AJSystems backup programs (OBP, EA, WMB, MTB, EZB) updates thread

Express Assist version 11.0.12 - 1 March 2017

Site:
http://ajsystems.com/expressassist/ea.html

History:
http://ajsystems.com/expressassist/ea11updates.html

 

Win Mail Backup version 3.0.12 - 1 March 2017

Site:
http://ajsystems.com/winmailbackup/wmb.html

History:
http://ajsystems.com/winmailbackup/wmb3updates.html

 

"Something" has to be done by AJSystems:

1.
It is now more than a month ago that MTB, EZB, EA and WMB got their updates for Firefox (ver 51), and in case of EZB and MTB also for Thunderbird (ver 45). Still nothing for OBP (for Firefox in this case).

2.
In the meanwhile Firefox version 52 and Thunderbird version 52 were released. Nothing about compability and/or updates at the AJSystems sites, where applicable.
Maybe updates are not needed (except for OBP that still needs the previous update for Firefox as noted above), but then say so at the AJSystems site(s).

3.
In the meanwhile Win 10 Creators Update was released. Nothing about compability and/or updates at the AJSystems sites.
Maybe updates are not needed, but then say so at the AJSystems site(s).

I guess there is some work to do for AJSystems.

 

OutBack Plus version 10.2.0 - 1 May 2017

Site:
http://ajsystems.com/outbackplus/obp.html

History:
http://ajsystems.com/outbackplus/obp10updates.html

 

All AJSystems programs have been updated.

Express Assist 11.0.13 - 31 Aug 2017

http://ajsystems.com/expressassist/ea11updates.html

MT Backup 1.8.0 - 31 Aug 2017

http://ajsystems.com/mtbackup/mtbupdates.html

OutBack Plus 10.3.0 - 31 Aug 2017

http://ajsystems.com/outbackplus/obp10updates.html

Win Mail Backup 3.0.13 - 31 Aug 2017

Eazy Backup - 31 Aug 2017

http://ajsystems.com/eazybackup/ezb7updates.html

==========

Note by me with respect to Eazy Backup :
I have no idea what "extremely lony file/pathnames" means.
Or is it a typo and was "long" meant instead of "lony"?
I'll try to ask Al later.
EDIT later : it was a typo; see reply # 57

 

LONG file/PathNames makes perfect sense...

 

It was indeed a typo. It has been corrected. So:
http://ajsystems.com/eazybackup/ezb7updates.html

 

I had contact with Al today and heard sad news:
AJSystems.com Inc. ceased operations as of August 2017.

The full message is here:
http://ajsystems.com/contact.html

I didn't know this ....

I would like to thank Al and all at AJSystems for the great programs and the excellent support for so long.

I grabbed the latest installers for the programs I have licences for, just in case.

What is worrying me though:
I have huge archive(s) of emails. Now what in case at some moment in the future I have to install an AJSystems program again. Will the activation then work (if you are able to install at all)? If not, my archive(s) may be not accessible anymore. Unless I export the archives to another format. But that may be a big task, and the finding in that other format may be not so easily.

 

I have been using Outback Plus for some years.

That is the only program that works 100% to make backups of Outlook, especially the rules and layout/fonts configurations.

Unfortunately i do not know any other program like this.

Do you know some alternatives?

Thank you.

 

As I don't know for how long the AJSystems site will be up, I want to advice all users with valid licence key(s) to download the latest installer(s)!!!
I really do advice you to do that, ladies and gents!

Pete, maybe some of the tests you might have been thinking about, may be not needed.

Today I heard back again from Al. I think it would only be appropriate if I would ask him what I am allowed to quote.
I will ask him of course.

 

Pete, for now I can only say: Wait my reply
Officially I feel that I can't answer for now, but you can read between the lines ...

 

They should compile fully functional final versions sans activation mechanism. Just for their loyal customers. Just saying.

 

Mister X,
With respect, you seem not to be able to understand what I wrote ....
I clearly stated that I was going to ask permission from the developper (which I did in the meanwhile); and, well, if you're not able to read between the lines, than .... (fill in words that I wanted to say) ....

 

Please give me some more time, I'm begging you all.
I have been in contact with Al. I had another question for him. So please allow for some more time.
Thank you for your understanding.

 

Hi all,

I will slowly post more below, probably in several posts. Please give me the time. I will let you know when it is ready.
Thanks all for your patience!
Mister X : I'm sorry for the way I replied to you, for the abrupt post. Sorry.
Pete : thanks for the kind words.

 

AJSystems existed since 1998. Folks, that is a long time! Holding on for such a long time, I can only have great respect for that!
Al is not the youngest and he retired.
Of course the closing of AJSystems came as a shock for its loyal customers who love the program(s).
I don't recall exactly when I started to use EA (I could have taken a look at my archives, but I didn't). I guess it was somewhere in 2000 or 2001. Over the years to follow I bought upgrades and licences for other AJS programs.
I have always found that it were great programs and the support from Al was excellent!

Al, from this place I want to thank you again. Thank you !!!

I got permission from Al to tell you more, and I will try to do so below.

 

No problem at all. All is good, I mean it.

 

In a previous post I did advice users with a valid licence key to download the latest version of the program(s).
(I don't know for how long the site will be up).

That latest version, which you downloaded, is a special compiled one. It has a modification.
That modification skips the activation.
You will, however, still need a product key (valid licence)!
And that product key needs to be for the latest version. So, take for example OutBack Plus (OBP). You have to have a licence for OBP10, and not for (for example) OBP8.
And older versions (for example OBP8) didn't get this special modification. In the words of Al:
"Sorry ... I did not re-build the older programs. This would have required a modification, recompile, and retest of code that is (in some cases) many years old. Users of older programs would be able to continue use on the same machine indefinitely but a re-install on a new machine would fail activation. The activation is never required immediately (i.e. there is a 15 day "grace" period). It was designed this way so that users would always be able to restore ... even without a product key".

 

A special case is the AJS Open File manager.
That was an optional third-party tool for OutBack Plus (OBP) and Eazy Backup (EZB). You could buy it from AJSystems.
In the words of Al:
"The Open File Manager (OFM) was supplied by AJSystems under license (i.e. we did not develop the OFM). The company which originally developed the OFM was purchased (along with all software licenses) a few years ago. However, the new owners of the OFM software announced in early 2017 that they have ceased development, sales and support of the OFM. Hence, the OFM was removed from our site (many months ago) as we were no longer able to provide support for it.

The OFM works fine on most systems but occasionally causes "blue screen" errors on others. If it works for you without error you can continue to use it but you would not be able to transfer the OFM software to another machine (as re-activation is no longer possible).

There is a facility within OutBack Plus and Eazy Backup which will automatically close Outlook (and other programs) before beginning a backup. For most users, this can be used in place of the Open File Manager".