Identify Older Version of Photo & Graphic Designer

Hello,

I want to learn the version of Photo & Graphic Designer I have been using for the past few years.

My problem is that it was on my old PC. On my new PC I couldn't locate that version, so I bought the current version (19) from Magix. I do not like the way that version works (object handles), so I just want to toss it out and go back to the older version. Unfortunately, I don't know what version that was and the latest I could download from Magix is not it.

The version I want has a splash screen illustration of a young boy or girl...can't tell which. I have tried to find the image on Google and found only a partial.

Attachment 133000

From this information can you tell me what version I am searching for and where to go to download a copy?

Thanks ever so much for any help you can provide.

Best regards,
tom

you will need to activate the licence that you have paid for - so you will have an activation code/key/number - a download without this is not much use

best way then might be to contact xara/magix and ask them where you can download the copy of the software that your activation code is for

Thanks, but I do understand all that and I do have the activation codes. I just can't seem to find the version that I had before. Believe it is from Magix though it might have been Xara before that split of companies and responsibilities which I still don't understand. I just need to find that version as described and then go to Magix/Xara and ask them for that version. Soooo, can you tell from my description of the splash (start) screen what version I am searching for?

sorry I was possibly not clear

if you contact xara/magix they should be able to tell what version it is from your activation code - I seefrom your previous posts that you were using/updating it in 2018, so it is not that old

sorry, the splash does not ring any bells with me

Thanks, Handrawn; appreciate your help. tom

hope you get it sorted - good luck :)

of course they may recognise the splash....

If you watch https://youtu.be/kzNtYHM-mB4?t=37, we have a similar image. The video date might help.
My guess is v15, Nov 2017

Attachment 133002

http://releasenotes.xara.hosting/pho...phic-designer/

There is a way to return to the old handles.

Log into https://www.magix.com/gb/support/my-service-center/ then open the My Products link.

Acorn

Hi Acorn,

Thanks for your suggestion. Been there. Done that. But there is no option for v15. I realize the page shows only what I have purchased but I have done so way back to when the product was so aptly named Xara Xtreme. I have quizzed their support team but so far, no joy.

Also saw somewhere on the forum a registry hack. Again, no joy.

any other suggestions?

Acorn, I don't think v15 is the right one. The latest I saw on Magix for my products was PGD 365. Believe there is a version later but it doesn't show on their site.

this is my problem with v19. On the left are handle examples of v19. On the right from a prior version, v15. If I could get the handles to behave like the old version I wouldn't be looking for the version between v15 and v19.

Attachment 133003

you can't get the handles to go completely back, only up to a point; in the photo tool and the quickshape[s] tool you are stuck with them in ver 19; I use version 15.1 to avoid them, also version 11 occasionally for other reasons...

the term '365' is generic on the magic site; it is the product reference, not it's version

I put your splash in tin eye - it came up with references to magix from 2018, but nothing helpful that I could see

Xara desktop software v19 or older downloads and license keys are currently available in the Magix portal: https://www.magix.com/gb/support/my-service-center/
For help on downloads, licensing, etc on these versions, then it is best to contact them directly at https://support2.magix.com/customer/ or infoservice@magix.net.

Current versions v20 or higher (v22.4 was released this week) are called the Plus editions and are available directly at https://www.xara.com/us/products/

And here is a comparison chart to see the difference

Please contact us with any questions. Happy to help.

Matt
Xara

Handrawn: Thanks for the effort. I am checking with my credit card company to nail down exactly when I last purchased an upgrade to PGD. Maybe that purchase date will help me get the right version from Magix.

Matt: Thanks for your input. I go out of my way to avoid SaaS. I just want the software.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snapfade

Handrawn: Thanks for the effort. I am checking with my credit card company to nail down exactly when I last purchased an upgrade to PGD. Maybe that purchase date will help me get the right version from Magix.

Matt: Thanks for your input. I go out of my way to avoid SaaS. I just want the software.

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Understand. The Magix portal link I provided above should have the versions that you have purchased with the dates.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MB365

Understand. The Magix portal link I provided above should have the versions that you have purchased with the dates.

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Except all purchased prior to the Magix set-up were transformed into "24/10/2017", which doesn't really help anyone.

Acorn

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Acorn

Except all purchased prior to the Magix set-up were transformed into "24/10/2017", which doesn't really help anyone.

Acorn

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Correct. Not helpful at all. And when I downloaded the latest version I purchased (labeled 365), it turned out to be v15, a version before the last one I purchased. I want to get back to a version between v15 and v19. It may be v16 or v17 or v18. It would be helpful if they had some consistency to version naming. I don't even know if there was a v16,17, or 18, though there is at least one of the three.

