This guide explains how to use Protocase Designer's built-in bug reporting feature to quickly and effectively report issues to our development team. You'll learn how to fill out the bug report form, attach screenshots using drag-and-drop or file browsing, and write descriptions that help us fix problems faster. The tool automatically includes your design file and diagnostic information to help our developers reproduce and resolve issues.

How to Report a Bug

Thank you for helping us improve Protocase Designer! When you encounter a problem or unexpected behavior, submitting a bug report helps our development team quickly identify and fix issues.

Accessing the Bug Report Dialog

To report a bug:

Open Protocase Designer
Go to the Help menu
Select Report a Bug

The Bug Report dialog will open, ready for you to provide information about the issue.

Filling Out the Bug Report

Required Information

The following fields are required to submit a bug report:

First Name: Your first name (automatically filled if you're logged into MyAccount)

Last Name: Your last name (automatically filled if you're logged into MyAccount)

Email: Your email address so we can follow up with you about the issue

Describe the issue and steps to reproduce: A detailed description of the problem and how to recreate it

Optional Information

Company: Your company name (helpful for enterprise support)

Screenshots: Visual evidence of the problem (highly recommended!)

Writing a Good Bug Description

A well-written bug description helps us fix the issue faster. Include:

What happened

Describe what you observed when the bug occurred.

Example: "When I tried to add a cutout to my panel, the application froze and became unresponsive."

What you expected

Explain what you thought should happen instead.

Example: "I expected the cutout to be added to the panel and the 3D view to update."

Steps to reproduce

List the exact steps someone else could follow to see the same problem.

Example:

1. Create a new 16-gauge aluminum panel (12" x 8")

2. Draw a rectangular cutout 2" x 1" at position (3", 4")

3. Click the "Save" button

4. Application freezes

Adding Screenshots

Screenshots are incredibly helpful for diagnosing visual issues. You can add screenshots in two ways:

Method 1: Drag and Drop

Take screenshots of the issue (use Windows Snipping Tool, Print Screen, or any screenshot tool)
Save the screenshot files to your computer
In the Bug Report dialog, locate the Screenshots (Optional) section
Drag and drop your image files directly into the gray area that says "Drag and drop images here or use the button above"
You'll see a blue dashed border appear when dragging - release to add the files

Method 2: Browse for Files

Click the Add Screenshot button
Browse to your screenshot files
Select one or more image files (you can select multiple files at once)
Click Open

Supported Image Formats

PNG (.png) - Recommended for screenshots
JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg)
GIF (.gif)
BMP (.bmp)

Managing Screenshots

You can add multiple screenshots to show different aspects of the problem
Each screenshot appears in a card showing the filename and file size
To remove a screenshot, click the ✕ button next to it
If you add many screenshots, the list will scroll automatically

What Gets Sent Automatically

To help us diagnose the issue, the following information is automatically included with your bug report:

Your current design file (if you have one open)
Debug log file - Technical information about what the application was doing
Operating system - Which version of Windows, macOS, or Linux you're using
Protocase Designer version - Which version of the software you're running
Build date and commit hash - Specific build information for our developers

Note: Your design file is only included if you have a file open. This helps us recreate issues that are specific to certain designs.

Tips for Effective Bug Reports

Tip	Why It Helps
Be specific	"The cutout tool doesn't work" is harder to fix than "When I add a rectangular cutout to a 16-gauge panel, the 3D view doesn't update"
Include screenshots	A picture is worth a thousand words - we can see exactly what you're seeing
List exact steps	If we can reproduce the problem, we can fix it much faster
Describe your environment	Some issues only occur on specific operating systems or configurations
One bug per report	If you have multiple issues, submit separate reports so we can track them individually

Privacy and Data

What we collect

Your contact information (name and email)
Your bug description
Screenshots you choose to attach
Your current design file (only the .pda file you're working on)
Debug logs (technical application data)
System information (OS, software version)

How we use it

To investigate and fix the reported issue
To contact you for clarification or to let you know when it's fixed
To improve Protocase Designer for all users

Your privacy

We only use your information for bug investigation and support
We do not share your design files with third parties
Your email is only used for communication about the bug you reported

After Submitting

What happens next

You'll see a confirmation message when your report is successfully sent
Our development team receives your bug report
We investigate the issue using the information and files you provided
We may contact you via email if we need more information
You'll receive an email when the issue is resolved (in most cases)

If submission fails

If you see an error message:

Check your internet connection
Make sure you're not behind a restrictive firewall
Try again in a few minutes
If the problem persists, contact support directly at support@protocase.com

Common Questions

How long does it take to fix a bug?: It depends on the severity and complexity. Critical bugs that prevent work are prioritized. You'll typically hear back within 1-2 business days.

Can I attach my design file separately?: No need! If you have a design file open when reporting the bug, it's automatically included.

What if I can't reproduce the bug consistently?: Report it anyway! Include as much detail as possible about when it happens. Intermittent bugs are still important.

Can I report feature requests?: The bug report tool is specifically for problems and issues. For feature requests, use the Ask a Question feature in the Help menu or contact your sales representative.

I made a mistake in my bug report. Can I edit it?: Once submitted, you cannot edit the report. If you need to add information, you can submit a new report referencing the original issue, or reply to any email correspondence from our team.

Examples of Good Bug Reports

Example 1: Clear and Detailed

First Name: John
Last Name: Smith
Email: john.smith@example.com
Company: Example Manufacturing

Description:
When I try to export my design as a STEP file, I get an error message
"Export failed: Invalid geometry". This happens every time I try to
export this specific design.

Steps to reproduce:
1. Open the attached design file (panel-with-cutouts.pda)
2. Go to File > Export > STEP
3. Choose a save location
4. Click Export
5. Error message appears

Expected: STEP file should be created
Actual: Error message appears and no file is created

Screenshots: (3 screenshots showing the design, export dialog, and error message)

Example 2: Simple but Effective

First Name: Sarah
Last Name: Johnson
Email: sjohnson@company.com

Description:
The application crashes when I click the "Mirror Horizontal" button
with multiple shapes selected.

Steps to reproduce:
1. Select 2 or more shapes in the 2D view
2. Click Edit > Mirror Horizontal
3. Application crashes immediately

This happens every time I try it.

Screenshots: (1 screenshot showing the shapes before clicking mirror)

Need More Help?

If you have questions about reporting bugs or need assistance:

Email: support@protocase.com
Phone: 1-866-849-3911
Online chat: Available through the Protocase website

Thank you for helping us improve Protocase Designer!

Bug Reporting

Contents