Check for Updates automatically

[D.T. Nethery]

Some software has an option in the Preferences to "Check for Updates Automatically" (some have the additional option of Check for Updates "Monthly" , "Weekly" , or "Upon Launching") .

Could this option be added to TVPaint ?

Users who are regular participants on the TVPaint Forum will usually be aware when an update becomes available (as here ) but I've noticed that I have students who may have purchased TVPaint in a previous semester, but now in the current semester they are still running TVP 10.0.1 or some other earlier version , completely unaware that the current version is now 10.5.5 . It's not just students; I have a colleague who purchased TVPaint last year based on my recommendation , but recently when discussing a feature in TVPaint 10.5 I discovered that he was still using an earlier version of TVP 10 . He didn't know to update it because he's never on the Forum. Many users seem unaware of the "Check For Updates" under the Help Menu.

Would it be possible to have a pop-up that informs users "An Update to TVPaint is Available . Would you like to download and install it now ?" [ click OK , or Later ]

.

[Fabrice]

It's indeed a very good point to debate, as I noticed it too in various places.

On my side, I hate when a software forces me to update.
But maybe can we just display the availability information in the TVPaint title bar.

It seems possible to me, but it would make the software a little bit more intrusive/annoying since checking on the web from time to time if you are up-to-date.
Some people/schools/studios using a firewall or antivirus would then have constant questions/popups such as : "Should I autorize TVPaint to access internet ?"

[Paul Fierlinger]

Couldn't there be an option for a new purchaser to sign up to such as; do you wish to be alerted to new updates in the future?

[D.T. Nethery]

It's indeed a very good point to debate, as I noticed it too in various places.

On my side, I hate when a software forces me to update.
But maybe can we just display the availability information in the TVPaint title bar.

It seems possible to me, but it would make the software a little bit more intrusive/annoying since checking on the web from time to time if you are up-to-date.
Some people/schools/studios using a firewall or antivirus would then have constant questions/popups such as : "Should I authorize TVPaint to access internet ?"

Yes, I think it should be an option , not something that is forced on the user , but merely a "friendly reminder" that an update of TVPaint is available and would you like to download it now ?

The "Automatic Check for Updates" could be disabled by the user in the Preferences .

[swiftsketcher]

Upon installation, there may be a pop-up that asks if you would like TVP to check for updates automatically. An administrator can say no to disable this, and those who want that can say yes.

[Elodie]

Couldn't there be an option for a new purchaser to sign up to such as; do you wish to be alerted to new updates in the future?

I like this idea : the person would subscribe then to our newsletter and we could write a little text about new updates in every newsletter.

[schwarzgrau]

this would be nice too. Sometimes I updated regularly, but noticed some new features much later. Now I look in the announcement topic, about the new version every time I update, but I guess a lot of users don't use the forum much.
I don't know if this would hard to implement, but it would be nice if a popup window appears the first time you open the new version with the changes that have been made. Or maybe you could find the new features list in the HELP menu. At the moment you only get redirected at the webpage, which shows the new features of the version 10.5.

[Fabrice]

Each new version could link to a page where the changes are listed.

But listing each changes within the software directly would be too heavy to manage.

[Elodie]

The fastest would be simply a link to the forum. It would have the advantage of being easier for us (than updating our website or coding a pop-up window in TVPaint) and it would encourage users to subscribe our forum.

[schwarzgrau]

sounds like a good idea