Installing LogPlot

Topics

Installing LogPlot - The First Time
Reinstalling LogPlot
If You Have Upgraded from an Earlier Version of LogPlot

Installing LogPlot – The First Time

LogPlot is installed from a file you can download from the RockWare website.

! You will need administrator level access to your computer to run the installation and licensing programs.

Download the Installation Program from the RockWare Website

1. Access the LogPlot Product page on the RockWare website, and click the Free Trial tab. (LogPlot always installs as a demo): https://www.rockware.com/product/logplot/
   
   
2. Fill in your name, email, and the requested code, and click Submit.
   
3. Click the small "Download" link below LogPlot8.
   
4. If prompted, save the downloaded file ("logplot8_installation.exe") on your computer (such as the Desktop or Downloads folder). You cannot run the installation from the web.
   

Install LogPlot8

1. When the download is complete, click the browser’s Run or Open button. Or, you can use Windows Explorer or My Computer to locate the downloaded file, and double-click on it to start up the LogPlot8 installation program.
   
2. If you have User Account Controls active on your computer and you are prompted whether to let this program make changes to your computer, click Yes.
   
3. Screen 1, License Agreement: Read the contents of the displayed license agreement.
   Click the I Accept the Agreement or the I Do Not Accept the Agreement button as appropriate.
   If you do not accept the license agreement, click the Cancel button and the installation will halt. Contact RockWare if you need additional information about our license agreement.
   If you click the I accept the agreement button, then click the Next > button at the bottom of the window.
   
4. Screen 2, Select Components: Here you have some choices:
   • Standard installation - Take the defaults for eveything: Choose this option to complete a normal installation of the software.
     Highly recommended.
     Tutorial Files - will be installed into your \Documents\LogPlot8 Data folder.
     Override system file locations - not active. The program system files will be installed into the \Program Data\RockWare folder.
   • 
     
   • Custom installation - Tutorial files off. We don't recommend you install using these settings unless you already have the sample files installed.
     Tutorial Files - will not be installed.
   • 
     
   • Custom Installation - Override system files. We don't recommend you install using this setting unless you need for the system files to be installed into a folder other than the user's \Program Data\RockWare folder.
     Override system file locations - You will have the opportunity to install the program's system files to a location of your choice.

   • Click the Next > button.

5. Screen 3, Special System Files: If Override is on, here you can define a customized location for the program's external graphic libraries. For example, if you want everyone to share a server-based version of these libraries, you can select that location. Be sure all of the users will have read permissions to the drive and folder you select.
   • Keyword File Location: Choose where you want the LogPlot Keyword library to be installed and referenced.
   • Pattern File Location: Choose where you want the LogPlot Pattern library to be installed and referenced.
   • Symbol File Location: Choose where you want the LogPlot Symbol library to be installed and referenced.
     Click the Next > button.
   • 
     
6. Screen 4: If Override is on, here you can define a customized location for your project files:
   • Root Directory for all projects: This defines the default "parent" folder for your LogPlot8 project folders.
     Default = C:\Users\username\Documents\LogPlot8 Data\
     Click the Next > button.
   • 
     
7. Screen 5: Ready to Install. You'll see a screen which summarizes your installation settings.
   • Click the Install button to proceed with the installation.
   • Click the < Back button to return to previous screens.
   • Click the Cancel button to cancel the installation entirely.
   • 
     
8. Screen 6: Completing the Setup Wizard. If the installation was completed, you'll see a final screen.
   • Launch LogPlot8: Check this box (default) if you wish to launch LogPlot8 when you click the Finish button, below.
   • Finish: Click this button to close the installer and (if selected) to launch LogPlot.

Starting Up LogPlot8

Trial (Demo) Mode

If you have opted to launch LogPlot, above, and this is a new installation, the program will start in fully-functional Trial mode and you'll see the main LogPlot window. See the LogPlot Tutorial and Where do I Start for pointers. The Trial period will last for 14 days or 50 uses, whichever comes first. (See LogPlot Licensing, Trialware.)

If the trial period has expired, you can contact RockWare to purchase a license.

Licensed Mode

If you have purchased a license and wish to activate it at this time, use the Help | Change Licensing menu option, and follow the instructions for Licensing LogPlot.

If this is not a new installation and the software has already been licensed, the program will start and you'll see the main LogPlot window.

Re-Installing LogPlot

RockWare releases updates to the LogPlot program when new features are added, problems are fixed, etc. These new revisions are posted to our website. Like the original program, the updates can be installed from an internet download.

To re-install LogPlot, you should follow the same instructions as listed above for step-by-step instructions about installing. You can install right over the top of the existing copy of the program.

! Re-installing should not require a new unlocking code.
! Do not un-install the program prior to re-installing because the licensing will be lost.
! You can set up automatic notification of updates in Options | System Settings.

Upgrading from another version of LogPlot?

LogPlot 8 will be installed in a new folder on your hard drive ("C:\Program Files\RockWare\LogPlot8" or "C:\Program Files (x86)\RockWare\LogPlot8") to eliminate overwriting of your earlier files. Its accessory files will be installed in "C:\ProgramData\RockWare\LogPlot8" (system files) and "My Documents\LogPlot8 Data\Samples" (sample data and log design).

If you want to use any of the following user-modifiable files from an earlier version of the program, you will need to copy them to the new LogPlot8 folders:

• The "logplot.key" file (or other ".key" file) that contains your LogPlot keywords. You can copy this to your working data folder, or to C:\ProgramData\RockWare\LogPlot8\. You will need to import those into the new Keyword Editor.
• The "rockutil.pat," "rockutil.sym," and "rockutil.rsf" files that contain patterns and symbols that you can customize using the Pattern and Symbol Editor programs. You can copy this to your working data folder, or to C:\ProgramData\RockWare\LogPlot8\. You will need to import the patterns into the new Pattern Editor and Symbol Editor.
• LogPlot data files (.dat). Since files are not backward-compatible, you should work with copies of your old data files in the new version of the program. In LogPlot8, the file format has changed, and the data files are now stored as ".ldat8".
• Any Log Design Files (.ldfx) that you created within the Log Designer. Since files are not backward-compatible, you should work with copies of your old log design files in the new version of the program. In LogPlot8, the file format has changed, and the log design files are now stored as ".ldfx8" files.

! LogPlot permits you to maintain multiple versions of the keyword, symbol, and pattern files. See Setting Up Program Files.

Installing LogPlot  |   Licensing LogPlot   |   Starting Up LogPlot

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