A5<->A6 Compatibility - New Servicepacks Released!

[Thomas Muhr]

Dear all,
we have just released two service packs, one to bring A6 up to A6.1 and the other is an update for those still working with A5, lifting the version to 5.6.
What's the idea? We have been working hard on a feature which from a pure business standpoint may look a bit hazardeous: The interoperability of both version 5 and 6 to encourage exchanging projects (I mean, Hermeneutic Units) between A5 users and A6 users. Normally, projects are upward compatible, that is, a HU created with A5 can be opened with A6 but not vice versa. Now, an A6 user can store a HU in "A5 compatibility mode". Such a HU can be loaded by version 5 users once they have updated their installation to 5.6 using the service pack manager.
Of course, a HU running in A5 comp mode has essential shortcommings as it will not allow features that are only available in ATLAS.ti 6 to enter, e.g., PDF and Google Earth PDs, associated documents (transcripts synchronized with media data), multi-page image PDs, coloured codes.

To put a HU into A5 compatibility mode you need to be working in A6 and when saving the HU select Hermeneutic Units v5.x from the "save as type" drop down list in the save dialog. From this point on, you will not be able to create features in this HU whch would not work in A5.6.
Note, when you save a HU that already has been enriched with A6 features as an A5 compatible HU, all those features will be stripped off the HU to make it compatible.
However, once you know that downward compatibility isn't needed any longer for a HU in compatibility mode, you can retract this constraint by simply saving it as a *.hpr6 file. I said saving, not renaming!-)

Again, the essential to use this exchange mode: both must have their respective latest release: 5.6 and 6.1.

An a bit more detailed description will be released in the near future.

For the version 6 users there are a few features improved:

• PDF link navigation, e.g. to jump to parts of a document from the content table (if there is one) or to open URL links in your web browser.
• Fixed import of F4 transcripts: when edited with word thew rich text transcripts did not work nicely with our transcription framework.
• Opening Google Maps from a geo coded image PD (like the ones you shoot with your iPhone) now places a flag at the target point.

Now check for updates via the help menu and get your latest release.

All the best from your ATLAS.ti team wishes you
- Thomas Muhr