Slow running under Win7 as a regular user.

[WendyS]

I am running (or trying to run) TopoFusion Pro 3.793 as a regular user under Windows 7.

First: it doesn't happily install for use by users.
Work Around: tried several, but the most complete seemed to be to elevate the user to administrator for the install (so it would install in that users space, instead of the Admin space) and then demote back to a regular user.

Also needed to move the data files to a different location, as I have multiple GIS programs, and need to keep the data organized together.  (and when one is running different users, as I am, it works better when the data is in a location accessible to everyone, not in a user space)

Problems:
It initially installed with only Aerial color, and some Mexico map tile sets selected, easy enough to fix, but thought I would include this as a data point in case it might mean something to you.

It runs VERY slow.  It downloads EXTREMELY slow.  It does work, no obvious errors.  This was not a batch download, I am afraid to try that, this was just a regular download to look at my area on topo 2m.
I ran a comparison between my new Win7 machine and my old XP machine (which is running on a slower 802.11b net connection, but they are both on the same router).  Went to a new city to make sure I was getting a download and not saved files, and it took about 30 seconds to download the 2m topo.  I did the same on the Win7 machine, and it had 3 tiles, after about 2 minutes.  Then I stopped the test.

As a temporary work-around I attempted to copy my old map data (already have a lot of the local maps downloaded) into my new machine.  This seems to have worked.  Doesn't make it run any faster, but the tile sets at least show up on the screen without having to wait for a download.  (but I don't know if this is a good solution, as I don't know if you changed the dat or index file formats at all)

At some point I started getting the error "Invalid Arrow interval value" when I go into properties.  I am guessing that I failed to copy something when I was moving data to a central location, or this is due to a difference in map or index file format.  If there is a setting in the preferences that can set a valid arrow interval value, I am not sure where it is.

A couple other system notes:
I have had the Win 7 machine for less than 24 hours, so I am no expert there.
I have had the XP install running as a regular user (not admin), with the centralized data for a long time - so long I am not exactly sure of everything I did to get it that way.  I can certainly upgrade that one to the current version of TopoFusion, if needed for a comparison.

Let me know if there are screen shots, or any other data you would like me to get for you!

Thanks!

I do love Topofusion, and I am looking forward to using it on my new (should be faster) machine!

[ScottMorris]

I think we covered some of this by email this weekend, but the super slow running of the program is very strange.  I am not sure what to make of it.

You definitely need admin access to install TF.  If you run the installer as a regular user it should ask you to elevate to the admin and enter the password.  That should work fine.  Though I have not tested it on W7 -- only Vista.

I will see if I can get W7 going and do some testing, but it will be a while yet.

Copying over the map data files is fine -- format has not changed -- until the very latest beta, where there will be a change.  But even that will be OK since it simply converts the file upon first running.

Please let us know if you make any progress on this.  Thanks.

[WendyS]

Yes, I did install TF with Admin access, once by running as administrator, and once by upgrading that user to administrator for that install.

I have determined that the uninstall with TF does not uninstall everything, at least not on W7, I did an uninstall.  Then an install (should have been 'clean' that way) and one of the directories was already pointed to my C:\gis directory (not the Topofusion default) - it was the one DEM data (except there was no DEM data there, because I had deleted it manually when I did the uninstall).

Also, on the "fresh" install, when I go into preferences (to check some tile sets since it is installing with none) I still get the error "Invalid arrow interval value".  Any idea what I need to do to stop that from happening.

I could go back to a totally clean machine, but that would also mean backing out all my system interface settings (which I have quite a few of, so it's not a particularly appealing thought).

I just got an error about screen depth, suggesting changing it may change the speed.  Not sure if it is referring to resolution or something else.

[WendyS]

Running in XP Compatibility mode seems to help.
To get there, right click on the icon in the start menu, choose Properties.  Click on the Compatibility tab.  I selected XP Service Pack 3, and 256 colors.
Seems to be running now OK with topo maps, and WMS topo.  Aerial color worked.  Tiger is not downloading, but as all the others are fine I am wondering if it is maybe the server?

[sarlabs]

Wendy:
I use Revo Uninstaller (Google that) to do uninstalls. It is a nice and thorough tool. Never had to use it with TF though.

[ScottMorris]

Hey Wendy,

Sorry for the delayed response.  I have been out camping, riding bikes and collecting yet more GPS data to test TopoFusion with. 

Do you have the 64 bit version of W7?  Or 32?

I think something is wrong with your video card driver.  I recommend checking for an updated version with the manufacturer.  The mixed up tiles and perhaps screen depth issue point to that.

If you need to run it in XP compatibility mode, I recommend running it in 32bit color depth, not 256!  The maps are a lot more detailed than that.

It is possible that it is not a good thing to install TF as an admin, then as a regular user.  I will make a note to check on that -- maybe that was the cause of your install woes.

And finally, the TIGER server is down right now.  There is another thread about that.  Luckily the next version of TF will have a much better street map mode!

[WendyS]

Camping and biking are always a good thing!!!
I am on W7 32.
Current install is as the regular user, with giving the password for admin when asked on install.

The maps seem to be working now.  Tiles are downloading much faster than before (I haven't put them side by side with my old computer, but I think it's a bit faster than my old computer). 
Put it back in full color mode, not sure I see a difference but it certainly isn't worse.

I still have the "Invalid Arrow Value Interval" error message every time I go into Options/preferences.  It claims to be a TopoFusion error.  I OK the error and the preferences seem to work fine.

I have had this with every W7 install, ever since the first one.  Not sure if this is Win7, though, or something else I may have done.
Doesn't seem to cause any other problem, but is annoying.  I would love to know how to fix whatever it's looking for.

[ScottMorris]

The arrow value message is pretty meaningless.  You can fix it by going into Options->Colors/Shading then sliding the "Arrow Frequency" slider at the bottom of the form.  Just move it anywhere and that message shouldn't come up any more.

You are getting the arrow message on multiple W7 installs?  Hmm.  I think it is W7, not anything you did.  I can probably make sure it doesn't happen in future versions, but it is a little puzzling.

Let me know how it continues to go, thanks.

[WendyS]

Joy Joy, it's fixed. 
I wonder if it didn't occur because I moved the files from the local to a general directory, and then somehow that setting didn't get undone when I uninstalled and reinstalled.

Of course, I went in assuming everything would work perfectly, and just started right in with my personalization before I checked the initial setup.

All seems to work well now!

[ScottMorris]

Great.  So were you copying an .ini file over to the installs?  That might explain it, if that file had the erroneous value for that arrow setting.  I'm still not sure how it would get there in the first place though -- the dialog should prevent it from happening.

[WendyS]

No .ini files as far as I know.  I just copied the contents of the TopoFusion file created, and then changed the properties to point to the new locations.