Run Multiple Version of Enterprise Architect on same computer

[gnehmer]

I wish to install EA 12 and EA 13.5 at the same time. It seems as if when you install a newer version, the install wipes out whatever version is installed, even if you install the new version in a different directory.

Is there a way to do this?

[Nizam]

Try Renaming your installation folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\Sparx Systems\EA) to Something else 'EA 12' and then install EA 13.5.

[Guillaume]

I confirm that renaming the current installation e.g. C:\Program Files (x86)\Sparx Systems\EA to C:\Program Files (x86)\Sparx Systems\EA12 prior to install a new version (e.g. 13.5) works.
I find this very useful as my clients don't all use the same/latest version.

[Marc Vanstraelen]

I do the same for testing newer versions while keeping also the version currently used in our organisation (12.1). Works perfectly.

[gnehmer]

This method works; thank you.

[josephpatrickrose]

Hello,
I wondered if there is a limit to this ?
- I had EA 13.5 installed, and wanted to run 14.1 side by side
- I renamed EA 13.5 to run from a different folder, and changed the icon description - I could still launch EA 13.5
- I installed EA 14.1 , to ...... \Sparx Systems\EA14.1\EA.exe ... fine , EA 13.5 and 14.1 running side by side
- THEN I wanted to install EA 15 beta ... despite changing the folder structure, the EA 15 beta installer WIPES OUT EA 14.1, even though they are not in the same folder....

Is there any way to disable this ??

Many thanks
Joe

[qwerty]

Well, it has EVER been possible to install different EA versions side by side. But why not have them cut that possibility away? They are on a good road to steamroller a couple more of us users. It's still beta, so scream out loud :-O

q.

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Hello,
I wondered if there is a limit to this?
- I had EA 13.5 installed, and wanted to run 14.1 side by side
- I renamed EA 13.5 to run from a different folder, and changed the icon description - I could still launch EA 13.5
- I installed EA 14.1, to ...... \Sparx Systems\EA14.1\EA.exe ... fine, EA 13.5 and 14.1 running side by side
- THEN I wanted to install EA 15 beta ... despite changing the folder structure, the EA 15 beta installer WIPES OUT EA 14.1, even though they are not in the same folder...

Is there any way to disable this ??

Many thanks
Joe

Hi Joe,

I'm running v13.5, v14.1 and v15 on the same machine!

I think the problem you are running into is a Windows "trap for young players".  In the past, I've been caught by this too!  I think the solution is NOT to rename the current version from ...\EA to a versioned folder, BUT to COPY the existing ...\EA into a versioned folder, thereby leaving the original in place.  By renaming the existing version you are telling windows that the current version has moved.  The Beta will (as you've noted) wipe out the current version.  If you leave the current version in place and make a clone the ...\EA folder will be wiped out, but the v14 folder will remain intact!

This copying rather than renaming is now part of my SOP for new and Beta versions.

HTH,
Paolo

[steen.jensen]

But remember that the Registry setting (EA400/xxx) is the same for all installed versions.
This can be a positive effect as several settings is the same for all installed version, but possible this could also create some negative effects, so far I have not seen any.
For Bete product I use a different computer, mostly Virtual

[Eve]

Well, it has EVER been possible to install different EA versions side by side. But why not have them cut that possibility away? They are on a good road to steamroller a couple more of us users. It's still beta, so scream out loud :-O

It sounds like you're saying that it has ALWAYS been possible to install different EA versions. But that's not true. The install of a new EA version has ALWAYS uninstalled the previous version.

There are ways around this, but the behavior hasn't changed significantly in a long time.

[qwerty]

Eve,
I just said it was ever possible. And I seem to remember that a colleague of you explained exactly the steps I used ever since to have multiple EA versions installed side by side. Finally I for myself would never be astonished if any future EA version would come up with crazy ways to prevent me from doing it any further :-/

q.