Multiple installs?

[Santacarl]

Hey All,


I saw where Keith announced a new beta version out that will, when final release happens, cause quite a change to the setup tab.....

I'm not experienced enough to test the beta but I watched the video of the upcoming change and it went right over my head....  For example I have no clue what "unmanaged" means......

Don't get me wrong....I realize the software needs upgrades to keep moving forward to a more functional user friendly version so this isn't a complaint as I know the development folks are looking out for us but since I got lost in the video description/demonstration I'm just not confident in my ability to change my whole setup without a major error caused because I don't understand what is intuitively obvious to others who are way more tech savvy.  Maybe it is easier if you're just starting out and can set up everything from scratch but converting an existing system seems more 'problematic'.....to my non-techie eye....

I WILL move to the new format once it is released as I don't want to limit any future expansion/improvements but I am wondering if I can hedge my bets and temporarily have 2 copies of XL installed.... one with my old setup and a second with the new 'easier' version of the setup tab....at least until I've mastered the new version.  That way I have a way to 'retreat' back to the old version until I can master the new version. 

Guess that shows just how little tech 'chops' I have.  Changes such as this make me nervous....  I'm hoping, after the dust settles, someone will do a video for us 'tech challenged' users that is somewhat of a 'read a step....do a step.....get a banana' approach to converting an existing setup to the new version.....

But in the interim, to put my mind at rest, I'm wondering if it is possible to have 2 different versions of XL installed at the same time?

[Gilrock]

Every time you install xLights one of the install script pages prompts you for the install folder.  I install to a new folder every time by changing the folder name in that window to match the xLights version.  I myself don't really remember the reason the setup is changing.  I expect it to turn out more confusing to users.  Most of us spent our whole life used to using dialogs in programs so we are used to that.  The whole property grid setup I think of more as a programmer type interface because that's what we always see in visual studio and other gui designers.

[Santacarl]

Every time you install xLights one of the install script pages prompts you for the install folder.  I install to a new folder every time by changing the folder name in that window to match the xLights version. 

Thanks Gil....

I was thinking all the files to actually 'run' XL reside in the 'program files/xlights' folder for Windows...  So....won't the new version install there and wipe out the older version and the ability to run using older setups? 

I know Keith mentioned major changes to the networks.xml file which resides in the folder you are prompted to install to.....OR with the new version can you change back to the show folder you used in the old version and have the new installed version run that old setup?

This is what I mean by confused and I know I'm likely getting ahead of myself!  Haha...   

[Gilrock]

The networks file is in the show folder which is not where the program gets installed....or shouldn't be.  Some users select the install folder to be their show folder which is a big no-no.  Like I said you change the name of the install folder and it will not overwrite the previous install.  Like name it xlights_2020_4.  If you look at my Program Files folder I have like 100 xLights folders.  I can navigate to any of those folders and run that version of the program.  You should copy your show folder to a new area and open it with the current version first so that when you run the new version it will already be pointing to a copy of your show folder.

[Santacarl]

  You should copy your show folder to a new area and open it with the current version first so that when you run the new version it will already be pointing to a copy of your show folder.

Thanks Gil....I'll give that a try when the time comes to upgrade to the new version...I'm still not sure I understand why the new version would run the old versions setup but if it does that should give me the 'retreat just in case' fallback.... I guess I'll hang on to the install of the version I'm on also....just in case I want to 'go back' to the previous version....call me paranoid but this is the kind of thing that I usually trip over and screw up!  Haha...