Upgrading From The Free Trial The Cheaper Way!!

Question

Hi,
I've currently have Aperture 3 running well within the 30 day trial period. I've imported 9000 plus photo's from my iPhoto library and busy moving them into nice folders, and organising them in a better way that iPhoto could do. I like Aperture and really want to upgrade but this is my question.
To upgrade via the upgrade link it's gonna cost me £169 but if I choose another online retailer I could get it slightly cheaper. The latter method I presume comes boxed etc.
Anyway how would I install the new version to preserve my library and the changes / arrangements I've made?
If the boxed version comes with a serial number then could I just enter it in the trial version when I get the dialogue box pop up to buy at the start? If it does not have a serial number would I have to remove the trial Aperture and then install the new and keep the Library intact?
I have experimented removing the trial by finding the Application in the Finder window and putting in the trash and then putting back on which worked. Only thing is it did not ask for the trial serial number on reinstall so I don't know if it was completely removed by simple dumping it in the bin!
Anyone done this? Does the new full version come with a serial number or is it like iWorks which if I remember right does not have one.
Regards
Charlie

Answer 1

The trial version is the full version. The differences are:
- the "boxed" version comes with some sample projects populated with photos.
- the "trial" will expire if the serial number isn't entered
- while in "trial" mode, there are some things it wont let you do... mostly for safety. E.g. I seem to recall there are some library migration / conversions that it wont let you do until it's licensed. But that's mostly because they don't give you a way to "undo" it so they want to make sure you perpetually own the license first.
I think that's about it.
As for un-install by dragging to trash... this would only delete the application binaries, which is about 99% of it. It keeps the license key file in /Library/Application Support/ProApps -- so deleting the binary doesn't delete the license key (which is why pulling it out of trash didn't prompt you to re-enter the key.)
Deleting also does not touch your Aperture "Library" which contains all the meta-data (e.g. descriptions of all projects, what they contain, ratings, adjustments, etc.) and any photos which you import as "managed' (e.g. "Store in the Aperture Library" was selected when you did the import) are, of course, in the Aperture Library. The Library can easily be renamed. In fact... you can technically have more than one library -- though you can only use one at a time.
Lastly, there's some .plist (preference list) files under your home folder's ~/Library/Application Support/Aperture and ~/Library/Preferences.