To patch a Discus 4.0 board to the latest revision:

1. Log in to the administration program of your Discus board as the board administrator (typically admin).

2. Go to the Version Manager and click the "Upgrades" tab.

3. In the "Perform FTP patch" box, click the "Download FTP Patch" button. This will open a new window to the DiscusWare web site with download links and instructions.

4. Under the "Download Your Patch" section, click the link to the patch distribution. If this is a patch for Discus Professional, you will be prompted for a username (enter your license number) and your password (enter your Discus Professional download password).

5. On your computer, use a zip program (such as WinZip) to extract the archive. The patch distribution will contain a "readme" file with instructions, as well as the patched program files and templates. Follow the instructions in the "readme" file, or the on-screen instructions under "Install Your Patch," for the steps needed to finalize the patch installation. Please see the FTP Patch tips below.

6. Verify the correct application of the patch by again clicking the "Upgrades" tab in the Version Manager after you have installed the files. A section entitled "Previously Applied FTP Patch" will appear and will indicate whether or not the patched files have been successfully uploaded to your server.

1. Creating new directories: All of the files that you upload will go to directories that you already created with your last full installation or upgrade of the software. If you find the need to create new directories, you are probably doing something wrong.

2. Replacing files: A key step of your upgrade is uploading files. In your patch, changes have been made to various files, and these files are uploaded (overwriting the existing files). However, your patch distribution is specifically prepared so as not to provide you with any "blank" data files that would cause you to lose messages, topics, or users. Therefore, you should upload the files from your distribution to the server.

3. Deleting existing files on the server: DO NOT do this! Nowhere in the readme file, this document, or anywhere else are you told to clear out your existing directories on the server before uploading your upgrade. If you do this, you will very likely lose some or all of the data on your discussion board. This advice can be paraphrased as follows: do what the directions say, and don't get creative in adding your own steps.