Software Evaluation Procedures
If you are wanting to try out new or existing software applications
that are currently not installed on campus or supported by Technology Support Center (TSC), please submit the following information to the TSC
1. Request information
- your name
- title of software
- where to be used/installed
- when software is needed
- what software will be used for
2. Software information
- producer
- is there concurrent licensing available
- pricing
- version
- system requirements
- known conflicts
- know tech support issues
The TSC will complete the following steps:
3. Get software for evaluation
- Only demo available: depending on scope of implementation, may need to get a better evaluation method.
- Limited evaluation: depending on scope of implementation, may need to get a better evaluation method if disabled functions do not allow testing.
- Full evaluation:
- If software will not need to be reinstalled after purchase, can be setup as production software and fully tested.
- If software will need to be reinstalled after purchase, will not be installed for production use, but will be tested for conflicts and functionality.
4. Evaluate
- Install on clean system
- Check for proper operation of software
- Check for .dll file conflicts
- Check for registry entry problems
- Check for file conflicts
- Create Application object
- Push application to test station and check for proper operation
5. Implement - associate with appropriate users
Additional steps for new software for student use:
6. Evaluate - faculty member tests all functions of software to ensure it operates correctly and does what is expected.
7. Implement - associate with appropriate computer lab stations
Evaluation definitions:
- Demo software: presentation of some type illustrating the functions of a piece of software without installing any portion of the software itself. This type is not useful for technical software evaluation
- Limited evaluation software: Copy of software some or many of the functions disabled. This type may or may not be sufficient for evaluation depending on which and how many of the functions are disabled.
- Full evaluation software: Copy of software with no functions disabled. Quite often this type is set to expire after a certain amount of time. This type is sufficient for evaluation.
- Production software: Full release copy of software. May either be purchased with license or on loan/trial from vendor. This is preferred for evaluation.
Last Updated: April 16, 2013
