Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Rob Wuijster]

Weird. AFAIK there's no difference 'rights wise' between both accounts. 
But correct me if I'm wrong ;-)


Biggest difference is the linking to the online stuff and the Modern 
apps Store with the Win8 login.

It could be that the Win8 login is even more strict in security measures?

Rob

\/-\/\/

On 5-1-2015 14:34, Robert Kjettrup wrote:

Hi

A bit late to this discussion.
But i had the exact same problem with an even older Softimage version 
(v7.1), when i had the brilliant idea to switch my Local Windows 
account to a Microsoft account login.
When i started with win8 i created a local account and everything 
worked in softimage as in win7 (except some extra security dialog i 
have to OK each time starting SI up), when i switched to the Microsoft 
Account method to log into Windows, SI would start as usual, but any 
file browser just didn't work. Knowing that the only thing i had 
changed since it worked, was the account login method, i reverted back 
to a local account and SI works as it should again.


So my only fear for the future compatibility of SI and win10 is that a 
Microsoft account is needed instead of a local account, but i dont 
believe that will be the case :-)


happy new year.

Robert

>2014-12-23 18:15 GMT+01:00 Luc-Eric Rousseau >:

>
> I have Softimage 2010 at home and it is already broken; every
> workflow that prompts for a file browser just hangs, and I can't fix
> it user-side, I've tried everything already short of re-installing the
> OS, which I won't do.
>

No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 2015.0.5577 / Virus Database: 4257/8871 - Release Date: 01/05/15

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Robert Kjettrup]

Hi

A bit late to this discussion.
But i had the exact same problem with an even older Softimage version
(v7.1), when i had the brilliant idea to switch my Local Windows account to
a Microsoft account login.
When i started with win8 i created a local account and everything worked in
softimage as in win7 (except some extra security dialog i have to OK each
time starting SI up), when i switched to the Microsoft Account method to
log into Windows, SI would start as usual, but any file browser just didn't
work. Knowing that the only thing i had changed since it worked, was the
account login method, i reverted back to a local account and SI works as it
should again.

So my only fear for the future compatibility of SI and win10 is that a
Microsoft account is needed instead of a local account, but i dont believe
that will be the case :-)

happy new year.

Robert

>2014-12-23 18:15 GMT+01:00 Luc-Eric Rousseau :
>
> I have Softimage 2010 at home and it is already broken; every
> workflow that prompts for a file browser just hangs, and I can't fix
> it user-side, I've tried everything already short of re-installing the
> OS, which I won't do.
>

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Tim Leydecker]

Update:  Softimage 7.5 32bit on win7 x64 works.

Thanks for making me give it another try, Luc-Eric.


I re-installed Softimage 7.5 32 bit using the web installer on xin7 x64:

Autodesk_Softimage_7.5_English_Japanese_WIN_32bit.exe

I updated my License File with the new file provided by Autodesk and
restarted the license server pointing to the new license.

Restarted win7.

Running the "Softimage" link in the Startmenu as Administrator makes
win7 x64 swap it´s menu style to "Windows 7-Basis" and XSI.exe will
properly start.

I guess that step required by win7 was UAC blocked in my previous attempts.


---
I also deleted the extra adsk_port infos from the Autodesk.lic in 
Softimage´s

installpath\Softimage\Softimage_7.5\adlm\licenses

making Softimage´s Autodesk.lic identical to a compareable Maya 
LICPATH.lic file
Those are not the license files, those files tell a network licensed 
install where

to look for a license.

but that may not be neccessary, I just did it to make sure my 64bit LMTOOLS
will be found by Softimage (instead of making it listening to port 2080) 
looking

for a license on the hostname specified in that file.

--

Cheers,

tim



Am 31.12.2014 um 08:39 schrieb Tim Leydecker:

Hi Luc-Eric,

I couldn´t get Softimage 7.5 32bit to run on win 7 64bit. The install 
went through
but Softimage wouldn´t start on my machine, regardless of which 
compatibility

options I tried to run it with. Could be I missed something.

Also, the installer didn´t register with Add/Remove Programs.

I´ll give it another try to see if I missed something.

Cheers,

tim


Am 31.12.2014 um 04:36 schrieb Luc-Eric Rousseau:


Why xp mode?  XSI 7 32 bit runs on 64 bit win7

On Dec 30, 2014 4:59 PM, "Tim Leydecker" > wrote:


For opening SI|3D files using Softimage 7.5 32bit:


One way would be to use Windows 7´s XP mode and use that 32bit XP
to install Softimage 7.5 32bit (which has the SI|3D scene import
option).
Setting that VM´s RAM to ~4GB.

I just did this using the 30 days trial (Standalone mode) of
Softimage
and successfully opened scenes from the year 2000.

Also installed LMTOOLS on the Virtual PC to get an idea what
ethernet ID
that VM has and if it is possible to run a network license inside
that VM.

Autodesk is so kind to recreate/resend me my legacy network
license for
Autodesk Softimage 7.5.

I´ve opted to get the license recreated for my current server,
appending
the license file info and serving from that.

Due to valid security concerns regarding Microsoft no longer
providing
security updates to Windows XP32, some people may want to restrict
the xp mode from getting any internet/network access.

That would mean the license server would have to be set up and 
run off the

ethernet ID of the VM instead, requring a license
transfer/recreation AND
an extra Host network adapter in the host not connected to the
internet.

Even then, the VM will assign random ethernet IDs (for each
install of a VM)
so it´s best to check the internet for ways to backup the VM´s
hexcode of the adapter
in case a VM breaks or needs a reinstall without having to
recreate a new
license file because the virtual PC´s ethernet ID changed.

To avoid all this, I opted to use the VM Host as the license
server and simply disconnect
from the internet while doing SI|3D file salvages.

A simpler alternative might be to use a different Virtual Machine
Option instead of
using the XP Mode in Windows Virtual PC.

Or simply create a new XP mode + Softimage 7.5 32bit trial
install every now and then
when one just tries to get access to some files but that could be
regarded shady, to
say the least.

Cheers,

tim








Am 29.12.2014 um 10:49 schrieb Tim Leydecker:

Hi guys,

after checking through a random selection of *.scn files, I am
somewhat positive
I´ll be able to open most if not all of my files with Softimage
2012/2014/2015.

When I was refering to *.obj/*.fbx files, I didn´t mean to
suggest that should be
the prefered archive format, even thought in my case, there is a
high percentage
of *.obj/*.fbx files containing assets and easily enough
(re)connected to their textures.

Personally, I have decided to go through my projects, check for
assets I like and then make
sure I have at least an *.obj/*.fbx, ZBrush or Mudbox file,
Photoshop texture base and
finalized maps. Building a salvageable library of parts.

That´s not archiving, that´s salvaging.

Now my real problem is opening older 32bit files, from Softimage
3.9

*.dsc and *.hrc files.

Any way to get access to that?

Those scenes/files I missed to convert to *.xsi or *.scn around
Y2k...


Cheers,

tim




Am 26.12.2014 um 23:52 schrieb Luc-Eric Rousseau:

jason

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Tim Leydecker]

Hi Luc-Eric,

I couldn´t get Softimage 7.5 32bit to run on win 7 64bit. The install 
went through
but Softimage wouldn´t start on my machine, regardless of which 
compatibility

options I tried to run it with. Could be I missed something.

Also, the installer didn´t register with Add/Remove Programs.

I´ll give it another try to see if I missed something.

Cheers,

tim


Am 31.12.2014 um 04:36 schrieb Luc-Eric Rousseau:


Why xp mode?  XSI 7 32 bit runs on 64 bit win7

On Dec 30, 2014 4:59 PM, "Tim Leydecker" > wrote:


For opening SI|3D files using Softimage 7.5 32bit:


One way would be to use Windows 7´s XP mode and use that 32bit XP
to install Softimage 7.5 32bit (which has the SI|3D scene import
option).
Setting that VM´s RAM to ~4GB.

I just did this using the 30 days trial (Standalone mode) of Softimage
and successfully opened scenes from the year 2000.

Also installed LMTOOLS on the Virtual PC to get an idea what
ethernet ID
that VM has and if it is possible to run a network license inside
that VM.

Autodesk is so kind to recreate/resend me my legacy network
license for
Autodesk Softimage 7.5.

I´ve opted to get the license recreated for my current server,
appending
the license file info and serving from that.

Due to valid security concerns regarding Microsoft no longer
providing
security updates to Windows XP32, some people may want to restrict
the xp mode from getting any internet/network access.

That would mean the license server would have to be set up and 
run off the

ethernet ID of the VM instead, requring a license
transfer/recreation AND
an extra Host network adapter in the host not connected to the
internet.

Even then, the VM will assign random ethernet IDs (for each
install of a VM)
so it´s best to check the internet for ways to backup the VM´s
hexcode of the adapter
in case a VM breaks or needs a reinstall without having to
recreate a new
license file because the virtual PC´s ethernet ID changed.

To avoid all this, I opted to use the VM Host as the license
server and simply disconnect
from the internet while doing SI|3D file salvages.

A simpler alternative might be to use a different Virtual Machine
Option instead of
using the XP Mode in Windows Virtual PC.

Or simply create a new XP mode + Softimage 7.5 32bit trial install
every now and then
when one just tries to get access to some files but that could be
regarded shady, to
say the least.

Cheers,

tim








Am 29.12.2014 um 10:49 schrieb Tim Leydecker:

Hi guys,

after checking through a random selection of *.scn files, I am
somewhat positive
I´ll be able to open most if not all of my files with Softimage
2012/2014/2015.

When I was refering to *.obj/*.fbx files, I didn´t mean to
suggest that should be
the prefered archive format, even thought in my case, there is a
high percentage
of *.obj/*.fbx files containing assets and easily enough
(re)connected to their textures.

Personally, I have decided to go through my projects, check for
assets I like and then make
sure I have at least an *.obj/*.fbx, ZBrush or Mudbox file,
Photoshop texture base and
finalized maps. Building a salvageable library of parts.

That´s not archiving, that´s salvaging.

Now my real problem is opening older 32bit files, from Softimage 3.9

*.dsc and *.hrc files.

Any way to get access to that?

