Note that you can install the Express edition of Prime 5, free of charge, onto the same PC. It will allow you to read Prime sheets from all current versions. Prime 3 and Prime 5 can co-exist and run independently on the same PC. But there is also a downside:
- It allows you to read, not necessarily execute Prime sheets. Certain function are designated 'Premium' features, that PTC banned from use on the Free Express Prime. These function will not run in Prime Express. But still, you can see all input.... and output as far as it is saved.
- Installing the Express edition of this newer version may break your ability to translate Mathcad (15 and before) sheets to Prime. {Note that there is NO tool whatsoever to translate any Prime sheet to any previous Prime or Mathcad (15 and before) format.} But if you don't need that facility...
- There may be other caveats.
To be on the safe side:
Use a spare PC (running a 64-bit windows OS) and install Prime 5.0 Express on that machine to allow reading/viewing all Prime sheets.
You could even Install Prime 3 express on that machine and be able to copy expressions over from Prime 5 Express to Prime 3 express. Unfortunately the stability of PTC software is such that probability is high that it makes the application crash every now and then. But is works as long as it works...
Success!
Luc
