Class Alert Version History

Version 3.0.0 - Released on 18 March 2018

New: Classes and program settings are now stored in a separate location within Windows and no longer require administrator privileges. Moreover, classes and program settings are stored on a user-by-user basis. Thus, when a new user logs into Windows and installs Class Alert, they will have their own list of classes and program settings saved. Note this method is not compatible with how Class Alert 2.x stored classes and program settings. Thus, upon upgrading to Class Alert 3.0.0, users will need to reenter their classes and reset the program settings.

New: Popup alert window completely redeveloped. It now includes an acknowledgment button, can be displayed in the bottom-right or top-middle of the screen, and progresses through three different colors as the class time approaches (yellow, orange, and red).

Fix: Corrected a major bug that would cause Class Alert to crash at times on startup or when minimized on newer versions of Windows.

Fix: Corrected a bug in the Update tool that was introduced with a background server change.

Background Technology Update: Class Alert is now built on version 4.0 of the Microsoft .NET Framework. New background technology requires Windows XP Service Pack 3 or higher.

Fix: Corrected a bug where the days of the week would not reset when editing multiple classes.

Significant Update: Class Alert on Windows Vista or later would typically crash when updating the program settings or when adding, editing, or deleting classes unless the program was 1) run as administrator or 2) installed outside of the Program Files directory. Class Alert needs to read and write to the .dat files stored in its directory whenever the program settings or classes are updated. Writing data to any files in the Program Files directory has been restricted by Microsoft to programs with administrator privileges only. Therefore, an update was necessary to make this issue as invisible and secure as possible to the user. This has resulted in a significant change to the user interface. The tool bar and edit menu have been removed. In their place is a new settings menu, which will allow the user to adjust the program settings (starting Class Alert with Windows, alert methods, etc.) and the class settings (add, edit, and delete classes). Adding, editing, and deleting classes has changed a little, since a separate class settings area was needed (see user's guide for details). Administrator privileges are now required to adjust the program or class settings, and you may be prompted for credentials depending on how Windows is setup on your computer.

Update: Upgraded the code to Visual Studio 2010 Professional, and made minor adjustments to increase program efficiency.

New/Update: Removed the control to start Class Alert with Windows from the setup program and placed it within the Class Alert settings menu.

New/Update: Major change to the setup program. Previous versions cannot be automatically upgraded to this version. Thus, older versions will need to be uninstalled via the Add/Remove Programs section of the Windows Control Panel before this version can be installed. Future versions of Class Alert will automatically upgrade older versions down to 2.1.0.

New/Update: Major change to the user's guide. The user's guide is now a searchable help file integrated within Class Alert. The pdf format is no longer available, but user's guide topics can be printed from wtihin the help file.

New/Update: Changed how some error messages are displayed to make them more user friendly.

Update: Minor updates to the code to increase program efficiency and to update links due to the movement of Class Alert's home page on djburnette.com.

New: Revamped the method in which individual classes and alert settings are stored. This is a major change that allows for more flexibility in backing up the classes and alert settings and moving them from one computer to another. Please note that any existing classes and settings stored in Class Alert 1.x cannot be converted to the new format used in Class Alert 2.0. These classes and settings will be lost when Class Alert 2.0 is installed!

New/Update: Overhauled user's guide. The new user's guide comes in both web (HTML) and .pdf formats.

Background Technology Update: Class Alert is now built on version 2.0 of the Microsoft .NET Framework. New background technology requires Windows 2000 or higher.

Fix: Deleting a class from the "Classes Being Monitored" list resulted in a duplication of the class immediately under it in the list and a deletion of the class at the bottom of the list.