TA erased dictionaries then stopped working without warning

[simo90]

I own a previous version of TextAloud and saw on your forum that I could try out the newest beta version so I decided to try it out. Unfortunately, it erased my previous Pronunciation dictionaries and did not incorporate them into the new version. Hmmm. A lot of work just got erased without the option to say no. Even so, I liked the new beta additions so I started over and spent a few days recreating new dictionaries.

Then, after a few weeks, the new beta version stopped working and said that there was a time limit on how long I could use it. Hmmmmmm. I don't remember seeing a notice about that. Plus, when I install it, it didn't tell me about that little feature. Now I have lost everything from my initial version of TextAloud and the beta version no longer works. This is not a good.

I'm not sure I understand. If there is there a time limit on the beta version and the previous bought version is going to be erased, why would anyone want to try this out? Sure, you get to see the new features, but I can't imagine too many people would find it worth having to reinstall the previous version, reinstall your voices, recreate dictionaries all the while trying to figure out why all this happened in the first place. Am

So here are my questions:
1) Did I download the wrong version? Maybe a trial version?
2) If so, when I download the correct version, is it going to erase the new pronunciation dictionaries I have spent 2 or 3 days setting up?
3) How do I get TextAloud working again?
4) Why is there a time limit on the beta version. I thought when I purchased TextAloud initially, all upgrades where free. Has that changed?
5) Why doesn't the beta version warn you or save the dictionaries from previous version in another directory before deleting everything?

[SFCurley]

Simo,

I'm just another (very long-standing TA user), but will take a shot at answers to some of your questions (but not in order):

1) Did I download the wrong version? Maybe a trial version?
4) Why is there a time limit on the beta version. I thought when I purchased TextAloud initially, all upgrades where free. Has that changed?
3) How do I get TextAloud working again?

Beta versions of software usually expire periodically to force the users/beta testers to have the most recent version . . . for their benefit and protection and also for the developer's benefit so the latest-and-greatest version is always what's being used/tested. Right now, the current beta version is iteration #113 so that should give you some idea of how often the software is being updated during development. You can find and download the latest version of TA here, from the Beta forum: http://www.nextup.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=13 . That will probably get TA 3.x working again for you.

5) Why doesn't the beta version warn you or save the dictionaries from previous version in another directory before deleting everything?

When I initially upgraded from my 2.x version to the 3.x beta, TA did not erase my 2.x dictionaries. It left them in place in the "old" TA 2.x directory and put the new 3.x dictionaries somewhere completely different. I'd be surprised if your 2.x entries actually got deleted by the beta upgrade.

2) If so, when I download the correct version, is it going to erase the new pronunciation dictionaries I have spent 2 or 3 days setting up?

I've been through probably 50+ beta updates since I started using TA 3.x, which I am now using as my "production" version, even though it's still technically in beta state. In none of those did I lose my TA 3.x dictionary changes (and I'd be made if I did since I have about 1500 entries!).

Hope that helps a bit.

[SFCurley]

Oh, and I forgot to address this question:

I thought when I purchased TextAloud initially, all upgrades where free. Has that changed?

Normally, with most other software I have purchased, including TA, which I've been using since 1.x, the policy is something like, "Upgrades within major releases, e.g., all the 2.0 to 2.9 changes, are free but major release upgrades, e.g., going from 1.x to 2.x or 2.x to 3.x, are paid upgrades, but not at a full new-user cost. I don't know that the policy will be for TA 3.x, but in my experience, that's a pretty standard approach (and I personally will be happy to pay for such a phenomenal product, which I use all the time).