Butel's ARC XT Beta Software

[sjlamb]

Has anyone else downloaded and installed Butel's ARC XT Pro software? I downloaded the installer (0.85 Build 1) and installed it successfully. I then download and installed the ARC XT PRO exe file (0.85 build 1). Since then, each time I have opened the program and been prompted that a newer version was available; I have updated the .exe file to the newest version but, everytime I close and open the program; it reverts back to the original .exe file, 0.85 build 1.

It does this even after completely uninstalling the earlier versions, then downloading and installing the newest version. The latest version appears right after installation but goes back to the 1st version once the software is closed and re-opned. Then the prompts begin anew to download and install the latest version; which I just did minutes earlier. Anybody else experiencing this?

Also find that the Beta versions are not importing from the XT properly, with talkgroup IDs and Alpha tags from one system being shown in a completely different system after being imported. What a mess.

Sure hope the final version works alot better than the Betas. As of now, I find it useless and continue to rely on FreeScan, which although more basic than many of the paid software programs, is a heck of a good product. Hats off to those at ScanNow.org for their quality work and continuing improvements.

[rpvitale]

Yep paid for and downloaded the beta as well. Lets just remember its beta. It does need to be finished. The update file is just the executable file. You must unpack it and overwrite the copy it to the program directory as far as I can see.

[sjlamb]

Originally Posted by rpvitale

The update file is just the executable file. You must unpack it and overwrite the copy it to the program directory as far as I can see.

Been there, done that.... Still reverts to Beta 001.

[sjlamb]

Issues noted in original post appeared to have been resolved by ARC XT PRO installer software (0.85 build 6) and ARC XT PRO .exe file (0.85 build 6). Closing and re-opening after "Build 6" update now displays as "Beta 006" thus eliminating the nag screen that a newer version is available for download.

Intermingling of TG IDs and Alpha tags among groups also appears to be resolved.

[Watertown_bandit]

Is anyone else having a problem saving systems? When I select "Save Systems as" nothing happens. When I select "Save" nothing happens either. I have updated to the latest beta Pro release.

[sjlamb]

Originally Posted by Watertown_bandit

Is anyone else having a problem saving systems? When I select "Save Systems as" nothing happens. When I select "Save" nothing happens either. I have updated to the latest beta Pro release.

Let's just say that the Beta versions have a long way to go before they will be suitable for release. I've encountered all sorts of errors and faulty or missing functions. So many in fact (that change with each new version), that the program is not even close to functioning the way other Butel products do.

I'm sure the final product will perform as expected... but for now.... I have found the Beta versions to be useless for anything other than to get a general feel for the XT platform.

[thewenk]

Originally Posted by Watertown_bandit

Is anyone else having a problem saving systems? When I select "Save Systems as" nothing happens. When I select "Save" nothing happens either. I have updated to the latest beta Pro release.

Look in the My Documents Folder(WinXp). When you select save, it is probably really saving to the My Documents folder under Butel or My Scanner Data File.

When you do Save As, a dialog box should come up so you can name the file and select the location for the file. Also, make sure you select the default path for the data files under the Setup Menu - then Software Data Options. Comments apply to beta 0.87 for XT-Pro.

Dave

[thewenk]

Originally Posted by sjlamb

Let's just say that the Beta versions have a long way to go before they will be suitable for release. I've encountered all sorts of errors and faulty or missing functions. So many in fact (that change with each new version), that the program is not even close to functioning the way other Butel products do.

I'm sure the final product will perform as expected... but for now.... I have found the Beta versions to be useless for anything other than to get a general feel for the XT platform.

Beta 0.87 seems to be working fine for me so far. Non functional items seem minor at this point.

Dave

[springadv]

If I purchase the download can it be saved to disk as a backup ?

[sjlamb]

Originally Posted by thewenk

Beta 0.87 seems to be working fine for me so far. Non functional items seem minor at this point.

Dave

Agreed... Ver. 0.87 Build 001 seems quite functional. Still hoping to see the ability to change the virtual control's display colors and fonts, in addition to a small display that remains on top of other windows when the program is minimized; like I can do with ARC250Pro. All in all.... looking good thus far.

[thewenk]

Originally Posted by springadv

If I purchase the download can it be saved to disk as a backup ?

The downloaded zip file can be saved to any media in zipped or unzipped format as a backup. Just need the registration keys to activate.

I always save my downloaded program files to an external hard drive for safekeeping, but the most important item to save is your registration key(s).

Dave

[gil_ford]

I am using Beta 0.87 and the DPL's dont show up in the drop down box in the PL/DPL column, only the analog PL's.

[springadv]

Thanks - What I realy meant was whether it can be saved to CD = my bad ! I think your answer means yes.

[thewenk]

Also, enabled Group QuickKeys don't seem to save in 0.87.
Dave

[Clark]

One of the 0.87 builds, in the Browser window, the systems were sorted or groups per system type.
I hope this will be an option in futrure versions as it was easier to select the desired system .

Clark

[FlashP]

The latest version allows sorts by Name and SQK. Unfortunately, it refuses to give an option to leave the systems in the order the user built the Profile! That's a royal pain when you have over a hundred systems.

Also, why does it insist on renaming the system files with SQK at the end? It makes managing files a nightmare.

Flash

[sjlamb]

Couple of preliminary issues:

Version 0.91 Build 1: Not able to select the " ( " parentheses symbol in Alpha Tagging. Will allow the righthand parentheses " ) " but, not the left side symbol. Also will only temporarily remove empty lines from TGID lists when you select "Remove Empty Lines" from the drop down menu. When you close the group folder and reopen, the empty lines are back as they were.

[DaveNF2G]

Version 0.91

Does not import all Fire Tone Out settings from scanner.

Can't find any way to import data from ARC396 or ARC996 files.

[mshumeyk]

Version 0.91

Has anyone been able to use batch import function to import any type of file into ARC-XT? I agree, it doesn't recognize ARC396 or ARC996 files. Hopefully it is a dummy button with the function yet to be enabled. For now I've imported ARC files into Freescan, uploaded them into the scanner then downloaded them into ARCXT on an as needed basis, but it would be nice to directly import the many ARC files I've created.

Did not import the alert light color or pattern for fire tone out configuration.

Mark S

[Butelsoftware]

Batch import will only import ARC-XT files for now, I'm still working on support for other arc files
The software always defaults to 10 lines per grid, empty lines do not waste any space in the scanner since they are not uploaded.

Gommert
Butel Software