Difference between revisions of "Beta Tester Page"

Latest revision as of 21:13, 13 February 2025

The beta testing period for Analytica 6.5 has ended and Analytica 6.5 is now the current release! Please visit the Analytica Downloads page to get the latest.

Why become a beta tester?

Test drive the upcoming release 6.5 and start using its new features immediately.
Participate in webinars on tips and guides on new features.
Help improve the final release.
Check that your models work in the new release. Find any issues while they can still be fixed, ensuring a seamless transition for you and your model users when this release becomes official.

As a beta tester, we request that you

Read What's new in Analytica 6.5? for an overview of the new features.
Sign up as a beta tester by filling in the form when you run the installer.
Try out the new Analytica enhancements of interest to you.
Submit a bug report if you find an issue
Keep up-to-date with the latest beta build. Analytica will show you an alert whenever there is a new build ready to install, about every 2 weeks. We may also send you email reminders. See release notes for changes and bug fixes in each beta release.
We encourage you to retain Analytica 6.5 when you install Analytica 6.5 beta. That lets you compare their behavior if you suspect a new bug.

How to start beta-testing

The installers can be downloaded directly from the Analytica Downloads page.

Improve Analytica docs

During the alpha and beta testing period, we are still updating these Analytica Docs to reflect new features. What's new in Analytica 6.5? is the most complete listing of new features, and is also a work in progress. As we approach final release date, this information will be more complete.

As an Analytica user, you are invited to contribute to the docs! Since it's on a wiki (using Mediawiki software, just like Wikipedia), you can add or edit any content. If you find something unclear, incomplete, or just wrong, feel free to fix it yourself. Or add comments, asking someone else to. And you are welcome to add tips or interesting examples.

Known issues

If you find an issue, please let us know about it at support@lumina.com. Please see Submitting a bug report for instructions on reporting bugs.

Note: We list only the most important issues here (ones that might impact your ability to use it, or which are likely to be found and reported multiple times). We maintain a comprehensive bug base in-house, which is not accessible outside of Lumina.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