Those scenes/files I missed to convert to *.xsi or *.scn around
Y2k...


Cheers,

tim




Am 26.12.2014 um 23:52 schrieb Luc-Eric Rousseau:

jason, about vista check the fourth post down here from Stephen
and please stop trolling.
http://forums.cgsociety.org/archive/index.php/t-965169.html

On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 3:22 PM, Jason S mailto:jasonsta...@gmail.com>> wrote:

I don't know.. just installed XSI ModTool 4.2 (2004 ~11
years ago) on Windows 8,
Maybe I missed something, (that I should've done for it to
not work)
but Install went fine, no button click or other interface
issues, loaded-up sample scenes, & posed-up RedJaiqua
without running it in any sort of compatibility mode, and
also loaded bunch of addons from that time.

But I'm sure Soft will break by tomorrow at most  ;-|

Quick! Move to Maya before it's too late! (the friendly
future of 'high-end' 3D?)

If soft wouldn't be run, it would more likely be because our
spirits would have been broken as opposed to the actual
software.

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Luc-Eric Rousseau]

Why xp mode?  XSI 7 32 bit runs on 64 bit win7
On Dec 30, 2014 4:59 PM, "Tim Leydecker"  wrote:

>  For opening SI|3D files using Softimage 7.5 32bit:
>
>
> One way would be to use Windows 7´s XP mode and use that 32bit XP
> to install Softimage 7.5 32bit (which has the SI|3D scene import option).
> Setting that VM´s RAM to ~4GB.
>
> I just did this using the 30 days trial (Standalone mode) of Softimage
> and successfully opened scenes from the year 2000.
>
> Also installed LMTOOLS on the Virtual PC to get an idea what ethernet ID
> that VM has and if it is possible to run a network license inside that VM.
>
> Autodesk is so kind to recreate/resend me my legacy network license for
> Autodesk Softimage 7.5.
>
> I´ve opted to get the license recreated for my current server, appending
> the license file info and serving from that.
>
> Due to valid security concerns regarding Microsoft no longer providing
> security updates to Windows XP32, some people may want to restrict
> the xp mode from getting any internet/network access.
>
> That would mean the license server would have to be set up and  run off
> the
> ethernet ID of the VM instead, requring a license transfer/recreation AND
> an extra Host network adapter in the host not connected to the internet.
>
> Even then, the VM will assign random ethernet IDs (for each install of a
> VM)
> so it´s best to check the internet for ways to backup the VM´s hexcode of
> the adapter
> in case a VM breaks or needs a reinstall without having to recreate a new
> license file because the virtual PC´s ethernet ID changed.
>
> To avoid all this, I opted to use the VM Host as the license server and
> simply disconnect
> from the internet while doing SI|3D file salvages.
>
> A simpler alternative might be to use a different Virtual Machine Option
> instead of
> using the XP Mode in Windows Virtual PC.
>
> Or simply create a new XP mode + Softimage 7.5 32bit trial install every
> now and then
> when one just tries to get access to some files but that could be regarded
> shady, to
> say the least.
>
> Cheers,
>
> tim
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Am 29.12.2014 um 10:49 schrieb Tim Leydecker:
>
> Hi guys,
>
> after checking through a random selection of *.scn files, I am somewhat
> positive
> I´ll be able to open most if not all of my files with Softimage
> 2012/2014/2015.
>
> When I was refering to *.obj/*.fbx files, I didn´t mean to suggest that
> should be
> the prefered archive format, even thought in my case, there is a high
> percentage
> of *.obj/*.fbx files containing assets and easily enough (re)connected to
> their textures.
>
> Personally, I have decided to go through my projects, check for assets I
> like and then make
> sure I have at least an *.obj/*.fbx, ZBrush or Mudbox file, Photoshop
> texture base and
> finalized maps. Building a salvageable library of parts.
>
> That´s not archiving, that´s salvaging.
>
> Now my real problem is opening older 32bit files, from Softimage 3.9
>
> *.dsc and *.hrc files.
>
> Any way to get access to that?
>
> Those scenes/files I missed to convert to *.xsi or *.scn around Y2k...
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> tim
>
>
>
>
> Am 26.12.2014 um 23:52 schrieb Luc-Eric Rousseau:
>
> jason, about vista check the fourth post down here from Stephen and please
> stop trolling.
> http://forums.cgsociety.org/archive/index.php/t-965169.html
>
>  On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 3:22 PM, Jason S  wrote:
>
>>  I don't know.. just installed XSI ModTool 4.2 (2004 ~11 years ago) on
>> Windows 8,
>> Maybe I missed something, (that I should've done for it to not work)
>> but Install went fine, no button click or other interface issues,
>> loaded-up sample scenes, & posed-up RedJaiqua
>> without running it in any sort of compatibility mode, and also loaded
>> bunch of addons from that time.
>>
>> But I'm sure Soft will break by tomorrow at most  ;-|
>>
>> Quick! Move to Maya before it's too late! (the friendly future of
>> 'high-end' 3D?)
>>
>> If soft wouldn't be run, it would more likely be because our spirits
>> would have been broken as opposed to the actual software.
>>
>
>
>
>

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Tim Leydecker]

For opening SI|3D files using Softimage 7.5 32bit:


One way would be to use Windows 7´s XP mode and use that 32bit XP
to install Softimage 7.5 32bit (which has the SI|3D scene import option).
Setting that VM´s RAM to ~4GB.

I just did this using the 30 days trial (Standalone mode) of Softimage
and successfully opened scenes from the year 2000.

Also installed LMTOOLS on the Virtual PC to get an idea what ethernet ID
that VM has and if it is possible to run a network license inside that VM.

Autodesk is so kind to recreate/resend me my legacy network license for
Autodesk Softimage 7.5.

I´ve opted to get the license recreated for my current server, appending
the license file info and serving from that.

Due to valid security concerns regarding Microsoft no longer providing
security updates to Windows XP32, some people may want to restrict
the xp mode from getting any internet/network access.

That would mean the license server would have to be set up and  run off the
ethernet ID of the VM instead, requring a license transfer/recreation AND
an extra Host network adapter in the host not connected to the internet.

Even then, the VM will assign random ethernet IDs (for each install of a VM)
so it´s best to check the internet for ways to backup the VM´s hexcode 
of the adapter

in case a VM breaks or needs a reinstall without having to recreate a new
license file because the virtual PC´s ethernet ID changed.

To avoid all this, I opted to use the VM Host as the license server and 
simply disconnect

from the internet while doing SI|3D file salvages.

A simpler alternative might be to use a different Virtual Machine Option 
instead of

using the XP Mode in Windows Virtual PC.

Or simply create a new XP mode + Softimage 7.5 32bit trial install every 
now and then
when one just tries to get access to some files but that could be 
regarded shady, to

say the least.

Cheers,

tim








Am 29.12.2014 um 10:49 schrieb Tim Leydecker:

Hi guys,

after checking through a random selection of *.scn files, I am 
somewhat positive
I´ll be able to open most if not all of my files with Softimage 
2012/2014/2015.


When I was refering to *.obj/*.fbx files, I didn´t mean to suggest 
that should be
the prefered archive format, even thought in my case, there is a high 
percentage
of *.obj/*.fbx files containing assets and easily enough (re)connected 
to their textures.


Personally, I have decided to go through my projects, check for assets 
I like and then make
sure I have at least an *.obj/*.fbx, ZBrush or Mudbox file, Photoshop 
texture base and

finalized maps. Building a salvageable library of parts.

That´s not archiving, that´s salvaging.

Now my real problem is opening older 32bit files, from Softimage 3.9

*.dsc and *.hrc files.

Any way to get access to that?

Those scenes/files I missed to convert to *.xsi or *.scn around Y2k...


Cheers,

tim




Am 26.12.2014 um 23:52 schrieb Luc-Eric Rousseau:
jason, about vista check the fourth post down here from Stephen and 
please stop trolling.

http://forums.cgsociety.org/archive/index.php/t-965169.html

On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 3:22 PM, Jason S > wrote:


I don't know.. just installed XSI ModTool 4.2 (2004 ~11 years
ago) on Windows 8,
Maybe I missed something, (that I should've done for it to not work)
but Install went fine, no button click or other interface issues,
loaded-up sample scenes, & posed-up RedJaiqua
without running it in any sort of compatibility mode, and also
loaded bunch of addons from that time.

But I'm sure Soft will break by tomorrow at most ;-|

Quick! Move to Maya before it's too late! (the friendly future of
'high-end' 3D?)

If soft wouldn't be run, it would more likely be because our
spirits would have been broken as opposed to the actual software.

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Tim Leydecker]

Hi guys,

after checking through a random selection of *.scn files, I am somewhat 
positive
I´ll be able to open most if not all of my files with Softimage 
2012/2014/2015.


When I was refering to *.obj/*.fbx files, I didn´t mean to suggest that 
should be
the prefered archive format, even thought in my case, there is a high 
percentage
of *.obj/*.fbx files containing assets and easily enough (re)connected 
to their textures.


Personally, I have decided to go through my projects, check for assets I 
like and then make
sure I have at least an *.obj/*.fbx, ZBrush or Mudbox file, Photoshop 
texture base and

finalized maps. Building a salvageable library of parts.

That´s not archiving, that´s salvaging.

Now my real problem is opening older 32bit files, from Softimage 3.9

*.dsc and *.hrc files.

Any way to get access to that?

Those scenes/files I missed to convert to *.xsi or *.scn around Y2k...


Cheers,

tim




Am 26.12.2014 um 23:52 schrieb Luc-Eric Rousseau:
jason, about vista check the fourth post down here from Stephen and 
please stop trolling.

http://forums.cgsociety.org/archive/index.php/t-965169.html

On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 3:22 PM, Jason S > wrote:


I don't know.. just installed XSI ModTool 4.2 (2004 ~11 years ago)
on Windows 8,
Maybe I missed something, (that I should've done for it to not work)
but Install went fine, no button click or other interface issues,
loaded-up sample scenes, & posed-up RedJaiqua
without running it in any sort of compatibility mode, and also
loaded bunch of addons from that time.

But I'm sure Soft will break by tomorrow at most  ;-|

Quick! Move to Maya before it's too late! (the friendly future of
'high-end' 3D?)

