Plant Base on Windows Vista and Windows 7 (update)
October 2010
We have had a few reports from users who are still having some problems running under Vista or Windows 7. These are invariably due to the effects of Windows security features - UAC.
We can confirm that the Plant Base programs run perfectly fine under Vista and Windows 7. However, please remember that Plant Base is a "classic" application developed in a Microsoft language that was current in the days of Windows 95 and NT.
The main consideration is that the newer systems restrict file access in certain areas of your system. When this happens Windows may create "virtual" copies of the files so that applications can continue unhindered. However, your data may not be written in the expected locations. The confusing part is that you may not realise that this is happening!
To avoid problems we recommend that all Vista and Window 7 users install Plant Base so that the program and data folders are located in an "unrestricted" part of your system - that is, not under Program Files or any other system folder. The simplest solution is to install the entire product in an independent folder such as C:\DeeprootPlantBase.
Depending on the security configuration of your PC, it may occasionally also be necessary to execute with Administrator rights, to ensure access to all required components (Plant Base makes no significant changes to your system).
December 2009
Windows 7 - as far as we are aware Plant Base will run under Windows 7 in exactly the same way as Vista. We do not currently have a Windows 7 test facility, but it has been successfully installed by several new users and also checked by the software index site windows7download.com. Microsoft have promised continued support for the VB6 run-time components, at least for the life-time of Windows 7.
July 2009
Over the last few months we have had several reports about a program error and crash when opening the References display. This only effects Vista users. It is caused by a recent Microsoft security patch, normally applied by auto-update. This requires a new version of a Microsoft grid component, MSFlexGrid, and blocks older ones. Unfortunately they did not include the new component version in the patch. Vista users that have auto-update disabled or do not regularly connect to the Internet, may not encounter the problem.
The issue can be resolved by manually installing a newer version of MsFlexGrid.ocx into the Windows system folder. We will include this in the next release of Plant Base, version 1.6.0.
January 2009
We have now run extensive testing under Windows
Vista. No problems were found with the installation or the main
Plant Base program. There is only one potential issue with previous
Plant Base versions, as detailed below, and this has been completely
resolved from version 1.5.6.
This result is as expected. The current Plant
Base for Windows programs are written using 100% Microsoft product
components. Microsoft have stated that any such program code compatible
with XP, will also be supported under Vista. We expect this to
remain true for the lifetime of the Windows Vista operating systems.
This means that Plant Base may be installed on
any Windows operating system from 95 through to Vista. No special
program code changes have been required.
The single problem area is that Microsoft have
now declared their previous Help system (WinHlp32.exe) obsolete,
and are no longer distributing it with Windows Vista. Up until
version 1.5.5, our Help files still used this
format, so may not be readable on some Vista systems. However,
if you do not wish to upgrade at this time, it remains entirely
possible to run the original Help system on Vista - but the classic
WinHelp program must be downloaded and installed by the end-user.
Please visit this web page on the Microsoft site:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=82148
We are sorry about this, as the original WinHelp
format ( .hlp files) had many advantages.
Our latest release
includes an entirely new Help system, using Microsoft's HTML format
(.chm), and does not require the above patch.
***
Many
gardeners and even horticultural professionals do not wish to
spend their hard earned money on the the latest and greatest computer
equipment, we are therefore committed to continuing support for
older systems. At the same time, we actively consider the consequences
of technology progress. We are also investigating the support
of Plant Base on other computing platforms such as Mac, Linux
and handheld devices.
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