All updates for Sacramental Register software are delivered by means of downloads from the www.rpinet.com website.

The changes and new features for every release and update of Sacramental Register are explained in response to the first question on the Frequently Asked Questions page for Sacramental Register 3.0. This page is accessible on the web at www.rpinet.com/sr2faqs.html. The update itself is also available on this website at www.rpinet.com/sr3dnld.shtml. To see if you need to update your version 3, with SacReg running, go to the Help menu, and select About Sacramental Register. In the box that opens, note the version information that is displayed. You should see evidence that you have opened field update 3.09b. If you don't see evidence of any updates, then stop everything and install the latest update.

What we are finding is that many users are happy using version 3.0 on their older PC. Then they get a new XP system, and they go ahead and install SacReg on the XP and get into immediate trouble with their data files because the special settings that Sacramental Register 3.0 requires on XP are not made. It is especially important that users NOT use the original version 3.0 CD when installing Sacramental Register 3.0x on a new computer. The latest update, available only by download, is the thing to install.

Important warning for Sacramental Register 3.0 users.
Users running SacReg version 3.0x on Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP need to check some extremely important Windows registry settings before using SacReg 3.0x on those systems. To learn what those settings are, go to  http://www.bdesupport.com/stability.htm#oplocks. The page explains several windows registry settings that need to be made in order to prevent severe data loss. XP users should comply with the recommendations for Windows 2000. DO NOT run SacReg 3.0x on any of these systems without making the recommended registry changes.

Here are the steps to follow to obtain and install the latest update for version 3.0.

1. Launch SacReg 3.0. Click on the File menu, and note the path and file name of any files listed at the bottom of the drop down list of File menu options. Save this information for later.

2.  If you have not already done so, this would be a good time to create a backup of your data files. You will find complete, step-by-step directions and a suggested approach to making backups here.

3. Obtain your customer key for version 3.0. You will need the customer key to change the update from a demo to a working program.

4.  Go to Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs. Find Sacramental Register 3.0 in the list presented. Highlight it, and click on Add/Remove. Doing this will remove the program, but it will NOT remove any of your data files.

5.  Connect to the internet and surf to www.rpinet.com/sr3dnld.shtml. Follow the instructions and download a demo of Sacramental Register 3.09. Save the download in an otherwise empty folder, preferably not on the desktop.

6.  Once the download is complete, Start | Run | Browse to the folder and select the downloaded file, which should have the name SR3Demo.exe. Run this file. It will unpack an installation kit in the same folder.

7.  Again, Start | Run | Browse to the file named Setup.exe (the file with an icon resembling a computer monitor), and run it. It will install the latest update (release 3.09b).

8.  Once installation is complete, go to Start | Programs | Sacramental Register 3.0 and click on the program icon to launch the program. Enter the customer key when prompted for it, and then re-enter the parish name and address. Do this carefully, because this is the information that displays on the printed certificates.

9.  Within SacReg, go to the Help menu, and select About Sacramental Register. In the box that opens, you should see evidence that you have opened field update 3.09b.

10.  Within SacReg, go to the File menu, and select Open Existing Files. In the open dialog that appears, browse to the file that is at the path you noted in step 1. Click open. The next time you launch SacReg, this file will appear at the bottom of the file menu.

11. Finally, take a "Sharpie" pen, or some tape that can be written on, and mark on the CD for Sacramental Register 3.0 (on the CD itself, not just the case), that the CD is no longer to be used to install or reinstall the Sacramental Register program. Instead, the downloaded update should be used. If you wish to make a CD with the download on it, that CD should replace the now outdated CD that was originally shipped.