How to install a patch file

[John_Black]

I downloaded the patch for EA65.zip to get me to build 801 (since MDG Integration requires 800). The instructions seem to say that all I need to move into the EA folder is the one file EA.exe. However, when I tried that, it did not work. I got an error message something like "Ordinal 42 is missing in TER32.dll" So I also moved TER32.dll. Now it starts without error but I'm wondering why I don't need to uppack the entire zip into the EA folder? That is usually how patches work.

There are several other .dll files in the EA65.zip patch file. If they are not part of the patch, why would they be in the EA65.zip file?

[«Midnight»]

Generally it is OK to unload the entire contents of the patch file into the EA folder. The precaution of renaming the earlier version is just for safety, and something you should consider. Or, you could make a copy of the entire EA folder until you are comfortable with the new install.

You will also want to bring down the new HTML help file in zipped or .chm format, and copy that to your installation directory. This is not critical for running EA, but Sparx does keep updating the help file (and user guide).

[Aaron B]

Just to clarify further, the patch file should only be used when updating a minor revision.  You should not attempt to use a 6.5 patch over the top of an EA 6.1 install for example.  As long as your current installation is a build of EA 6.5, you should be able to extract the entire contents of the EA65.zip patch file to your EA directory to perform the update.

[vadimo]

Some of the patch files such as the one for build 801 seem to include Install_Instructions.txt file with better instructions then the website ones. Would be nice if the website was updated.

However, there is still a problem that isn't mentioned in any of these instructions.

It seems that patch files for different builds of EA have different numbers of files inside. For instance, the files listed below are included inside 801 build's patch but not inside 802:

AsmImporter2.exe
AsmImporter.exe
EA.tlb
EAExample.eap
Install_Instructions.txt

So, if I were to install full build 800 and then apply patch for build 802 the above files would be either missing or old (original build 800 versions).

So, it seems that the safest way would be to apply all patches since last fully installed build in sequence.

[uniq]

From my experience, the partial ZIP file patch (copying just .exe or more files from it) doesn't always work well. Even if the product runs OK, it can't find some things around, like Help.

It is easy to see whcih files are new in a ZIP by looking at their creation date, but still somehow the product gets confused.

I suggest a complete reinstall every time. It just seems to take more time, but in reality you don't have to think or do much since the installation runs smoothly on its own. Just watch for the watchful Spybot: an EA installer times out and produces an installation error if I am not fast enough approving registry change requests from Spybot. But even if it fails first time, you can rerun it and get it install eventually.

[TomO]

Just to take Aaron’s point one step further; the patch file should only be used when going from one build number to the next in the same version:

Examples:
1) 800 --> 801 This is an acceptable patch.
2) 800 --> 802 This is not an acceptable patch.

The patch file only includes files that have changed from one build to the next. In example 2, you will miss out on all the changes to the files between 800 and 801. This is ok if those same files have been updated from 801 to 802, but in most cases something will go missing and you will start getting random errors. In any case it is recommended that a fresh install be done each time you upgrade.


TomO

[vadimo]

Doesn't uninstall/install cause loss of many local settings? -Vadim

[«Midnight»]

Generally - and I'm speaking from a small sample - doing a full install when there is a prior version already on the system, seems to retain my settings. Whether manually removing and reinstalling would trash you settings I cannot say, but I suspect you'd likely lose some or all.

I remember one occasion where I lost everything on a full install, even having to reenter my product key. This was a long time ago, and could have been something I did in my childish naiveté.

David

[vadimo]

David,

Do you mean that uninstalling previous version causes loss of setting while installing over it does not?

-Vadim

[«Midnight»]

That's been my experience, at least in recent times.

Note that I have generally done a full install when version numbers have changes (i.e. 6.1 to 6.5) and a patch install on minor builds.

TomO's point is worth noting when doing patch updates. I have installed each build with only one exception. In that case I skipped a build and did a full install. That was a year ago, but I don't remember any problem with settings. That said, I could have forgotten in the meantime.

My only advice is to save your license key before you do a full install, just in case.

David