Versions Available for Download
Version 8.0
Released: April 06, 2021
WINDOW 8 and THERM 8 Research Version
WINDOW 8 and THERM 8 are the latest versions of our tools that are available for testing. The main added functionality for THERM 8 is transient moisture and thermal modeling.
It is not recommended that THERM 8 Research Version is used for conventional thermal modeling, as it is still in the testing phase.
Installation
It is possible to have both WINDOW / THERM 7 and 8 versions installed on the same computer at the same time.
It is also necessary to install two redistributable libraries, one for Intel Fortrain and one for Microsoft Visual C++.
Both of these libraries, along with installation instructions, are listed on the THERM 7 and WINDOW 7 download web pages.
WINDOW 8
WINDOW 8 Installation Files
Link to download WINDOW 8 installation files:
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WINDOW 8.0.06 Setup Full (Window8_0_06_SetupFull.exe)
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Complete installation if you have never installed WINDOW before
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WINDOW 8.0.06 Setup Small (Window8_0_06_SetupSmall.exe)
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Smaller installation if you have installed previous versions of WINDOW
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New features:
Glass Library IGDB update from the web
There is now an option to update the WINDOW Glass Library with the latest IGDB using a web based IGDB database.
In the File / Preferences / Optical Data tab, there is a new option to update the optical data from the "IGSDB" which is a web-based database with the IGDB data. Using this option means that you do not have to install the IGDB on your computer (unless you need it for Optics)
THERM 8
THERM 8 Installation File
Link to download WINDOW 8 installation files:
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THERM 8.0.12 Setup Full
(THERM8_0_12_SetupFull.exe -
THERM8_Default_Library_XML files.zip
Default Material and Boundary Conditions Zip file (in case they accidentally get deleted)
Documentation
- THERM 8 Moisture and Transient Modeling Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- THERM 8 User Manual (PDF)
Highlights the new functionality, is not a complete User Manual for THERM
- THERM 8 Technical Documentation, October 2020 (PDF)
Detailed description of the algorithms used in the transient models in THERM
New Features
Transient Moisture model added
The THERM simulation engine been extended to model time dependent (transient) simulations (a “time domain” has been added to THERM’s original 2-D Finite Element Numerical Model (FEM)), and a moisture transfer model has been added.
The transient thermal and moisture simulation engine in THERM (called HygroThermFEM) allows modeling of thermal bridges and non-homogeneities in building construction without approximation. Such elements are primary pathways and causes for condensation and moisture in building and it is important to model them correctly in a thermal/moisture analysis. By failing to account for the moisture characteristics in the thermal envelope, designers and building can introduce problems that endanger the health and safety of building occupants as well as the durability of the building itself.
The HygroTHERMFEM model in THERM8 will allow building simulation practitioners to accurately model wall, roof, foundation constructions taking into account both the thermal and moisture characteristics of those constructions.
Release Notes:
Version 7.8.71
Released: August 17, 2023
Installation Files
Important Notes: If you have installed previous versions of WINDOW 7.8, we recommend that you uninstall the older version and then install this latest version. This version will also not update WINDOW 7.6 versions -- it makes a completely new version. When you install this new version of WINDOW, a completely new set of directories is created, so that you can have other versions (WINDOW 7.4 and 7.6) installed at the same time.
- WINDOW 7.8.71 Setup Full (Window7_8_71_SetupFull.exe)
- Complete installation if you have never installed WINDOW before
- WINDOW 7.8.71 Setup Small (Window7_8_71_SetupSmall.exe)
- Smaller installation if you have installed previous versions of WINDOW
- IMPORTANT: ***** Redistributable libraries *****
- If you do not install them, you will get DLL errors when trying to run WINDOW
- Radiance for WINDOW (RadianceForWindowSetup.exe)
- Radiance installation needed for the WINDOW Radiance Feature
Release Notes:
Bug Fixes
- Tools menu / THERM
- THERM was not opening THM files - FIXED
- DIf/Dif import issues fixed
- Gap Library:
- Program crashes going from List to Detail view after opening a new WINDOW db -- FIXED
- Detail View: New name is not saved after changing gas mixtures -- FIXED
- Frame Library / Detail View:
- THERM button wasn’t working properly -- FIXED
- Glass Library:
- Updating from an IGDB file was very slow -- FIXED
Released: October 04, 2022
Installation Files
Important Notes: If you have installed previous versions of WINDOW 7.8, we recommend that you uninstall the older version and then install this latest version. This version will also not update WINDOW 7.6 versions -- it makes a completely new version. When you install this new version of WINDOW, a completely new set of directories is created, so that you can have other versions (WINDOW 7.4 and 7.6) installed at the same time.
