Will GM 4.0 run ok on XP?

[Whisperer]

I'd like to know if GM 4 will run perfectly fine under XP.

I have GM 4.00.9393 still running on my old W98 machine. I just put a new XP machine into the office and am really not anxious to upgrade GM yet because the structure will need some work. We have massive growth plans for our company but the funding is still about six months away. So, I need to keep this new XP machine very well maintained in anticipation of that growth and don't want to try to install GM 4 on it if it might create a mess. I would greatly appreciate input on whether installing GM 4 under XP is impossible, marginal, or perfectly, 100% fine. If there's a patch, great -- I'll go get it right away.

THANKS!

Jay Newman
President
Invision International

 

[groundedagain]

Honestly Jay

Cannot provide an answer other then the following:

1. GM4 is no longer supported
2. GM4 in fact GM5 was not supported on XP.

We have never tried it and can't say that any of our customers have. I have a customer still running GM4, about to get them up to dat however I can ask them early next week and get back to you as to if they use XP? They have had some problems and this is why they hae asked us to get the upgrade sorted out however haven't had a close enough look at there systems. I have an idea the are running W2K Pro but I will check and get back.

Jason Wienert
Central City Communications
Brisbane, Australia.

 

[Guyute97]

I don't believe so.

I am running GM 5.7 on XP with some problems
and Heat 7.0 with some problems.

My understanding is that GM 4 is not on XP and if it is just for 6 months I don't think the upgrade to a new platform would be worth it. Would just be easier to run as is.

You have to remember that Win 98 is off a completely different code base that XP and there are some major differences in the OS. XP is the equivalent of 2000 Pro, it is basically 2003 Server with a nicer front end and some missing features.

--Guyute

 

[Whisperer]

And I suppose the Compatibility Wizard in XP is more problem than solution from what I've heard.

 

[patrichek]

we have it running on several xp boxes

 

[Whisperer]

Thanks, patrichek,

A consultant in Chicago who FrontRange referred me to, who they say knows more about GM4 than anyone, told me she has a few clients who are running GM4 on XP with no problems. She says GM4 is one step above DOS in terms of complexity (or lack thereof) and that she's never heard of a problem running it on XP.

 

[richardy]

The issues are around the phone dialing and thats all. Everything else you shouldnt have a problem with.

Regards,

Richard.
PRIOR Analytics UK

http://www.prior-analytics.com

Winners of the LBA Customer Service Award.

 

[patrichek]

Hi,
can you give me the Chicago consultants contact info?
thanks!

 

[Whisperer]

I should let you know, though, that while this consultant seems great and is very very nice and is intense about doing what they do and has clients who use GM4 on XP fine...

They didn't seem to have had any direct experience moving someone over or installing GM4 on XP, and when they told me the down-and-dirty approach they'd suggest, which was essentially to just copy the folders over and do a formal install (yes, I think they said to do it in that order), I had to say "Wait a second. This is an admin installation for a network with peer-to-peer users for one thing and there are these special paths and installation procedures needed to handle that, and frankly I think the thing to do is for me to review the original installation procedures/instructions and then determine what files stay as unchanged program files vs get updated during use, and then I should do a clean install on the XP and then copy over all the files that get updated during use."

And she completely agreed.

I also said I'd write down all the steps, current layout, and intended files/plans in advance for her review first, which she fully agreed to.

Note that I have not done any of this yet, though, since that conversation.

Note, too, that I plan to purse working with her further and hope we maintain the very good rapport we have. ;-)

Contact info is:

Her name is: "Steck"
(short for some long elaborate Czechoslovakian last name, I believe)

Chicago

Phone: 630-627-7227

Email: steck@publishorperish.com

Good luck!

Jay

 

[patrichek]

Jay,
I do installs on xp and w2k all the time, its no big deal. Do you sync with a server?
what i do is a clean install of gm then follow the install instructions on creating transfer sets.
Maybe you have a different setup?

 

[Whisperer]

patrichek,

When you say you do installs on XP all the time and it's no big deal, is that with something as old as version 4 of GM?

I don't sync at present. Just have the program and data on one main computer, installed/configured for multi-user use, and then workstations using just a desktop shortcut for accessing and editing it on that main computer.

I have yet to delve into my old notes about installation procedures to see if I even have anything for a "transfer set." The term doesn't ring a bell. I assume it's specifically for moving to a new computer, right? I'm glad you agree with me that a clean install and then... well, I suppose the transfer set is just what I said -- copying over the "changed" files after the clean install... is the way to proceed.

