ATI 2015 GUI Improved. Really?
I've used ATI since version 7 in 2004. I've seen the evolution of many ATI GUI designs. I found ATI 2013 and 2014 to be the best GUIs. I love new software to play with and have written many C# apps in WPF. I understand that no one can please everyone when it comes to graphical interfaces. I try to be forgiving, but sometimes I am scratching my head about what Acronis is thinking.
Okay, after playing with ATI 2015 for only 2 hours, I have a short list of complaints...
1. In the My backups list, the paths are truncated. Must use tool-tips to see full path. This is because ATI 2015 went for a portrait view of the My backups list rather than the landscape view as 2014.
2. ATI 2014, after a backup has been defined and run, it allowed you to click on the backup path and open a file browser to the file location right now. With ATI 2015 you have to first use the tool-tip to see the whole path in order to verify it is the path you want, then click the OPERATIONS "button" at the bottom of the window and then chose Open location.
3. In the large backup panel on the right, again, long paths are truncated. One has to use tool-tips. This makes the whole experience cumbersome and can't see the backup paths in one glance.
4. ATI 2015 uses their own built-in file explorer that has no scrollbar and each line is triple-spaced with gigantic folder icons wasting a lot of screen space. Reminds me of Fisher-Price and Hasbro Playskool. Because of this, someone is more likely to scroll through a list of files whereupon they discover a scrollbar is if fact missing.
5. The My backups list has no scroll bar when the list gets longer than the window. You must use the mouse wheel. Not a deal-breaker but there isn't even a sliver of a side bar showing where in the scrolling you are. Elsewhere the ATI 2015 built-in file browser does have a thin indicator on the right edge showing where in the scrolling window you are.
6. When I start ATI 2015, it keeps telling me a new version is available even though I have it.
7. I can't name backups. Backups take on the name of the disk drive only. Update: SOLVED. However, the manual is wrong.
8. The ADD BACKUP popup list tends to open downwards but the OPTIONS popup list always opens upwards. These two lists are side by side and only highlights their opposite behavior. (Note: The ADD BACKUP popup list will open upwards when the ATI window is positioned close to the bottom of the Windows desktop. I can only guess that the designers did not want to cover over the My backups list until necessary. I personally don't see why not since at that point you are simply adding a new backup.)
9. Saved backup schemes don't appear in the list when ATI is restarted.
David Clark said: . . .
7. I can't name backups. Backups take on the name of the disk drive only.
Yes, you have to create the folder name you want first, then point to it to give that name to backup. Or, click on the pencil icon near the
image name.
Also, p. 34 o fthe userguide says:
"To back up partitions or disks:
1. Start Acronis True Image 2015.
2. On the sidebar, click Backup.
3. To add a new backup, click the plus sign at the bottom of the backup list, and then type a name for the backup.
4. Click the Backup source icon, and then select Disks and partitions.
5. In the opened window, select the check boxes next to the partitions and disks that you want to back up, and then click OK.
To view hidden partitions, click Full partition list.
"
The auto-naming is much simpler for those folks that don't want to name their backups. There is no advanced mode for the GUI. I think the idea is to make It more Apple like -- decisions have been made for you and you will learn to like them!
The windows horizontal menus have been given up for a vertical menu scheme with that distinctly Apple Flat look that is so fashionable on ARM devices (phones, tablets).
Btw, backup on Apples is built in and has virtually no options.
I just wanted to add to this. Did anyone notice you can't change to view the backups in any order other than alphabetical? Before you could organise by date or alphabetically. I like to see my most recent backups at the very top of the list.
In addition to the backups not moving to the top of the list, there's also much less information on that list. I used to be able to quickly look through the backup list to review the schedule, backup size, and last update. Not anymore.
And now with the extreme delays when doing anything, reviewing the list is a real chore.
Actually you can name them easily by clicking on the pencil icon next to the image name at the top. Not the most intuitive interface, but it's there.
And I agree that the inability to sort the backups by date is a pain. That feature must be added.
Thank you for telling me how to name backups. I was looking at the My backups list and didn't notice the pencil icon at the top of the backup edit pane. I like being wrong rather than the software broken. ;-)
However, if I am not mistaken, the manual is wrong. It shows that you edit the name directly in the My backups list (blue pane.) Also, where the pencil icon now is, the manual shows no pencil, but the text "Configure your new backup." This is why I was confused.
The manual was written reflecting the beta version, there were problems with the original idea, so I suspect Acronis moved the editing feature to possibly solve the problem and for other cosmetic reasons.
I should have payed with a beta version of my money, when I get beta versions of goods.
Berti,
You haven't purchased a beta version, just the manual appears to have been written prior to the release build. I haven't checked to see if the User Guide has been amended.
Colin,
I downloaded the user guide (German version) just 3 or 4 days ago. It shows some screenshots of menus, which I don´t have in ATI2015 build 5539.
Example: page 63 on bottom of this page: chapter 4.4.2 is not available. I hoped, I could change the behaviour of ATI in such a way, that it doesn´t search backups automatically at all. Is this possible somehow?
...I hoped, I could change the behaviour of ATI in such a way, that it doesn´t search backups automatically at all. Is this possible somehow?
the only way i know is to change registry value "ScanComputerAtStartup":
path on a 64bit system is
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Acronis\TrueImageHome\Settings\]
path on a 32bit system is
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Acronis\TrueImageHome\Settings\]
set value "ScanComputerAtStartup" to 0 (zero)
as always BE CAREFUL editing your registry!
Thank you Ken,
I´ll try this.
I skipped 2015 and went directly to 2016. It (apparently) shares the dramatic drop in UI quality vs 2014.
Also, the search for backup is still happening automatically at start up, though it seems not every startup. I am going to try adding the aforementioned "ScanComputerAtStartup" registry setting. Does anyone know if this works on 2016?
I'm going to tell you how bad it is......................... I've used it since many versions ago. I just went to restore a folder, and I'll be damned if I can figure out how to do it!! Ridiculous! From the program interface, I click on the folder in the bacup I want to restore, and that's it! I'm stuck! Do I have to go check every file and subfolder in the backup?! Just clicking the folder I want to restore does not get the "Next" button to light up! WTH have you all done to this program?!
Snerd, it´s bad, but it´s not that bad. Did you simply try to drag ´n drop your folder? Or use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V for copy and paste?