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WINDOW 7.8.57 Setup Full (Window7_8_57_SetupFull.exe)
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Complete installation if you have never installed WINDOW before
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WINDOW 7.8.57 Setup Small (Window7_8_57_SetupSmall.exe)
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Smaller installation if you have installed previous versions of WINDOW
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IMPORTANT: ***** Redistributable libraries *****
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If you do not install them, you will get DLL errors when trying to run WINDOW
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Radiance for WINDOW (RadianceForWindowSetup.exe)
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Radiance installation needed for the WINDOW Radiance Feature
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Comparisons with Previous Versions
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100 glazing system set comparison
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Berkeley Lab WINDOW 7.8.55 vs Berkeley Lab WINDOW 7.8.57 [PDF]
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Release Notes:
This version has no changes from 7.8.55 except for compatibility with THERM 7.8.57
Released: January 04, 2022
Installation Files
IMPORTANT: Please read the Installation Notes below
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WINDOW 7.7.16 Setup Full (Window7_7_16_SetupFull.exe)
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Complete installation if you have never installed WINDOW before
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WINDOW 7.7.16 Setup Small (Window7_7_16_SetupSmall.exe)
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Smaller installation if you have installed previous versions of WINDOW
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***** Redistributable libraries *****
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If you do not install them, you will get DLL errors when trying to run WINDOW
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Radiance for WINDOW (RadianceForWindowSetup.exe)
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Radiance installation needed for the WINDOW Radiance Feature
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Comparisons with Previous Versions
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100 glazing system set comparison
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Berkeley Lab WINDOW 7.7.10 vs Berkeley Lab WINDOW 7.7.16 [PDF]
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WINDOW 7 Release History
See below for a list of the Enhancements, Bug Fixes and Known issues for the major WINDOW 7 release notes
Bug Fixes
7.7.16
Shade Material Library: Can't overwrite existing records
This has been fixed so it is now possible to update the Shade Material Library with the latest Complex Glazing Database records.
Shade Material Library: changed ID not saved on import from Optics User Database, so averaged optical values are not calculated
This has been fixed.
Shading Layer Library: Importing Shading Layer Library records from another WINDOW database stopped early in the import
This has been fixed so it is now possible to update the Shading Layer Library with the latest Complex Glazing Database records.
Shading Layer Library: For Shading Systems defined with THMX files (such as cellular shades) the illuminance source was shifted int he y-coordinate
This has been fixed
Environmental Conditions Library: Making new records results in error message
This has been fixed
Glazing System Library: Allow a Shading Layer record to be modeled alone in a glazing system
This new functionality has been implemented
Glazing System Library: Effective conductivities were being displayed from the SHGC calculation, not the U-factor calculation
This has been fixed
Gas Library: Adding first entry to gas mixture loses the record name
This has been fixed
Glass Library: Importing a record from the Optics User Database to overwrite an existing protected record brings the record in as protected
This has been fixed. User defined records in Optics are now imported as unprotected, even if they are overwriting a protected record
Release Notes:
NOTE:
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THERM 7.7.12 should be used with this version of WINDOW (7.7.16)
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This version of WINDOW is compatible with AERCalc 1.2.10
This latest updated version of WINDOW 7.7 (7.7.16) fixes several issues with importing records between WINDOW databases for the Shade Material and Shading Layer Library.
This version is recommended if you are using the Complex Glazing Database (CGDB) for modeling shading systems (and haven't moved to the WINDOW 7.8 series).
