Specify 6.1.02 released last week had a defect which affected an embedded Specify database schema upgrade. Users would see a message like this when trying to update to 6.1.02: "This version of Specify '6.1.00' doesn't match the application version in the database '6.1.02'. You should upgrade the database to a newer version." The upgrade would then stop. Specify programmers are contrite for the exception which resulted from overzealous checking of version numbers. In fact, an upgrade of Specify software will initially always have mismatched version numbers with the database to be upgraded--before the upgrade has completed. We have issued 6.1.03 today which will prevent the erroneous error from exserting itself. We exhort collections to upgrade to this release.

If one workstation on a Specify server-based installation updates to the latest Specify release, other workstations on the network which have not upgraded to the same software release level will produce this message on Specify startup: "This version of Specify (version #) must be upgraded to (version #) You should download and install a newer version." All workstations must be updated to the same version level to access a shared network server MySQL database.

Use caution when updating Specify Mobile WorkBench installations as the update procedure is different from the main Specify application update process. Because the Mobile WorkBench is downloaded as a compressed directory for copying to a hard disk or USB key, care must be taken to protect any existing WorkBench data sets before overwriting or replacing an existing WorkBench installation. For now, e-mail us if you have any questions on updating Specify WorkBench software. The Mobile Workbench is a separate download, updating Specify itself will not affect installed WorkBench versions.