Do multiple instances of Flare co-exist peacefully?

[kevinmcl]

I recall, with previous Flare versions, that having more than a single instance of Flare open at any one time was risky.
So I've avoided doing it. But if it's allowed and safe, then it's useful sometimes.

Are we supposed to be able to run two (or more) projects at one time on a computer?

It's sometimes quite handy when I write new material or changes that apply to multiple products.
It's so much easier to just start another instance of Flare and make the identical change in a project for a different product than to save separately, leave notes to myself to get back to it later, and so on. But when I used to do that with Flare 2-ish, I'd get more crashes and other grief than otherwise. So I stopped.

Of course, this might instead be a question about .NET... but when Flare is why I have .NET running, it comes to the same thing.

What ho?

- kevin

PS: I searched the forum for "instances" and stopped skimming after the fourth page of hits. Maybe this question is already asked and answered. Sounds like something I would ask...

[whunter]

I do it all the time (2 instances, usually). Never had any problems. 6.1.

[Andrew]

I don't think I've ever had a problem with running multiple instances of Flare on my PC, ranging back to Flare v2. I wasn't aware it was ever not recommended. When I was deep in help development for our releases, I'd routinely have 3 projects open at the same time, and never ran into any problems I'm aware of.

[SteveS]

Running multiple versions of Flare has never been a problem. In fact, I have a virtual machine with 1 through 6 installed...

The issue arises when you open a project in a later version. As Flare has evolved it has made changes to the code used to build projects. When you open a project in a later version (or it might be at build time, I've never investigated that closely) the code is changed to match the current functionality. If you then open the project in an earlier version it can choke.

HTH

[LTinker68]

Running multiple versions of Flare has never been a problem. In fact, I have a virtual machine with 1 through 6 installed...

But have you ever run multiple instances of the same version, such as v6 open to Project A and another v6 open to Project B? I haven't tried that either, but I think that's the situation the original poster is discussing.

[whunter]

Yes, that is what I meant and it sounds like that is what Andrew meant too. I frequently have my global project open and then one or more other projects as well, so multiple instances of 6.1 open to different projects.

[NorthEast]

I'm not aware of any issues.
I very frequently have multiple instances of Flare open; for a recent bit of work, I used to have 3 Flare projects open at the same time.

You can also have different versions of Flare open simultaneously; I'm currently working with both v6 and v7 open at the same time.

[kevinmcl]

OK, thanks everyone.

I just wanted assurance that it's a legit thing to do, so next time something fishy happens, and I describe it, people don't say: "Oh, well, no WONDER you had problems with two (or three or...) instances open."

- k

[SteveS]

Running multiple versions of Flare has never been a problem. In fact, I have a virtual machine with 1 through 6 installed...

But have you ever run multiple instances of the same version, such as v6 open to Project A and another v6 open to Project B? I haven't tried that either, but I think that's the situation the original poster is discussing.

Ahhh.

Still, yes to that as well, although it was 5 (I think) when I last had mutliple instances running at the same time.

From memory I've also had the current version (at the time) open while using an earlier version to try something for the forums. But that was a while ago as well.