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First the facts about software bugs and how they affect us all...

All modern programs are a complex combination of software from several vendors.

Microsoft typically supply the operating system, there will be software supplied by another company for your video card, another company will supply software for your printer. There is even software embedded in your computer (the BIOS), and software to run your harddisk. This software is stored in the .DLL files on your harddisk.

Software whose purpose is to support hardware devices like this is know as a driver.

The Operating System, the drivers and the Software Application you are using, all work together to run your computer.

A flaw, or bug, in any one of these programs could affect the program 'at the top of the food chain' - for example PCB Designer. Equally PCB Designer could be using a feature of this software combination that other applications do not - reversed letters are a good example.

All programs running on Windows (and even Linux) are affected in this way.

If you did not know that this complex relationship existed, it would be difficult for us to explain to you why you are having problems. It's not that we (or any other company for that matter) is being evasive, it's simply that if one of the other components is not working to specification - there will be a bug that will affect the operation of your entire computer.

PCB Designer has remained stable for quite a while now so we are confident that we have ironed out most problems. There still weak areas in the Windows world that keep cropping up and typically problems can be easily fixed by replacing old drivers with new ones from the Internet

It is also worth noting that simply because you have just bought a new version of Windows, or a new computer, or even a new printer, it does not mean that you have the latest driver(s).

The device may have been manufactured several months ago. The driver disk supplied with it could well be much older than the drivers available today on the company's web site.

To make matters worse, Microsoft typically do not update the Windows software as new drivers are released by third party companies.

The Internet has made all of this much easier. It is worth checking for new drivers on the manufacturers web sites on a regular basis, especially if you are using state of the art equipment.

Now to some specific questions:

What is the latest version of PCB Designer?

Version 1.6.0 is the latest.

How can I upgrade?

Go to the download page and get the new version. Install it as you did before.

I can't print any text, or, the text is distorted, or, text is printed as a black box...

This is a problem with the printer driver that you are using, and it is not a PCB Designer problem. Try and locate the web site for your printer and download a newer version of the driver.

To quote Hewlett Packard support - 'Windows does not like plotters', if you want to use an old plotter, sorry it won't work. Newer plotters may be OK as they are now based on inkjet technology - try the demo in the shop that want's to sell you a plotter. Remember the demo can print is free to try.

The screen is corrupted

This will be a problem with your video driver and it is not a PCB Designer problem.

Try and locate the web site for your video card and download a newer version of the driver.