Digital Workshop

Hi

I am hoping for some suggestions to get V6 Pro working better on my new Vista computer. Whenever I am working on a project, the development interface disappears after any action. I then can either wait until it comes back slowly reappearing (or sometimes not) or minimize the internal window or Opus' window, then re-maximize it, which causes the development interface to reappear. Go to another page, then return and face the same issue. Click on an item to check the underlying actions or script, again, same issue.This makes working on a project difficult and time-consuming.

I've carefully assured that the video and other drivers are up to date. I've uninstalled and reinstalled Opus, more than once. I've run Opus using the XP compatibility mode and tried less taxing color schemes. I'm at a loss to get Opus V6 to work smoothely on this HP quad chip machine and am hoping for fixes others have tried to resolve similar issues. On an older, less loaded XP machine, V6 used to work better, never seemed to overwhelm the graphics. Replacing that old machine with this new one has seen these issues develop.

I am also eagerly awaiting the service release with Vista fixes.

Kind Regards,

Stephen --

I'm confused. You've posted over 535 times on this forum, so you MUST be aware of the problems people have had when they try to run OPUS in Vista. If you use OPUS, don't buy a computer with Vista. It's that simple. If you do, then you will have problems. That should be painfully obvious. Here's what DW has posted in the Support area of their website:



DW is among many software companies who are all experiencing problems with Vista. Microsoft is completely aware of these problems. By the time Microsoft gets around to fixing everything, it would be foolish for DW to try to adjust OPUS. More than likely OPUS would then have problems with XP. The only quick fix is for you to uninstall Vista and go back to XP, or I've read you can make adjustments to Vista to turn off the goofy graphics which are apparently causing so many software applications to not run correctly.

I agree with Fred's comments.

Vista, for whatever reasons, has caused significant problems across the Windows-based computer development spectrum. That MS recognises, and more importantly acknowledges these problems is obvious by its making available down-grades to XP from machines supplied with Vista installed. I also believe MS plans SP3 for release hopefully in 2008.

For me, the reality of Vista is that I cannot be confident that my Opus development work can proceed unencumbered in Vista. Therefore, my 2 development computers, both claiming to be Vista-ready run XP Pro and XP MCE.

From posts on this forum, I note that some Opus users have concerns about whether an Opus executable produced in XP will run under Vista. I cannot answer that.

Because of the almost unlimited variables that seem to apply to Vista's interaction with the seemingly endless (and increasing) variety of graphics cards, I cannot guarantee that client machines with Vista will run my XP executables.

I continue to place, on the client, the onus for checking the compatibility of my pubs with Vista by making available free evaluation versions and advising prospective clients that they should download and test before buying. I reinforce the importance of this verification of compatibility by emphasising that I do not support my products on Vista machines, but will of course correct issues not specific to Vista. (Nor incidentally do I support products on computers running emulation OS )

My first posting of my attitude to to Vista produced negative and adverse comments. Several months down the track let me further report:
1. No prospective client has objected to my policy. This might mean that they can't be bothered contacting me.
2. I am not aware of having lost any business because of this policy, although I accept that this is likely. However, such loss is more than off-set by my next point.
3. Best of all, I do not waste time trying to fix Vista problems which are beyond my experience and skills

Hi

Thanks for your replies and suggestions. I'm aware of the back and forth about Vista on these boards having read many of the posts but remain an eternal optimist that someone will figure a work-a-round or newer and better "trick" to run Opus V6 on Vista. Given the complexity of these programs, there's always the possibility that a slightly different "tweak" may be discovered and worth a try. New graphics driver updates and MS service releases may help.

The issue of how pubs will fare on Vista machines is another question. So far, executables authored in 5.5 or 6 work on my machine. Small changes have been necessary: what I've noticed is that writing a file to the desktop in Vista uses a different path than in XP, so I've tried to re-do these, where present, to read the OS and employ if/else.

Again, thanks for your suggestions and thoughts.

Kind Regards,

We have an update which avoids some the problems people have been experiencing with Vista. Evolution customers have it today so it should be generally available soon.

