FAQ - V*Star

What do I need to be able to run V*Star?

V*Star requires Microsoft Excel 2007 (with Service Pack 2) or newer in order to function properly.  It will not run in Microsoft Excel 2007 viewer or any other version of Excel.  To view the User Guides, you have to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or newer.

Is my purchase of V*STAR a one-time purchase, or does it require an annual fee?

It is both.  There is an initial fee to acquire the program for a one-year license. We also require a yearly licensing fee of $50 (for an individual license), which covers all program updates throughout the year. 

How are updates handled?

We release one major update a year, where we add new sections to the program and update current sections with the latest available research.  If we make small fixes throughout the year, we make the newest version of the program available to all users and notify them of the changes that have been made. 

I want to put V*STAR on my laptop and my home desktop.  Can I do that or do I have to purchase two copies of the program?

As a single user licensee, you can use the same program file on multiple computers, as long as you are the sole user of the license.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you need help putting your license of the program on more than one computer. 

Can I purchase V*STAR for my entire department or consulting firm?

Yes, please contact Erin at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for further details regarding multiple licenses.

Does V*Star do other types of distributions other than a uniform distribution for the variables?

Yes.  For both the 360 Momentum and Pedestrians-Bicycles sections, you have the ability to choose either a uniform or a normal distribution.  You also have the ability to choose the variance of your entries and the variance of the results.