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Product End of Life Plan (aka Sunsetting Policy) - OST QB DPC

Views: 2203 Last Updated: 04/19/2023 09:31 am 25 Rating/ 2 Voters
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On Center Software by ConstructConnect is committed to providing award-winning products and services. To that end, we must occasionally take an inventory of our product versions to determine those that need to be retired (or ‘sunset’). We remain focused on current technology and advancing/improving our software, and that cannot be done if we continue to support outdated versions of our software. To help our clients understand which products are supported, we developed this "Product End of Life" Plan.

What can I do if the version I’m using is no longer support?

This depends on if you kept current with your Maintenance agreement with On Center Software.

  • If you have remained current with your Maintenance Subscription (and are using a supported Operating System), we have versions of our Classic Products ready for you. Please contact Customer Success at 866-627-6246 for assistance upgrading to the latest versions.
  • If you have allowed your Maintenance Subscription to expire, your Maintenance contract's expiration date determines the highest version of the software for which you are eligible. On Center may no longer distribute a version of your product that will work on the version of Windows you are using. Also, the version of the software for which you are eligible may not work on newer operating systems (for example, you cannot install some older versions of On-Screen Takeoff on Windows 10 - the operating system wasn't around when those versions of OST were built/released and their installation will likely fail). You’ll need to discuss your options with Client Services at 866-627-6246.
Warnings

On August 1, 2023, On Center/ConstructConnect is sunsetting the following versions:

  • On-Screen Takeoff/Digital Production Control 3.95 (all versions) and any version lower (3.94, 3.93, 3.92, etc.)
  • Quick Bid 4.97 (all versions) and any version lower (4.96, 4.95, etc.)

On January 9, 2018, Microsoft ended "Mainstream Support" for Windows 8.1, therefore we no longer test new releases against that platform. On Center will provide minimal technical support for Windows 8.1 until January 10, 2023, when Microsoft ends "Extended Support" for that platform.

On January 14, 2020, Microsoft ended support for Windows 7 (and Server 2008/S2008 R2). Versions of On-Screen Takeoff, Quick Bid, and Digital Production Control limited to Windows 7 or earlier are no longer supported or distributed. See Microsoft's article about Windows 7 End of Life: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-7-end-of-life-support-information.

Also, Microsoft previously ended all support for Windows 8 (assuming users would upgrade to 8.1, for free). You must upgrade to Windows 10 to install current releases of On Center's products (we chose not to include Windows 8.1, as so few people are using it). Any time you are upgrading your Operating System (from Windows 8 to 8.1 or Windows 8.1 to 10, etc.), we recommend that you return all licenses and uninstall our products before upgrading. Windows does its best to migrate programs and settings but it is best practice to remove any business-critical programs (such as On-Screen Takeoff, Quick Bid, your Accounting software, etc.), upgrade the OS, and then install your applications freshly after the OS upgrade and subsequent Windows Updates.

As a reminder, we regularly update our System Requirements, so it is important to check the latest System Requirements before installing any software, (see Related articles).

If your software version is no longer on support or has been pulled from distribution, please contact our Customer Success team at 866-627-6246 for information on migrating to a supported version of your software.

Products limited to "retired" versions of Windows

Microsoft has a two-stage End-of-Life plan for its products. First is the end of "Mainstream" support, typically approximate seven years after an operating system is launch; then the second is the end of "Extended" support, typically 3-5 years after Mainstream Support ends. See Related Articles, below, for a list of all supported versions and operating systems.

  • Mainstream Support: After Microsoft officially ends "Mainstream" support for an operating system, we no longer test new versions on that operating system (although, patches to versions limited to an operating system that is no longer under Mainstream Support may be issued and are then tested/supported on the OS in question). You can continue to use versions limited to an "expired" operating system, however we provide limited technical support for those product versions, typically restricted to licensing the product, providing download links, and providing basic troubleshooting assistance. Advanced technical support including defect reports, crash-troubleshooting, and installation issues are not supported for products limited to running on any version of Windows that has fallen off "Mainstream" support with Microsoft.
  • Extended Support: After Microsoft officially ends "Extended" support for an operating system, we consider products limited to installation on that version of Windows (or earlier) retired. Products limited to operating systems that fall off Extended Support will no longer be longer distributed (you will no longer be able to download them from our website). We do not provide technical support for products limited to "retired" operating systems; this includes licensing, installation (including product downloads), and any issues, concerns, defects, or feature requests. You must upgrade to a supported operating system and version of our software.

Note
For information about Microsoft’s Product Support/Sunset policies, please visit: http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/

Examples

  • On January 13, 2015, Microsoft ended "Mainstream" support for Windows 7. Effective that date:
    • On Center stopped testing new versions on Windows 7. Will new products continue to work on Windows 7? Probably not for long because newer versions likely require Microsoft system components that are not available on Windows 7. We definitely do not recommend using any "expired" operating system. Updates to software version originally supported on Windows 7 will work, however, until Extended Support ends.
    • If you call Tech Support to report an issue, if the issue is considered to be due to installation on Windows 7, or is endemic to a product that is limited to installation on Windows 7 or earlier operating systems (meaning it is not reproducible in a supported version on a supported OS), we would log any defects, investigate the cause, or work on fixing the issue.
    • If you call Tech Support for assistance installing or troubleshooting any product on a version of Windows that is not under mainstream support, the best we can do is provide you with the links to download the software and provide general assistance with using the product.
  • On January 14, 2020, Microsoft ended “Extended” support for Windows 7. Effect that date:
    • On Center no longer distributes or supports any versions of the software that are limited to installation on Windows 7 (or any earlier versions of Windows). You will not be able to download these versions from our website anymore (although, there will be a short delay, to allow our existing clients to download installers).
    • We no longer provide assistance with troubleshooting PlanSwift versions limited to Windows 7. See our Windows Compatibility list in Related Articles.
    • If you call Technical Support with any problem with a version that is no longer supported, our Support department will do their best to assist you, but the answer may be 'you need to upgrade to a newer version of your software' or even ‘you need a new operating system’. You can contact Customer Success at 866-627-6246 to discuss your options.

How Does This Affect You?

You may ask, "Will my software simply 'stop' working on the date Microsoft ends Mainstream Support or Extended Support?" No, of course, not. In fact, it is likely that nothing is going to change except that On Center will no longer be testing new releases against that operating system, nor will we register new ‘bugs’ that can only be reproduced on that operating system. On Center will also not support installation of products on operating systems not under “Mainstream” support with Microsoft.

When Microsoft ends "Extended Support" for an operating system, they stop publishing security and OS updates. That puts anyone remaining on that OS at risk, and you need to migrate/upgrade to a supported Operating System. This likely means you will need new versions of your On Center products. If you are off-maintenance, or have been, you may be required to renew your maintenance subscription or even purchase new licenses. Contact Customer Success at 866-627-6246 to discuss your options.




Product documentation (user guides) describes functionality in the latest version of each major release and may not match the functionality in the version you are using. Please check the Product Information and Downloads pages by clicking one of the product buttons above.

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