrived with 14.2 and it looks like that has been expanded with 14.4, thanks again but there are many more systems out there that support this yet we are still limited. I also noticed the ability to do a quick erase after doing a network scan on one vehicle, more please. Most 06 and up vehicles will support this and this is a HUGE timesaver.
5. More module access and more functions in the available modules. Keep going. It’s embarrassing when a $3000.00 Maxisys can access more modules on a Ford, Chrysler or GM and can do additional functions beyond that of an $11,000 Verus or even a $4500.00 Edge.
6. I guess I’m flogging a dead horse but a still miss the 10.2 split screen/16 graph data manipulation that we had. We have 16 graphs if we build a custom data list and then graph but you can’t easily arrange them in the order you prefer. I know there is SSC software that will do this but that’s another process and is not as convenient as it was on the live screen.
7. Speaking of custom data lists, I know the software will save and reload a custom list on that vehicle while you are still in that module but it would be so handy to be able to build a custom data list based on the current diagnosis strategy and be able to save a “Preset” kind of like the scope preset save capability. Save the configuration.
8. Data management in 14.4 still sucks big time. If you are like me and have several hundred or possibly 2000 saved files sorting them with the 14.4 data manager is a waste of time. Take a screen shot and try go look at it with the Atlas data manager. It will be the last file saved. You will wear your finger out scrolling to the bottom of the list. It might help if you could name a screen shot for instance or if there was a scroll bar along side the list of saved files. This is windows based software, why not use windows file management that can show icons, list, details, sort by date created, title, size, type etc... SSC used to do this and we lost it with 10.4. Four years now and still the same. I guess I’m the only one who saves/sorts files.
9. I posted this before, (four years ago), but since nothing has changed I'll bring it up again. If you save a configuration of the lab scope or multimeter while performing a specific test for instance, you are asked for a description where you could put details for future reference about anything you felt was relevant to this set up. For instance you could add instructions on how to perform the connections to the scope, where to connect on the vehicle and what to watch for. You can still save this information while saving the preset but it is not visible ever again when you go to reload the preset. It was with the 10.2 and earlier SSC software!
10.When scanning a vehicle in the manufacture enhanced mode it would be helpful if the “generic OBDII functions” included read codes from the OBDII side. Snap-On and other scanner manufacturers recommend this. Snap-On says to check “Both sides of the house” but having to exit and re ID the vehicle in Global OBDII is time consuming and inconvenient.
11. How many of you print the codes from a network scan or print the vehicle record? I hope you have an endless supply of paper. Why does my shop name, address and contact information appear on the top of every printed page taking up 1/4 of the available space and why is the line spacing and font so large? Can’t we have an option to size to fit 1, 2 or 3 pages, maybe a print preview?
12. After retrieving codes you are presented with an option to “fix it” clicking the drop down arrow gives you the option to go to ShopKey/OnDemand5 which is now ProDemand or ShureTrack websites. Why not link directly to Trouble shooter which is in the tool or at least give us that option? I have a suspicion the Snap-On is probably going to drop the troubleshooter capabilities in favour of ShureTrack and ProDemand which of course are paid subscriptions unless you want to include access to those sites included, if you keep your scanner current for example.
13. The recent shift from OnDemand5.com to ProDemand.com has caused some concerns that I have discussed with one of their reps. The new site is flashy and slows the Verus down terribly. It is difficult to navigate and missing links especially to TSBs. The new search engine sucks compared to the original site. My Verus exhibits a glitch when I’m in the ProDemand site and I start to enter information into the search field. A printer selection popup appears and has to be closed. You then have to close the keyboard and reopen it and try again. It doesn’t happen if I use Internet Explorer as the browser over the Verus browser and IE is much faster. I will link to a video on youtube as soon as it uploads.
That’s all that I can think of at this time. Please add any comments. I know Snap-On is reading this. Lets make these tools the best there is.
I think its time to refresh an old post and ask Snap-On again for some additional capabilities that other competing scan tools have that we don't. As well it would be great to improve upon the current tools/software. These suggestions are in no particular order and feel free to add your own. Hopefully if we keep asking we will get some results. We have made some significant improvements but things can always be better. Snap-On needs to raise the bar and should not be outdone by companies that sell much cheaper tools with better capabilities. Most of the items below apply to the Verdict and Verus platforms but some are generic across all scanner models in general.
1. Add some scroll bars along the sides of the vehicle worksheet sections where the codes are now recorded by controller or system so that as this fills it is easier to A, see there is more info and B. scroll through it. Additionally, you should be able to resize the sections of the worksheet, especially the “Technician Notes” section. I also think it would be beneficial if the reported codes were listed with the most current at the top of the list instead of at the bottom. I almost always reload a saved vehicle from history. That way I can review my comments and previous codes retrieved. Some records that I have are over 5 years old now and the vehicles have been back in several times. The most current info would be at the top and there would be less need to scroll then too.
