How do I upgrade to Readerware 4?

Last Updated: February 27, 2019
Keywords: upgrade, Readerware, 4.0, 4

You can download Readerware 4 from the download page. Pick your operating system from the list on the right.

Readerware 4 will install in a new location so that you can run Readerware 3 and Readerware 4 during the transition period. Installation differs by operating system:

On Windows double click on the file you downloaded to launch the installer and follow the on screen instructions. We recommend you use the Windows Web Installer which will install the best version of Readerware for your system. Readerware 4 is available in both 32 bit and 64 bit versions, if in doubt choose the 32 bit installer. Important: Do not install over Readerware 3, install Readerware 4 in a separate folder. If you accept the suggested folder in the Windows installer, Readerware 4 will be installed correctly.
On macOS Readerware 4 is distributed as a disk image, mount it and drag the Readerware applications to your Applications folder. The Readerware 4 applications will not replace your Readerware 3 applications, so they can be installed in the same folder..
On Linux Readerware 4 is available as a deb package installer and a compressed archive. If your system supports deb packages it is recommended that you use it, this will install the software and add entries to the menu. On Linux you must choose the correct installer, 32 or 64 bit, based on your system architecture.

Your existing databases need to be converted to the new Readerware 4 format. This will happen automatically when you start the program or open a Readerware 3 database. Readerware will recognize that the database is in Readerware 3 format and offer to convert it. The conversion is a copy process, your existing Readerware 3 database is not touched. The first time you run each program Readerware 4 should automatically find your Readerware 3 database and convert it to Readerware 4 format. If you have multiple Readerware 3 databases or want to convert your database later you can just open it in Readerware 4:

Start Readerware 4
Select File->Open Database
In the file selection dialog look for the File type drop down list. Select Readerware 3.x Databases from the list
Select your Readerware 3 database.

Readerware will recognize that the database is in Readerware 3 format and convert it.

If you are running Readerware in client/server mode you need to take additional steps to convert your server database to Readerware 4 format:

Stop the Readerware Server
Open the database locally in Readerware 4, this will convert the database to Readerware 4 format. As mentioned above the conversion is a copy.
Run RWServer Config on the server machine and update the server configuration to use the new database
Save the server configuration
If the Readerware Server is running on Windows, you must use RWServer Config to uninstall and then reinstall the RWServer service. This will update the server to Readerware 4.
Restart the server

You can now run Readerware 4 clients and connect to the server as normal.

Readerware 4 will be installed in a separate location so it can exist on the same system as Readerware 3. Because both the program and databases are separate you can continue to run Readerware 4 alongside the older version during the transition if you want. Once you have Readerware 4 running on your system, you can optionally remove Readerware 3.

Readerware 4 in not a free upgrade, the Readerware upgrade policy goes into more detail.

If you purchased Readerware 3 or upgraded to Readerware 3 on or after January 1st 2017, the upgrade is free. If you are eligible for the free upgrade send your upgrade request to upgrades@readerware.com. Please include sufficient information so that we can locate your original order and send you new registration codes.

If you purchased Readerware 3 before January 1st 2017, you can order an upgrade.