Just a reminder: back up files before you update Silhouette

moraie, if you already have the version that syncs your purchased files to the Cloud, you should be fine for anything already synced to the Cloud. If you are using an older version, by exporting your Local User library, you will be able to bring them back in after updating, just in case they disappear in the process. I exported both my Cloud files and separately exported my Local User library. I wasn't taking any risks this time.

I was a bit nervous about updating, since I had lost files in the previous update (the one that switched everything to the Cloud), because I stupidly forgot to back everything up first. I usually also back up each design to my hard drive, but there were some that I had not backed up, so I did lose some personal files in the previous update. I was NOT happy. Silhouette support helped me recover my purchased files, including the folders and how my files were sorted before the update, but they could not recover those lost personal files. I had to open the ones I had on my hard drive individually, and then add the ones that I wanted back to my library again. I did not add all of them back to my library, just the ones that mattered most. I had a lot of personal files, but many were for a one time project that I really did not need again.

When you export your Local User library, you save those files separately. The link in my second post in this thread has the directions. If you follow the directions she gave, you should be fine.

I did update yesterday. I had no problems. My Local User files came through the update as well. I had not expected them to. I was expecting to have to import them.

The update includes a lot of features, not just the library. I had watched the video shown in the link I posted above, from the Silhouette School site. I decided to take the jump to update now rather than wait because I wanted the text warp feature, as well as the ability to see the thumbnails at a much larger size.

I have the Business Edition, which was the reason I had updated my software to the Cloud version previously (when I lost my personal files). The Business Edition is more powerful, takes longer to load, and sometimes has seemed a bit more sluggish. I recently chatted with support about the slow speed issues. They said my computer barely had the requirements to run it, even though it is an i7 Intel processor. I wasn't happy with that answer, and I am still not convinced, but I may have to get a new computer sooner than later, anyway.

Last night after updating, however, the software opened much faster than usual. I am hoping that it will continue to run faster. All my files were there, including my Local User designs. I have not had time to play with the updated software yet, but I love the library changes. I have always thought that it was stupid to have my own files separated out from those on the Cloud. Prior to updating, I did move and sync most of my personal files to the Cloud. There were a few that I left in the Local User section, but they were backed up to my hard drive, and I also exported the Local User library, too. They all came through the update just fine, though, so I did not have to add them back in.

One of my concerns was whether my own designs on the Cloud would remain private. I used to design files for sale, and I still sometimes create my own designs, so that is important to me. I want to preserve my rights in case I decide to do anything with them later. Customer Support said that was not a problem. No one will have access to anything I design, unless they are signed into my account.

Why would I even wonder about it? Because I also own an Explore, and Cricut seemed to claim that your use of their software supposedly gives them the right to anything you create with their software. Their default seems to be to make your designs "public," which sounds as though others can access them. You can make the designs private, but I accidentally had a personal design made public, and it was awhile before I realized it and removed it. It was actually an original leather design that my son had created. I was pretty upset, because it was something he wants to market.

Silhouette's software update has the default that your personal designs will remain exclusively to the computer that they are on, unless you choose to make them available to other computers signed into your account. Even so, it's not going to be available to anyone else.

Thanks, iowgirl, for clarifying. Like you, I have learned to save all my personal designs to a folder on my hard drive. Periodically I back up everything to an external hard drive as well.

To add one more thing to what iowgirl said, to load all personal designs individually back on to your computer after an update (assuming they disappeared after updating) could take time if you have a lot of personal files. That is why the ability to export the Local User library is useful. You can import them all back in quickly and easily.

The only time I lost files during an update was when I was careless and forgot to back up those files onto my hard drive, and I also forgot to export the Local User library prior to updating.

As for converting Cricut designs, I no longer seem to have the ability to do screen shots. An alternative for others in my situation is to cut the Cricut design from black cardstock, scan it in, and do a trace of that. It's more likely to need a bit of clean up, but it's an option.

I have bought a few SVG versions of Silhouette files for cutting on my Cricut, so I really appreciate that option being offered by Silhouette. I have only done that once, however, when I wanted to make something from leather with a Silhouette design.

From their website. Just back up your personsl files and anything you have downloaded from other sources first. It also helps to back up anything you have bought from Silhouette, especially if you had designs sorted into folders.

They have various versions of their software available on their site. Last time I checked, they had a "Legacy" version, which should be pre-Cloud, if you want to stay with an older version.