Thanks for the latest update. I'm glad to see that the sort is now working correctly. But please in the future give some information somewhere as to *how* to install the latest version. If the previous one needs to be uninstalled, please indicate that somewhere. I tried installing this latest version and it wanted the old one uninstalled. So I backed up my Packs, Spreads and Reading folder, uninstalled the old, installed the new, copied my folders over to the new one, started the program and it promptly deleted or lost what I had copied over. I still had a back up of Packs and Spreads but I lost all my readings. Please give more clear instructions on how to install the latest version.
Thanks.
Important Note for future versions
Moderators: Programmer, WebWeaver, WillowsHeart
Re: Important Note for future versions
That very same thing happen to me, when I put my readings into version 7. It was only the readings that the program wouldn't let stay in when 7 was loaded up. I didn't make a copy of it, and was simply sadden to see two important readings gone.
I am going to run this Beta 7.1 but this time, I will double save my readings! LOL!
Barbara
I am going to run this Beta 7.1 but this time, I will double save my readings! LOL!
Barbara
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Re: Re: Important Note for future versions
Hi Barbara, LizzieCat
I find this completely unbelievable. Not that I doubt what either of you are telling me, but I really want to fathom out what has happened to your readings, as you can guess. The program uses the Windows Installer which should NEVER, under any circumstance, delete a file which it didn't install itself, so I am at a complete loss about this. Could you confirm that you uninstalled the program using Add/Remove programs rather than manually deleting it or using some other uninstaller?
Barbara, when you say you lost a couple of readings, did those two readings represent the entire contents of your readings folder (or do you mean you lost the entire contents, but only two of those were really important)? After the reinstall, what does the readings folder contain? It should contain whatever was there before plus a sample reading which is installed with the program - how does this match up with what you see?
Cheers
Richard
I find this completely unbelievable. Not that I doubt what either of you are telling me, but I really want to fathom out what has happened to your readings, as you can guess. The program uses the Windows Installer which should NEVER, under any circumstance, delete a file which it didn't install itself, so I am at a complete loss about this. Could you confirm that you uninstalled the program using Add/Remove programs rather than manually deleting it or using some other uninstaller?
Barbara, when you say you lost a couple of readings, did those two readings represent the entire contents of your readings folder (or do you mean you lost the entire contents, but only two of those were really important)? After the reinstall, what does the readings folder contain? It should contain whatever was there before plus a sample reading which is installed with the program - how does this match up with what you see?
Cheers
Richard
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Re: Important Note for future versions
Hi LizzieCat,
Thanks for pointing that out, the instructions on the downloads page are a bit out of date.
Up until version 6.5 the periodic updates used to consist of self-extracting zip files that simply replaced various files, such as the program file itself, tarot.exe. There was a problem with this method though, which was that if you did a repair of the program it could revert to a previous version. This is because the program was installed using the Windows Installer, and one of the things WI does is to keep a database of all the programs you have installed on your machine. It also squirrels away a copy of the installation files every time you install something, so it can repair any program by replacing corrupted components with the original ones. But Windows Installer remains blissfully unaware if you manually replace one file with another, which is what was happening with the self-extracting zip files I used before.
Now I am doing everything with Windows Installer so as to avoid that problem. The way this works (I will copy this explanation over to the downloads page too) is that if you attempt a minor increment, for example you have version 7.0.1 and you try to install 7.0.2, then you will see a message telling you to uninstall the existing program. Windows only looks at the first two numbers. It sees that you already have the program installed and it won't let you go any further. If you were going from 7.0 to 7.1 it should automatically take care of uninstalling the previous one and installing the new one, because it understands that you are upgrading. So the exact advice about what you need to do depends on your existing version of the program.
What you are saying about the reading files is very troubling indeed because that should never happen. I am going to do some research on Google and try to find out if this is a documented problem with WI or if there is anything else out there to explain why an uninstall operation might delete files that you have added yourself, using the program, and that really have nothing to do with Windows Installer and should not figure in its internal database. I will post back here if I manage to find something.
Cheers
Richard
Thanks for pointing that out, the instructions on the downloads page are a bit out of date.
Up until version 6.5 the periodic updates used to consist of self-extracting zip files that simply replaced various files, such as the program file itself, tarot.exe. There was a problem with this method though, which was that if you did a repair of the program it could revert to a previous version. This is because the program was installed using the Windows Installer, and one of the things WI does is to keep a database of all the programs you have installed on your machine. It also squirrels away a copy of the installation files every time you install something, so it can repair any program by replacing corrupted components with the original ones. But Windows Installer remains blissfully unaware if you manually replace one file with another, which is what was happening with the self-extracting zip files I used before.
Now I am doing everything with Windows Installer so as to avoid that problem. The way this works (I will copy this explanation over to the downloads page too) is that if you attempt a minor increment, for example you have version 7.0.1 and you try to install 7.0.2, then you will see a message telling you to uninstall the existing program. Windows only looks at the first two numbers. It sees that you already have the program installed and it won't let you go any further. If you were going from 7.0 to 7.1 it should automatically take care of uninstalling the previous one and installing the new one, because it understands that you are upgrading. So the exact advice about what you need to do depends on your existing version of the program.
