Using Command Center offline? SOLVED

Hi Russ,
 
What I have done is simply interrupt the installation process as soon as all downloaded files have been validated and before the installation takes place.  From that point I transfer the files over to my DAW.  I have also read that another user downloaded the files directly from her/his CW store account.  I haven't checked myself, but I am sure it is doable as it has always been that way (prior to the 3C).
 
By the way, you can change the download folder in 3C by going to the Settings (cog) and going to the Command Center at the bottom section in the Download Path field.
 
Kind regards,
 
tecknot
 

This is an issue which I would also like addressed. I cannot find the thread now. But I believe it was Noel who said in a similar thread  " We don't recommend not using the command center to download and install Sonar 2015" 
Sorry I can't find it as these threads are moving to page 5 in no time right now. 
The gist of it is he's saying you need to use the command center or expect problems. 
For me it's a huge hassle as I'm just like Russ. But then add to that I am charged $10 a gig over 3 gigs a month. So am I'm faced with lugging my DAW to town? 
for X3 I just waited until I had access to a good connection and downloaded it no problem to a USB drive. I've never had to re download and that not an option I like. If these updates are large files then this puts the cost of owning Sonar way up for me. 
Not everybody on this planet has access to a good internet connection. I guess we are slowly becoming second class citizens. 

Leadfoot - when you say you download the files from your CW account onto a flash drive - that's exactly my question.  I've always done this historically, but now with my purchase of Platinum, it's recommended to use command center, so have you downloaded the files from command center without installing?  Or are you referring to downloading previous versions before Command Center? 
 
I also don't see any ability to just download the Platinum files without using command center, even though several threads indicate this is supposedly possible. 


I did exactly what techknot did (I stopped the process after download, just as installation was commencing), but surely this isn't the designed way things are supposed to work.

karma1959
Leadfoot - when you say you download the files from your CW account onto a flash drive - that's exactly my question.  I've always done this historically, but now with my purchase of Platinum, it's recommended to use command center, so have you downloaded the files from command center without installing?  Or are you referring to downloading previous versions before Command Center? 
 
I also don't see any ability to just download the Platinum files without using command center, even though several threads indicate this is supposedly possible. 


I did exactly what techknot did (I stopped the process after download, just as installation was commencing), but surely this isn't the designed way things are supposed to work.

Sorry it took so long to reply. I didn't use command center. I just went to Cakewalk.com and logged into my account, and went into the products page. From there, it shows everything you've registered. I downloaded Platinum from there. Hope that helps.

All,
I placed a support ticket to Cake and their response is below.  I'm baffled why these steps aren't in the FAQs or download instructions.  I should also add that you don't need to complete the application install on the non-DAW PC.  Once the files complete downloading and you're prompted for an installation path (or whatever the first dialog box is), just cancel out of the install to avoid installing the command center delivered application onto your non-DAW PC.  Then just follow the instructions below to get the download files.
 
 
________________________
Thanks for contacting Cakewalk! If you have an online computer and wish to install the SONAR Platinum files on an offline computer, you can in fact get the files from a hidden folder from command center
Open your run prompt by holding down the Windows key and pressing R

• In the Run Prompt, type %programdata%
• Double click the Cakewalk Folder
• Double click the Command Center folder
• Double click the Downloads folder
• All files in this folder are the setup files that Cakewalk Command Center accesses to install your products. You can copy all these files on to an external hard drive, and then run them on the offline computer. Note that you will need to go through the offline authorization steps if you are setting this up on an offline computer. Also note that some of these files are not necessary. You might notice multiple installers for each product. In this case, you only need the newest installer (check the numbers after the name of the product in the name of the Setup file; higher number = newer version). 

Well today I thought I'd give it a go and I just opened the "my Account"link and the Products link showed all my purchases from the past and plus the new- Sonar Professional, Melodyne and AD2. 
I opened the Sonar Professional tab and there is a list of stuff. I highlighted just the Professional and it opened a download link button.  
I started the download which was going to my normal Chrome Download folder but it kept stalling at 200 MB. I tried 3 times and it stalls at the same place. It says Unknown Network error. So  I think your right and they have changed something to tighten security.  Why a hidden download folder??   
The command Center has a buggy updater. It said there was an updated version but it just kept showing a circle going round and round. I tried twice.  I had to download the new version manually from the web site. 

Command center does indeed notify you if an update is available as well as check the downloaded file to verify it.  It does not keep the data from a download that did not complete to allow you to continue where you left off. I starts over each time.
 
If the file is small that's not a big issue. If on the other hand, like me, your connection is metered it's an additional expense.
 
The only issue I can see with the offline install is you need to verify the hash on the download if you want to verify the file before beginning the install.
 
I created a post in the  Features & Ideas Forum suggesting they add a download only option to the command center. 
 
If you think that is a good idea go and vote on the suggestion. They say the more votes they more likely something is to get implemented.
 
Cheers

Here is a subsequent response I received from CW support.  I must've missed this download link he's referring to, despite looking several times previously.  I'll try again tomorrow night when in front of my DAW.
___________________________________________________
"If that will be easier for you, you can download the same installer files by logging in to your SSO account, then going to the products page.
Under "Connected Products" you will see SONAR Platinum and others listed. If you click the product name, you will see it expand, and at the top of the expanded view, you will see " Select a product from below to generate a download link:"
From there, all you have to do is select the product (or sub-product, in the case of SONAR Platinum) and an orange "DOWNLOAD" button will appear in the lower-right corner of the expanded window.
Once you have downloaded all the necessary installers, you can place them onto a USB drive, and then transfer them from the USB drive to the offline computer."

my daw has been offline too. i have windows defender, and when i go online i update it. i have to be online for xln, so it really is no big deal to do so for sonar as well. i don't do any surfing, just dl what i need, then pull the plug. best of both worlds, i think.

CCC has an option that allows you to define the location for your downloaded files. That's the place on your PC where the CCC would put the files if you used the CCC to download the files.

Just place your downloaded files from your SSO account into that folder then run CCC and select which ever files you want to install. CCC knows it doesn't need to download the files and just uses the ones in your selected folder.

There is a setting page in C3. To display it, click the gear in the upper right of the C3 UI.

I think they updated a lot of stuff since this thread. The offline process is now well documented and I had no problems downloading and installing Producer the good old fashioned way on a Laptop I just fixed up. No Command Centre was used. 
I just downloaded all the files that where in my account folder. I actually tried to install CC but it said I needed Net Framework 4 and my OS said I already have it installed?? so was a stalemate. So I installed Producer without CC no problem. When you open Sonar for the first time ( do as administrator) there will  be a few blue dialogue boxes in the lower right corner. One say's Demo Mode, One of them asks if you want to activate off line and when you click on it, it takes you to your account page ( you must be still on line duh! ) and gives clear instructions on how to proceed. It's an offline activation file you can move to any other computer, or in this case, the same computer sans CC. The export/ import offline activation is found in the HELP menu of Sonar. 
I worked for a few hours last night after installing all my stuff like Dim Pro and AD 2. All is working perfectly and all without the presents of Command Centre.
 
So when I get home I will transfer the new version of Professional over to my main DAW and install it over the old version. Or I might try the folder trick mentioned above first. But I'm tempted to scrap Command Centre if it's not really needed for the way I do things. Every time there's an update it's pretty obvious if you visit the forum :) I'm not really keen on the additional content stuff at this point but will keep an eye on that too.  

I bypassed CCC altogether. I placed the files on my D: drive, then double clicked the .exe files, and everything installed fine.