Clear SWks Instructions...Please?

I just went to install Swks 2006 today off of the CDs.

I read the only document in my 2006 Upgrade Box "Solidworks®
Installation and Registration" (doc # 2006IRSWENG), and noted no
special instructions except to check out a URL which flips me to
<http://files.solidworks.com/Supportfiles/SW_Installation_Guide/2006/English/install_guide.htm>

So I follow instructions and the install fails. My VAR says "you
should read the instructions", which bends me a bit, because I did read
both the printed sheet and their official website. He says a "Fresh"
or "Clean" install is best and noted on some Orange sheet (which I did
NOT receive). If that is so important, then why is it not in bold
letters on the paper and web documents?

In addition to the lack of clarity there, the installation process
calls for your 'Original SolidWorks CD' or similar wording, which could
mean the one I bought 5 years ago (SolidWorks 2000 SP10) or the latest
CD SWks 2006 SP1.0, and it is OBVIOUSLY not clear from the reading of
the dialog box what they are referring to.

The bane of using software is the lack of clarity and concise and
complete instructions including the options with consistent & complete
wording.

Why does it matter? Because I hate wasting a couple hours, as does
almost 500,000 other users, though I fully realize many users never
install their own software. I basically pay about $2000 per year to
use this software and feel I am being ripped a bit by not having these
issues addressed absolutely dead nuts nailed down tight years ago.

Rant Over

Sheesh - Bo

 

I just put in the CDs and follow the prompts. It usually works.

 

"usually" is the operative term for both of us.

Unfortunately, this time something wasn't right, and of course
SolidWorks through the MS Installer didn't warn me until after going
through the last CD.

I have never had this happen with MS Office, Adobe or any of my
Macintosh programs, ever.

As I said, we SolidWorks users deserve better documentation, and more
clarity, coupled with more solid installs (no I don't have any of the
adware, spyware, virus stuff installed; I never let that machine on the
net).

 

What was the problem you got?

 

SolidWorks 2006 Install, per the instructions I got on SolidWorks'
paper & web instructions, got to the end after 3 CDs and said there was
an error, with the requisite note to check with your VAR (or whoever, I
can't remember the wording).

It is just a timewaster that should not have ocurred, because of
MULTIPLE instances of bad documentation. The AMOUNT of documentation
is so large with theses massive programs, that it also gets to be a
huge problem with information repeated in 2, 3 or 4 different places,
and all instances need updating when a relevant change occurs.

After this incident, I went back through some notes I keep from this
Newsgroup, and found a reference to a "clean update" and a URL
<http://www.solidworks.com/swexpress/pages/mar05/TT_CleanUpdate.html>
(from SolidWorks Express) which explains what I should have done.

That documentation should have been on the boxed paper instructions and
the SWks URL from that paper sheet. So there was 1 note out of 3, from
SWks or SWks Express, which had the information, but I didn't find the
3rd & correct note until after the problem.

I have been through 20 years of inconsistent & just plain bad
instructions for various software and been a beta tester several times
for CAD, and I am convinced that most software companies do NOT hire
the right or best people to write software documentation (yup I just
made a vague statement 'best').

It is hard enough to learn CAD properly and then reladjust & learn it
with each new release without also having instructions that are
1) incomplete,
2) ambiguous (mostly commonly saying "now click 'it'" after discussing
multiple items that could be confused),
3) contradictory
4) missing explanations or facts or exceptions or
5) just wrong because someone failed to update the instructions.

I would bet that we are entering the age where you need a software
package to analyze text instructions on MULTIPLE documents for complex
programs to detect the most common forms of mistakes. A pure guess on
my part is that it will take advanced text software from someone like
IBM's labs to make it work.

 

I use this proceedure:

Copy all three CD's in a folder on your HDD called something like
"SW2006_Install".
There are setup files on multible CD's so answer yes to overright any files.
Then run the Setup from the location on your HDD.
This has worked VERY well for me for the last three or four installs.

HTH,
Muggs

 

Thanks Muggs, I'll do that next time.

Bo

 

Engineers, designers and toolmakers (& toolmakers are engineers to a
larger degree than most people admit), are almost by definition picky
or whatever adjective you like. Otherwise the parts come out wrong.

Indeed we only have a small time to spare getting things done. I have
over 100 applications/suites and utilities on my Macintosh, and about a
dozen on my PC. There is no way I can be an expert in all the
"install" & "upgrade" details of every danged one of them, so I expect
that the software manufacturers must do it, and indeed do it for their
own self-interest in lowering their tech. support costs, and PO'd
customers.

Bo

 

Seth

I once bought SDRC's Artisan 3D solids.

It took me several installs over several days and lots of calls to
their tech support just to get it installed.

SDRC's tech. support initially tried to respond with "Get your IT
department to do it", to which I replied, "If their is an IT department
here, it is me." The number of steps in their install process was
abominable and the inconsistencies were large.

I knew instinctlively I wouldn't be using SDRC's product for long when
their tech. support guy said I had probably corrupted their Daemon, and
my simple request for instructions on how to start over with a complete
set of correct installation instructions that were correct was met with
silence.

Bo