If soft wouldn't be run, it would more likely be because our
spirits would have been broken as opposed to the actual software.

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Jason S]

  
  
Hum, then perhaps it was a Vista
  thing?  Because I had no problem clicking any type of
  dialog/button
  
  And to be fair, (in XSI4.2 on Win8) selecting nothing specifically
  when nothing was selected, made the selection rectangle remain
  drawn,
  which I didn't notice even after doing a bunch of stuff and going
  everywhere possible, cause I rarely select nothing when nothing is
  selected.
  
  But any of this is really just silly stuff. Especially considering
  that we're talking about the very earliest ver. possible on the
  latest OS possible. (4 OSes gap)
  
  And I remain pretty sure that Softimage Running fine on Win8 would
  more than just likely also run fine on Win9 (allowing for 8 years)
  if not Win10 (12years) ...
  
  Otherwise, seemingly having to defend Soft (from further
  exaggerated uncertainty or reductions) isn't something I
  particularly enjoy, 
  and is something I would rather not have to do, while honestly
  wondering why I have to do it in the first place.
  
  (Assuming it may have to do with it being not unlike a former love
  later then being specifically disliked (but.. sigh) )
  
  
  On 12/26/14 17:52, Luc-Eric Rousseau wrote:


  jason, about vista check the fourth post down here
from Stephen and please stop trolling.
http://forums.cgsociety.org/archive/index.php/t-965169.html



On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 3:22 PM, Jason
  S 
  wrote:


  

  
I don't know.. just installed XSI ModTool 4.2 (2004
  ~11 years ago) on Windows 8,
  Maybe I missed something, (that I should've done for
  it to not work) 
  but Install went fine, no button click or other
  interface issues, loaded-up sample scenes, &
  posed-up RedJaiqua 
  without running it in any sort of compatibility mode,
  and also loaded bunch of addons from that time.
  
  But I'm sure Soft will break by tomorrow at most  ;-|
  
  Quick! Move to Maya before it's too late! (the
  friendly future of 'high-end' 3D?)
  
  If soft wouldn't be run, it would more likely be
  because our spirits would have been broken as opposed
  to the actual software.

  

  
  

  


  

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Luc-Eric Rousseau]

jason, about vista check the fourth post down here from Stephen and please
stop trolling.
http://forums.cgsociety.org/archive/index.php/t-965169.html

On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 3:22 PM, Jason S  wrote:

>  I don't know.. just installed XSI ModTool 4.2 (2004 ~11 years ago) on
> Windows 8,
> Maybe I missed something, (that I should've done for it to not work)
> but Install went fine, no button click or other interface issues,
> loaded-up sample scenes, & posed-up RedJaiqua
> without running it in any sort of compatibility mode, and also loaded
> bunch of addons from that time.
>
> But I'm sure Soft will break by tomorrow at most  ;-|
>
> Quick! Move to Maya before it's too late! (the friendly future of
> 'high-end' 3D?)
>
> If soft wouldn't be run, it would more likely be because our spirits would
> have been broken as opposed to the actual software.
>

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Jason S]

  
  
I don't know.. just installed XSI
  ModTool 4.2 (2004 ~11 years ago) on Windows 8,
  Maybe I missed something, (that I should've done for it to not
  work) 
  but Install went fine, no button click or other interface issues,
  loaded-up sample scenes, & posed-up RedJaiqua 
  without running it in any sort of compatibility mode, and also
  loaded bunch of addons from that time.
  
  But I'm sure Soft will break by tomorrow at most  ;-|
  
  Quick! Move to Maya before it's too late! (the friendly future of
  'high-end' 3D?)
  
  If soft wouldn't be run, it would more likely be because our
  spirits would have been broken as opposed to the actual software.
  
  
     
  
      
  
  On 12/26/14 12:14, Luc-Eric Rousseau wrote:


  l was just supporting what others have already said. 
  
  xsi was "certified" for Windows Xp, but a few months
later when vista came up, you could not click buttons on the
message boxes (ex: "would you like to save the scene?"),
rectangle select broke, several features failed to work due to
folder permissions, netview broke, help files in hlp format were
no longer supported, etc.  I should know, i had to fix some of
that stuff.  Later Microsoft made a security patch to a visual
c++ that broke plugin binary compatibility and later a change to
how DLLs are found which broke some add-ons.  Microsoft is
always threatening to block active scripting, the engine at the
core of XSI.   Since windows 8 they have given up on backwards
compatibility at all cost, you need to preserve your old runtime
environment if you want to safely be able to run XSI in ten year
and not just an archive of the old installers.  It's common
sense and the subject of this thread.
  
  On Dec 25, 2014 8:00 PM, "Jason S" 
wrote:
>
> On 12/23/14 12:15, Luc-Eric Rousseau wrote:
>> * Safe keeping the installers is no security, 
>> they may not run at all in the future, 
>> being tangled in microsoft "MSI" installer tech and
other things...
>>
>> * Older 32-bit Softmage installers already don't run
because
>> they have a 16-bit component which won't run on 64-bit
Windows...
>
>
> Whew!  By the sound of that, Softimage won't be running
next year!
>
> And why does Soft so often needs to be  picked-up and
dusted-off from the floor (?) ;-]
>
>
> But sure "at some point in the future", Soft would
inevitably start having issues on newer setups,
> when Virtual Machines would come into play.
>
> *Yet*.. when do you think would that be? 
> Soft was certified compatibility on win8 at a very early
stage of the os release, 
> and would surely still run fine on the next OS  which is
itself for some time down the line. 
>
> if not also the OS after that. 
> (os ver. coming out every couple of years, quite
consitantly with 3 versions back compatibility modes)
>
> So we're looking at at least 8, if not 12+ years.
>
  


  

RE: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Phil Harbath]

With the exception of red shift I expect zero development

-Original Message-
From: "Cristobal Infante" 
Sent: ‎12/‎26/‎2014 2:59 PM
To: "softimage@listproc.autodesk.com" 
Subject: Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will  
open in 2016?

Luxury? It's a lot of work to transition to another package, and
particularly painful if you choose Maya.

Obviously we all very particular job situations, but still you must agree
third party development for xsi will eventually stop..


On Friday, 26 December 2014, Phil Harbath 
wrote:

> Some of us don't have the luxury of changing anytime soon
> --
> From: Cristobal Infante 
> Sent: ‎12/‎26/‎2014 2:14 PM
> To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
> 
> Subject: Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files
> will open in 2016?
>
> who in their right mind will keep developing for softimage? wake up guys,
> 1-2 years from
> now it will all be finished...
>
> On Friday, 26 December 2014, Leoung O'Young  > wrote:
>
> >  Hopefully those guys at Redshift will continue to develop for Soft.
> > It is still a fair bit of an investment to make the shift.
> > But definitely we can render out images that is not possible in MR within
> > the time
> >
> > On 26/12/2014 3:29 AM, Mirko Jankovic wrote:
> >
> > If there was something faster I would go to that right now :)
> > So far SI is fastest.
> > If there is better tool ofc will take it :)
> >
> >  Just it doesn't seems that way and if you loo at situation over the past
> > 5 years.. not really changing in the market actually.
> >
> >  For me personally BIGGEST change was introduction of Redshift and GPU
> > rendering finally fully usable in SI :)
> >
> > On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 9:24 AM, Angus Davidson <
> angus.david...@wits.ac.za
> 
> >  ');>> wrote:
> >
> >>  Currently no one can argue that SI is anything but the best from a
> >> workflow point of view. What I am saying is that there will come a time
> >> where that will not be enough. It will then be faster to simply get
> things
> >> done on current software wether that be Maya , Modo or Houdini or
> something
> >> totally new altogether.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>  --
> >> *From:* Mirko Jankovic [mirkoj.anima...@gmail.com
> 
> >>  ');>]
> >> *Sent:* 26 December 2014 10:06 AM
> >> *To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
> 
> >>  ');>
> >> *Subject:* Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+
> >> files will open in 2016?
> >>
> >>  keep in mind that all the tech improvement and power that comes along
> >> is nothing if you don;t have streamlined and smooth way of controlling
> it.
> >>
> >>  even tho someone would say that right Maya is "more powerful", all the
> >> fancy things they keep adding and such,a nd true they do have couple
> nice
> >> things I would love too have in SI, but it still falls behind in every
> day
> >> work where while you truly to go around maya issues and workflow
> problems
> >> with SI it is just pure straight work.
> >>
> >>  no one can argue with that really
> >>
> >> On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 6:55 AM, Angus Davidson <
> >> angus.david...@wits.ac.za
> 
> >>  ');>> wrote:
> >>
> >>>  The main problem is purely technology doesnt sleep.
> >>>
> >>>  As new leap forwards in both operating systems and hardware there will
> >>> come a tipping point that no matter how good Softimage is, It will
> just not
> >>> be able to run on , or the more likely will be so outperformed by the
> newer
> >>> software that it no longer makes financial sense to keep using it.
> This is
> >>> especially true now that GPU processing seems to be coming into its
> own.
> >>> Wether that be cloud based or a rack of Titans.
> >>>
> >>>  So the question will become not wether you can run it , but whether
> >>> its worthwhile to run it.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>  --
> >>> *From:* Jason S [jasonsta...@gmail.com
> 
> >>>  ');>]
> >>> *Sent:* 26 December 2014 03:00 AM
> >>> *To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
> 
> >>>  ');>
> >>> *Subject:* Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Cristobal Infante]

Luxury? It's a lot of work to transition to another package, and
particularly painful if you choose Maya.

Obviously we all very particular job situations, but still you must agree
third party development for xsi will eventually stop..


