AutoCAD R12 C4 for Windows  Questions and Answers 
-------------------------------------------------
 
The purpose of this Question and Answer summary is to provide information 
about AutoCAD R12 c4 for Windows. The summary is organized as follows:  
 
Q1:     What is AutoCAD R12 c4 for Windows? 
Q2:     What's new in R12 c4 for Windows? 
Q3:     What bugs are fixed in R12 c4? 
Q4:     How will AutoCAD R12 c4 be delivered to customers?
Q5:     How easy is the patch to use?
Q6:     What versions of AutoCAD does the patch work on?
Q7:     What technology did Autodesk use to create these patches?
Q8:     How reliable is this patch technology?
Q9:     What if I have customized pieces of AutoCAD?
Q10:    What about authorization codes?
Q11:    Will I need to reconfigure AutoCAD?
 

 
Q1:    What is AutoCAD R12 c4 for Windows? 
 
AutoCAD R12 c4 for Windows fixes a few bugs that were found after releasing 
C3 which was the first major maintenance release of AutoCAD Release 12 for 
Windows. 
 
There is no c4 bugfix for R12 DOS. 
 
Q2:     What's new in R12 c4 for Windows? 
 
There are no new features in AutoCAD R12 c4, it only includes fixes made to c3. 
 
Q3:     What bugs are fixed in R12 c4? 
 
AutoCAD Release 12 c4 for Windows includes all the fixes that were included in
R12 c3, plus several new fixes.  The following lists all the changes from c3 
to c4: 
 
   Selecting the F1 key while the cursor is positioned over a sidebar (screen)
   menu item will now display the correct help topic (if it exists). 

   Issuing a (done_dialog) callback from a popup list in a programmable dialog
   box will no longer cause a General Protection Fault. 

   Running the setup routine after Disk 1 has been personalized will now
   correctly prompt you for installation options. 

   Restoring plotter device defaults for the system printer from a PCP file 
   will now correctly update the pen parameter table. 

   Canceling a Copyembed or Copylink command will no longer cause a General 
   Protection Fault when attempting another Copyembed/Copylink. 

   When overwriting a plot file, the plot information will now be written to 
   the correct file. 

   The "Restore From ACAD.INI" selection in the Preferences dialog now works 
   correctly. 

   When plotting to an AutoSpool directory, AutoCAD  now checks to see if the 
   Plotting environment variable (ACADPLCMD) is set before attempting to 
   execute the command that it specifies. 

   The GDI Bypass option of the Windows Accelerated Display driver now draws 
   all vectors with the correct colors. 

Q4:     How will AutoCAD R12 c4 be delivered to customers? 
 
English language versions of AutoCAD R12 c4 for Windows are currently being 
shipped in all new product going out of production in the US, Canada and 
Asia Pacific.  
 
Existing AutoCAD for Windows customers using R12c1, R12c1a, R12c1c and R12c3 
will be able to request a full set of patch disks to update their version to 
R12c4.  Patch disks will be available through dealers or through Customer 
Service by calling (800) 538-6401.  These full patches will also be available
electronically via CompuServe, Internet and the Global Village.  The full c4 
patch will replace the c3 patch which was formerly available. 
 
For the convenience of our users who have already run the c3 patch, we are
providing a mini patch which will take their AutoCAD version from R12 c3 to 
c4 and does not require reconfiguration.  This mini patch is available via 
Compuserve, Internet and the Global village.

Q5:     How easy is the patch to use? 
 
We've provided a very simple batch file which automates the whole 
process.  The procedure takes approximately 15 minutes or less. 

If you are downloading the file electronicaly, you will need to download
the following files:

Currently using the R12 c3 version (US and Canada): c3c4.exe
Currently using the R12 c3 version (international): c3c4i.exe

Currently using R12c1, c1a, or c1c (US and Canada): c4w1.exe, c4w2.exe, c4w3.exe, c4w4.exe
Currently using R12c1, c1a, or c1c (international): c4wi1.exe, c4w2.exe, c4w3.exe, c4w4.exe
 
To install the Windows patch:
        Assuming you have installed your AutoCAD for Windows on drive C 
        in the acadwin directory and your floppy disk is in drive a: (or 
        your archive files were expanded in the patch directory), to run 
        the patch perform the following steps:

        a. From a DOS prompt (preferably not within Windows), type in
                c:
                cd \acadwin

        b. If you are installing from floppy disks, insert disk 1 in 
           drive a and type in
                a:install a:

        c. If you are installing from a single directory, type in
                c:\patch\install c:\patch

        and follow the instructions on the screen.

Note: If you are using the c3c4 or c3c4i patch, you should substitute "install4" for
      "install" in the above instructions.

To install the Windows patch you will need at least 6MB free hard disk 
space. 
 
We recommend backing up your current AutoCAD installation prior to 
installing the patch. 
 
Q6:     What versions of AutoCAD does the patch work on? 
 
For AutoCAD R12 for Windows the patch will update R12 c1, R12 c1a 
and R12 c1c and R12 c3 to R12 c4 including versions already patched with 
fixc1hlp.exe and winc1c.exe.  Effectively the patch works on the US English 
language locked and unlocked versions of AutoCAD R12 for Windows. 
 
Q7:     What technology did Autodesk use to create these patches? 
 
We used RTPatch from PocketSoft and PKZIP from PKWARE. 
 
Q8:     How reliable is this patch technology? 
 
When creating the patch, the patch builder program creates a checksum 
of the original file.  The patch apply program will only work on a 
version of the file with an identical checksum.  Therefore, there is no 
risk to inadvertently patching the wrong file. 
 
Q9:    What if I have customized pieces of AutoCAD? 
 
The update process performs binary patches on executable files only.  
Files such as acad.mnu will be replaced in full.  Therefore, if the user 
has customized acad.mnu it will be necessary to manually bring forward 
such changes.  For a complete list of files changed in the c4 update, 
consult the readme.doc that ships on the patch disks. 
 
Q10:    What about authorization codes? 
 
Since the serial number for AutoCAD remains the same, your existing 
AME, Designer, AutoVision or network usage authorization codes are 
still valid. 
 
Q11:    Will I need to reconfigure AutoCAD? 
 
Yes, after installing the patch AutoCAD will automatically prompt you 
for reconfiguration.   

