WinWood for Windows

User Reviews

• It might have the worst interface ever, but at least it's inaccurate

  slim_jamesJanuary 5, 2008

  Pros

  IF you need a bewildering, poorly thought-out interface, this program is an outstanding example. Honestly, there are programs that are even worse. I couldn't make RISA 2D do anything useful. MAtruss was just as incomprehensible. So it's amazing to think there is a whole industry of software authors making programs nobody can use.

  Cons

  If you want to model a truss, it will take seven separate screens, with seemingly random buttons and controls. It took me two hours with the documentation to work it out, step by step. Often you start in the lower right corner and after several steps end up at the top left corner, which is exactly backwards. Sadly, once you put up with the interface nuttiness, the answers aren't accurate. The calculations it provides aren't accurate, which leaves you wishing you hadn't wasted hours figuring out the goofy interface. The help file is about empty, and the web site is equally unhelpful. Shockingly, WinWood is in it's sixth revision! Sadly, spelling and grammar errors apparently didn't get caught in the first five revs. Although the author has several dozen software titles on his web site, it's hard to imagine he actually sells any.

  Summary

  ---