Integration Strategies

Identifying Software Versions

Because we are constantly striving to improve our products, it is important to keep track of which version of each product you have.  This is especially true when you are requesting technical support or looking to upgrade to the latest revision.

Packages versus Components

Each MTP/IP application consists of many components.  These may include multiple executables, installers, documentation, and sample configuration files.  The overall collection of these things is called a "package".  Whenever any component changes, the package version is updated.  As a result, the version number of a package is often different from the version numbers of the individual components.

Component versions take the form of "9.9.9".  That is, three numbers.

Package versions take the form of "9.9Z".  That is, two numbers and a letter.  This is a new format starting with ExpeDat 1.11A.  Older packages used a "9.9-9" format, which is being phased out.

Package versions are important when you are downloading an application for installation because they help identify whether you have the latest download.  But when you are requesting technical support, it is the component version that is necessary.  This is because, over time, components from different packages may become mixed and it is vital to know exactly which component is involved.

Finding Component Versions

All DEI software will display its version number when you click the "About" button, or when you add " -v " to the command line.  For example:

prompt# movedat -v
(C)2010 Data Expedition, Inc.(R) US Pat. 7158479,7313627,7404003,7630315
movedat - 1.12.0 Jun 2010 - DEI, EXP-1.12.0, DOC-1.10.4 MTP-darwin-3.14.1
00000000: ExpeDat-1.12A Free Trial 5 Days - DataExpedition.com, 20100620

The portion highlighted in yellow is the name and version number of the individual application.  The portion highlighted in blue is the name and release number of the product package.

Server software will also display its full component identification as part of its diagnostic output each time it is started.  This output may be displayed on the console or recorded in a log file.  For example:

prompt# servedat
V 20100615 12:20:44 servedat 1.12.0 "Jun 2010" DEI [25785]
C 20100615 12:20:44 (C)2010 Data Expedition, Inc.(R) US Pat. 7158479,7313627,7404003,7630315
C 20100615 12:20:44 servedat - 1.12.0 Jun 2010 - DEI, DOC-1.10.4 MTP-darwin-3.14.1
C 20100615 12:20:44 00000000: ExpeDat-1.12A Free Trial 5 Days - DataExpedition.com, 20100620

Whenever you request technical support, please copy both full lines of version information.  At the very least, the highlighted information will be required.

Production versus Trial

Most distribution package names end with either 'P' or 'T' to indicate whether they are perpetually licensed or time limited.  These are also sometimes referred to as "Perpetual" versus "Timed" packages.

expedat-win32-1.12AP.zip

Software contained in "P" packages is perpetually licensed and will run continuously, but requires a license code.

expedat-win32-1.12AT.zip

Software contained in "T" packages will only run for a limited time period, but usually does not require a license code.