On Friday, 26 December 2014, Phil Harbath 
wrote:

> Some of us don't have the luxury of changing anytime soon
> --
> From: Cristobal Infante 
> Sent: ‎12/‎26/‎2014 2:14 PM
> To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
> 
> Subject: Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files
> will open in 2016?
>
> who in their right mind will keep developing for softimage? wake up guys,
> 1-2 years from
> now it will all be finished...
>
> On Friday, 26 December 2014, Leoung O'Young  > wrote:
>
> >  Hopefully those guys at Redshift will continue to develop for Soft.
> > It is still a fair bit of an investment to make the shift.
> > But definitely we can render out images that is not possible in MR within
> > the time
> >
> > On 26/12/2014 3:29 AM, Mirko Jankovic wrote:
> >
> > If there was something faster I would go to that right now :)
> > So far SI is fastest.
> > If there is better tool ofc will take it :)
> >
> >  Just it doesn't seems that way and if you loo at situation over the past
> > 5 years.. not really changing in the market actually.
> >
> >  For me personally BIGGEST change was introduction of Redshift and GPU
> > rendering finally fully usable in SI :)
> >
> > On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 9:24 AM, Angus Davidson <
> angus.david...@wits.ac.za
> 
> >  ');>> wrote:
> >
> >>  Currently no one can argue that SI is anything but the best from a
> >> workflow point of view. What I am saying is that there will come a time
> >> where that will not be enough. It will then be faster to simply get
> things
> >> done on current software wether that be Maya , Modo or Houdini or
> something
> >> totally new altogether.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>  --
> >> *From:* Mirko Jankovic [mirkoj.anima...@gmail.com
> 
> >>  ');>]
> >> *Sent:* 26 December 2014 10:06 AM
> >> *To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
> 
> >>  ');>
> >> *Subject:* Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+
> >> files will open in 2016?
> >>
> >>  keep in mind that all the tech improvement and power that comes along
> >> is nothing if you don;t have streamlined and smooth way of controlling
> it.
> >>
> >>  even tho someone would say that right Maya is "more powerful", all the
> >> fancy things they keep adding and such,a nd true they do have couple
> nice
> >> things I would love too have in SI, but it still falls behind in every
> day
> >> work where while you truly to go around maya issues and workflow
> problems
> >> with SI it is just pure straight work.
> >>
> >>  no one can argue with that really
> >>
> >> On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 6:55 AM, Angus Davidson <
> >> angus.david...@wits.ac.za
> 
> >>  ');>> wrote:
> >>
> >>>  The main problem is purely technology doesnt sleep.
> >>>
> >>>  As new leap forwards in both operating systems and hardware there will
> >>> come a tipping point that no matter how good Softimage is, It will
> just not
> >>> be able to run on , or the more likely will be so outperformed by the
> newer
> >>> software that it no longer makes financial sense to keep using it.
> This is
> >>> especially true now that GPU processing seems to be coming into its
> own.
> >>> Wether that be cloud based or a rack of Titans.
> >>>
> >>>  So the question will become not wether you can run it , but whether
> >>> its worthwhile to run it.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>  --
> >>> *From:* Jason S [jasonsta...@gmail.com
> 
> >>>  ');>]
> >>> *Sent:* 26 December 2014 03:00 AM
> >>> *To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
> 
> >>>  ');>
> >>> *Subject:* Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+
> >>> files will open in 2016?
> >>>
> >>>On 12/23/14 12:15, Luc-Eric Rousseau wrote:
> >>>
> >>> * I don't have a library of softimage assets worth keeping,...
> >>>
> >>> * I have Softimage 2010 at 

RE: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Phil Harbath]

Some of us don't have the luxury of changing anytime soon 

-Original Message-
From: "Cristobal Infante" 
Sent: ‎12/‎26/‎2014 2:14 PM
To: "softimage@listproc.autodesk.com" 
Subject: Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will  
open in 2016?

who in their right mind will keep developing for softimage? wake up guys,
1-2 years from
now it will all be finished...

On Friday, 26 December 2014, Leoung O'Young  wrote:

>  Hopefully those guys at Redshift will continue to develop for Soft.
> It is still a fair bit of an investment to make the shift.
> But definitely we can render out images that is not possible in MR within
> the time
>
> On 26/12/2014 3:29 AM, Mirko Jankovic wrote:
>
> If there was something faster I would go to that right now :)
> So far SI is fastest.
> If there is better tool ofc will take it :)
>
>  Just it doesn't seems that way and if you loo at situation over the past
> 5 years.. not really changing in the market actually.
>
>  For me personally BIGGEST change was introduction of Redshift and GPU
> rendering finally fully usable in SI :)
>
> On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 9:24 AM, Angus Davidson  > wrote:
>
>>  Currently no one can argue that SI is anything but the best from a
>> workflow point of view. What I am saying is that there will come a time
>> where that will not be enough. It will then be faster to simply get things
>> done on current software wether that be Maya , Modo or Houdini or something
>> totally new altogether.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  --
>> *From:* Mirko Jankovic [mirkoj.anima...@gmail.com
>> ]
>> *Sent:* 26 December 2014 10:06 AM
>> *To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
>> 
>> *Subject:* Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+
>> files will open in 2016?
>>
>>  keep in mind that all the tech improvement and power that comes along
>> is nothing if you don;t have streamlined and smooth way of controlling it.
>>
>>  even tho someone would say that right Maya is "more powerful", all the
>> fancy things they keep adding and such,a nd true they do have couple nice
>> things I would love too have in SI, but it still falls behind in every day
>> work where while you truly to go around maya issues and workflow problems
>> with SI it is just pure straight work.
>>
>>  no one can argue with that really
>>
>> On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 6:55 AM, Angus Davidson <
>> angus.david...@wits.ac.za
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>  The main problem is purely technology doesnt sleep.
>>>
>>>  As new leap forwards in both operating systems and hardware there will
>>> come a tipping point that no matter how good Softimage is, It will just not
>>> be able to run on , or the more likely will be so outperformed by the newer
>>> software that it no longer makes financial sense to keep using it. This is
>>> especially true now that GPU processing seems to be coming into its own.
>>> Wether that be cloud based or a rack of Titans.
>>>
>>>  So the question will become not wether you can run it , but whether
>>> its worthwhile to run it.
>>>
>>>
>>>  --
>>> *From:* Jason S [jasonsta...@gmail.com
>>> ]
>>> *Sent:* 26 December 2014 03:00 AM
>>> *To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
>>> 
>>> *Subject:* Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+
>>> files will open in 2016?
>>>
>>>On 12/23/14 12:15, Luc-Eric Rousseau wrote:
>>>
>>> * I don't have a library of softimage assets worth keeping,...
>>>
>>> * I have Softimage 2010 at home and it is already broken;
>>> every workflow that prompts for a file browser just hangs,
>>> and I can't fix it user-side, ...
>>>
>>> * I've tried everything already short of re-installing the OS, which I 
>>> won't do.
>>> ...
>>>
>>> * The file format is binary and practically encrypted,
>>> so only the app can load those files ...
>>>
>>> * Worse, there is a design flaw whereby the app
>>> can crash if a required plugin is not installed or has a problem while
>>> loading a scene, then there is no way to load the scene...
>>>
>>> * Safe keeping the installers is no security,
>>> they may not run at all in the future,
>>> being tangled in microsoft "MSI" installer tech and other things...
>>>
>>> * Older 32-bit Softmage installers alr

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Luc-Eric Rousseau]

l was just supporting what others have already said.

xsi was "certified" for Windows Xp, but a few months later when vista came
up, you could not click buttons on the message boxes (ex: "would you like
to save the scene?"), rectangle select broke, several features failed to
work due to folder permissions, netview broke, help files in hlp format
were no longer supported, etc.  I should know, i had to fix some of that
stuff.  Later Microsoft made a security patch to a visual c++ that broke
plugin binary compatibility and later a change to how DLLs are found which
broke some add-ons.  Microsoft is always threatening to block active
scripting, the engine at the core of XSI.   Since windows 8 they have given
up on backwards compatibility at all cost, you need to preserve your old
runtime environment if you want to safely be able to run XSI in ten year
and not just an archive of the old installers.  It's common sense and the
subject of this thread.

On Dec 25, 2014 8:00 PM, "Jason S"  wrote:
>
> On 12/23/14 12:15, Luc-Eric Rousseau wrote:
>> * Safe keeping the installers is no security,
>> they may not run at all in the future,
>> being tangled in microsoft "MSI" installer tech and other things...
>>
>> * Older 32-bit Softmage installers already don't run because
>> they have a 16-bit component which won't run on 64-bit Windows...
>
>
> Whew!  By the sound of that, Softimage won't be running next year!
>
> And why does Soft so often needs to be  picked-up and dusted-off from the
floor (?) ;-]
>
>
> But sure "at some point in the future", Soft would inevitably start
having issues on newer setups,
> when Virtual Machines would come into play.
>
> *Yet*.. when do you think would that be?
> Soft was certified compatibility on win8 at a very early stage of the os
release,
> and would surely still run fine on the next OS  which is itself for some
time down the line.
>
> if not also the OS after that.
> (os ver. coming out every couple of years, quite consitantly with 3
versions back compatibility modes)
>
> So we're looking at at least 8, if not 12+ years.
>

RE: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Angus Davidson]

Unfortunately there is still not a good enough universal interchange format to 
remove the requirements to keep old versions going.

And I didn't get one in my Christmas stocking. I know it was on the list. 
😄

From: Rob Wuijster [r...@casema.nl]
Sent: 24 December 2014 03:30 PM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files   
will open in 2016?

Well Virtual PC, the one MS bought from Connectix at some point, is already 
dead.
You can run it on Win7 with some tricks, but it is EOL since mid 2008 or so. It 
was replaced with the HyperV tech (Server or Win8 desktop only btw...).

My best bet would be, future wise, is the 'open source' Oracle Virtualbox, 
unlike e.g. VMWare.
But it's still a gamble, as you already said, who know's what happens with the 
OS and software in the future.

"There may be trouble ahead." ;-)



Rob

\/-\/\/

On 23-12-2014 18:15, Luc-Eric Rousseau wrote:

I don't have a library of softimage assets worth keeping, but if I did
I would certainly make sure I have a copy of Softimage in a Windows 7
VM like you mention, which I would archive and keep a backup copy
off-site .  Never update that copy of Windows, never work with it
except to get assets out.  I worry that Softimage may not function at
all in a few years, as some components it relies on might be broken in
a Windows update where Microsoft favours security over compatibility.
 I have Softimage 2010 at home and it is already broken; every
workflow that prompts for a file browser just hangs, and I can't fix
it user-side, I've tried everything already short of re-installing the
OS, which I won't do.

