As mentioned above...it's already there.

And if you are such a "power user" as you claim to be...you should have found it already. The preferences in Impulse are *very* simple and straightforward.

No its not: The archive application before updating is a backup mechanism. I.E. in case a new version does not work for you you can then have the old version because it was backed up automatically. Although, it makes no sense to allow you to check both boxes as they serve different functions (i.e. you can't make a backup at the same time as you are erasing the backup). If you install a new application (which I just did) with those options checked it will not be put into backup folder UNLESS you manually archive it. Go ahead check it for yourself.

Ideally you should get two folders an archive and a backup folder:

Archive: anytime you dl or install application a copy of the latest version is put in there (so when your sub runs out you have the latest versions of the SW at the time of your sub all in that folder). Since there is a daily auto update function, when combined w/ auto archive,  you could be pretty much assured that the latest versions will be in this folder.

Backup: Here you can keep as many different versions of the programs as you want so you can go to an earlier version in case of problem.

This is not the PERFECT solution but it is the easiest and cheapest method for SD to provide CS. You could probably do it all in less then 200 lines of new code.

EDIT: Look most of the stuff is in place. Hell even the archive option is good in that it save the program with the ProgramNameVersionBuild format. SD just didn't bother to put it all together with a couple of more hours of programming. The ISO image would be perfect and that is where digital downloads need to go. Just because SD goes bankrupt and I don't have access to impulse or impulse servers should not be an excuse for me not to have access to what I paid for. This is the part the majority of people are missing with digital downloads and DRM. No matter how good it is now once the compnay is gone so is your investment: no more accessing your music, games, programs, wahtever.

Makes sense if it is overwriting the previous archive file, not deleting it and then creating a new one. It's just like saving a document and overwriting the previous revision.

And since you are informed as to how the process works, why can't you just archive the software after you install it and save yourself the trouble? Somehow I don't see them reprogramming Impulse to do *everything* for the user because some people don't want to actually do anything for themselves. But who knows, maybe they will.

A daily auto archive would be totally unnecessary. The software doesn't change from day to day, only from update to update, and that's where the auto archive option already in Impulse comes into play.

1. No it doesn't because if you just overwrote your backup you no longer have a backup. Its a classic palm-face-slap moment when you realize the new version doesn't work and you just overwrote the old version taht did work with the new version.

2. Ahh because my life doesn't revolve around imppulse no matter how much SD wants it too. I haven't marked my subscription expiration date on my calendar so I can rush home ot archive everything before they cut me off. Good CS would have them do it automatically. Now, if they simply let you dl your version anytime you wanted after your subscription ended then this wouldnot be necessary. This all stems from not having any real media.

3. Hmmm.. So let me see if you had autoarchive why would you be daily archiving things? Autoarchive would kick in on the first install then from then on you would only auto archive eachtime a new update was released.

The good CS there is that they (automatically) send out an email notifying you that your subscription is about to run out, thus giving you time to archive your apps. This email should include step by step instructions on how to archive though, at this point I don't think it does (been a while since my sub was about to run out).

It is working as designed and it works well. 

If I buy a song off of iTunes and lose it, I'm out of luck.  Yet you expect us to keep track the particular iteration of a given program a user purchased indefinitely? That's insane. 

Object Desktop is not just some bundle. If it were, it would cost a lot more. It's a software subscription. 

With Object Desktop, users not only get a ton of great programs at a fraction of their individual cost but also get updates and re-downloads for an entire year after purchase.  It's a good deal.  

If you think it's not a good deal, then don't purchase it. Frankly, I'd rather not deal with customers who have unreasonable expectations. 

Just tried archiving everything right now and ran into a number of problems:

1. I can't archive programs I can not install (i.e. WindowsFX is not available on widows 7 so it won't let me dl and just archive). Thats just ridiculous so if I want to run the Virtual XP component of Win7 down the line and my expiration is expired I can't use the programs because there is no wya to get it. Brilliant.

2. similiar problem w/ the MyColors themes: can't dl and archive unless I have mycolors installed??? Why do I need to install my colors now to create a back up?

