Upgrading Software

1
Upgrading Software
2
Introduction

• New software versions are released every few
  years by many software manufacturers
• Version numbers (or years) are used to
  distinguish the versions
• Major revisions usually labelled as integers
• Minor changes usually labelled as decimals
• Check your version number
• Usually found under HelpgtAbout on Windows software

3
Pros/Cons

• Upgrades will usually offer new functions or will
  be designed to make tasks easier
• Word 2007 puts 80 of the commonest used
  functions no more than two clicks away from the
  user after criticism that Word 2003 had too many
  functions (improved UI)
• However there are technical and human
  considerations that the organisation needs to
  take into account when upgrading software

4
Hardware Constraints

• The new software may require more memory, a
  faster processor etc. This means that hardware
  needs to be upgraded (often at great expense)

5
Compatibility

• The upgraded software needs to be compatible with
  existing systems. New versions of the software
  will usually open files created in older versions
  backwards compatibility
• The reverse isnt always true i.e. files created
  in new versions may not be usable (directly) with
  earlier versions downwards compatibility

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6
Scale of upgrade

• Organisations need to decide whether to upgrade
  some or all of their software at one time

• Upgrade all
• ? No compatibility problems
• ? Cost issue
• Licences
• Hardware upgrades

• Upgrade some
• ? Cheaper
• ? Potential compatibility problems

• Whichever option it chooses there may be some
  disruption associated with the changeover

7
Training

• Upgraded software will have new features and
  possibly a new UI that users have to be trained
  to use

• Organisations may also have to rewrite existing
  support resources (e.g. user guides)

8
Need?

• Based on previous slides the organisation has to
  ask itself Do we really need the new software?
• The technical and human constraints need to be
  weighed up against any potential new
  features/benefits the upgrade offers

9
Extension Tasks

• Read and make notes on the following
  presentationhttp//www.fatmax.org/AS2/204/upgrada
  bility.swf
• Answer this questionGive two technical and two
  human reasons why an organisation may choose to
  delay deploying software upgrades