The file format is binary and practically encrypted, so only the app
can load those files. Worse, there is a design flaw whereby the app
can crash if a required plugin is not installed or has a problem while
loading a scene, then there is no way to load the scene.

Safe keeping the installers is no security, they may not run at all in
the future, being tangled in microsoft "MSI" installer tech and other
things.  Older 32-bit Softmage installers already don't run because
they have a 16-bit component which won't run on 64-bit Windows.  Now
the trick is finding a VM product that you can trust will continue to
work for 10 years.  I'm not sure if I trust Virtual PC to still be
around in the future.

On Tue, Dec 23, 2014 at 4:36 AM, Rob Wuijster 
<mailto:r...@casema.nl> wrote:


Just to add some thoughts on this...

I started building virtual pc's for this 'occasion' some years ago, just to
be on the safe side.

I still have a Win95/98/NT/2000/XP virtual disk lying around with some
'critial' software installed, just to be able to open up that one program
from years ago.
Or to run some other stuff that's impossible in the newer version of Windows
now.

At some point I had to convert my virtual pc 'disks' to a new virtual pc
program, but that was less hassle than doing all Matt described. ;-)

I think we're all in the same situation at the moment. I also have a boat
load of assets, created over the years going back to Softimage 3.0.
All neatly packaged in a separate project as scenes or models. All shaded
and textured, ready to go. The more 'beefy' assets are now models linked to
a Arnold .ass file for quick handling and rendering.

At some point we sadly have to leave Softimage behind, so what to do with
all these assets? Depending on what's next, there's probably a slow
conversion to this new 3D application. Or conversion to .obj or .fbx for
longer, more app agnostic storage.

For me, having the virtuals pc's/software lying around is the easiest
solution at the moment. How this all will play out in the next years is
another story ;-)

cheers, and happy holidays to all!

Rob




-
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com<http://www.avg.com>
Version: 2015.0.5577 / Virus Database: 4257/8799 - Release Date: 12/24/14





 

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writing to the contrary. 

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Rob Wuijster]

Well Virtual PC, the one MS bought from Connectix at some point, is 
already dead.
You can run it on Win7 with some tricks, but it is EOL since mid 2008 or 
so. It was replaced with the HyperV tech (Server or Win8 desktop only 
btw...).


My best bet would be, future wise, is the 'open source' Oracle 
Virtualbox, unlike e.g. VMWare.
But it's still a gamble, as you already said, who know's what happens 
with the OS and software in the future.


"There may be trouble ahead." ;-)



Rob

\/-\/\/

On 23-12-2014 18:15, Luc-Eric Rousseau wrote:

I don't have a library of softimage assets worth keeping, but if I did
I would certainly make sure I have a copy of Softimage in a Windows 7
VM like you mention, which I would archive and keep a backup copy
off-site .  Never update that copy of Windows, never work with it
except to get assets out.  I worry that Softimage may not function at
all in a few years, as some components it relies on might be broken in
a Windows update where Microsoft favours security over compatibility.
  I have Softimage 2010 at home and it is already broken; every
workflow that prompts for a file browser just hangs, and I can't fix
it user-side, I've tried everything already short of re-installing the
OS, which I won't do.

The file format is binary and practically encrypted, so only the app
can load those files. Worse, there is a design flaw whereby the app
can crash if a required plugin is not installed or has a problem while
loading a scene, then there is no way to load the scene.

Safe keeping the installers is no security, they may not run at all in
the future, being tangled in microsoft "MSI" installer tech and other
things.  Older 32-bit Softmage installers already don't run because
they have a 16-bit component which won't run on 64-bit Windows.  Now
the trick is finding a VM product that you can trust will continue to
work for 10 years.  I'm not sure if I trust Virtual PC to still be
around in the future.

On Tue, Dec 23, 2014 at 4:36 AM, Rob Wuijster  wrote:

Just to add some thoughts on this...

I started building virtual pc's for this 'occasion' some years ago, just to
be on the safe side.

I still have a Win95/98/NT/2000/XP virtual disk lying around with some
'critial' software installed, just to be able to open up that one program
from years ago.
Or to run some other stuff that's impossible in the newer version of Windows
now.

At some point I had to convert my virtual pc 'disks' to a new virtual pc
program, but that was less hassle than doing all Matt described. ;-)

I think we're all in the same situation at the moment. I also have a boat
load of assets, created over the years going back to Softimage 3.0.
All neatly packaged in a separate project as scenes or models. All shaded
and textured, ready to go. The more 'beefy' assets are now models linked to
a Arnold .ass file for quick handling and rendering.

At some point we sadly have to leave Softimage behind, so what to do with
all these assets? Depending on what's next, there's probably a slow
conversion to this new 3D application. Or conversion to .obj or .fbx for
longer, more app agnostic storage.

For me, having the virtuals pc's/software lying around is the easiest
solution at the moment. How this all will play out in the next years is
another story ;-)

cheers, and happy holidays to all!

Rob


-
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2015.0.5577 / Virus Database: 4257/8799 - Release Date: 12/24/14

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Matt Lind]

Point noted, but I wouldn't use Softimage 2010 as a benchmark because it was 
a poor release full of temperamental glitches and regressions.  I recently 
installed Softimage 7.5 on windows 7 64-bit so I could review the SI3D 
importer, and have not experienced any of the problems you mention.  My file 
browsers work as expected.  The legacy dotXSI importer crashes on import of 
data, not during file browsing - but that's an entirely different issue. 
You might want to reconsider the idea of re-installing your OS as it sounds 
like something is amiss.


If I had to pick a version(s) for maintaining old data it would be:

   Softimage 2014 SP2
   Softimage 2015 SP1
   Softimage 7.5 - 32 bit (as last resort - for SI3D compatibility)

and for legacy data pre-ICE:

   Softimage|XSI 5.11

avoid at all costs:

   Softimage|XSI 6.x
   Softimage 2010x


Any other version and you're asking for problems somewhere along the line - 
many of which you cannot see as an end user until you try to get your data 
out.  Many versions have problems with geometry and cluster integrity.



Matt







Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 03:43:32 -0800
Subject: Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files 
will open in 2016?

To: 

I don't have a library of softimage assets worth keeping, but if I did
I would certainly make sure I have a copy of Softimage in a Windows 7
VM like you mention, which I would archive and keep a backup copy
off-site .  Never update that copy of Windows, never work with it
except to get assets out.  I worry that Softimage may not function at
all in a few years, as some components it relies on might be broken in
a Windows update where Microsoft favours security over compatibility.
I have Softimage 2010 at home and it is already broken; every
workflow that prompts for a file browser just hangs, and I can't fix
it user-side, I've tried everything already short of re-installing the
OS, which I won't do.

The file format is binary and practically encrypted, so only the app
can load those files. Worse, there is a design flaw whereby the app
can crash if a required plugin is not installed or has a problem while
loading a scene, then there is no way to load the scene.

Safe keeping the installers is no security, they may not run at all in
the future, being tangled in microsoft "MSI" installer tech and other
things.  Older 32-bit Softmage installers already don't run because
they have a 16-bit component which won't run on 64-bit Windows.  Now
the trick is finding a VM product that you can trust will continue to
work for 10 years.  I'm not sure if I trust Virtual PC to still be
around in the future.

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Luc-Eric Rousseau]

I don't have a library of softimage assets worth keeping, but if I did
I would certainly make sure I have a copy of Softimage in a Windows 7
VM like you mention, which I would archive and keep a backup copy
off-site .  Never update that copy of Windows, never work with it
except to get assets out.  I worry that Softimage may not function at
all in a few years, as some components it relies on might be broken in
a Windows update where Microsoft favours security over compatibility.
 I have Softimage 2010 at home and it is already broken; every
workflow that prompts for a file browser just hangs, and I can't fix
it user-side, I've tried everything already short of re-installing the
OS, which I won't do.

The file format is binary and practically encrypted, so only the app
can load those files. Worse, there is a design flaw whereby the app
can crash if a required plugin is not installed or has a problem while
loading a scene, then there is no way to load the scene.

Safe keeping the installers is no security, they may not run at all in
the future, being tangled in microsoft "MSI" installer tech and other
things.  Older 32-bit Softmage installers already don't run because
they have a 16-bit component which won't run on 64-bit Windows.  Now
the trick is finding a VM product that you can trust will continue to
work for 10 years.  I'm not sure if I trust Virtual PC to still be
around in the future.

On Tue, Dec 23, 2014 at 4:36 AM, Rob Wuijster  wrote:
> Just to add some thoughts on this...
>
> I started building virtual pc's for this 'occasion' some years ago, just to
> be on the safe side.
>
> I still have a Win95/98/NT/2000/XP virtual disk lying around with some
> 'critial' software installed, just to be able to open up that one program
> from years ago.
> Or to run some other stuff that's impossible in the newer version of Windows
> now.
>
> At some point I had to convert my virtual pc 'disks' to a new virtual pc
> program, but that was less hassle than doing all Matt described. ;-)
>
> I think we're all in the same situation at the moment. I also have a boat
> load of assets, created over the years going back to Softimage 3.0.
> All neatly packaged in a separate project as scenes or models. All shaded
> and textured, ready to go. The more 'beefy' assets are now models linked to
> a Arnold .ass file for quick handling and rendering.
>
> At some point we sadly have to leave Softimage behind, so what to do with
> all these assets? Depending on what's next, there's probably a slow
> conversion to this new 3D application. Or conversion to .obj or .fbx for
> longer, more app agnostic storage.
>
> For me, having the virtuals pc's/software lying around is the easiest
> solution at the moment. How this all will play out in the next years is
> another story ;-)
>
> cheers, and happy holidays to all!
>
> Rob

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Dan Yargici]

Interesting, thanks.

DAN.