So, am I right that the transfer set is what I think it is? And if so, do you have a list for what files that would entail? (This is all assuming we're still talking about version 4 here.) I suppose I could copy everything over after the clean install, though… what would it hurt? Or, maybe I’ll find the list somewhere.

Thanks a million!

Jay

 

[patrichek]

Jay,
Yep, GM4 is what i'm using.
the transfer set is for syncing with a goldmine server and i use if for my laptop (outside the office) users, but since you don't do that then nevermind about the transfer set.

I also setup my inhouse users like you do. What I do is install goldmine from disk on the desktop pc and when i get to the license part i just cancel it. Then I create a shortcut from the server gm4.exe on the users desktop. I guess the only thing you would have to do is on the server is create a new user....I don't copy any files over because my inhouse users all run off the server installation.
See if that will work for you.

 

[Whisperer]

I'm not sure I understand the implications of canceling when it asks for the license. What I do know is that the number of licenses determines how many users can log in AT THE SAME TIME. You can have plenty of users with just one license, but only one can log in at any given time. At least, that's how it's "supposed" to work. Maybe you found a way to bypass that by canceling at that part of the installation.

When I said to copy over files, what I meant was copying over files from my old/current GM4 system on my old W98 machine to the new installation I plan to put onto my new XP machine. That's the whole point of what I was talking about... I install the program on the new XP machine, then "copy over" all the files that have been updated and that contain user data from all the work I've been doing using GM4 all these years since it was installed on the W98 machine.

The workstations for other users of course is handled just as we said -- icons that go to the main computer (new XP machine).

BTW, I suppose XP squawked when installing GM4, saying it never heard of it and that it wasn't welcome. I wonder if using the Compatibility Wizard is possibly useful (though, as I said earlier, some techs tell me never to use that).

 

[patrichek]

Oh sorry jay, i misunderstood you. I see now that you are installing gm4 main program on xp for your workstations to run on. It sounds like you are upgrading your 98 machine to xp, right?

Creating a transfer set may be helpful for you. Its sort of like backing up your system then restoring the data. Then on the new pc you can receive the transfer set and it will install everything you included you included in the set. I can email you the exact steps if you prefer?

If you have a test pc with xp on it you should try setting it up on there first.

About the licensing, i have all the licenses located on the server. I bought a bulk license package, so i can have 35 on at once...i think

 

[Whisperer]

I want to make this very clear so we're on the same page:

I have two computers. One is a W98 machine I've had for a few years. It has had GM4 running on it all that time. (If a workstation uses GM, it runs it off of that machine.)

I recently bought the second computer, an XP machine. I'm gradually migrating things over.

(I would never upgrade a W98 machine to XP, partly because that would be retaining all the mess that developed after years of running 98, partly because I'd never trust an upgrade like that to run remotely as solidly as a clean install of XP -- I have a very serious business going on here with massive growth plans -- and partly because I need the old machine there to keep referencing back to see how customizations were done as I set things up on the new machine.)

So, again, what seems logical to me is to do what I said: a clean install on the new XP machine, and then copy over the appropriate files -- once I figure out just what the "appropriate" files are.

 

[patrichek]

ah, here it is:

GoldMine Setup - Synchronizing Customizations


In GoldMine 4.0, customizations made to databases can be synchronized. They do not need to be, nor should they be copied manually.

Creating transfer set from Host.

If new User Defined Fields have been created and populated with data on the main/network GoldMine installation, and you want to synchronize them to another GoldMine system for the first time, synchronization of the User Defined Fields and Fields MUST be performed first. The steps listed below show how to synchronize manually.

1. To begin synchronizing, from the server, select File|Synchronization|Sync with another Goldmine Site.

2. Select Start a new session, then select Next.

3. Select Create a transfer set, then select Next.

4. In the Create a transfer set dialog box, type in the location, or select the browse button and browse to the location to place the transfer set. Select Next.

The transfer set can be placed anywhere, for example c:\\windows\\temp.

5. There are 3 options that need to be changed in this portion of the wizard. In the Please select the type of data to send to the remote dialog box, be sure to change the box to all changed records since. Also, change the date to 1/1/80 (the time of day does not need to be changed). Once this is done, select the Send Options button. Under the Database Files column, right click, and select clear all, then place a check in the box next to User Defined Fields and Fields. Be sure to check the boxes for the contact sets to send to the remote. Select Ok. Then select Next.

