File: PREADME.TXT ================= BEFORE YOU PROCEED: =================== a) MAKE A BACKUP FIRST This patching process directly modifies the FoxPro files in your FoxPro directory. Please back up any files you may have customized (including the FOXUSER.DBF, FOXUSER.FPT, and CONFIG.FP or CONFIG.FPW files) before attempting the patch process. This patch process will optionally delete the .EXE files which were downloaded from our online services. If you wish to re-use the .EXE files, please make a backup copy of those files as well. b) PERFORM A CLEAN BOOT The software used in the patch process may conflict with certain TSR programs. To minimize the chance of a conflict with a TSR program, please perform a clean boot of your computer before executing any of this software. For more information on clean booting your computer, please refer to the "Troubleshooting" section of your FoxPro online help file. It is not essential for you to perform a clean boot before executing the patch program, but this is recommended as a safety precaution. c) READ THE FILE "README.1ST" Before proceeding, read the file README.1ST, which is contained in the same library section as all other patch files. This file contains important information that is necessary to help you select the correct files for the patch process. d) CHECK FREE DISK SPACE Microsoft recommends that you have at least 2.5 MB of available disk space before you apply a patch. How to install the patches -------------------------- 1) Ensure that all files are located in the directory where FoxPro resides. 2) Execute the DOPATCH.BAT file This file will automatically patch FoxPro and update the appropriate files. The DOPATCH.BAT file searches the current directory to determine which required files and which optional files were downloaded. This file will therefore accommodate users who have downloaded one of the patch files, all of the patch files, or some of the patch files. To execute the DOPATCH file and begin the patch process, change to the directory which contains the copy of FoxPro that needs to be patched and also contains the patch file. If you would like for the DOPATCH program to delete the EXE files which were downloaded from the online service, execute the program by typing the following command at the MS-DOS prompt: DOPATCH delete If you do not want the DOPATCH program to delete the EXE files which were downloaded from the online service, execute the program by typing the following command at the MS-DOS prompt: DOPATCH Please watch your screen while the program is executing. Important status information will be displayed while the program is executing. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ====================== Where to find the DOPATCH.BAT file ---------------------------------- In order to install any patches, a file called DOPATCH.BAT is required. This file is contained inside each of the following required files: FPW.EXE, FPW_DK.EXE, FPD.EXE, and FPD_DK.EXE. The DOPATCH.BAT file is not contained in any of the optional files. To install the optional patches, you must download one of the required files (FPW.EXE, FPW_DK.EXE, FPD.EXE, or FPD_DK.EXE) in addition to the optional files. It is not possible to apply the optional patches without also patching FoxPro itself. Patch Messages -------------- Here are the messages that may be displayed when you execute the PATCH utility: "" is not a baseline file. One or more of the files are not baseline files. Re-install the product(s) from the original diskettes and run this program again. Some patches must be applied to the FoxPro version that you installed from your FoxPro diskettes. When this message is displayed, re-install FoxPro from your diskettes. -------- CAUTION! If you have installed the optional FoxPro Distribution Kit, -------- be sure to re-install both FoxPro and the Distribution Kit before you patch. See the next section, BASELINES, for more information. "": Permission denied The PATCH utility does not have write access to the specified file. Change the DOS attribute of the file to read/write and run PATCH again. All files are up to date. You have the most current version of FoxPro, the optional FoxPro Distribution Kit and the help files. You do not have to download any patch files or apply patches. Cannot apply - Patch Not Found. The specified patch file needed by the PATCH utility could not be located. Make sure you have downloaded the patch file and placed it into FoxPro directory. Cannot apply - Patch Out of Date/Invalid. The specified patch file found by the PATCH utility is out of date or corrupt. Download the current patch file from CompuServe into the FoxPro directory. Cannot open PATCH.DBF database file. The PATCH utility cannot open the PATCH.DBF database. This message may be displayed if PATCH.DBF has been erased or is not located in the same directory as PATCH.EXE. -------- CAUTION! PATCH.EXE and PATCH.DBF must be in the same directory -------- as the files being patched. Insufficient memory You do not have enough memory to run the PATCH utility. Free up additional memory and run PATCH again. Out of disk space You do not have enough disk space to run the PATCH utility. Microsoft recommends that you have at least 2.5 MB of memory available before you apply a patch. Free up additional disk space by deleting unnecessary files and run PATCH again. PATCH.DBF database file is invalid. The PATCH.DBF database is no longer valid. Download the current PATCH.DBF database from CompuServe to your hard drive. Total size of patches not found or out of date: XXX In this message, "XXX" indicates the number of bytes needed to download the necessary files. Download the necessary files from CompuServe to the FoxPro directory. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CAUTIONS!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- **PATCH.EXE and PATCH.DBF must be in the same directory as the files being patched. Otherwise the patch process will not work. **If you have installed the optional FoxPro Distribution Kit and need to re-install FoxPro as a baseline, be sure to re-install both FoxPro and the Distribution Kit before you patch. **PATCH.EXE may occasionally be updated. When it is, we will post a message on CompuServe. **Microsoft recommends that you have at least 2.5 MB of available disk space before you apply a patch.