On Tue, Dec 23, 2014 at 4:08 PM, Matt Lind  wrote:

> Basically my entire art portfolio is in Softimage|3D.
>
> When the torch was passed from Softimage|3D to Softimage|XSI, I made the
> transition from animator to TD/programmer.  I only did artwork in XSI until
> v3.0.  Majority of the work I've done since has been scripting/programming
> and teaching.  Once in a while I'll do some modeling or animating to
> prototype a tool/workflow or troubleshoot a problem brought to my attention
> by an artist, but that's about as far as that goes.  Despite working in
> strictly technical positions for the past 12 years, employers still insist
> I provide a demo reel in job interviews.  I need to keep that data around
> to show I have artistic talent with solid grasp of color, composition,
> timing, etc... and am not purely a technical nerd.
>
> The data may be old, but it has held up quite well over the years.  Most
> of it is 3D made to look like 2D cel animation w toon ink/paint.  As a
> result, it doesn't suffer the problem of looking dated based on the
> technologies available at the time.
>
> The other side of the issue is many employers don't take me seriously as a
> programmer candidate because I don't have my CS degree yet while ignoring
> my many years of field experience.  By writing an exporter/importer to do
> such comprehensive work, it demonstrates I have a versatile skill set that
> separates me from other technical artists/TDs who are the more cut n' paste
> style hacky scripters, and also from some engineers who know bits n' bytes,
> but lack an understanding of production.
>
> It's not strictly about salvaging old data.
>
> Matt
>
>
>
>
>
> Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 11:56:59 +0200
> From: Dan Yargici 
> Subject: Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files
> will open in 2016?
> To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
>
> Matt, I have to ask.
>
> What could you possibly have from the Softimage 3D days that you'd want to
> recover?  No cynicism, just genuinely curious. :)
>
> Even things that I created and thought were amazing back then, I could
> (and would) re-make in days and to a far higher standard with modern tools.
>
> It's like playing old computer games that you loved from the past.
> They're invariably shit. :)
>
>
> ...OK, except maybe Command and Conquer: Red Alert... I'll always have
> time for that (anyone who feels the same should head over to
> http://www.openra.net btw... ;)
>
>
> DAN
>

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Matt Lind]

Basically my entire art portfolio is in Softimage|3D.

When the torch was passed from Softimage|3D to Softimage|XSI, I made the 
transition from animator to TD/programmer.  I only did artwork in XSI until 
v3.0.  Majority of the work I've done since has been scripting/programming 
and teaching.  Once in a while I'll do some modeling or animating to 
prototype a tool/workflow or troubleshoot a problem brought to my attention 
by an artist, but that's about as far as that goes.  Despite working in 
strictly technical positions for the past 12 years, employers still insist I 
provide a demo reel in job interviews.  I need to keep that data around to 
show I have artistic talent with solid grasp of color, composition, timing, 
etc... and am not purely a technical nerd.


The data may be old, but it has held up quite well over the years.  Most of 
it is 3D made to look like 2D cel animation w toon ink/paint.  As a result, 
it doesn't suffer the problem of looking dated based on the technologies 
available at the time.


The other side of the issue is many employers don't take me seriously as a 
programmer candidate because I don't have my CS degree yet while ignoring my 
many years of field experience.  By writing an exporter/importer to do such 
comprehensive work, it demonstrates I have a versatile skill set that 
separates me from other technical artists/TDs who are the more cut n' paste 
style hacky scripters, and also from some engineers who know bits n' bytes, 
but lack an understanding of production.


It's not strictly about salvaging old data.

Matt





Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 11:56:59 +0200
From: Dan Yargici 
Subject: Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files 
will open in 2016?

To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com

Matt, I have to ask.

What could you possibly have from the Softimage 3D days that you'd want to 
recover?  No cynicism, just genuinely curious. :)


Even things that I created and thought were amazing back then, I could (and 
would) re-make in days and to a far higher standard with modern tools.


It's like playing old computer games that you loved from the past.  They're 
invariably shit. :)



...OK, except maybe Command and Conquer: Red Alert... I'll always have time 
for that (anyone who feels the same should head over to 
http://www.openra.net btw... ;)



DAN 

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Dan Yargici]

Matt, I have to ask.

What could you possibly have from the Softimage 3D days that you'd want to
recover?  No cynicism, just genuinely curious. :)

Even things that I created and thought were amazing back then, I could (and
would) re-make in days and to a far higher standard with modern tools.

It's like playing old computer games that you loved from the past.  They're
invariably shit. :)

...OK, except maybe Command and Conquer: Red Alert... I'll always have time
for that (anyone who feels the same should head over to
http://www.openra.net btw... ;)

DAN


On Tue, Dec 23, 2014 at 1:43 PM, Matt Lind  wrote:

> Virtual PCs work for now, and so does keeping archives of files around for
> the interim.  One problem you may run into is expiration date of your
> licenses.  I ran into this problem with my older XSI licenses.  While
> Softimage called them 'permanent' licenses, they're actually 10-13 year
> time bombs.  They're called permanent because Softimage assumed nobody
> would need to exhume data that far into the future as a newer release of
> the software would be available for that purpose.  That's great until there
> are no more new releases.
>
> In due time everybody will hit the same problem - what to do when you can
> no longer maintain the ecosystem?  That's where I'm at now and why I'm
> writing an exporter.  In my particular case commercial formats such as
> .fbx. .obj, .xsi won't suffice because they don't support the necessary
> features.  I have scenes which are facades with a shader applied to make
> the illusion of 3d on a 2d surface.  .fbx doesn't support shaders, so
> converting those scenes will get the polygons to convert, but not the
> shaders - what good is that?  Even if the shaders were rewritten for the
> target application, .fbx does not contain the necessary information to make
> the connection.  Many formats are designed for editing, not archiving.
> They're also proprietary in nature making it a risky medium to store data
> long term.  Anybody have the specs to the .fbx file format?   thought so.
> File formats have shelf lives too.  I think it's best to keep data in it's
> original format until you have a specific destination.  Each time you
> migrate data it loses some of it's integrity.
>
> I'm not going to support my content indefinitely, but I am going to design
> a format which can properly archive it with enough information to
> reconstruct it in another application if a feature isn't directly
> supported/available. I can do that with Softimage|3D content because it's
> doesn't support complex data such a render passes, ICE trees, render trees,
> and so on.  XSI is another beast and will be much more difficult to support
> in that regard.
>
>
> Matt
>
>
>
>
> -
> Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 11:57:20 +0100
> From: Tim Leydecker 
> Subject: Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files
> will open in 2016?
> To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
>
> Just to be clear, I don?t want to portray Adsk as evil, I am bitching
> about the
> extra hurdles involved in finding the service packs to a specific release?s
> version and making sure all files neccessary are downloaded and named
> properly.
>
> In my personal case, I can pretty savely assume Softimage 2010, 2012,
> 2014 version jumps,
> so that?s not so bad actually. It?s a bit more difficult for 3rd party
> renderer versions and
> the 32bit>64bit jump for plugins like the sRGB nodes from Harry Bardak
> in some legacy
> projects. Anything 64bit I am also positive will most likely be fine,
> like Sven suggests
> (one also learns a bit about project structuring, my old stuff has more
> final_v003.var2 files than now...)
>
> In terms of general backup strategy, I also got bitten once, losing a
> drive when swapping
> machines and then having to rebuild that data from iterative backups on
> other drives.
> Not nice, tedious actually. I can recommend "Beyond Compare", that
> worked great for me
> in putting together a working version of a project and even completely
> restructuring my
> files into project specific folder structures, weeding out duplicates
> and reducing the chance
> of missing files by collecting things into one master folder branched
> into apps, files, etc.
>
> I do have to check if my dongle is still working, thought. A virtual
> machine is a very good tip.
> There?s a change I have a full backup of a working system drive
> available. I used "Drive Snapshot"
> in the past but haven?t touched those backup files in years. To be
> honest, there?s not too much
> stuff I would be proud in showing off,

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Matt Lind]

Virtual PCs work for now, and so does keeping archives of files around for 
the interim.  One problem you may run into is expiration date of your 
licenses.  I ran into this problem with my older XSI licenses.  While 
Softimage called them 'permanent' licenses, they're actually 10-13 year time 
bombs.  They're called permanent because Softimage assumed nobody would need 
to exhume data that far into the future as a newer release of the software 
would be available for that purpose.  That's great until there are no more 
new releases.


In due time everybody will hit the same problem - what to do when you can no 
longer maintain the ecosystem?  That's where I'm at now and why I'm writing 
an exporter.  In my particular case commercial formats such as .fbx. .obj, 
.xsi won't suffice because they don't support the necessary features.  I 
have scenes which are facades with a shader applied to make the illusion of 
3d on a 2d surface.  .fbx doesn't support shaders, so converting those 
scenes will get the polygons to convert, but not the shaders - what good is 
that?  Even if the shaders were rewritten for the target application, .fbx 
does not contain the necessary information to make the connection.  Many 
formats are designed for editing, not archiving.  They're also proprietary 
in nature making it a risky medium to store data long term.  Anybody have 
the specs to the .fbx file format?   thought so.  File formats have shelf 
lives too.  I think it's best to keep data in it's original format until you 
have a specific destination.  Each time you migrate data it loses some of 
it's integrity.


I'm not going to support my content indefinitely, but I am going to design a 
format which can properly archive it with enough information to reconstruct 
it in another application if a feature isn't directly supported/available. 
I can do that with Softimage|3D content because it's doesn't support complex 
data such a render passes, ICE trees, render trees, and so on.  XSI is 
another beast and will be much more difficult to support in that regard.



Matt




-------------
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 11:57:20 +0100
From: Tim Leydecker 
Subject: Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files 
will open in 2016?

To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com

Just to be clear, I don?t want to portray Adsk as evil, I am bitching
about the
extra hurdles involved in finding the service packs to a specific release?s
version and making sure all files neccessary are downloaded and named
properly.

In my personal case, I can pretty savely assume Softimage 2010, 2012,
2014 version jumps,
so that?s not so bad actually. It?s a bit more difficult for 3rd party
renderer versions and
the 32bit>64bit jump for plugins like the sRGB nodes from Harry Bardak
in some legacy
projects. Anything 64bit I am also positive will most likely be fine,
like Sven suggests
(one also learns a bit about project structuring, my old stuff has more
final_v003.var2 files than now...)

In terms of general backup strategy, I also got bitten once, losing a
drive when swapping
machines and then having to rebuild that data from iterative backups on
other drives.
Not nice, tedious actually. I can recommend "Beyond Compare", that
worked great for me
in putting together a working version of a project and even completely
restructuring my
files into project specific folder structures, weeding out duplicates
and reducing the chance
of missing files by collecting things into one master folder branched
into apps, files, etc.

