At this transition time in the Windows OS we recommend that users stay with the 32 bit version of the Win7 Operating System until we are ready with a native 64 bit versions of the tools. You will also be able to run more of your existing PC machines. If you need to run in a 64 Bit environment read the following for recommendations.More on 32 Bit in 64 bit OS...

This appears to be a recent development in the latest releases of the Parallels software. It is affecting some core areas of the Mac OS which is affecting the runnability of some of our tools. While we are looking into what can be done about the conflict, there are two work arounds at the moment.

1. Disable Parallels when running the McCAD tools which are affected.
2. Use Fusion as an alternative Virtual OS tool. It does not cause the conflict that Parallels is currently causing.

Updates are version series patches and enhancements which do not usually require a current user to upgrade his use license. If for example you have a version 2.5xx series of a product then all updates within that series will work with your license for that specific product and series. These updates are usually free when downloaded from the website.

Upgrades are significant product enhancements and will usually have a significant version number change. These newer versions will require existing users to upgrade their user license if they want to use the newer versions. There will be an upgrade fee associated with the license upgrade.

If you continue to use an older version for which you are currently licensed, then that license will continue to work and will not be affected by the fact that newer version products are available. This means that the older versions will continue to work as long as you have the appropriate OS and hardware on which to run these older versions. However when web protocols change, which may affect communication over the web, this could result in the need to upgrade your hardware and software as a result of web based protocol changes. When the latter happens there is no other option other than Upgrade.

This used to be very simple before the advent of the newer operating systems. There are different issues depending upon whether documents are being moved between different OS's, different OS versions or across a network.

In general it is usually best to put all of the documents into a Zip type archive. This has several key advantages.

1. The archive will protect the contents from alteration when sent over the WEB or local internet network. The archive will not unzip correctly if it is altered or damaged.
   
2. When the archive is unzipped on the recipient machine the unzipping tool will usually handle(specifically on a Macintosh System) file attributing assignment or preservation should that be an issue.

However there are some other things that you need to check or do before you place documents into an archive.

Whether Macintosh or MS Windows there is an increasing reliance on file name extensions in the newer operating systems. Therefore always make sure that ALL of your documents have the appropriate extensions before moving/sending the documents to another machine. Also if you have to add an extension be aware that adding this extension may break existing data links (primarily in hierarchical schematics) and that you should go through such projects and carefully check and correct any broken links after the addition of extensions to existing design documents.

The above is especially true of Macintosh documents created in older software versions on older OS's