This version is compatible with AERCalc version 1.2.10, ie, you can make Windows in 7.7.16 and AERCalc will import and calculate them (even though it is using WINDOW 7.7.01)
Version 7.7.10
Released: March 06, 2020
Installation Files
IMPORTANT: Please read the Installation Notes below
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WINDOW 7.7.10 Setup Full (Window7_7_10_SetupFull.exe)
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Complete installation if you have never installed WINDOW before
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WINDOW 7.7.10 Setup Small (Window7_7_10_SetupSmall.exe)
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Smaller installation if you have installed previous versions of WINDOW
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***** Redistributable libraries *****
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If you do not install them, you will get DLL errors when trying to run WINDOW
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Radiance for WINDOW (RadianceForWindowSetup.exe)
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Radiance installation needed for the WINDOW Radiance Feature
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This version will not update WINDOW 7.6 versions -- it makes a completely new version
When you install this new version of WINDOW, a completely new set of directories is created, so that you can have other versions (WINDOW 7.4 and 7.6) installed at the same time.
Comparisons with Previous Versions
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100 glazing system set comparison
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Berkeley Lab WINDOW 7.4.14 vs Berkeley Lab WINDOW 7.7.10 [PDF]
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Known Bugs
7.7.10
Environmental Conditions -- Can't make a new record
In this version, it is not possible to make new Environmental Conditions. If you need this functionality, you should probably uninstall 7.7.10 and install 7.7.07
Bug Fixes
7.7.10
Glass Library Update
Fixed issue reported by user of sometimes getting an error code when updating the Glass Library to the latest version of the IGDB. This has been fixed.
Gap Library: New name reverts to Default on Save
Program now should keep the changed name on Save (rather than reverting back to Default).
Gap Library: Up and down arrows don't work when creating a gas mixture
This has been fixed
Error opening WINDOW 7.4 database in 7.7
This has been fixed
Improvements in Libraries when saving new records
Under some circumstances, program would create a new record in a library even if the "Overwrite existing records is checked". This has been fixed in the Glazing System Library, but may still be a problem in the Glass Library.
Program asks to save record even if nothing has changed
This annoying bug has been at least partially fixed. The program should no longer ask to save the record (when going from Detail view to List view) if nothing has changed. There still may be edge cases that aren't covered, but hopefully this is a much needed improvement for the general case.
If the program can't open a WINDOW database, it gets into an infinite loop
When this happens, the program now allows you to select another database, rather than having to end the program through Task Manager (!)
Window Library: Double arrow selection of Type does not update the image
This has been fixed
Window Library: Under some circumstances, the name was not saved
This has been fixed
Release Notes:
Version 7.7.07
Released: July 03, 2019
Installation Files
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WINDOW 7.7.07 Setup Full (Window7_7_07_SetupFull.exe)
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Complete installation if you have never installed WINDOW before
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WINDOW 7.7.07 Setup Small (Window7_7_07_SetupSmall.exe)
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Smaller installation if you have installed previous versions of WINDOW
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***** Redistributable libraries *****
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If you do not install them, you will get DLL errors when trying to run WINDOW
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Radiance for WINDOW (RadianceForWindowSetup.exe)
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Radiance installation needed for the WINDOW Radiance Feature
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This version will not update WINDOW 7.6 versions -- it makes a completely new version
When you install this new version of WINDOW, a completely new set of directories is created, so that you can have other versions (WINDOW 7.4 and 7.6) installed at the same time.
Comparisons with Previous Versions
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100 glazing system set comparison
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Berkeley Lab WINDOW 7.4.14 vs Berkeley Lab WINDOW 7.7.07 [PDF]
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Enhancements
7.7.07
Shading Layer Library
Added Optical Openness input for shading layers in the Shading Layer Library
Matrix Library reader
Has been adapted to use the new Radiance version
Radiance
Updated to Radiance version 5.2, Oct 29, 2018
7.7.01
Compiled with updated libraries
WINDOW (and THERM) were compiled with Visual Studio 2017 and Intel Fortran Composed XE 2018. Hence the need to install these as redistributables when installing this new version
Better Scaling on high DPI (resolution) monitors
Using the newer Microsoft Visual C++ components allowed better scaling on high resolution monitors. Now WINDOW list views are scaled better so that they are (hopefully) readable.