I do have to check if my dongle is still working, thought. A virtual
machine is a very good tip.
There?s a change I have a full backup of a working system drive
available. I used "Drive Snapshot"
in the past but haven?t touched those backup files in years. To be
honest, there?s not too much
stuff I would be proud in showing off, maybe some snippets from my
thesis would be worth
being polished and put on display, after more than 10 years... but I
doubt it...

For the last couple of years, I will mostly have *.obj and *.fbx files
plus *.psd map files
as well as *.ztl and *.mud files, that stuff is pretty save to open with
newer versions atm.

Thanks for your thoughts,

it?s a bit spooky to realize 10 years ago now also looks like 10 years
ago...


Cheers,

tim


Am 23.12.2014 um 10:36 schrieb Rob Wuijster:

Just to add some thoughts on this...

I started building virtual pc's for this 'occasion' some years ago,
just to be on the safe side.

I still have a Win95/98/NT/2000/XP virtual disk lying around with some
'critial' software installed, just to be able to open up that one
program from years ago.
Or to run some other stuff that's impossible in the newer version of
Windows now.

At some point I had to convert my virtual pc 'disks' to a new virtual
pc program, but that was le

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Tim Leydecker]

ced.


Matt




Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 17:36:47 +0100
From: "Sven Constable" 
Subject: RE: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ 
files will open in 2016?


I keep all installer files and of course the licenses itself on 
backup. The licenses are yours and they will not stop working. I once 
renewed a network license with ADSK to move it to a new server 
without problems. However, when I moved to SOFT2015, I tried to 
request a new license for an old 2011 version just out of curiosity 
and it didn't work via the website (serial was not recognized). But I 
think that?s one of the flaws with the ADSK websites. I wasn't able 
to get a lic file for the 2015 either even the serial was recognised. 
COntacted support and they sent me the lic file.


Even the perception of ADSK is evil, eating your children alive, 
they're not criminals :) I would not expect problems in renewing 
licenses in the future.
In the rare case, ADSK will go bankrupt in a couple of years, and you 
would have to move the license to a new server, you can still use the 
old license file. You would have to keep the name of the server of 
course. The MAC ID for the network card is changeable so an old 
lic-file will keep working.
I don't know how this apply to standalone licenses however since 
they're more tightened to specific hardware of the workstation.


Generally it might be a good idea to move old projects to newer 
versions every couple of years. But most of the times we forget about 
it and face problems like Matt Lind did with his old Soft3D databases 
:) I would also try to keep everything local stored on backups and 
not relying an vendors to give you access to old versions. That 
applies not to ADSK alone but to the general trend software vendors 
trying to establish with clouds, subscription and other methods.


Usually I don't mind open old projects with newer versions. So I 
don't bind projects to versions. Last year I opened an old scene from 
around XSI v4 with Soft2011 and started working on it.


If you are unsure about available service packs from the past, just 
ask the hive.


Sven


-Original Message-
From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Tim 
Leydecker

Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2014 1:45 PM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files 
will open in 2016?


Hi guys,


how do you guys prepare for the time after Softimage 2015 and how do 
you guys cope with files dating back to legacy versions of Softimage 
XSI, like from old XSI Foundation files, Softimage XSI version pre 
7.5 and so on?



Aside from the fact that I am still not sure if I have to take any 
specific action with Autodesk to make sure I?ll have a Softimage 2015 
license to run after the Autodesk 2016 Suite will be released or the 
licensing model changes somewhere in February 2015, I do feel 
additional pressure to make sure my last 10 years worth of 
Softimage/XSI files will not end up as a cryptic data dump equal 42.


Do you guys also try to keep at least the old licenses&installers on 
backup?


How do you cope with the servicepacks and updates usually not 
directly available via the subscription center?s account 
data&download link but only the intial releases listed there?


Personally, I get lost keeping track of wether or not I actually have 
all neccessary servicepack, etc. for each release cycle or if this or 
that pack is a full install or a patch.



I?d wish for Autodesk at least centralizing all downloads instead of 
scattering things all over downloads, subscription center home, 
account info and maybe even the area...


Maya Bonus Tools probably means you get a Bonus Dolphin Sticker on 
your user account when you successfully managed to also nfind and 
download it in the correct version ...


Cheers,

tim




--

___
Softimage mailing list
Softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
http://listproc.autodesk.com/mailman/listinfo/softimage


End of Softimage Digest, Vol 73, Issue 134
**


-
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2015.0.5577 / Virus Database: 4253/8770 - Release Date: 
12/19/14

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Rob Wuijster]

Just to add some thoughts on this...

I started building virtual pc's for this 'occasion' some years ago, just 
to be on the safe side.


I still have a Win95/98/NT/2000/XP virtual disk lying around with some 
'critial' software installed, just to be able to open up that one 
program from years ago.
Or to run some other stuff that's impossible in the newer version of 
Windows now.


At some point I had to convert my virtual pc 'disks' to a new virtual pc 
program, but that was less hassle than doing all Matt described. ;-)


I think we're all in the same situation at the moment. I also have a 
boat load of assets, created over the years going back to Softimage 3.0.
All neatly packaged in a separate project as scenes or models. All 
shaded and textured, ready to go. The more 'beefy' assets are now models 
linked to a Arnold .ass file for quick handling and rendering.


At some point we sadly have to leave Softimage behind, so what to do 
with all these assets? Depending on what's next, there's probably a slow 
conversion to this new 3D application. Or conversion to .obj or .fbx for 
longer, more app agnostic storage.


For me, having the virtuals pc's/software lying around is the easiest 
solution at the moment. How this all will play out in the next years is 
another story ;-)


cheers, and happy holidays to all!

Rob

\/-\/\/

On 23-12-2014 4:05, Matt Lind wrote:
For the record, it wasn't a case of forgetting to update files.  I had 
already done the Softimage|3D --> XSI conversion many years ago, but I 
lost all that data when I experienced a hard drive failure last year.  
Now I have to do it all over again.


The main problems I experienced was finding all the pieces to put 
humpty dumpty together again, as well as making them functional. Many 
of the installers, licenses, and so on that I had archived were also 
lost in the failure.  The pieces I salvaged would not always function 
on modern operating systems - such as FlexLM. Fortunately I found just 
enough pieces make it all work again, but not after a lot of cutting 
wrists and trial and error.


The advice I can give to anybody wanting to preserve their data is 
make an archive of the entire ecosystem, document everything, and make 
a redundant copy.  That includes operating system, hardware, drivers 
for your graphics card, plugins, and so on.  If you have any special 
knowledge of some quirk or secret handshake that is needed to install 
or work around a known issue - write it down and include it in the 
archive.  Getting Softimage|3D up and running required such knowledge 
to know certain plugins needed a patch or required a specific version 
of Windows.  Took me a couple days to recall that from my memory and 
go find those pieces to smooth out some problems I experienced.


Matt




Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 17:36:47 +0100
From: "Sven Constable" 
Subject: RE: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ 
files will open in 2016?


I keep all installer files and of course the licenses itself on 
backup. The licenses are yours and they will not stop working.  I once 
renewed a network license with ADSK to move it to a new server without 
problems. However, when I moved to SOFT2015, I tried to request a new 
license for an old 2011 version just out of curiosity and it didn't 
work via the website (serial was not recognized). But I think that?s 
one of the flaws with the ADSK websites. I wasn't able to get a lic 
file for the 2015 either even the serial was recognised. COntacted 
support and they sent me the lic file.


Even the perception of ADSK is evil, eating your children alive, 
they're not criminals :) I would not expect problems in renewing 
licenses in the future.
In the rare case, ADSK will go bankrupt in a couple of years, and you 
would have to move the license to a new server, you can still use the 
old license file. You would have to keep the name of the server of 
course. The MAC ID for the network card is changeable so an old 
lic-file will keep working.
I don't know how this apply to standalone licenses however since 
they're more tightened to specific hardware of the workstation.


Generally it might be a good idea to move old projects to newer 
versions every couple of years. But most of the times we forget about 
it and face problems like Matt Lind did with his old Soft3D databases 
:) I would also try to keep everything local stored on backups and not 
relying an vendors to give you access to old versions. That applies 
not to ADSK alone but to the general trend software vendors trying to 
establish with clouds, subscription and other methods.


Usually I don't mind open old projects with newer versions. So I don't 
bind projects to versions. Last year I opened an old scene from around 
XSI v4 with Soft2011 and started working on it.


If you are unsur

Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Leoung O'Young]

The problem I ran into is the usb dongle for XSI 7.01 pre-Autodesk, it 
is a little flicky, I have to put scotch tape on it.

Stephen Blair has been a godsend, he is a guru in XSI installation

Leoung

On 22/12/2014 10:05 PM, Matt Lind wrote:
For the record, it wasn't a case of forgetting to update files.  I had 
already done the Softimage|3D --> XSI conversion many years ago, but I 
lost all that data when I experienced a hard drive failure last year.  
Now I have to do it all over again.


The main problems I experienced was finding all the pieces to put 
humpty dumpty together again, as well as making them functional. Many 
of the installers, licenses, and so on that I had archived were also 
lost in the failure.  The pieces I salvaged would not always function 
on modern operating systems - such as FlexLM. Fortunately I found just 
enough pieces make it all work again, but not after a lot of cutting 
wrists and trial and error.


The advice I can give to anybody wanting to preserve their data is 
make an archive of the entire ecosystem, document everything, and make 
a redundant copy.  That includes operating system, hardware, drivers 
for your graphics card, plugins, and so on.  If you have any special 
knowledge of some quirk or secret handshake that is needed to install 
or work around a known issue - write it down and include it in the 
archive.  Getting Softimage|3D up and running required such knowledge 
to know certain plugins needed a patch or required a specific version 
of Windows.  Took me a couple days to recall that from my memory and 
go find those pieces to smooth out some problems I experienced.


Matt




Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 17:36:47 +0100
From: "Sven Constable" 
Subject: RE: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ 
files will open in 2016?


