Normally I upgrade to the latest service patch by going Help
menu>check for updates then following instructions and normally
I just let it run and go to meetings etc but today I was around and
noticed that this happens:
1. The installer downloads a small(relatively) 14MB file.
2, It then kicks in the upgrade process (I selected upgrade a copy of SW 2008 to SP2.1) and installs away. This time though I selected "ask for files needed" and was surprised at what was being asked for. File after file of 70MB, 100MB, 340MB etc. I am thinking, is this an upgrade or a new installation?
3. I kicked out of this and tried install from DVD and it asks for the SW 2008 SP2 DVD....well I don't have that I have SW 2008 SP0 - like most I imagine.
Checking my download history I can see that when I upgraded to SW 2008 SP2 from SP0 I actually downloaded 3GB of data from SW website.
Something is not right here I think. Is anyone else noticing this? Surely a service patch is, well, a patch, a small(ish) file that patches things. Not a 3GB fresh installation?
Now I use a lot of other software that is patched (like Adobe and FormZ) and they ARE patches - small files. They are seamless installations as well - you start the software - get a dialogue popping up saying "new patch available do you want to install now?". Hit yes. Install begins, downloads the small file (usually 5-20MB), installs and restarts the application. Job done.
I am not seeing this "ease of use" with SolidWorks....why?
1. The installer downloads a small(relatively) 14MB file.
2, It then kicks in the upgrade process (I selected upgrade a copy of SW 2008 to SP2.1) and installs away. This time though I selected "ask for files needed" and was surprised at what was being asked for. File after file of 70MB, 100MB, 340MB etc. I am thinking, is this an upgrade or a new installation?
3. I kicked out of this and tried install from DVD and it asks for the SW 2008 SP2 DVD....well I don't have that I have SW 2008 SP0 - like most I imagine.
Checking my download history I can see that when I upgraded to SW 2008 SP2 from SP0 I actually downloaded 3GB of data from SW website.
Something is not right here I think. Is anyone else noticing this? Surely a service patch is, well, a patch, a small(ish) file that patches things. Not a 3GB fresh installation?
Now I use a lot of other software that is patched (like Adobe and FormZ) and they ARE patches - small files. They are seamless installations as well - you start the software - get a dialogue popping up saying "new patch available do you want to install now?". Hit yes. Install begins, downloads the small file (usually 5-20MB), installs and restarts the application. Job done.
I am not seeing this "ease of use" with SolidWorks....why?
1) When running the Installation Manager, it has an option to download patches where possible to save download time. If you don't use this, it obviously downloads a full install.
2) If you waited until SP2.0 to install 2008, and you put in the SP0.0 DVD, it would ask you if you wanted to exit the IM program and start the 2.0 IM. If you say yes, I think it never uses the SP0.0 files, and ends up downloading a full install.
The problem definitely seems to be in the Installation Manager program itself. You can run it from DVD, from the web, or from any number of SolidWorks Download folders that may be on your computer. And I think there are non-obvious implications involving download time and disk space depending on where you ran it from...
That may well be the case. I installed SP0 first then immediately upgraded to SP2. I recall that it downloaded 3GB of data despite having the SP0 DVD in the drive....
All of which leads me to assume the Installation Manager software is badly designed. SolidWorks is the most expensive software I own yet it has the worse upgrading and patching management. This needs sorting.
The other thing is that I can find no definitive procedure for installing upgrades in the help or website. The extent of the advice is "follow the on screen prompts". Well I have, and I am getting these huge downloads. It leads me to assume that the people writing the help have never actually tested the upgrading process....
So SW staffers, how about a knowledgebase article on the procedures for upgrading - maybe an extended 1 minute Tip?
Click and this will take you into the old service pack upgrade procedure. You can now specify exactly what you want to download.
Hope this helps
Pete