See Analytica User FAQs for frequently asked questions not specific to 6.5 or to beta testing.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-= Becoming a Beta Tester =
+ [[Category: Beta testing]]
+{{#svarset:betarelease|6.5}}
+{{#svarset:prevrelease|6.5}}
-=== Who can be a beta tester? ===
+<!--We invite you to be a beta tester of [[Analytica {{#svarget:betarelease}}]] if you have Analytica {{#svarget:prevrelease}} installed on your computer with an active subscription. (Sorry, not [[Analytica Free Edition]] and not a legacy permanent license). A floating license subscription works.  -->
+<!-- <span style="font-size: 20px;color:blue;">We are no longer in beta testing.</span> -->
+The beta testing period for [[Analytica {{#svarget:prevrelease}}]] has ended and [[Analytica {{#svarget:betarelease}}]] is now the current release!  Please visit the [https://analytica.com/support-2/analytica-downloads/ Analytica Downloads] page to get the latest.
+<!--
+The beta testing period for [[Analytica {{#svarget:betarelease}}]] will start very soon. Please check this page for updates.
-Analytica 4.0 introduces a wide variety of new features. We plan an extended beta testing period of 3 months to make sure it is very stable before officially releasing it. We have invited a small number of active Analytica users to be early beta testers.
+When the next release goes into beta testing, this page will be updated.
+-->
-In a month or two, after we get feedback from the early testers, and fix any problems they uncover,  we will extend invitations to be beta testers to all licensed Analytica users with active maintenance -- to all who purchased a new copy or extended their maintenance contract in the last year.
+== Why become a beta tester? ==
-=== Why become a beta tester? ===
+* Test drive the upcoming release {{#svarget:betarelease}} and start using its [[Analytica {{#svarget:betarelease}}|new features]] immediately.
+* Participate in webinars on tips and guides on new features.
-* Test drive Analytica 4.0 early at no cost.
-* Take advantage of the many new 4.0 features immediately.
 * Help improve the final release.
-* Participate in webinars on tips and guides on 4.0 features.
+* Check that your models work in the new release. Find any issues while they can still be fixed, ensuring a seamless transition for you and your model users when this release becomes official.
-=== Responsibilities as a beta tester ===
-We expect beta testers to:
-* Sign up as a beta tester.
-* Keep up-to-date by installing the latest beta build. We will email you when a new build is ready for download -- typically, every 1 to 2 weeks.
-* When you encounter an issue, submit a bug report as described in the next sub-section.
-* Read through [[What's new in Analytica 4.0?]] so you know what new features are available.
-* Explore new Analytica 4.0 enhancements of interest to you.
-* Revisit the Analytica Wiki periodically.  We will be updating and adding to content here throughout the beta period.
-=== Contributing 4.0 documention on the Analytica wiki ===
+== As a beta tester, we request that you ==
-As you will see, we are creating documentation for the Analytica 4.0 features on this wiki.  At present, the wiki documentation varies in detail and clarity. We at Lumina will be expanding and refining it during the beta period. Descriptions of 4.0 features has not yet been added into the Tutorial and User Guide PDF documents. The Analytica wiki is the only place to find this material until the final release of 4.0
+* Read [[What's new in Analytica {{#svarget:betarelease}}?]] for an overview of the new features.
+* Sign up as a beta tester by filling in the form when you run the installer.
+* Try out the new Analytica enhancements of interest to you.
+* [[Beta_Tester_Page/Submitting_a_Bug_Report|Submit a bug report]]  if you find an issue
+* Keep up-to-date with the latest beta build.  Analytica will show you an alert whenever there is a new build ready to install, about every 2 weeks.  We may also send you email reminders.   See [[Analytica {{#svarget:betarelease}} beta Release Notes| release notes]] for changes and bug fixes in each beta release.
+* We encourage you to retain Analytica {{#svarget:prevrelease}} when you install Analytica {{#svarget:betarelease}}  beta. That lets you compare their behavior if you suspect a new bug.
-As a beta tester, you also are invited to contribute to the documentation! Since it's on a wiki (using Mediawiki software, just like Wikipedia), you can add or edit any content.  And others can edit or improve your additions.  If you find text that is unclear or downright errors, feel free to fix them yourself. Or add comments, asking someone else to. If you find stubs or missing information, feel free to fill them in yourself, or add requests. Or if you come up with tips or interesting examples on how to use a feature, those also will be welcome.
+== How to start beta-testing ==
+<!--
+Download the installer for the latest beta build, release number 6.5.8.262, from:
+* [https://downloads.Analytica.com/ANA6.5/AnaSetup6_5_8_262.exe Analytica {{#svarget:betarelease}} installer]
+* [https://downloads.Analytica.com/ANA6.5/AdeSetup6_5_8_262.exe ADE  {{#svarget:betarelease}} installer]
+These beta builds use your existing {{#svarget:prevrelease}} subscription license that is already on your computer. A separate beta license is not required.
+-->
-This is a new experiment in the community development of user documentation. At Lumina, we know how important it is to have good User Guides and other documentation. But our resources are limited. We know that there are many highly knowledgeable Analytica users who may know more than us about ways to use particular features. And people seeing new features for the first time are better able to see holes or unclarities than we are. Together the community of users should be able to create better documentation than any single documentation writer.  We look forward to your contributions!
+The installers can be downloaded directly from the [https://analytica.com/support-2/analytica-downloads/ Analytica Downloads] page.
-=== How to sign up to be a beta tester ===
+== Improve Analytica docs ==
-If you would like to be an early tester, please email us (support@lumina.com).
+During the alpha and beta testing period, we are still updating these Analytica Docs to reflect new features. [[What's new in Analytica {{#svarget:betarelease}}?]] is the most complete listing of new features, and is also a work in progress. As we approach final release date, this information will be more complete.
-We will send you a beta license code.
-== Submitting a Bug Report ==
+As an Analytica user, you are invited to contribute to the docs! Since it's on a wiki (using Mediawiki software, just like Wikipedia), you can add or edit any content.  If you find something unclear, incomplete, or just wrong, feel free to fix it yourself. Or add comments, asking someone else to.  And you are welcome to add tips or interesting examples.
-When you encounter an issue in Analytica 4.0 beta or ADE 4.0 beta:
-* Check the [[Ana:Pending Analytica 4.0 Issues]] page to see if this is a new problem.
-* Attempt to identify a series of steps to reproduce it.
-* Report the problem via email to ana4beta.com.
-* Where possible, please include:
-** The steps to reproduce the problem.
-** Your model file.
-** If the problem results in a crash, the auto-save recovery file.
-** For ADE bugs, sample code or steps in AdeTest.exe to reproduce it.
-''We promise to keep entirely confidential any material you send, including model files''. We will use it only for identifying the source of the problem.
-= Beta 4.0 downloads =
-The current beta build is 4.0.0.30.  The installers are downloadable from:
-* [http://AnalyticaOnline.com/ANA4.0/AnaSetup4_0_0_30.exe Analytica 4.0 beta Installer]
-* [http://AnalyticaOnline.com/ANA4.0/AnaSetup4_0_0_30.exe ADE 4.0 beta Installer]
-Download the file, then run it.
-= What's New in 4.0? =
-See these links for comprehensive listings:
-* [[What's new in Analytica 4.0?]]
-* [[What's new in ADE 4.0?]]
-* [[Ana:Analytica Reference| Analytica 4.0 Reference]]: A place for a comprehensive reference.
-== [[Ana:Analytica 4.0 beta Release Notes| Release Notes]] ==
-The [[Ana:Analytica 4.0 beta Release Notes| release notes]] contain basic information about specific builds that you might need to know.
-== Example Models demonstrating new 4.0 features ==
-* Listing of [[Ana:Example Models]]
-* [[Ana:Uploading Example Models]]:  Please help by contributing example models, especially models demonstrating features new to 4.0!  Here's how to upload contributions...
-== Mini-Tutorials on new 4.0 features ==
-Coming soon: Quick tutorial-like introductions to some of the new 4.0 features.
 == Known issues ==
-* See the [[Ana:Pending Analytica 4.0 Issues]] page for known issues in the current beta build.
+If you find an issue, please let us know about it at <code>support@lumina.com</code>. Please see [[/Submitting a Bug Report|Submitting a bug report]] for instructions on reporting bugs.
-* See [[Ana:Analytica 4.0 beta Release Notes]] for issues that present in early beta bulids, but since fixed.
-= FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions =
-See [[Ana:Analytica 4.0 Beta FAQs]] for answers to frequently asked questions regarding Analytica 4.0 Beta and ADE 4.0 Beta.
-See [[Ana:Analytica User FAQs]] for frequently asked questions not specific to 4.0 or to beta.
-= Schedule =
-(TBA)
-= Other =
-== User Group and Special 4.0 Webinars ==
-Check the [[Ana:Analytica User Group]] page for information on webinars covering new 4.0 features and other topic of general interest to the Analytica community.
-Consider being a presenter at a webinar yourself!
+'''Note:''' We list only the most important issues here (ones that might impact your ability to use it, or which are likely to be found and reported multiple times). We maintain a comprehensive bug base in-house, which is not accessible outside of Lumina.
-== Analytica Web Player ==
+== FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions ==
-To be announced.
+See [[Analytica User FAQs]] for frequently asked questions not specific to {{#svarget:betarelease}} or to beta testing.