Question about upgrading - CD or register trial?

[Lundana]

Hi!

I've been trying out PSE 5 for a couple of weeks and am really liking it. I have PSE 4 and intend to keep it installed because of the missing "turn off global lighting" in PSE 5 and because space is not a problem (yet! :-)).

I have a couple of questions. The first is that I've been reading the messages here and one mentions a "goodies" folder. I haven't found it in the downloaded trial so I assume you have to buy the boxed version to get that?

The other, and more important, question for me is about the catalog. When I installed the trial, my catalog was converted. This would not be a problem if I could just register the trial version and type in the serial number without uninstalling and reinstalling PSE 5 BUT I just read this in the website:

" *Note: if you have Photoshop Elements 4.0 installed, you will need to uninstall and reinstall Photoshop Elements 5.0 to utilize your new serial number."

Sooo... to make a long story short (hah!), is the Goodies folder worth it enough to buy the boxed version (since apparently I'll have to uninstall anyway) and, if I decide to register the trial, is there a way to preserve my catalog without having to start all over again?

I appreciate any input, and my thanks in advance.

Ana

[Wendy]

Hi Ana ...

The goodies is just a few odds and ends nothing very exciting ... and its virtually the same on PSE3, PSE4 and PSE5 :)

If you unistall and then do a reinstall then your catallogue should be just fine ..

Wendy

[Lundana]

Hi Wendy,

Thank you for your quick reply - it makes my decision easier! :) Just to clarify - do you mean that the uninstall leaves the catalog file intact, or do I have to copy it to another folder and copy it back after the uninstall-install?

Ana

[Wendy]

Hi ...

I did a search around and found this thread ... it may help :)

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14866

Wendy

[TonyW]

I bought mine on line from Adobe and did get the goodies folder (not that there is much in it). Don't know if it's just not included in the trial version. When mine installed it created a folder called Photoshop Elements 5 in Program files) - in addition to Photoshop Elements 5.0. In there I have the goodies folder, pdf user manual and some other stuff (including a read-me file that has the answers to a number of questions that people often ask on this forum ;) )

Tony

[Lundana]

Hi again and thank you for the link :) . I did read it but I'm not sure the situations mentioned there involved the trial version and the catalog generated (Í'm sorry, I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around this!).

By the way, that is great advice from Barbara Brundage about how to install the program. I did this for the trial install and had no problems!

[Lundana]

Hi Tony,

Thank you :) . I just navigated to the folder you mention. It's there but there's no goodies and the only pdf file is a "Product Highlights" pdf, so I guess it's definitely not included in the trial version. From what Wendy said, it doesn't look like the goodies are worth it - not sure about the manual on pdf. I'll probably buy "The Missing Manual" anyway. I am rather surprised that Adobe doesn't make that folder available for those who register the trial.

[msbrad]

Just out of curiosity, where are the goodies in v5?
I missed that somewhere along the line.
m

[TonyW]

I am rather surprised that Adobe doesn't make that folder available for those who register the trial.

When you pay you should get access to your account where you can download again any time you need to (so it's as good as having the CD). I'm sure you can get the extra stuff when you download from there (and the pdf user manual is worth having as it's very easy to search and find stuff in it)

Tony

[Wendy]

Hi Michelle,

Its on the disk :)

Wendy

[graficalicus]

including a read-me file that has the answers to a number of questions that people often ask on this forum

heh! Y'mean that weird lookin' thing up yonder in the top, what says "Help"?

What's that dang thing fer, anyhoo?! :D

[TonyW]

Graffi: It's even better than Help - things like:

PROBLEM: If I put some graphics files in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\artwork\graphics, they don’t appear in the Artwork and Effects Palette in the Editor.
ANSWER: Only JPEG, PNG and PDF files using the RGB Color space can be added to the Artwork and Effects Palette. If you ever need to force-rebuild the database that populates the content in the Artwork and Effects Palette, start the Photoshop Elements Editor, and hold down the Shift key until you see a message that the Media database is being rebuilt.Bet you didn't know that :D

Hmm - I didn't know that bit about RGB color space - I guess I should read the rest :D

Tony

[GaryK]

Ana

I had trouble trying to upgrade the trial. If you do decide to get it, just redownload the non trial version, uninstall the trial and install the full.
For some reason it would not allow me to put my registration code in.

I really didn't have that much in the organizer.. or to be more frank, I didn't pay any attention to what was in there. So I can't say for sure how that transition went, allthough it seemed to go ok.:)

[Lundana]

Hi Gary, thank you, and Tony, thank you for the input on the manual - it does sound useful.

I think what I'm going to do is buy the box at Walmart (last I checked they had it for 79.99.) Then I'm going to make sure I update my
PSE 4 catalog, uninstall the PSE 5 trial, and rename my PSE 4 catalog "My Catalog".,make sure *that* works and then install PSE 5. I'm hoping that the new program will just re-convert the old catalog.

[TonyW]

Make sure you check the box first before you buy - some come with upgrade discounts, some don't. Some have a user manual, some don't. The cheapest deal isn't always the best deal :)

Tony

[baycruisers]

The only "goody" I found on my PSE 5 CD was Adobe Gamma, which I found to be a PITA to install. I followed the instructions and after much head scratching and cursing it was purely by chance I got it to run--for what it's worth.

I like having software on CDs...even though I have an external HD I like knowing I have the original on CD. Call me old-fashioned.

[Lundana]

My preference would definitely be to download and install, and I would go that way if I could figure out this catalog thing. I realize now that I shouldn't have been using the catalog during the trial - I've just been importing everything to it, tagging, organizing etc., and it's going to be a headache to reproduce it :eek:

I really wish I could just back up the catalog files and let PSE 5 just pick them up somehow when I install.

Gary - I think the trouble you had with registering the trial was something a lot of people must have had and is why Adobe has that note on their site.

[GaryK]

Thanks for the heads up on the note.:)

I was probably one of the early trial then buy people. Most around here were just buying the new version and forgoing the trial.

I had the trial for two days and mucked something up.. reinstalled, and my timer was done. So I had to buy it anyway.:rolleyes: