Here you can find answers to your general questions about Generations. If you have a question you would like to submit, email us.
7/3/10 - Correction for Color Inverting on Background Template (Win 7 & Vista 64 bit)
If you have already purchased a new computer with a 64 bit Operating system, then be aware that there is an issue with black images and color inversions while using the manual digitizing tools. Running as Administrator doesn’t totally solve the problem but it does help. We recommend using it. We also recommend never working with more than one image at a time (don’t work on several designs at a time). When you first start Generations, the manual digitizing tools seem to work fine for most images (not all). But then after working on the design for a while it may start giving you problems with the black or inverted colors… Darker images seem to be the worse offenders.
When this occurs, you can do a File / SAVE AS and save your design to your normal Design folder, shut the program down and re-start it, then open your design again and continue working until it happens again. After you have finished the design, we recommend that you shut the program down and re-start it before starting your next design.
We don’t have this issue with 32 bit operating systems, so the jury is still out on exactly what’s causing it on 64 bit systems - it seems to be something associated with the way Windows allocates the memory on a 64 bit system than on a 32 bit.
Another trick you can use is to hide the image when you first load it to the screen and then immediately bring it back to the screen. On images that will give you problems, it seems to filter out part of the color. Seems to postpone the color inversion… Another trick is to use your magic wand on a larger object in your design and then continue using the manual digitizing tools, etc.
You can always go back and delete the magic wand area and re-digitize it if need be. If you need further help with this issue, please call Tech Support at 636-724-5800.
7/5/10 - Parallel Port Error Message
7/20/09 - Correction for Color Inverting on Background Template (Vista 64 bit)
Thanks to the knowledge base of Generations users, there is a quick fix for users running Windows Vista 64 bit Service Pack 2. It seems in working with Vista 64 bit, that when the user brings in an image and uses any manual punch tool, the image colors will be converted to black and white or they will have inverted colors. With Windows Vista 64 bit Operating System with Service Pack 2, running Generations with using "Run As Administrator" will correct this problem. To do this, before starting Generations, right click on the Generations icon and select the option to Run As Administrator. This will correct the issue. Please call Tech Support for any questions at 636-724-5800.
Thanks again to all the bright minds who have discovered this!
11/6/08 - Dongle Driver for 64 bit Windows Operating Systems
Many new Computers are running Windows Vista and Windows 7 64 bit Operating System. If you do have a 64 bit system, when you try to start Generations, you may get a message that warns that there is no dongle or dongle driver not installed. If this is occuring, you will need to install the latest dongle driver for 64 bit. Click here to download the instructions. Click here to download the driver file. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully! Please call Tech Support for any questions at 636-724-5800.
9/24/07
Hibernation mode. There is a setting known as Hibernation mode on Windows XP computers. Hibernation mode puts your computer in a state of partial shut down (almost all the way down). We have found that hibernation mode can break the dongle electronically. The reason that hibernation mode can harm your dongle is because when Generations is running it is constantly accessing the dongle. When your computer goes into hibernation mode it interrupts the communication between Generations and the dongle. When the computer wakes up (coming out of Hibernation), Generations will do an immediate access to the dongle which may occur simultaneously with electrical power being restored to the USB ports. This can result in a power surge in the dongle that will “break” it internally. This will result in a message saying either 'Your Dongle is broken, please contact your dealer' or 'Dongle Accessing Error, please contact your dealer'.
The easiest way to prevent your dongle from breaking in this fashion is to disable hibernate mode. Letting your computer go into standby mode does not cause a problem with the dongle and is a suitable replacement. If you do not want to disable hibernate mode you must be sure to close Generations before you plan on walking away from your computer. Otherwise you are taking a chance at breaking your dongle. If you have any questions about the hibernate issue or need help with disabling hibernation, please contact tech support.
On Vista and Win 7 computers chose the High Performance plan under Power Options and never let it go to sleep. The monitor can be allowed to shut down without any adverse effects to the dongle.
