What is a Service Pack?

Ci Technologies distribute upgrades for current versions of Citect for Windows through Service Packs. A Service Pack is a minor version upgrade of Citect for Windows executable and/or database files. These files are upgraded to provide bug fixes and necessary enhancements. Enhancements are included only when they will aid in more enhanced debugging of Citect for Windows Runtime.

What assurance do I have when I install a Service Pack?

The Citect Support Programmers develop these Service Packs. The Citect Support Programmers consists of members who are specialised problem solvers coming from both development and engineering backgrounds. They all have on site experience with Citect for Windows and know what is expected by customers when it comes to providing working solutions.

The following procedures are strictly adhered to when bug fixes or enhancements are put into a Service Pack.

• There must be no suitable work around for the problem. If there is a suitable work around then this will be documented instead and no fix will be included in the Service Pack.
• The code that has to be changed to fix the bug or produce the enhancement must not be too extensive. This is done for assurance that it will not affect other code adversely. This decision is made by the Citect Support Programmers along with the R&D Director and Support Manager.
• The code change is managed via source control to maintain complete traceability. This also means that the change can be reversed at any stage of the process.
• The code change is reviewed at length by peers. This includes the R&D Director and developers external from the Citect Support Programmers who have many years experience in the R&D team.
• Once built the Service Packs are tested for general functionality and then each bug fix or enhancement is thoroughly tested. Only when every fix is verified is the Service Pack released to customers.

These procedures provide assurance that Service Packs only fix the problems stated in the Service Pack documentation and will not provide any adverse effects.

When should I install a Service Pack?

A readme file is distributed when Citect Support releases a Service Pack. You should read the readme and see if it states that a problem you are experiencing has been fixed. If so, then you should apply the Service Pack. However, Service Packs should not be applied on the premise that they fix a problem not stated in the readme.

How do I install a Service Pack?

Service Packs should be applied as follows.

• Close all Citect for Windows applications. It is also best to close all Windows applications.
• Run the Self-Extracting executable file (eg. SRVPACKC.EXE) or SETUP.EXE on Disk 1 if you have the disk distribution of the Service Pack.
• If you have a local Citect for Windows installation, it is best to choose to search automatically for the installation point. If you have a centralised network installation, you must choose to locate the installation yourself. For a network installation, you must also apply the Service Pack on EACH computer on the network as local system files may also be updated.
• Follow the directions in the readme for any special procedures that must be taken. Often, the application of a Service Pack requires recompilation of all projects.

How do I uninstall a Service Pack?

When the Service Pack was installed, a backup directory was created. This backup directory structure mirrors the Citect for Windows directory including all subdirectories. Files that were replaced during the Service Pack installation will be backed up in these directories using the following convention. The last letter of the file extension is changed so if you are installing Service Pack A then files will be backed up as XXXXXXXX.XX1, Service Pack B->2, Service Pack C->3 etc. This convention is used so that if you install progressive Service Packs you will always be able to go back to an earlier Service Pack or even the release. To uninstall or 'back out' a Service Pack do the following

• Close all Citect for Windows applications. It is also best to close all Windows applications.
• Locate the backup directory that you specified when you installed the Service Pack. The default is <Citect for Windows Installation Directory>\BACKUP.
• For each directory in the backup directory locate files whose extension ends with the corresponding number for the Service Pack installed. Eg. 3 for C, 4 for D.
• Copy these files to the corresponding directory in the Citect for Windows installation directory. Eg. Copy C:\CITECT\BACKUP\BIN\CITECT32.EX3 to C:\CITECT\BIN
• Rename the backup files to their original names using the following convention for extensions. EX_ to EXE, DL_ to DLL, CI_ to CI, DB_ to DBF.
• Delete the backup files from the backup directory so if you install the Service Pack again the backup procedure will again work.
• Recompile all projects.

After following this procedure, you will be running the Citect for Windows version and Service Pack level that you were running prior to installing the latest Service Pack.

How do I tell what Service Pack I have?

Citect for Windows executable files are built with version information. This is shown on the splash screens and About boxes. However, the best way is to go to the file in File Manager or Explorer and look at the version information of the file (File->Properties->Version Tab). Released Citect for Windows executable files have version information of the form 4.20.r2.01. An executable file which is part of a Service Pack has version information of the form 4.20.r2.01 Service Pack D.

Do I have to install every Service Pack?

Service Packs include the fixes or enhancements of all previous Service Packs. So if you are running a released version then when you install Service Pack C, for instance, you get all fixes and enhancements for Service Pack A and Service Pack B as well. The readme file for each Service Pack also includes the fixes or enhancements of the previous Service Packs.