DESIGN SHOP 7

[RHOLLID]

I HAVE PURCHASED A USED AMAYA MACHINE FROM A FRIEND,,,BUT IT HAS DESIGN SHOP PRO 4,,,HAVE SEEN THE DEMO FOR DESIGN SHOP 7,,,AND WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE KNEW IF VERSION 7 CAN STILL BE PURCHASED FROM MELCO OR DO YOU HAVE TO GET V9?
I KNOW IM GOING TO PROBABLY HAVE TO GET THE UPDATED DONGLES TO USE TO,,,RIGHT NOW USING THE PARRELL ONES,,,I KNOW IM PROBABLY LOOKING AT A PRETTY PENNY HERE,,BUT JUST CURIOUS REALLY LIKED DESIGN VER7 BETTER THAN WHAT I HAVE NOW

[Steve]

First of all, please turn the caps lock off! It is very difficult to read. Second, the latest version of DS is version 9 from Melco. Melco will sock you with a registration fee then the upgrade fee so be prepared for both if you haven't registered the software yet. If you never have to call tech support or never upgrade you won't have to pay the registration fee.

[oldkush]

In case you don't know, DesignShop isn't your only option for embroidery software. You are free to use virtually any embroidery software you choose. Your Amaya will happily stitch out any quality design .... it doesn't care what software you used to create it.

If you are new to embroidery and looking at upgrading DesignShop, this might be a good time to check out what is available in embroidery software and compare.

After comparing, DesignShop could easily be the software you choose .... but then again, perhaps you will find that you prefer and/or feel more comfortable using something else.

Good luck

Bob

[The Embroidery Authority - OLD]

Yes,...
Typing with your "Caps Lock" button ON is synonymous with SHOUTING in text.

Thanks

As for Version 7 - Design Shop,... I don't believe Melco sells that anymore. If you upgraded to version 9 software, the security keys (dongles) would support any version up to version 9. However, you would have to find someone with a disc of version 7.

[signman]

You would also have to get their dongle...the disks are keyed to the dongle. We tried to upgrade from 6 to 7 one time to help out another shop that used 7, she brought her disk over to use my machine, and without her dongle-the disk was useless.
Way back someone posted here that they 'found' un'keyed' versions of the program on line but that was proven to be bogus unusable copies if I remember right...if you are lucky and find someone that bought out another used machine that came with program and dongles and they don't need it-bingo!

[The Embroidery Authority - OLD]

Yes, a version 7 dongle can run version 6(5,4,3,etc..) software but a version 6 dongle cannot run a version 7 software.

Backward Compatible is the term to use here.

[signman]

No, that's no correct. It's the dongle 'password numbers' that are 'keyed' into the disk sent to you by Melco...without the right dongle matched to that disk, you cannot run the program.
I am running V9 with the new XT on the same dongle we already had from our first big red...I think started with V 5, then 6, then jumped to 9 this spring. But if I tried to take my V9 programs to someone else's machine-their dongle would not run my program. That's what we found out...she had to go home and translate her v7 files to v6 to run them on my machine when her's broke down. I run ScanVec Amiable Flexi Sign on my macs, up to version 8.5 now...with the same dongle I got with Flexi 6...years ago. The company does the same thing-even buying the upgrade from a distributor-they have to have the 'dongle key code' and the upgrade is sent from SA not from the distributor. Prevents people from bootlegging the programs and you don't have to 'buy' a new dongle with each upgrade-saves money.

[The Embroidery Authority - OLD]

There will be very slightly different scenarios depending on how old your dongle/software is.
When the Amayas were first released, every machine had it's own parallel port dongle. Meaning, if you had 10 machines, you had to piggy-back 10 dongles out the back of your computer. Usually propping them up with a box or something to prevent stress on the computer's jack.

For the majority of customers, who are using both USB and parallel port dongles, yes, a security code is emailed or faxed to a customer who upgrades his or her software to "activate" their dongle for the current software version. Once activated, the dongle will allow any version of software, both current and years prior, to operate but only up to the specific level the customer purchased (ie: lite, pro, pro +, flex, flex +,...).

At one point, I think around 2004 & 2005, Melco was sending out software disks with "installation codes" inserted in the disk envelope in addition to the dongle codes but they're not doing that currently.

Ed

[FME540]

Ed is correct.

The DesignShop installation discs are generic, they are all the same. The requirement is that your dongle must be enabled to run the desired version of software. Installing v7 software when you are enabled for v6 will not work.

[signman]

Then why is my original dongle 5 years old running DS 9?

[oldkush]

Signman - were you issued a new dongle when you upgraded to DS9 or were you told to simply use the dongle from your 5 year old software ?

Bob

[Sewfly]

I'm not Signman, but when I purchased my software in 2004 (DS PRO+) my dongle and software came with a code. When I upgraded to 2007, I had to enter in a code that was sent, no new dongles were sent. The same for V9. I have had to replace my dongle a couple of times over the 5 years but they were encoded to my software S/N before being sent to me ( I had to give them the number over the phone). My OS (Flex+) dongle worked with this upgrade without any codes, and I can't remember if I needed codes with the previous upgrade or not. I have not tried to use my dongle on some else's computer who has DS or OS software.

Susan

[signman]

I just looked on the back of the computer to double check, and it's the same old dongles (2) we got with the first machine.

[signman]

No new dongle came with it...Brian (tech) did the install-I wasn't going to take a chance of screwing up anything this time-new computer, etc.-so we waited and paid him to come install and set up the XT and he just grabbed the old dongles and installed it. Haven't heard anyone ever say they had to get a new dongle-UNLESS your computer (newer ones) doesn't have the same port as the old dongles need. Then you need a new dongle for that.

[FME540]

Originally posted by signman:
Then why is my original dongle 5 years old running DS 9?

You don't have to change the dongle when you upgrade the software. But, it must be enabled for the version of software you are running. That may or may not require a code depending on the specific version of software you are upgrading to. Also, depending on the version DS may require a code with the upgrade but AOS will not.

My original point was that the discs are not keyed to your dongle. Today I talked to the Melco engineer who creates the disc images just to double check. All of the discs are burned on a duplicator at the Melco facility in Denver from a common image.