READR13A.TXT - December 16, 1994 
 
AutoCAD Release 13a Update 
 
 
PURPOSE 
------- 
 
Autodesk is committed to supplying our customers with the 
highest quality products.  As with any major software 
release, some bugs are found after the product ships.  
Autodesk is committed to proactively addressing quality 
concerns, and therefore has developed a software update 
procedure to distribute bug fixes to dealers and customers 
as quickly and easily as possible.   The first 
implementation of this program is the R13a Update Patch 
program.  The purpose of this document is to explain the 
update procedure. 
 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
Problems are reported through the dealer network to Autodesk 
Product Support or by filling out a bug report form provided 
in the back of the Installation Guide and mailing it to 
Autodesk.  Once a problem is verified as a bug, it is 
entered into Autodesk's bug tracking system.  Each verified 
bug is evaluated as to the level of severity and an 
assessment of customer impact is made.  Once bugs are fixed, 
update patch programs are created to correct the problems.  
 
In the past, bugfixes required Maintenance Releases, such as 
C1 or C2.  In most cases, these bugfixes required users to 
re-install and re-configure the entire product.  Now, using 
software patch technology, dealers and customers are able to 
use a quick, straight-forward procedure to correct the 
problems without re-installing AutoCAD.  In most cases, the 
update will not affect any customization options.  
 
 
GENERAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 
--------------------------- 
 
-  How do software updates work? 
R13 was specifically designed so it can be easily updated in 
the field.  The software update is actually a program that 
is able to modify existing files.  When an update is 
installed, it replaces the current file(s) with the new 
file(s).  
 
IMPORTANT NOTE:  Please be aware that a software update 
supplements your current disk set and does not replace 
existing media.  Please store the software update media with 
your original media disk set. 
 
-  What are the benefits of using patches? 
Most importantly, it allows us to get fixes out to our 
customers faster.  Because it is a subset of the program, 
patches can be freely copied and distributed among AutoCAD 
dealers and customers.  Software patches can also be 
effectively distributed electronically.  Finally, patches do 
not require new serial numbers or authorization codes, and 
in most cases, will not affect customization.  
 
-  How reliable is this patch technology? 
When creating a patch, the patch builder program creates a 
checksum of the original file.  The patch program uses this 
checksum to ensure that it is modifying the correct file.  
Other major software vendors are also using this technology, 
with great success, and Autodesk used it in a number of 
cases with Release 12. 
 
-  What technology does Autodesk use to create these 
patches? 
We use RTPatch from PocketSoft and PKZIP from PKWARE. 
 
-  How easy is a update to install? 
An easy-to-use batch file automates the whole procedure.  
Simply type the batch command and follow the instructions on 
your screen.  The entire process typically takes less than 
fifteen minutes. 
 
-  If more than one update exists, do I need to install all 
of them? 
No, simply install the latest update.  The software is able 
to determine the update history of your software and 
automatically updates the appropriate files. 
 
-  Should I exchange any unopened product? 
It is not necessary to exchange existing product -- simply 
run the latest update after the standard installation. 
 
 
R13A UPDATE -- QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 
---------------------------------- 
 
-  What problems are fixed with the R13a update? 
 
The following problems are fixed with the update: 
 
     --  Attaching an xref drawing with missing nested 
attachments or opening a drawing with missing nested 
attachments works correctly.  The same is true for drawings 
that are overlayed. 
 
     --  Editing an associative hatch's boundary when the 
hatch pattern is on a frozen layer works correctly. 
 
     --  Performing a DIMTEDIT/LEFT or RIGHT on a dimension 
in a paperspace viewport works correctly. 
 
     --  Switching to paperspace when an object's grips are 
active works correctly. 
 
     --  Mline styles are now associated with the correct 
layers in all cases. 
 
     --  When running the DOS version on fast PC's such as 
90Mhz or faster Pentium computers, AutoCAD for DOS was over-
zealous in polling the keyboard, possibly leading to a 
performance slowdown.  This has been corrected (this problem 
is  not related to the Pentium  floating point problem). 
 
-  On which versions of AutoCAD Release 13 does the R13a 
update work? 
 
The R13a update works with all English-language versions of 
Release 13 for PCs.  There are, however, four separate 
update program files for the different versions of AutoCAD: 
 
Unlocked, DOS 
Unlocked, Windows 
Locked/Network, DOS 
Locked/Network, Windows 
 
The update for the locked version should be applied to the 
network version of AutoCAD. 
 
Localized versions that are already shipping (i.e., German 
and French) do not need to be updated; they already include 
the fixes.  Localized versions released in the future will 
also contain the fixes. 
 
-  How do you apply the R13a update? 
 
The update is applied after AutoCAD has already been 
installed, and must be applied separately to the DOS and 
Windows executables 
 
1.   Backup your current installation if you desire.  The 
update program changes only one file, ACAD.EXE. 
 
2.   You need the appropriate update diskette or update 
program file for our specific AutoCAD version (unlocked or 
locked/network, DOS and/or Windows).  You also need at least 
11Mb of free hard disk space on the drive that contains your 
AutoCAD executable file, ACAD.EXE, in order to apply the 
update. 
 
3.   Assuming that you have installed AutoCAD DOS in the 
\acadr13\dos directory and/or AutoCAD Windows in the 
\acadr13\win directory on drive C and your floppy drive is 
drive A, perform the following steps to apply the update (If 
you have installed AutoCAD in directories with names other 
than the defaults, substitute your directory names in the 
commands listed below for the default directory names.): 
 
For AutoCAD for DOS: 
 
     a. From the DOS prompt, type: 
 
          c: 
          cd \acadr13\dos 
 
     b. If installing from a floppy drive, place the update 
        disk in drive A, and type: 
 
          a:\dosinst a: 
 
     or, 
 
     b. If installing from a directory on the hard drive 
        such as c:\update, type: 
 
          c:\update\dosinst c:\update 
 
     and follow the instructions on the screen. 
 
For AutoCAD for Windows: 
 
     a. From the DOS prompt, type: 
 
          c: 
          cd \acadr13\win 
 
     b. If installing from a floppy drive, place the update 
        disk in drive A, and type: 
 
          a:\wininst a: 
 
     or, 
 
     b. If installing from a directory on the hard drive 
        such as c:\update, type: 
 
          c:\update\wininst c:\update 
 
     and follow the instructions on the screen. 
 
4.   The update is applied. This file, readr13a.txt, is also 
installed into the AutoCAD directory by the update program.  
 
-  What about compatibility? 
 
No new authorization codes are required, and the serial 
number and personalization information of the installed copy 
of AutoCAD is retained. 
 
No reconfiguration is necessary; the R13a update preserves 
the existing configuration information. 
 
The R13a update process only affects the AutoCAD executable 
file, ACAD.EXE.  No customized files are affected. 
 
 
 
 
 

