Newsletter
The best way to keep informed of what's happening at KISTERS and the Hydstra software is through the KISTERS Australia Newsletter, which is distributed by email every quarter. It is an informal newsletter letting users know what KISTERS is working on, where the company is heading and how to get the most out of the system. The KISTERS Australia Newsletter also keeps users up-to-date with important changes to the system and technical issues which may affect them. To receive the KISTERS Australia Newsletter contact support@hydstra.com.
Hydstra User Group (HUG)
The Hydstra User Group meeting is held every year in Australia and the USA. It is an opportunity for Hydstra users to look at the latest developments in the Hydstra system as well as looking at where the product is heading in the future. It also provides an opportunity for users to talk with other users about their experiences with Hydstra.
How can I get the latest version of Hydstra?
All users are entitled to free upgrades on demand as a part of their ongoing licence agreement with Hydstra. If you would like to receive a copy of the latest system then contact us and we will send you a copy as soon as possible.
Recent changes to the system won't be available immediately because all modifications must pass through our quality control procedures before they are released.
How can I get enhancements made to a program?
While the Hydstra Data Management Suite is a comprehensive system providing a general solution to data management problems, organisations sometimes need the system to be changed to better suit their specific needs. Users may also have suggestions on how the system can be improved.
If you have an enhancement that you would like to be added to the system then you should let us know. In this way the system grows and evolves so that remains relevant to its users. If we think that a suggestion will be useful for the wider Hydstra community then we will consider implementing it at our own cost and in our own timeframe.
If a suggestion will only benefit one organisation or if you want an enhancement made to a deadline then we will offer to implement it at our standard hourly rate. There is also an ongoing fee for maintaining user specific programs. Common modifications include new routines for importing data as well as new plots and reports.
All changes and enhancements to the Hydstra system remain the property of the copyright holders and may be distributed to other licensees of the system. This ultimately benefits the wider user community.
Hydstra Pty Ltd will also undertake major development work which may result in new products. Ownership and marketing rights for new products may be negotiated and customers funding a new product may receive royalties on future sales.
Where can I get help on using Hydstra software?
Technical support is provided as a part of your ongoing licence agreement with Hydstra. We prefer to receive requests for support by email at support@hydstra.com although you can also contact us by phone during normal business hours in Australia and the west-coast of the USA. When we receive a request we will answer it immediately if we can. More complex requests will be prioritised and processed in order.
Where can I get advice on using Hydstra to its full potential?
Hydstra can offer strategic advice to help you get the most out of the software.
We can help you streamline your operations by using Hydstra tools to their full potential. We can set up systems to automatically import large amounts of telemetry data into Hydstra. We can also help you to automate the publishing of your data to the World Wide Web.
We can show you how to use existing Hydstra tools to improve the quality of the data you produce. We have extensive experience in setting up quality systems right through to ISO 9000 compliance.
Where can I get Hydstra training?
Due to the comprehensive nature of Hydstra, it is essential that all users receive adequate training. Training is always offered when the system is installed however it is important for an organisation to make an ongoing commitment to training to cater for new staff and to keep up with the latest improvements to the system.
What do I do if I find a bug in a Hydstra program?
Hydstra has a commitment to providing quality software and has processes in place to maintain a high standard however due to the complexity of the system, bugs do appear in the system. If you discover a bug then it is important that you tell Hydstra Pty Ltd so that we can fix it as soon as possible, before it affects other users. All problems and questions should be sent to support@hydstra.com.
If you find a bug then you should contact Hydstra Support with enough information to reproduce the error. The better you can define a problem, the better the Hydstra Client Services group will be able to serve you. It is important to report the exact text of any error messages that you have seen and a sequence of instructions to reproduce the error. If the error is related to your data then it is important to send the data files with the bug report.
When Hydstra Support receives a bug report it is logged in our 'system report' database. If we have already encountered a particular bug then we will respond immediately with our resolution to that problem, otherwise we will let you know that we have received the report and keep you informed of how we are acting on it. When a problem is resolved Hydstra Support will ensure that the person who reported the bug is notified that it has been fixed.
Hydstra will fix bugs as soon as possible although it is not always possible to provide bug fixes immediately. Users usually have to wait until they receive an upgrade before a bug fix will become available.
