Information for Chemistry IT staff

(1) Location of the few related items we have:

• T:\Scientific Apps\CrystalData

(2) Oliver installed the Pearson Crystal Data software, from the media Leah (Library) loaned him. Details:

DVD installation software

• DVD installation is required to install the software. A copy of the DVD's data to a folder would not install, alas. Nor would a copy subsequently mounted as an *.iso.
  
  • June 24, 2016 update: Bad news on facilitating distribution of the DVD installation of the Pearson Crystal Data software. There seems to be copy protection on the disk which prevents making an ISO. (The last few sectors and some sectors in the middle that actually don't contain any of the data show up as unreadable.) And we have double-confirmed that a direct copy of the data does not allow installation. Thus, future installations will require Chemistry folks to make a trip to the Math Library.
    
• DVD has almost 3GB worth of data.
  
• Installation requires Admin. Gives the option of installing for just the current account, or for all users of the computer.
• Installed and ran just fine on Windows 7, 64-bit.
• Manual states, "Niggli cell reduction and related operations performed by "Structure Tidy" only works on 32-bit but not on 64-bit Windows systems."
  • Default contemporary Window installs are 64-bit. So that could represent a problem for some researchers.

Application update

• Update was a full, single-file <pcd.exe>. It replaces originally installed one. Originally installed is version 1.9. Downloaded version made it version 1.9b. Question: Is one able to place the newest version into an *.iso or new DVD, or will that break the installation?
  •  http://www.crystalimpact.com/pcd/update.htm
    

License file

• License file is a tiny (1.3K) text-based file (*.lic) so presumably very easy to host for distribution, if properly protected. Get from the Library. We have a copy, for use in Chemistry:
  • T:\Scientific Apps\CrystalData
• The license file has the application expire after 5/31/2017. The file text includes a hash so simply changing the date within the file does not defeat the purpose of the file. Application will quit if the file is not present or valid. If not valid, opens up a message on local email client, filled out to Pearson, with license file pre-attached. End user will need new file each year and manually replace their old file with the new one. Since in the Program folder, Admin rights required to replace the file.
  

Manual

• Installation installs manual as a PDF. Thus, no need to scan it.
  • 2 versions: One in A4 and one in US letter size (8.5*11"). Each is 16.4MB.
    

Distribution possibilities, informed by discussion with Leah, and given the above information:

 (1) Make physical DVD available at Math Library.  

• Specific idea: Provide just PDF of manual(s), behind a authentication/ authorization wall.

(2) Make license file available via thumb drive at Math Library.

• DONE.
• Specific additional idea: Make license file available via download (Library? CU Software?), behind an authentication/ authorization wall.