2. The PID recordings are saved automatically to the vehicle record but not screen captures, lab scope recordings or GMM recordings. Why not? Additionally we need to be able to add comments to the recordings or at least change the name before saving. This also applies to Freeze Frame data. It should save to the record. If you can’t do this then at least streamline the process of adding new attachments to the record. As it is you must add each file individually and you can’t hold down the shift or alt keys to select multiple files when adding them.
3. Automatic VIN decoding has been available on selected systems since 14.2, thanks! Please continue to increase the number of applications that support this. It just saves time and reduces error.
4. All system DTC scan finally arrived with 14.2 and it looks like that has been expanded with 14.4, thanks again but there are many more systems out there that support this yet we are still limited. I also noticed the ability to do a quick erase after doing a network scan on one vehicle, more please. Most 06 and up vehicles will support this and this is a HUGE timesaver.
5. More module access and more functions in the available modules. Keep going. It’s embarrassing when a $3000.00 Maxisys can access more modules on a Ford, Chrysler or GM and can do additional functions beyond that of an $11,000 Verus or even a $4500.00 Edge.
6. I guess I’m flogging a dead horse but a still miss the 10.2 split screen/16 graph data manipulation that we had. We have 16 graphs if we build a custom data list and then graph but you can’t easily arrange them in the order you prefer. I know there is SSC software that will do this but that’s another process and is not as convenient as it was on the live screen.
7. Speaking of custom data lists, I know the software will save and reload a custom list on that vehicle while you are still in that module but it would be so handy to be able to build a custom data list based on the current diagnosis strategy and be able to save a “Preset” kind of like the scope preset save capability. Save the configuration.
8. Data management in 14.4 still sucks big time. If you are like me and have several hundred or possibly 2000 saved files sorting them with the 14.4 data manager is a waste of time. Take a screen shot and try go look at it with the Atlas data manager. It will be the last file saved. You will wear your finger out scrolling to the bottom of the list. It might help if you could name a screen shot for instance or if there was a scroll bar along side the list of saved files. This is windows based software, why not use windows file management that can show icons, list, details, sort by date created, title, size, type etc... SSC used to do this and we lost it with 10.4. Four years now and still the same. I guess I’m the only one who saves/sorts files.
9. I posted this before, (four years ago), but since nothing has changed I'll bring it up again. If you save a configuration of the lab scope or multimeter while performing a specific test for instance, you are asked for a description where you could put details for future reference about anything you felt was relevant to this set up. For instance you could add instructions on how to perform the connections to the scope, where to connect on the vehicle and what to watch for. You can still save this information while saving the preset but it is not visible ever again when you go to reload the preset. It was with the 10.2 and earlier SSC software!
10.When scanning a vehicle in the manufacture enhanced mode it would be helpful if the “generic OBDII functions” included read codes from the OBDII side. Snap-On and other scanner manufacturers recommend this. Snap-On says to check “Both sides of the house” but having to exit and re ID the vehicle in Global OBDII is time consuming and inconvenient.
11. How many of you print the codes from a network scan or print the vehicle record? I hope you have an endless supply of paper. Why does my shop name, address and contact information appear on the top of every printed page taking up 1/4 of the available space and why is the line spacing and font so large? Can’t we have an option to size to fit 1, 2 or 3 pages, maybe a print preview?
12. After retrieving codes you are presented with an option to “fix it” clicking the drop down arrow gives you the option to go to ShopKey/OnDemand5 which is now ProDemand or ShureTrack websites. Why not link directly to Trouble shooter which is in the tool or at least give us that option? I have a suspicion the Snap-On is probably going to drop the troubleshooter capabilities in favour of ShureTrack and ProDemand which of course are paid subscriptions unless you want to include access to those sites included, if you keep your scanner current for example.
13. The recent shift from OnDemand5.com to ProDemand.com has caused some concerns that I have discussed with one of their reps. The new site is flashy and slows the Verus down terribly. It is difficult to navigate and missing links especially to TSBs. The new search engine sucks compared to the original site. My Verus exhibits a glitch when I’m in the ProDemand site and I start to enter information into the search field. A printer selection popup appears and has to be closed. You then have to close the keyboard and reopen it and try again. It doesn’t happen if I use Internet Explorer as the browser over the Verus browser and IE is much faster. I will link to a video on youtube as soon as it uploads.
That’s all that I can think of at this time. Please add any comments. I know Snap-On is reading this. Lets make these tools the best there is.
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