I keep all installer files and of course the licenses itself on 
backup. The licenses are yours and they will not stop working.  I once 
renewed a network license with ADSK to move it to a new server without 
problems. However, when I moved to SOFT2015, I tried to request a new 
license for an old 2011 version just out of curiosity and it didn't 
work via the website (serial was not recognized). But I think that?s 
one of the flaws with the ADSK websites. I wasn't able to get a lic 
file for the 2015 either even the serial was recognised. COntacted 
support and they sent me the lic file.


Even the perception of ADSK is evil, eating your children alive, 
they're not criminals :) I would not expect problems in renewing 
licenses in the future.
In the rare case, ADSK will go bankrupt in a couple of years, and you 
would have to move the license to a new server, you can still use the 
old license file. You would have to keep the name of the server of 
course. The MAC ID for the network card is changeable so an old 
lic-file will keep working.
I don't know how this apply to standalone licenses however since 
they're more tightened to specific hardware of the workstation.


Generally it might be a good idea to move old projects to newer 
versions every couple of years. But most of the times we forget about 
it and face problems like Matt Lind did with his old Soft3D databases 
:) I would also try to keep everything local stored on backups and not 
relying an vendors to give you access to old versions. That applies 
not to ADSK alone but to the general trend software vendors trying to 
establish with clouds, subscription and other methods.


Usually I don't mind open old projects with newer versions. So I don't 
bind projects to versions. Last year I opened an old scene from around 
XSI v4 with Soft2011 and started working on it.


If you are unsure about available service packs from the past, just 
ask the hive.


Sven


-Original Message-
From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Tim 
Leydecker

Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2014 1:45 PM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files 
will open in 2016?


Hi guys,


how do you guys prepare for the time after Softimage 2015 and how do 
you guys cope with files dating back to legacy versions of Softimage 
XSI, like from old XSI Foundation files, Softimage XSI version pre 7.5 
and so on?



Aside from the fact that I am still not sure if I have to take any 
specific action with Autodesk to make sure I?ll have a Softimage 2015 
license to run after the Autodesk 2016 Suite will be released or the 
licensing model changes somewhere in February 2015, I do feel 
additional pressure to make sure my last 10 years worth of 
Softimage/XSI files will not end up as a cryptic data dump equal 42.


Do you guys also try to keep at least the old licenses&installers on 
backup?


How do you cope with the servicepacks and updates usually not directly 
available via the subscription center?s account data&download 

RE: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Matt Lind]

For the record, it wasn't a case of forgetting to update files.  I had 
already done the Softimage|3D --> XSI conversion many years ago, but I lost 
all that data when I experienced a hard drive failure last year.  Now I have 
to do it all over again.


The main problems I experienced was finding all the pieces to put humpty 
dumpty together again, as well as making them functional.  Many of the 
installers, licenses, and so on that I had archived were also lost in the 
failure.  The pieces I salvaged would not always function on modern 
operating systems - such as FlexLM.  Fortunately I found just enough pieces 
make it all work again, but not after a lot of cutting wrists and trial and 
error.


The advice I can give to anybody wanting to preserve their data is make an 
archive of the entire ecosystem, document everything, and make a redundant 
copy.  That includes operating system, hardware, drivers for your graphics 
card, plugins, and so on.  If you have any special knowledge of some quirk 
or secret handshake that is needed to install or work around a known issue - 
write it down and include it in the archive.  Getting Softimage|3D up and 
running required such knowledge to know certain plugins needed a patch or 
required a specific version of Windows.  Took me a couple days to recall 
that from my memory and go find those pieces to smooth out some problems I 
experienced.


Matt




Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 17:36:47 +0100
From: "Sven Constable" 
Subject: RE: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files 
will open in 2016?


I keep all installer files and of course the licenses itself on backup. The 
licenses are yours and they will not stop working.  I once renewed a network 
license with ADSK to move it to a new server without problems. However, when 
I moved to SOFT2015, I tried to request a new license for an old 2011 
version just out of curiosity and it didn't work via the website (serial was 
not recognized). But I think that?s one of the flaws with the ADSK websites. 
I wasn't able to get a lic file for the 2015 either even the serial was 
recognised. COntacted support and they sent me the lic file.


Even the perception of ADSK is evil, eating your children alive, they're not 
criminals :) I would not expect problems in renewing licenses in the future.
In the rare case, ADSK will go bankrupt in a couple of years, and you would 
have to move the license to a new server, you can still use the old license 
file. You would have to keep the name of the server of course. The MAC ID 
for the network card is changeable so an old lic-file will keep working.
I don't know how this apply to standalone licenses however since they're 
more tightened to specific hardware of the workstation.


Generally it might be a good idea to move old projects to newer versions 
every couple of years. But most of the times we forget about it and face 
problems like Matt Lind did with his old Soft3D databases :) I would also 
try to keep everything local stored on backups and not relying an vendors to 
give you access to old versions. That applies not to ADSK alone but to the 
general trend software vendors trying to establish with clouds, subscription 
and other methods.


Usually I don't mind open old projects with newer versions. So I don't bind 
projects to versions. Last year I opened an old scene from around XSI v4 
with Soft2011 and started working on it.


If you are unsure about available service packs from the past, just ask the 
hive.


Sven


-Original Message-
From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Tim Leydecker

Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2014 1:45 PM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will 
open in 2016?


Hi guys,


how do you guys prepare for the time after Softimage 2015 and how do you 
guys cope with files dating back to legacy versions of Softimage XSI, like 
from old XSI Foundation files, Softimage XSI version pre 7.5 and so on?



Aside from the fact that I am still not sure if I have to take any specific 
action with Autodesk to make sure I?ll have a Softimage 2015 license to run 
after the Autodesk 2016 Suite will be released or the licensing model 
changes somewhere in February 2015, I do feel additional pressure to make 
sure my last 10 years worth of Softimage/XSI files will not end up as a 
cryptic data dump equal 42.


Do you guys also try to keep at least the old licenses&installers on backup?

How do you cope with the servicepacks and updates usually not directly 
available via the subscription center?s account data&download link but only 
the intial releases listed there?


Personally, I get lost keeping track of wether or not I actually have all 
neccessary servicepack, etc. for each release cycle or if this or that pack 
is a full install or a patch.



I?d wis

RE: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Sven Constable]

I keep all installer files and of course the licenses itself on backup. The 
licenses are yours and they will not stop working.  I once renewed a network 
license with ADSK to move it to a new server without problems. However, when I 
moved to SOFT2015, I tried to request a new license for an old 2011 version 
just out of curiosity and it didn't work via the website (serial was not 
recognized). But I think that’s one of the flaws with the ADSK websites. I 
wasn't able to get a lic file for the 2015 either even the serial was 
recognised. COntacted support and they sent me the lic file.

Even the perception of ADSK is evil, eating your children alive, they're not 
criminals :) I would not expect problems in renewing licenses in the future.
In the rare case, ADSK will go bankrupt in a couple of years, and you would 
have to move the license to a new server, you can still use the old license 
file. You would have to keep the name of the server of course. The MAC ID  for 
the network card is changeable so an old lic-file will keep working.
I don't know how this apply to standalone licenses however since they're more 
tightened to specific hardware of the workstation.

Generally it might be a good idea to move old projects to newer versions every 
couple of years. But most of the times we forget about it and face problems 
like Matt Lind did with his old Soft3D databases :) I would also try to keep 
everything local stored on backups and not relying an vendors to give you 
access to old versions. That applies not to ADSK alone but to the general trend 
software vendors trying to establish with clouds, subscription and other 
methods.

Usually I don't mind open old projects with newer versions. So I don't bind 
projects to versions. Last year I opened an old scene from around XSI v4 with 
Soft2011 and started working on it.

If you are unsure about available service packs from the past, just ask the 
hive. 

Sven


-Original Message-
From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Tim Leydecker
Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2014 1:45 PM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open 
in 2016?

Hi guys,


how do you guys prepare for the time after Softimage 2015 and how do you guys 
cope with files dating back to legacy versions of Softimage XSI, like from old 
XSI Foundation files, Softimage XSI version pre 7.5 and so on?


Aside from the fact that I am still not sure if I have to take any specific 
action with Autodesk to make sure I´ll have a Softimage 2015 license to run 
after the Autodesk 2016 Suite will be released or the licensing model changes 
somewhere in February 2015, I do feel additional pressure to make sure my last 
10 years worth of Softimage/XSI files will not end up as a cryptic data dump 
equal 42.

Do you guys also try to keep at least the old licenses&installers on backup?

How do you cope with the servicepacks and updates usually not directly 
available via the subscription center´s account data&download link but only the 
intial releases listed there?

Personally, I get lost keeping track of wether or not I actually have all 
neccessary servicepack, etc. for each release cycle or if this or that pack is 
a full install or a patch.


I´d wish for Autodesk at least centralizing all downloads instead of scattering 
things all over downloads, subscription center home, account info and maybe 
even the area...

Maya Bonus Tools probably means you get a Bonus Dolphin Sticker on your user 
account when you successfully managed to also nfind and download it in the 
correct version ...

Cheers,

tim

How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?

[Tim Leydecker]

Hi guys,


how do you guys prepare for the time after Softimage 2015 and how do
you guys cope with files dating back to legacy versions of Softimage XSI,
like from old XSI Foundation files, Softimage XSI version pre 7.5 and so on?


Aside from the fact that I am still not sure if I have to take any 
specific action

with Autodesk to make sure I´ll have a Softimage 2015 license to run after
the Autodesk 2016 Suite will be released or the licensing model changes
somewhere in February 2015, I do feel additional pressure to make sure
my last 10 years worth of Softimage/XSI files will not end up as a cryptic
data dump equal 42.

Do you guys also try to keep at least the old licenses&installers on backup?

How do you cope with the servicepacks and updates usually not directly 
available

via the subscription center´s account data&download link but only the intial
releases listed there?

Personally, I get lost keeping track of wether or not I actually have 
all neccessary
servicepack, etc. for each release cycle or if this or that pack is a 
full install or a patch.



I´d wish for Autodesk at least centralizing all downloads instead of 
scattering things
all over downloads, subscription center home, account info and maybe 
even the area...


Maya Bonus Tools probably means you get a Bonus Dolphin Sticker on your 
user account
when you successfully managed to also nfind and download it in the 
correct version ...


Cheers,

tim