#88
If it ain't broke...

Got them upgrade blues again?

It's always difficult to justify an upgrade. What will it bring me? How much time will it take? Will it cripple me.
__ Over the years I'm sure we've all experienced the upgrade blues... things that just didn't seem to work as expected or promised -- problems with installers removing some important things on the drive -- or just plain learning curve barriers.
__ All of us who upgraded to Photoshop 4, experienced the misery of learning new ways. When we went from Illustrator 3 to 5 to 6 all sorts of problems reared their heads. Of course, we all got over it.

Here are my top rules for upgrading software:

Rule #1 Never throw away the previous version.
Believe it or not I still have Illustrator 3.2 very active on my system. It simply does some operations better than the later versions. I also have a whole collections of macros I've developed over the years that I just can't live without. It would take hours and hours to rebuild those macros for the later programs.
__ Keep the previous version. If you need to, hide it while installing the new version. If the upgrade requires the previous version, then hide a copy of the previous version. Sometimes it is easiest to just compress the older version so the new installer can't access it at all. Otherwise, just rename the directory or folder. Be careful to monitor your preferences and config files as well.

Rule #2 Utilize removable media if you can.
I almost always install the new versions onto a Syquest. That way I can remove it from the scene all together. When some of these upgrades want 20 megs, sometimes I have no choice.

Rule #3 Use Aliases
If you do keep both versions around, you'll want to use aliases of them rather than double-clicking on doc files to launch the program. Just drag the doc file to the icon of the version you want to use for that file. This way you're sure a precious file doesn't get converted to the new version.

Rule #4 Configure Upgrades to mimic the previous
When upgrading, I also reconfigure menu key commands, or macros to make the new program behave in the fashion I'm used to. When they moved the Command/W in Illustrator from "Show Wire Frame" to "Close window" we had numerous closed files when we didn't want them. In the first place, the C/W command was supposed to mean CLOSE in the first place. The Adobe programmers took it upon themselves to change that rule. I got used to it in Illustrator, so when the menu command moved, I simply set a macro to trap the command and make it do what I wanted it to do.

Rule #5 Test Plug-ins and third party utilities
Be sure you test with the new version. Sometimes you'll be disappointed because the new version will not support those essential plug-ins you used extensively in the older one. Sometimes they like to orphan the plug-in so you'll have to buy the new one. Make sure they work before discarding the previous version. We're all in for a rude awakening once XPress 4 gets in there.

Rule #6 Don't destroy original doc files
Another problem is features that change. When ClarisWorks went from 3.5 to 4 they took away the style sheets that actually worked very well. Now there were several more steps, (plus a palette) involved. The stupid palettes resisted macros -- even Claris macros -- making styles useless. Sometimes the programmers don't know when to leave well enough alone. Same thing for Adobe's terminal infatuation with palettes. If you've got documents you use frequently, stationary or templates, make sure you don't destroy the originals.

Rule #6 Allow time
The biggest problem is time curve, both installation and learning. Some programs like system upgrades require a 'clean' install. That'll take time. Perhaps you have to move software to make room. Sometimes you'll have to do a lot of configuration. And if something goes wrong, it could take lots more time.
__ Learning is no different. Don't upgrade in the middle of projects. Wait to upgrade until you have the time to spend getting the hang of it. How many hours did it take to finally get those new layer tricks to become second nature in Photoshop?

Rule #7 Don't get the upgrade right out of the gate.
Wait a while. Almost all companies actually lower the price later after they've stuck all the bleeding edge people. Additionally all those upgrades experience burps. Let others take the depreciation and bug hits. Remember all those unhappy WORD 6 people? Later upgrades will ship with the bug fixes in place. Keep a sharp eye on the mail order houses too because sometimes when a new version is announced long before it ships. Then, you can get the last upgrade at an amazingly low price, with the newest upgrade promised for free.
__ Finally, remember the old saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Sometimes you may not even need the cost or aggravation of upgrading at all. Hundreds of users have lamented: "Here comes a new upgrade and I haven't even learned the old one yet!" Sound familiar?
__ Upgrades may be wonderful. And when approached with a bit of reserve, they usually are. But remember it all takes time. In many cases, time is the one thing you may not have.

Fred Showker

Fred Showker is director of The Design & Publishing Center on the web at http://www.graphic-design.com/, and is a co-founder of both The User Group Forum on America Online, and The User Group Network at http://www.user-groups.net/. He has been a user group activist and supporter since 1984.

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Fred Showker, nationally recognized designer author and speaker, is a 25-year veteran of the graphics industry, with his own firm Showker Graphic Arts & Design. Heís an associate editor for the Mug News Service (MNS) as well as Home & School Mac. You can see Fred in action at any of his Design & Graphics workshops around the country sponsored by Dynamic Graphics Educational Foundation, InHouse Graphics, PrintFest and others. You can chat with him directly on America OnLine, where he is ìAFA Shwkrî, a forum assistant in the User Group Forum (UGF), or in eWorld as co-host of the WORKING SOLO forum.
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