Glass Library ID Limit of 65000 no longer exists
When importing a glass layer from Optics, WINDOW was restricting the ID to a value no larger than 65000. This limit no longer exists.
Approval symbol now displayed for Shading Systems in the Glazing System Library
The "approval" symbol (# for NFRC, @ for AERC) is now displayed for records in the Glazing System Library.
Vertical and Horizontal blinds
EnerygPlus now uses different algorithms for the thermal calculations of vertical and horizontal slatted blinds. This resulted in
- Additions to the Energy Plus BSDF IDF file from WINDOW to reflect these changes
Eliminated calculation time estimate for genBSDF calculations
In the Shading Layer Library when Type = THERM, when you click the Calc button, the program generates a "genBSDF" file that can take the program a long time to generate (many minutes). The program used to try to estimate the time it would take to do this calculation; that estimation just added yet MORE time to the simulation (!), so that estimate has been eliminated from the calculation process. Just know that calculating the genBSDF files can take a long time.
Bug Fixes
7.7.07
Database name and path didn't appear in the program title bar immediately on opening the program
This has been fixed
Incorrect absorptance calculation in BSDF
This has been fixed
Glazing System Report change
Vtc has been changed to Tvis under the Optical Properties section
Angular calculations for some cases (PET) were not correct
This has been fixed
Command line did not support new PermeabilityFactor input
This has been fixed
Angular calculations resulted in R+T>1 in some cases
This has been fixed
Angular calculations were broken when using the matrix method for specular glass
This has been fixed
"Frame doesn't exist" message
In some cases, the program would display the message "Frame doesn't exist" in a Window Library record, when the frame actually did exist in the Frame Library. This has been fixed.
When reading BSDF matrix values the program was not using the standard library
This has been fixed
7.7.01
Chromogenics calculations fixed
Previous versions resulted in different results for Chromogenics glazing systems in List and Detail view in the Window Library. This has been fixed.
Window Library
- Changing the name of the Window caused the program to invalidate the results. This has been fixed -- the results remain even after a name change.
Shading Layer Library
- The name of the record in the Shading Layer Library would become blank after browsing to a THERM THMX file (when Type = THERM THMX). This has been fixed.
- The interactions between fields when defining a Venetian blind (horizontal or vertical) have been refined. For example, some fields would appear to be editable, when actually they were not, based on how the other inputs were configured. Hopefully, this screen is now clearer in terms of what can be edited. Feedback (WINDOWHelp@lbl.gov) is always welcome.
- Calculations for between glass venetian blinds have been changed to use the Waterloo method for all cases (regardless of gap with between the blind and the glass layers) with the SDScalar coefficients set to 0.7 (rather than the default of 1.0). This results in better correlation to our test results.
Glazing System Library
- The program would not display the Radiance results after finishing the calculation unless you moved to another library and back again. This has been fixed.
- In the Detail view, the IG Height and IG Width boxes were not big enough to show all the significant digits. This has been fixed.
Gap Library
- Feedback boxes displaying the values for Coefficients were not big enough to show all the significant digits of the values. This has been fixed.
Release Notes:
Version 7.4.14
Released: December 09, 2016
Installation Files
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WINDOW 7.4.14 Setup Full (window7_4_14_SetupFull.exe)
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Complete installation if you have never installed WINDOW before
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WINDOW 7.4.14 Setup Small (window7_4_14_SetupSmall.exe)
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Smaller installation if you have installed previous versions of WINDOW
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Radiance for WINDOW (RadianceForWindowSetup.exe)
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Radiance installation needed for the WINDOW Radiance Feature
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Enhancements
Increase Frame Glazing System Tolerance upper limit to 2000%
In the Options tab of Preferences, it is possible to set the Frame Glazing System Thickness Tolerance %. However, the allowed value had an upper limit of 100%, which was not sufficient for modeling storm windows, which sometimes need that value to be > 1000%. Therefore, the upper limit of this value was increased to 2000%.
