When updating your existing licensed copy of A-Shell, there are two issues with which to be concerned: Make certain that these issues have been addressed and resolved before continuing with your download.

• License Expiration:  VERY IMPORTANT! Your A-Shell encoding includes a period of update support during which you can update your A-Shell software as often as you like. This is controlled by an "update expiration" or "maintenance expiration" date that is encoded in your software license. When that date passes, you can continue to run your existing copy of A-Shell, but you cannot run a new copy. So before downloading a new copy of A-Shell for the purpose of updating your system, make sure that your current "update expiration" date is not in the past. If it is, and you download an update, A-Shell will keep working but will revert to demo mode. To check your maintenance expiration date, go to the A-Shell prompt and type ABOUT, followed by the <enter> key.
   
• Compatibility:  Every effort is made by the developers of A-Shell to insure that all versions of A-Shell are upwardly compatible, and we have a very good track record of not creating conflicts with older versions of the software. However, it is impossible to guarantee that the latest release will not introduce some new behavior, options, interpretations or bugs that cause problems for your or your programs.  Thus, it is not recommended that any end-user install the latest version without first consulting with his or her dealer.  If you have no dealer to advise you, make sure you preserve your current release, (ideally) install the new release in a separate directory to permit some testing before you update your production system, and exercise good judgment in applying the update. Always read the release notes to make sure there are no obvious conflicts with your existing situation.

Automatic Updates

 * * * Important: If you are having problems with the automatic update process, see the "Warning" note below. * * *

For Windows, A-Shell can be semi-automatically updated using a system called the Update Center . The system is accessed via an A-Shell command, ASHUPD.LIT, which links to the Update Center repository to check for updates, displays a list of the files to be updated, and offers you the option to proceed. There are numerous advantages to this new process over the normal update methods, including the elimination of manual steps, thoroughness, speed and convenience. 

The update program, ASHUPD.LIT, is included with the standard release of the software, and can be executed from within A-Shell. To run the update, simply LOG to the OPR: account and enter ASHUPD (assuming ASHUPD.LIT is present in SYS:). To run in "fast" (or unattended) mode, with no questions asked, use ASHUPD/FAST.

The Update Center and its related programs such as ASHUPD.LIT are self-updating, so you don't need to worry about having the latest or correct version. Once you are using any version of A-Shell that includes the update program, all you need to do is invoke it. If you do not have the update program, you can get a copy of A-Shell file ASHUPD.LIT here.

Many thanks to Firmaware, the developer of Update Center, for contributing this technology to the A-Shell community. If you wish to use Update Center for your own application(s), contact us for further information.

Warning: Some older versions of the Update Center are not able to update themselves, which leads to the update program falsely reporting "No Updates Available". If you you are running a version of A-Shell/Windows older than 5.0.995.7 and you get that message when running ASHUPD.LIT, please do one of the following:

• Download the current version of A-Shell and update your system; Update Center will get updated as a part of that process.
   
• Download the Update Center executable, install it in your %miame%\bin folder, then run it.