Once more we have a version of Acade that does not work correctly out of the box, so for the third release in a row I am, not so patiently, waiting for SP1, to be released with the hopes that the problems will go away as a result. I know I am going to be asked what issues have I had and I will happily update this thread when I get back to the office as I have been making a list. But I wanted to get the ball rolling to see if we can get a fix sooner rather than later relatively speaking. The fix for the mess that was 2010, in my humble opinion, took far too long. So from memory;
Projects that were done using 2008, 2009, 2010, when pulling them up into 2011 the drawing list for inst codes is blank, but the "project" list shows them all. I have had issues with the parts look-up database, I too use a custom database one I have used from 2008 through to 2010. I had to make one minor alteration when 2009 came out but ultimately was able to get all three versions to access, reliably, my "Misc_Cat" table in my version of the default_cat database. Acade 2011 has difficulties with it; every time I access it with 2011 I have to retell it where to look, settings are fine in the projects, these variables have not changed from version to version as I set standards a long time ago. With each new version that is the first thing I verify; do my standards still work or do I need to revise them some. The “OK” button never activates in the database, I have to double click each individual catalog item to select it. I find that I get a large number of crashes such that 2011 shuts down and I need t restart it as well.
As I said I have been compiling a list, and when I am back in my office I will update this thread. Of note though I was running XP Pro SP3, just recently dropped back to SP2 to see if that makes a difference, I will report on that as well. Finally, in a further attempt to isolate the source of trouble with 2011, I have just recently installed it on my home computer which is running Windows 7, who knows maybe that will make a difference.
As frustrating as I find these issues they no longer really upset me, that is simply due to the fact that I had problems with 2007; tried to run it on Windows 2000 result; lockups, crashes, problems constantly. Upgraded to XP Pro those problems went away. I had problems out of the box, as it were with 2009, and with 2010, and now 2011. In my opinion 2008 was, and remains, the most stable, the most reliable, and therefore the most effective version of Acade created thus far. In a lot of ways it’s too bad that the developers couldn’t leave well enough alone and just improve 2008. Unfortunately they had to revamp the software, come up with new features that, while they have promise, fall far short in delivering on those promises. Oh well hope springs eternal.