6. When asked, Would you like to save this synchronization profile?, select the No radio button. If more than one undocked system needs to be configured then you may save the transfer set (transfer.gts) and copy it to each system for retrieval

7. Select Finish.

Retrieving the transfer set on Remote.

Once the transfer set has been created on the host, copy the transfer set from the server to the remote system for retrieval. To do this, copy transfer.gts to the remote machine. The file can be placed anywhere on the remote system.

1. To retrieve the transfer set, Select File|Synchronization|Sync with another GoldMine Site.

2. Select Start a new session, then select Next.
3. Select Retrieve a transfer set, then select Next.

4. Type in the path of the location of transfer.gts (the transfer set), or select the browse button next to, Path for the transfer set to be retrieved, and browse to the location of the transfer.gts. Select Next.

5. Select the Retrieve Options button. Right click in the middle column underneath Database files, and choose Select all. Be sure to check the boxes for the contact sets to retrieve. Select Ok, then select Finish.

6. When the transfer set is finished being retrieved, GoldMine will automatically rebuild the files. This is done because the Contact2 Table must be rebuilt any time a User Defined Field is created.

Creating the transfer set on Host part 2.

Once the customizations have been synchronized to the remote system, the remaining data can now be synchronized. The steps listed below show how to synchronize manually.

1. To begin synchronizing, from the server, select File|Synchronization|Sync with another Goldmine Site.

2. Select Start a new session, then select Next.

3. Select Create a transfer set, then select Next.

4. In the Create a transfer set dialog box, type in the location, or select the browse button and browse to the location to place the transfer set. Select Next.

The transfer set can be placed anywhere, for example c:\\windows\\temp.

5. There are 3 options that need to be changed in this portion of the wizard. In the Please select the type of data to send to the remote dialog box, be sure to change the box to all changed records since. Also, change the date to 1/1/80 (the time of day does not need to be changed). Once this is done, select the Send Options button. Under the Database Files column, right click, and choose select all. Be sure to check the boxes for the contact sets to send to the remote. Select Ok. Then select Next.

6. When asked, Would you like to save this synchronization profile?, select the No radio button.

7. Select Finish.

Retrieving the transfer set part2.

Once the transfer set has been created, copy the transfer set from the server to the remote system for retrieval. To do this, copy transfer.gts from the server to the remote machine.

1. To retrieve the transfer set, select File|Synchronization|Sync with another GoldMine Site.

2. Select Start a new session, then select Next.

3. Select Retrieve a transfer set, then select Next.

4. Type in the path of the location of transfer.gts (the transfer set), or select the browse button next to, Path for the transfer set to be retrieved, and browse to the location of the transfer.gts. Select Next.

5. Select the Retrieve Options button. Right click in the middle column underneath Database files, and choose Select all. Be sure to check the boxes for the contact sets to retrieve. Select Ok, then select Finish.

 

[patrichek]

Jay,
when i setup a new laptop with any OS, i install goldmine then use the above sync to bring all the data from the server to the new unit. So this should work for you no problem. You can always test it first before shutting down the win98 box.

you could even run both systems for a while and have them sync with each other.

Hope this helps.
P

 

[Whisperer]

>> If new User Defined Fields have been created and populated with data on the main/network GoldMine installation, and you want to synchronize them to another GoldMine system for the first time, synchronization of the User Defined Fields and Fields MUST be performed first. The steps listed below show how to synchronize manually. <<

Two things about this jump out at me.

First, I've done far more in customizing the database than adding User Defined fields. I've changed the names of default fields, for one thing, both what shows in my custom database and, I believe, at the source as well. I'm not sure if the approach described will cover that situation.

Second, on a minor note (I "think"), there's "maybe" a typo in that paragraph "User Defined Fields and Fields") and I'd want to clarify whether something's missing before I took the plunge.

I'm going to search my records further and see if I can't come up with the steps I followed when I brought it over from the "older-older" machine to the existing W98 machine a few years ago. I know I pulled it off before after very carefully doing my homework in advance, and I know I did not use synchronization (or a "transfer set") to do it.

I really appreciate your help on this!

 

[patrichek]

You are welcome, i hope this will do the trick for you.

As for a typo, nope, the article is correct. I pulled this from the frontrange support website.

Good Luck!

 

[patrichek]

You can also move/copy records from one database to another using the sync wizard.