No its not. See the above posts. I can backup my mp3 off of itunes in any manner I chose. You do not allow that. No one said maintain every iteration of the SW. I simply said provide better backup and archving options. If a user chooses not to take precuations its on them but if you are making it difficult for users to do backups then its on you.

As for not purchasing no problem. I rather not deal with poor CS. I will be letting my subscription laps for sure as most of your programs are now redundant, useless, or don't work in Win7 x64. In fact if you want to put your money where your mouth is I am even willing to have you refund  my subscription fee (since you are making all this money and don't want to deal with customers) and I will give up all those great "future updates". Of course I expect to continue to have full access to my archived app versions per the license agreement.

Enjoy the shrinking economy and user base.

I just read all these post and I have to say I did not know I had to Archive my stuff If I let my sub expire and have to say I then went to stardock.com and see NO mention that customer has to Archive after sub run dry

it dose how ever stat this >>

Q: What happens when my subscription expires? Will the programs I’ve received still work?

A: Yes. When you purchase, you receive everything currently available on the Object Desktop Network as well as free updates for one year. Once your subscription has expired, you have the option of renewing for additional years for $34.95. If you choose not to renew, you keep everything released prior to the subscription expiration.

Think of it like you would a magazine subscription. If you let your Newsweek subscription lapse, you can still read all the old issues (you just will not get any new ones). 

...............

so if your stating now that we have to do this (Archive) before sub runs out IT SHOULD be made Clear when one purchase ODNT

oh and it also stats this to  >>

A Year of Free Updates
When you purchase Object Desktop, you automatically get a 1-year subscription to ObjectDesktop.net and not only get all of the features Object Desktop has today, but all of the features for a full year.

This means you will receive all updates and new programs added to Object Desktop throughout the year automatically. What you download is yours forever and at the end of the year, you can continue your subscription or stick with what you already have.

can you please put a link here that stats SD will not provide Archives for expired subs

I've just downloaded WindowFX from Impulse Anywhere for standalone/offline installation without a problem.

All my other purchased programs, games etc are available for download too. I don't see the issue

May I ask what OS are you running? With the latest impulse client on Win 7 x64 when I try to install WFX I get an error that the program is not available for my OS. I get the same error when I try to dl and archive. I am guessing you have an OS on which WFX WILL INSTALL so you probably are not getting the error. This happens w/ all the programs not available on Win 7 (IconX, BootSkin, WFX).

I used Impulse Anywhere, not the Impulse client http://anywhere.impulsedriven.com/home.aspx. Log in there and download your software. It's a website and nothing to do with what O/S you are running.

You don't need to install anything to download, but you will need Impulse installed to install the programs.

Seems there is always an snswer to a question, whether the question is hard or easy. 

See, now this is usefull info. This should be on top of the website! In all the three pages you are first person to even mention it!

It seems as if the web site allows you to make .dat file online for activation thorugh the website. I have a few questions though - and I am not sure if you can answer them:

1. The site has you dl a data file and an installer, so why does impulse need to be installed for installation? Is it because your reg info is in the impulse client and the installer uses the reg info to create an activation code which you submit to the site?

2. What happens when your sub is expired? I assume potentailly you would have had dled and archived a full version of the program before the expiration of your sub but can you come back after the subscription is expired and still generate DAT files for activation?

3. Why two files? Why not just have a zip or an installer so both files are dled at the same time?

Thanks for nay info you can provide fuzzy logic!

p.s. I thought when you archived off of the impulse client that was also a full program (i.e. it's not just an update that needs to have something pre-installed for it to work)? Otherwise how can you backup your version during your subscriptions?

TIA!

1) Impulse is a download manager and an installer. The files you download are specific to the program, but will user the installer part of Impulse (without Impulse running).

2) Don't know. My sub has never run out but I assume you can still download the last version of the software you purchased as that is Stardock's policy. But if you have downloaded and stored the files safely, it doesn't matter.

3) Don't know - technical stuff All I know is it works.

It's a good idea for anyone wanting to archive their applications to use Impulse Anywhere rather than Impulse. Archives created with Impulse only work on the O/S they were originally installed on. Not much use if you change O/S... It's a backup of your current configuration only.

Once you have downloaded all your app's data and install files, and Impulse, and archived them somewhere, you are good to go anytime, anywhere