The EJS OnSite Version Update Process is able to update all files of any version of EJS OnSite to the latest version. This process is quite complex and has many tests and checks built-in to be able to handle a large variety of operating systems, network configuarations, system setups, application versions, and environments. The following is a step by step description of the update process with emphasis on possible failure modes. In general, updates will not require any user intervention, with the exception of possible third-party installations as part of the Local Workstation Components Update.

NOTE: On 64-bit versions of Windows 7 (and possibly also Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008), programs that contain the words "Install" or "Setup" in their file name can't see any mapped network drives. Because of this, it might not be possible to successfully run the EJS OnSite Install program without manually renaming it to something like "Inst_EJS.exe" on such Operating Systems!

In the first step of the update process, the EJS OnSite Installation program will try to connect to the EJS OnSite FTP Server to check and verify that all the latest installation files are available:

If any files are missing, corrupt, or belong to a different version, the program will attempt to download the missing installation files:

The updated installation files will then be copied into the application's Install directory. This process is also done by the calling EJS OnSite application before even starting the EJS OnSite Install program, if the update was initiated from the "Update to latest Version" menu option of the EJS OnSite Police Records or Officer Daily programs.

Before starting the Update process, the Install program will now check if any other EJS OnSite programs are currently running. If it finds that someone else is using EJS OnSite, the following dialog is displayed:

The Install program will then send a message to all other currently running EJS OnSite programs, requesting exclusive access to the EJS OnSite application. It will then wait until it receives an answer from each of the programs or until all programs have been closed. You can cancel the Installation process at any time by pressing the "Cancel" button. Even though it is also possible to start the Installation process right away by pressing the "Start" button instead of waiting for the responses from the other programs, this isn't recommended!

NOTE: If the application's Messaging System is working, all EJS OnSite applications will display a Message dialog similar to the following:

If any of the users select the "Cancel" button on this dialog within 20 seconds of it being displayed, their application will send a message back to the Installation program that the request for an update was denied. The Install program will then show this response in a dialog similar to this one:

Otherwise, if it seems that no other EJS OnSite application is running, the update will proceed. Just to be on the safe side, the Install program will test each individual database and program to verify that none of them are currently in use. If it finds that any of those files are open or locked, it will display a message like this:

After you press the "OK" button, the program will show the following message, and cancel the entire Update process:

Otherwise, the Update process will start in earnest. The Install program will first Update the Local Workstation and its Components before updating all Databases and Program files that need to be modified.

NOTE: Again, before trying to update each individual part of the EJS OnSite application, the Install program will test each individual file to verify that none of them are currently in use. Because occasionally some files might be locked by the File Server even though no EJS OnSite program is running on any workstation, it might be necessary to manually clear the connections and close all processes that hold those files open in the EJS OnSite application directory. This can usually be done by an Adminitrator on the File Server itself, or by shutting down and re-starting the entire File Server. If at any time the Install programs finds that any of the files that need to updated are locked or held open, it will display a message similar to this one:

After you press the "OK" button, the program will show the following message, and cancel the remainder of the Update process:

IMPORTANT: If this occurrs, your system will be in an intermediate state between two versions. Before using the EJS OnSite application after an error like this occurrs, it is strongly recommended to manually complete the Update process! If you are unable to complete the Update process even after restarting your File Server (to clear out any processes that might have those files locked), please Contact EJS OnSite Tech Support for assistance at your earliest conveniance.

After the Update of all data and program files has been successfully completed, the Install program will continue with Part 2 of the update process. It is also possible to manually execute this second part of the update process by selecting from the Main Menu of the Install program: "Advanced" → "Update/Install EJS OnSite Program Components" → "Continue with Part 2 of Update to: "Version 4.2a Windows"".

This part of the update starts with the re-indexing of all databases:

After the Re-Indexing is complete, the Install program will Update all "UserParm" databases of all Workstations, if the "Update Parameters of All Installed Workstations" Check Box was selected when the update was started. After those databases have been updated, the following confirmation dialog is shown:

After you press the "OK" button (or after displaying the dialog for 30 seconds), the program will update all LEADS Jurisdictions of your LEADS Region, and then it will re-index all currently existing LEADS Data:

This will conclude the Update of all required files to the latest version of EJS OnSite. The program will show the following confirmation dialog for 30 seconds or until you press the "OK" button:

If the update was initiated from the "Update to latest Version" menu option of the EJS OnSite Police Records or Officer Daily programs, the Install program will now quit and automatically start the new version of the originally calling program and log you back in as the same EJS OnSite user.

NOTE: If the program doesn't show the latest Version in its Title Bar (see also: how to identify what Version of EJS OnSite I'm using?) then the update wasn't successful for some reason. In that case, please Contact EJS OnSite Tech Support for assistance at your earliest conveniance.