What you are saying about the reading files is very troubling indeed because that should never happen. I am going to do some research on Google and try to find out if this is a documented problem with WI or if there is anything else out there to explain why an uninstall operation might delete files that you have added yourself, using the program, and that really have nothing to do with Windows Installer and should not figure in its internal database. I will post back here if I manage to find something.
Cheers
Richard
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Re: Re: Important Note for future versions
Hi LizzieCat,
Just a bit of follow up...I have spent a couple of hours trawling the internet in search of any reports of Windows Installer deleting files which are not part of an installation and I have not found anything. Normally when there is a bug in Windows products it is very easy to find a lot of help about it very quickly. Especially in a case like this, because Windows Installer is a core part of Windows and if it was deleting people's personal files I imagine there would be a great hooha about it.
It makes me think that maybe you only thought the files had been lost. Is it possible that you inadvertently moved them to your back-up directory instead of copying them? Or that at some point you have specified a different location for these folders than C:Program Files so you are surprised now to find that they are empty?
Cheers
Richard
Just a bit of follow up...I have spent a couple of hours trawling the internet in search of any reports of Windows Installer deleting files which are not part of an installation and I have not found anything. Normally when there is a bug in Windows products it is very easy to find a lot of help about it very quickly. Especially in a case like this, because Windows Installer is a core part of Windows and if it was deleting people's personal files I imagine there would be a great hooha about it.
It makes me think that maybe you only thought the files had been lost. Is it possible that you inadvertently moved them to your back-up directory instead of copying them? Or that at some point you have specified a different location for these folders than C:Program Files so you are surprised now to find that they are empty?
Cheers
Richard
Re: Re: Re: Important Note for future versions
Ah, good news for a change! I just downloaded the Beta and I'm tickled pink as usual!
This time I just made a copy of my reading file and stuck it on my C drive.
I deleted my OPT from the add-remove as instructed.
(I peeked inside the OPT folder (which is on my D drive), at this point, and saw my packs, spreads & readings safe and sound!)
I went to my C drive and opened up the zip of the beta and it did just fine! I peeked inside the OPT folder again, checked my readings and they are safe and sound still! I opened up one reading and there isn't a problem at all!
This was the same procedure I went through last time when I lost my entire Reading folder. (I only missed 2 that were important.)
So who knows why it happen? Your guess is as good as mine.
What I do remember from the last time, when I lost my reading folder was it showed the readings from the saved folder on my C drive, and then when I copied and pasted it into OPT 7, it simple was there and then gone. Both C & D contents were gone from the Reading file! Stranger than all get out.
But like I said, all is well, this time around! BTW, the start up colors are totally awesome! Thank you so much for all your hard and dedicated work!
Barbara
This time I just made a copy of my reading file and stuck it on my C drive.
I deleted my OPT from the add-remove as instructed.
(I peeked inside the OPT folder (which is on my D drive), at this point, and saw my packs, spreads & readings safe and sound!)
I went to my C drive and opened up the zip of the beta and it did just fine! I peeked inside the OPT folder again, checked my readings and they are safe and sound still! I opened up one reading and there isn't a problem at all!
This was the same procedure I went through last time when I lost my entire Reading folder. (I only missed 2 that were important.)
So who knows why it happen? Your guess is as good as mine.
What I do remember from the last time, when I lost my reading folder was it showed the readings from the saved folder on my C drive, and then when I copied and pasted it into OPT 7, it simple was there and then gone. Both C & D contents were gone from the Reading file! Stranger than all get out.
But like I said, all is well, this time around! BTW, the start up colors are totally awesome! Thank you so much for all your hard and dedicated work!
Barbara
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Rhutobello
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Re: Re: Re: Important Note for future versions
I can confirm that I never have had any problems that the installer have removed any files it should not have done.
The reason for my post is something else, sometimes we copy or save something to another folder. Then when we shall have it back, we don't find it. That have happen to me several times.
If you have a big c drive...or several drives I recomend installing another search option. I myself have gone for Google desktop search, which work very fast, but there are several other out there, Copernick have got good characters too...I belive Micrsoft also deliver such service...but haven't tried that one out....all are free downloads.
here is some links if any want to try: http://www.copernic.com
http://www.google.com/downloads/
The reason for my post is something else, sometimes we copy or save something to another folder. Then when we shall have it back, we don't find it. That have happen to me several times.
If you have a big c drive...or several drives I recomend installing another search option. I myself have gone for Google desktop search, which work very fast, but there are several other out there, Copernick have got good characters too...I belive Micrsoft also deliver such service...but haven't tried that one out....all are free downloads.
here is some links if any want to try: http://www.copernic.com
http://www.google.com/downloads/
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Rhutobello
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Important Note for future versions
If you haven't done it yet...you can also try:
start..search for files.... write *.readings
start..search for files.... write *.readings
Re: Re: Re: Important Note for future versions
Thanks for reply - Its not a big loss, just a mystery. I also should mention that I did the uninstall through Add/Remove programs, and after I installed the new version and started the program, I got a message box asking where the decks were, as there were no default decks (the deck back was a yellow/black or blue stripe). That is when I moved everything from my Packs/Spreads/Readings backup folders into the new version. Everything was okay except the readings.
Lizziecat
Lizziecat