Wouldn't it be great of someone at Magix were to offer help?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snapfade

Correct. Not helpful at all. And when I downloaded the latest version I purchased (labeled 365), it turned out to be v15, a version before the last one I purchased. I want to get back to a version between v15 and v19. It may be v16 or v17 or v18. It would be helpful if they had some consistency to version naming. I don't even know if there was a v16,17, or 18, though there is at least one of the three.

Wouldn't it be great of someone at Magix were to offer help?

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Have you sent an email to infoservice@magix.net with your need?

Yes. Moments ago. I also included the link to this discussion.

snapfade, this is where we get into the nitty-gritty.

You think you bought a later version and that v15.0 is not it.
Say, you bought in when v15.0 was around, then you could have gotten a freed update to v15.1.
After a time, your Update Service expired.

When you try to install on a new PC after expiry, you will be reverted to your purchase version, v15.0.
The v15.1 was a taster that you could keep alive but never re-install.
v15.1 cured a number of Bugs that were around in v15.0 but that is the joy of the Update Service.

There were indeed v16, v17, v18 & v19 ones after this.
You need to evidence your later renewal.

Now in the Magix Products list, you will possibly have an entry Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 365.
This may have an additional link, Show more details.
Under this, against a single licence number will be all the versions you bought.
Not all versions will have a Download link but you may be lucky.

You have bought v19 for around £20-£40. It is worth that and a bit of your time learning how useful it is.

Acorn

Thanks again, Acorn, I really appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.

As I stated at the outset, the way v19 works with object handles is my problem. It is not a learning experience; I simply do not like how the handles are implemented and choose therefore to use a prior version. Probably v18 or 17. I have written to the folks at Magix support and hopefully they will associate my serial number to the proper version of software. Failing that I will stick with v15 which I have installed now or v11 for which I have the physical disc.

I have spent waaay too much of your time and mine on this little problem and am eager to get back to work with any old version of PGD!

Thanks again for your help, Acorn.

Best,
tom

Have you tried changing the way that the object handles work in the newer version of Xara that you have?

I use Xara's subscription version (which was called Designer Pro+ last time I looked, but don't ask me the version number - the names change more often than I have a haircut) and had to ask support how to get the handles back to how they used to work because I couldn't for the life in me get used to the new ones.

I go back to that email whenever there's an update that knocks out the change, or when I change PCs...

Quote:

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Close the program and use regedit to change
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Xara\XtremeProSub x64\18\Options\Selector Tool\ShowXCBoundsBlobs
from 1 to 0. Then restart

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The bit that goes "\Xara\XtremeProSub x64\18" will be different for you... it's different even for me now, currently living at "\Xara\XtremeProSub x64\Sub"

..and then to see the old-style handles on photos too, in the Selector tool, turn on the 'show selection bounds' option:

Attachment 133008

...and finally you can right click on the Aspect ratio lock button in the Selector tool and on the popup menu that appears uncheck "Smart transform":

Attachment 133009

I truly don't know if any or all of these things will work with your Magix version, but they are what make the most recent Xara version work for me "the way they always did"

@Daniel, a very good summary.

The RegEdit Branch and Value will be Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Xara\XtremePro x64\19\Options\Selector Tool\ShowXCBoundsBlobs > Value data: 0.

Acorn

Daniel and Acorn: WOW that worked!

I think I'm all set here....and waiting for Ebay delivery of the product I think I was looking for (oops).

I want to thank all who viewed and contributed to this post. It is wonderful to have such a great resource.

THANKS AGAIN ALL!!!

tom

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snapfade

Daniel and Acorn: WOW that worked!
I think I'm all set here....and waiting for Ebay delivery of the product I think I was looking for (oops).
I want to thank all who viewed and contributed to this post. It is wonderful to have such a great resource.
THANKS AGAIN ALL!!!
tom

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Tom, the fuller praise ought to go to @Daniel, he explained clearly what @handrawn and I tried to.

In passing Xara Pro+ has corrected a number of the v19 niggles with handle presentation and it is far the better.

Acorn

yes good explanation

Quote:

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.and then to see the old-style handles on photos too, in the Selector tool, turn on the 'show selection bounds' option

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which is true in the selector tool - all of this tweak is in the selector tool

but to remove them in the photo tool and the quickshape tool I go back to version 11 [going back to version 15.1 for PDF page merge] -My post was not clear on that point, and i should have referenced the registry tweak

my only excuse was I was in a hurry

so thanks Daniel for taking the time to do that :)