RKS Software BETAs

Although this software has been tested quite rigorously, it is still in TESTING phase. As with any BETA software, you are strongly advised to:

• use it with caution.
• create a system restore point
• create a backup of any existing Calendar Builder, Visual Business Cards, Visual Labels or Personal Mailing List files and folders

By downloading and using this BETA software, you acknowledge that you are doing so at your own risk.

The beta versions do not expire, however we advise downloading the final release when available. Also, if you have one of the new style serial numbers, it will work with these beta versions. Otherwise, they will behave as 30-day trial versions.

The biggest change with all four of these betas is their ability to run under Windows Vista. And the biggest change in order to do that is how the programs handle file storage and location.

In Windows XP and before, it was normal to keep user files (i.e. saved business cards, saved calendars, saved datafiles, saved labels) in the same folder as the program. Many found this more intuitive, and easier to manage and backup. For instance Visual Labels stored its label files in the C:\Program Files\Visual Labels folder.

With Vista, this has changed. Users, even with Administrator privileges, run as standard users by default. Standard users do not have security permission to create or modify files in the C:\Program Files folder.

To be fair, Microsoft has always advised that User Files should go in a specific location in the Documents and Settings folder, (or in Vista the Documents folder).

When deciding on the location of files created by the user, we have used the following logic. We have kept a balance of following the Windows guidelines for new users, but also providing maximum downward compatibility for existing users:

• If there is an existing installation of the program, and it is Windows XP, and the program directory is writeable, we leave it just as it is. This is best for download compatibility for existing applications.

This is usually in the C:\program Files\ folder, for example:
C:\Program Files\Visual Business Cards

• If the Microsoft-advised user documents folder is writeable, we use that for the user files.

In XP that will usually be in the Documents and Settings folder, for example:
C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\My Documents\Visual Business Cards

In Vista that will usually be under the Users folder, for example:
C:\Users\<user name>\Documents\Visual Business Cards

• Failing the above, if the program folder is writeable, we use that for the user files.

This is usually in the C:\program Files\ folder, for example:
C:\Program Files\Visual Business Cards

• To find out where we are storing your user files, so you can determine what to back up, you can click on

File > Locate My Saved files.
This will open a Windows Explorer window in the saved files location.

• In the rare instance that you have saved files in the program folder, but are now running Vista, we will use the Microsoft recommended paths, but will also display a

Files > Migrate Old Saved Files

option. This will offer to copy the old saved files to the new location.


 

• When loading an image file, images that are larger than the preview area are scaled down in size so they are fully visible.
• There is now a bottom status bar, and this is also where the Save/Cancel buttons show.
• The Properties button is now on the bottom bar, and has a caption, making it easier to identify.
• The Floating Tools are now shown on the left, vertically. We feel this is more intuitive, and separates them from the editing toolbar
• the Editing Toolbar (fonts, etc) now only shows when an edit-able calendar cell is clicked and is focused
• The Icon Tool window has been replaced by the "Icon Palette", and is now a toolbar rather than a floating window. It is on the left side and is shown/hidden by checking the "Icon Palette" box on or off.
• Calendar Builder now remembers the last icon set in use
• The Print button was removed, as it is available on the File menu, and we needed the space
• On some (esp flatscreen) monitors, the icons would look distorted when placed in the calendar cell. Now much improved.