Bug Fixes
Extinction Coefficient Calculation
This version fixes a bug related to calculating the extinction coefficient (equation 7.2.1g in the WINDOW 4 Documentation of Calculation Procedures) in the angle dependence calculation for monolithic glass layers. The limit of 1E-10 is replaced with 1E-10.
Non-Convergence Errors for Some Glazings Systems with Shades
In previous versions of WINDOW the program would report non-convergence errors for glazing systems with shading systems. This has been fixed.
Preference Setting for "Don't Show CR Warning Messages Didn't "Stick"
In previous versions of WINDOW, checking the "Don't show CR warning messages" didn't stick between program sessions. This has been fixed.
Comparisons with Previous Versions
- 100 glazing system set comparison
- Berkeley Lab WINDOW 7.4.14 vs Berkeley Lab WINDOW 7.4.06 [PDF]
- 100 glazing system set comparison
- Berkeley Lab WINDOW 7.4.14 vs Berkeley Lab WINDOW 6.3.74 [PDF]
- Set of whole products, specular glazing systems
- Berkeley Lab WINDOW 7.4.14 / THERM 7.4.04 vs Berkeley Lab WINDOW 7.4.06 / THERM 7.4.03 [PDF]
Automatic Update Tracking
Our software will automatically check for updated version of the program each time the program is started. This means that information about how frequently you start the program is transmitted to our servers.
Starting August 2011, the Windows and Daylighting Group began incorporating Automatic Update Notifications in a number of our tools. The IGDB 19.0 release of August 16, 2011 was the first product that came with a tool called "IGDB Version Checker", that lets users check if there is a new version of the IGDB available.
Starting with the October 2011 releases of WINDOW6.3 and THERM6.3, all releases of WINDOW and THERM have built-in automatic update checkers. By default, every time you start the program, the program checks to see if there is a new version available. Rather then sending out e-mails to thousands of users every time we update the program, users are automatically notified in the software when there is a new version available.
Because our software is developed with funding from the US Department of Energy, and we provide it for free, we need to keep track of how many people download and use the program. This is the reason that when you download a program, you need to provide your e-mail address.
The first time your run any program with the LBNL updater functionality in it, it will create a completely random Global Unique Identifier (GUID) on your computer. This GUID is used to identify which computer requests updates. It is not linked to your e-mail address.
We do by default transmit this GUID every time the program checks for updates. In Preferences, Updates, unchecking the "Use Cookie for website login" box will result in the program not transmitting the GUID to our servers, which means your computer is not uniquely identified, and your privacy is increased.
By default the program checks every time it is started for updates, and it will silently fail if you do not have an internet connection.
You can go to Preferences, Updates to change the frequency of checking, or to completely disable automatic update checking. You can still go to Help, Check for Updates to manually check, or directly go to our website: http://windows.lbl.gov
If you want to disable update checking before you ever start the program (so it does not even check the first time), then you should edit the INI file for the program (THERM, WINDOW) which contains all the settings before you start it. The location of the INI file is stored in the registry. Go to Start, Run, Regedit and browse to HKEY_LOCAL_Machine\Software\LBNL\ProgramName\Version\INIFileName and INIPath. On Windows 7, it might be located under HEKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Wow6432Node\LBNL\ProgramName\Version\INIFileName and INIPath. Open the INI file (for example therm6.ini) in Notepad, and look for the following line: UpdateNotificationFrequency=0 and change it to: UpdateNotificationFrequency=2.This will prevent the program from ever checking automatically for updates. You can still check manually, by going to Help, Check for Update. If you ever want to change the settings, you can go to Preferences, Updates.
What we transmit
Everytime a program checks for updates, we receive the following information from your computer:
- IP address (your IP address can change)
- Name of the Program or component (THERM, WINDOW, IGDB)
- The currently running version
- If you want to be notified of Beta versions
- If you want to be notified only of NFRC approved versions
- How often the program is set to check for updates
- If it was an automatic check (at program startup) or a manual check (by going to Help, Check for Updates)
- A globally unique identifier for your computer (GUID) (unless you have disabled it in preferences)
If you have any questions please contact WINDOWHelp@lbl.gov
Updated: 04/26/2018