Really disappointed
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 11:34 pm
Well, I'm really disappointed with this software. I fear I have wasted $25 ):
I have been using DiveLog for many years without issue. But I am unable to get it to download data from my new Vyper Air, so I went looking for something else. Looks like it has not been updated in years, so no big surprise there.
I found MacDive. I used the trial to verify it could connect to the Vyper Air and download data, and it was able to do so. I though to myself, "great!" So I paid my $25 to get the license so I could download all the data.
Now I am disappointed to find that the way MacDive manages data really doesn't operate as expected, nor meet my needs. Having to have all dives in one huge log doesn't work for me. I want each dives for each trip in its own file. I want the dives for each of my 3 dive computers in their own file. I want to be able to download data into a "holding file" while I look at the data and compare it against the other two dive computers. I want to be able to open multiple files at once (pretty much like any other software in the world). MacDive doesn't do any of this basic, basic stuff.
OK, fine, all I bought it for was to access the dive computer and get me the data anyway. I figure I would export the data in UDCF format, and then import the data in UDCF format into DiveLog, and manage it there. Nope. The data exports and creates a file, but when I go to import, I get a Java error: lava.NumberFormatException: empty String. So, that's useless.
So, at the end of the day, MacDive lets me download the data, but doesn't let me manage it effectively - so there is no point in downloading it. I am going to have to type it all into DiveLog manually - which doesn't give me the dive profiles (which, really, is the whole point of all of this). That sucks. I'm out $25. Hopefully, I can find something else that will do the job.
To be fair, otherwise, it looks like nice software. I can see a lot of effort went into it. I want to like it. But I just don't understand the completely non-standard design approach of lumping everything in one huge file! Even crappy software like Microsoft Excel lets you put stuff on different tabs (not to mention different documents). The whole "one document for the whole application" approach is just bizarre. It's just a shame, because otherwise, I think this software could be top notch.
I have been using DiveLog for many years without issue. But I am unable to get it to download data from my new Vyper Air, so I went looking for something else. Looks like it has not been updated in years, so no big surprise there.
I found MacDive. I used the trial to verify it could connect to the Vyper Air and download data, and it was able to do so. I though to myself, "great!" So I paid my $25 to get the license so I could download all the data.
Now I am disappointed to find that the way MacDive manages data really doesn't operate as expected, nor meet my needs. Having to have all dives in one huge log doesn't work for me. I want each dives for each trip in its own file. I want the dives for each of my 3 dive computers in their own file. I want to be able to download data into a "holding file" while I look at the data and compare it against the other two dive computers. I want to be able to open multiple files at once (pretty much like any other software in the world). MacDive doesn't do any of this basic, basic stuff.
OK, fine, all I bought it for was to access the dive computer and get me the data anyway. I figure I would export the data in UDCF format, and then import the data in UDCF format into DiveLog, and manage it there. Nope. The data exports and creates a file, but when I go to import, I get a Java error: lava.NumberFormatException: empty String. So, that's useless.
So, at the end of the day, MacDive lets me download the data, but doesn't let me manage it effectively - so there is no point in downloading it. I am going to have to type it all into DiveLog manually - which doesn't give me the dive profiles (which, really, is the whole point of all of this). That sucks. I'm out $25. Hopefully, I can find something else that will do the job.
To be fair, otherwise, it looks like nice software. I can see a lot of effort went into it. I want to like it. But I just don't understand the completely non-standard design approach of lumping everything in one huge file! Even crappy software like Microsoft Excel lets you put stuff on different tabs (not to mention different documents). The whole "one document for the whole application" approach is just bizarre. It's just a shame, because otherwise, I think this software could be top notch.