DW

Thanks. That's wonderful!

Kind regards,

I would appreciate being given access to this update in the next day or so.

Paul

Hi Paul

I fear that since the Vista SR may include some new features, it is part of an Evolution roll-out, which offers these to subscribers before public release.

Given that the Vista fixes are more necessity than additional feature, I would humbly suggest that, in the future, DW separates these so fixes essential to basic functioning can be expeditiously provided to all.

I have a large project, developed and refined over the past 2 years for which I am holding up the latest update until this SR is released, in the hope that this is both very soon and fixes critical issues.

Kind Regards,

Hi Stephen,

If it is capable of fixing some Vista issues, and it is available, then I want it now; I don't like uncertainty over Vista/Opus compatibility.
Microsoft has sold over 100M copies of Vista, and I keep getting asked about Vista compatibility.

Paul

Hopefully any Vista -- Opus issues will be resolved in the next few weeks.

Paul

When is the Vista update for Opus available? Or are Digital Workshop waiting for Service Release 1 for Vista, has anyone tested the latest Opus update with the RC of SP1 for Vista?

Vista SP1 RC

Paul has a point. Time was when Robin, Duncan, Brenden et al would respond to Opus users' problems with alacrity. Now we're reliant on the welcome but non-DW input of people like Fred, Ray, Sandy etc. Or have these "experts" been co-opted by DW to help the rest of us?

This isn't a complaint, by the way. Just a query. Though it would be good to know that DW keeps an eye on this forum.

The problems with Vista are many and varied and are not limited to Opus. Even just understanding what is going wrong for some people is a challenge and we are investing ridiculous amounts of time and energy trying to sort out problems with Vista, especially given the different flavours Vista is available in and so many different security settings which can be on or off.

In addition to the usual problems of graphics drivers and incompatibilities of virus checkers and upgrade there have been awkward problems relating primarily to the way Vista manages user access.

This is highlighted by the fact that the patch has failed to upgrade some Vista installations and we're still trying to work out why.

No-one at DW will make comments on here without a definitive answer and definitive answers are proving difficult with Vista.

Yes we could answer more of the general questions here but many don't need anyone from DW so we tend to leave those for others and we can concentrate on improvements to the program itself.

Once the service release for Vista is formally released by Microsoft and the driver issues settle down a bit we will be able to provide a definitive service release. In the meantime the patch simply avoids some of the more intrusive problems which were making Opus unusable for some people under Vista.

Microsoft has shipped a significant number of Vista - not difficult when it is bundled with hardware. What they haven't broadcast is the number of people who have accepted the downgrade to XP. The reason you are being asked about compatibility with Vista is because everyone is painfully aware that it is an issue. I think the only answer is that, if we're lucky, things will have started to settle down by summer and that if we're unlucky this is another Windows ME. My concern is that Microsoft is already beginning to talk up the next version of Windows. But for reference most of the major customers I talk to are not considering upgrading to Vista until Autumn if at all.

We will continue to work to improve Vista support but we'll also continue to work on new features and other improvements. We're currently finalising the SCORM and Flex improvements requested on this very forum but if we start talking about these too much, or an update for Vista then the upgrades and purchases dry up as people wait for an upgrade which and the development has to slow down because we can't bribe people to work harder

Hope this helps clarify things and keep any doubters on board

Paul Harris

Hi

Since there appear to be problems installing the SR, it may reduce emails to DW support if DW makes available to users both the SR link and a link for the full download.

While this means an uninstall/reinstall on the user side, I think this will be the best way, and will spare DW support receiving a multitude of emails asking for the full download link. An uninstall/reinstall at my end is no big deal.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Stephen

Hi Stephen,
Update won't install for me either at present.
I'm the only user of this Vista (Home Premium) notebook, so I'm setup as administrator.
Fresh install of Opus v6.
No difference if Opus was installed for "Current user only" or "All users".
No difference if UAC was turned ON or OFF.
Is this the same problem you get when attempting to install the update?

Paul

PS -- many software vendors are having Vista issues, so I'm not saying that DW is at fault here.