How to best update Ergonis Software macOS products

Every now and then, users of our products ask us if, when and how they should update their installed copies to newer versions. We have created this page to answer all these questions - particularly for the macOS product versions. If not mentioned otherwise, all these explanations are valid for PopChar X, Typinator, and KeyCue.

Should I update?

Short answer: Yes.

We regularly update our products to improve performance and compatibility with macOS and other applications. Even if a new version does not contain new features, we strongly recommend staying up-to-date with the latest version.

To benefit from improvements as soon as possible, we further recommend using the update checkers that are built-in in our products. Select an update checking interval in the preferences, and you will automatically receive a notification when a new version becomes available. You can then see what's new and install the new version with a few clicks.

Is the update free?

That depends. Our licenses cover major versions (e.g., 7.0) and include all minor updates for free (such as 7.1, 7.2, etc.).

When a new major version (say, 8.0) comes out, licenses that were recently purchased for the previous version typically also cover the new version, including all minor updates.

The built-in update checkers (and the installers) also tell you whether the new version is free for you. If your license does not cover the new version, you can still take it for a test drive. If you are satisfied with the features offered by the new version, you can purchase a license update at a considerably lower price than a full first-time license. For more information, please see the sections about license upgrade prices for PopChar X, Typinator, and KeyCue.

What is the best way to install a new version?

When the built-in update checker tells you that a new version is available, just click the "Download and Install" button. This downloads and launches the installer for the new version. The installer will tell you once more whether the new version requires a newer license.

You can also manually download the installer from our download pages. When the download has finished, double-click the disk image to mount it (if it wasn't automatically mounted by the web browser). Then follow the instructions shown in the window.

Installation is normally just a matter of a few clicks. The installer quits the old version, replaces it with the new version and launches it. Within a few seconds, you will be using the new version.

You don't need to take extra steps. In fact, we strongly recommend to avoid extra work:

• Do not quit your old copy, if it is currently running. This is not necessary. When an older copy is already running, this even tells the installer in which location the new version should be installed.
• Do not move the old version to the trash. This can even cause strange behavior, when you attempt to move an active application to the trash.
• Do not use any "cleaning utilities" to remove the old version first. See the next section for more information.

At the end of the installation process, you will find the previous version of the application in the trash.

Should I clean up before updating?

NO!

Do not use any "cleaning utilities" (such as AppCleaner, AppDelete, AppTrap, AppZapper, CleanApp, CleanMyMac, iTrash, MacKeeper, or TrashMe). These utilities remove all files that might be associated with an application. This includes important data, such as all your Typinator abbreviations, PopChar favorites, license keys, preferences, etc.

"Cleaners" should not be needed for updating any software. This is a general advice, not just for Ergonis products. By cleaning up before an update, you risk losing files that are important for running the new version. In the case of Typinator, for example, you may lose the work of years when a "cleaner" removes all the abbreviations that you have created so far. The only way to get your data back is by restoring them from a backup.

Installation did not work. What now?

Normally, installation is quite simple and requires only a few clicks. But when something has gone wrong previously, you may need to do a manual installation:

• First, make sure that the application to be updated is not running. If it is, quit it.
• Next, look for the application in the Applications folder. Drag it to the trash, then empty the trash.
• Download a fresh copy from our download page. Mount the disk image, but then, do NOT follow the instructions at the top of the window. Instead, drag the application's icon to the Applications folder to copy it.
• Open the Applications folder, find the application and double-click it to launch it.
• Unmount the disk image and delete the disk image file.
• If you use a third-party Finder replacement, we recommend using the regular Finder of macOS for copying the application to the Applications folder.

In particular, we have received reports that the usage of Path Finder can lead to unusable copies of applications unter macOS Sierra.

Can I go back to previous versions?

Yes. You can find older versions of all our products in our version history on the download pages. To install an older version, just download it and follow the instructions in the disk image. Downgrading works in the same way as the manual upgrade process described above. The installer just replaces your copy of the application and leaves everything else intact.

However, be advised that legacy versions are not officially supported. If you have a problem with an older version, chances are that a newer version already contains a fix or workaround.

In extreme cases, older versions may not work correctly with the latest version of macOS. For more information about compatibility of our products with various versions of macOS, please see our compatibility page.

As already mentioned at the beginning of this page, we recommend staying up-to-date. License updates do not cost much. In this way, you always have a version that works with the current version of macOS, and you always can enjoy the latest and greatest features.