No Time estimation available - After reopening my .gcode file

[DadOfThree 0]

Hi folks,

 

I'm new to 3d printing, about 2 months.  I have the Ender 3 Pro.

 

After I download a stl file, I open it up in Cura.  I then click slice, and everything is fine, with no errors.  I then save it as the .gcode format.  When I go back to open the same file I just created,  I get the error below.  This is happening every time with every file.  Any idea what I might be doing wrong?

 

G-code Details. 
Make sure the g-code is suitable for your printer and printer configuration before sending the file to it.  The gcode representation may not be accurate.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

[tinkergnome 918]

Time estimation is only available after slicing and is not re-calculated from a (pre-sliced) gcode file - so that's normal (AFAIK)

 

The warning message can be switched off in the preferences dialog ("Caution message in g-code reader").

 

Good luck!

 

[DadOfThree 0]

Oh, OK, so, when I have a file that I like after making changes, I should be saving and keeping the STL files, for later use and or modifications?  Since I'm new to this, I thought the gcode was what I should be reopening to modify.

[IRobertI 503]

If you want to keep settings and modify them later, what you want is to save a "project"-file. Load the STL you want to  print, do all the settings and tweaks you want to do and then do a File ->  Save. You should get a window with a summary telling you that you are saving a project file. This can later be opened and it will contain both the model file as well as the settings you used.