UF 5.04 EE Default Gradient in Options Misbehaving

I've got an annoying issue with UF 5.04 EE. The formula files below show up as black and white when I click to do a New Fractal. If I double click on a specific formula, it'll then load with whatever gradient I've chosen in the options in a new Fractal# window. I've tried repeatedly changing the gradient then restarting UF and even restarting the computer. It didn't used to act like this. I noticed it after UF 6 was installed. I don't understand why though. I installed them into different folders so they wouldn't mess with one another. Anyone know what possibly is causing this and how to fix it?

mmf5.ufm
mt.ufm
reb.ufm
sam.ufm
abs.ufm
adm.ufm
ahm.ufm
aho.ufm
akl.ufm (only 3 show the selected gradient in options)

tjs.ufm - Convergent Mandelbrot (contains errors it says in small box)

Hi Judson,

I must admit I'm not entirely clear about what you are describing but three things spring to mind:

• I'm puzzled by your short list of problem formula files. Presumably other formulas behave as expected. Therefore I'm wondering if it would be helpful for you to remove the files in question and then do an update in order to force UF to repopulate your formula folder with fresh copies from the database. Worth a try maybe?

• Check the settings on the Gradient tab of the Preferences dialog. It carries a note about what UF does if you have nothing entered here.

• Last resort: try re-installing UF5. This may well correct any anomalies and restore the old functionality.

PS. I've got a broken tjs.ufm file too, it's not just you.

Hi Chris,

It's not using the gradient I've set it to within the Options on various formulas. I listed the ones that were misbehaving few days ago but today they've changed. It's just not working within the new fractal browser looking for a new pattern. The gradient I have it set to in Options does load once I open a formula though.

I did try deleting the problem formulas and updating the database but it didn't work. Currently it's still showing the Default gradient from Standard.ugr even though I have a brown one selected. Screenshot will explain better.

This one is mixed. 4 on the top row are right but not the rest.

I'll clean off some space on my external hard drive to make backups of files I want to keep and reinstall UF. Hopefully it'll work. This is very perplexing.

Thank you for the suggestions.

Ah. As the formulas are changing another idea has struck me: maybe it's a problem with the thumbnail cache. Perhaps it's corrupted or just not updating/refreshing properly. Obviously the gradient is working when loaded it's just the browsing preview you're having trouble with (and I can see how unhelpful and annoying that would be!).

So how about this... on the Browser tab of Preferences there is an option to "empty cache". That might be worth a try before taking more serious measures.

I reinstalled both UF 5 and 6 after the empty cache didn't work. I'll work with them to see if that fixes it.

After installing UF 6.01 again, the fractals open up in the whole area now unlike before where they were small tabbed windows with their names above. I know how to change this in UF 5 but I can't find the option in 6. I've read the help manual to see if there's a hotkey combination but nope. Any idea how to correct this?

If I understand this correctly... this sounds like your fractal windows may be maximised??

The Windows method of maximising via the keyboard is Windows key+Up arrow.
Similarly, restoring down to normal is Windows key+Down arrow.

You should also have the normal window controls at the top right of the window, of course.

Or you can physically re-size a fractal window by grabbing a corner and dragging to size.
On the Image tab of your fractal the option "Resize with fractal window" may be pertinent as this can introduce extra space around the fractal image if unchecked.

I hope these tips help solve your issue.

I apologize for the confusion. Here's some screenshots to explain better.

In UF 5, I can have 2 fractals open and switch between them using Window on the top menu. I love mixing layers between variations as I work sometimes.

In UF 6 there isn't a way to resize the fractal workspace inside area.

That's easier to assess with the pictures, thanks. Right, it looks like you have your tool windows docked to the right hand side of your fractal as well as having that whole ensemble pretty much maximised.

UF6 works by using free floating windows and toolbars. There is no "main" window any more that contains these elements. You can certainly have a number of different fractal windows in operation if you wish but it's probably easier if you undock the tool windows (Layer properties etc.) and have them floating too. You can arrange your various fractal & tool windows as you wish, then.

Here is a screen shot of one possible multi-fractal arrangement to show you how it may look - this is my whole desktop area here, 1920x1200px:

So I suggest you give all this a try by first undocking your tool windows - grab the title bar of the tool window and pull it off and away from your fractal. Once your fractal is free you can re-size it (grab the corners or via numbers on the image tab) and position both it and your tool windows as you wish. New fractal windows (or opened files) should now appear as separate floating windows. You can slightly overlap them UF5 style if you wish. How many and how you size & arrange everything is up to you.

This can all seem a bit fiddly at first but once you get the hang of managing all these elements it is quite flexible and perfectly usable.

Thank you very much Chris for explaining and showing the screenshot. I'll try what you suggested.