This document contains an overview and download information for Apple's Patch 4 for WebObjects 3.5.1. This patch set includes fixes that address the Year 2000 compliance issue (century rollover). Apple recommends that all users of WebObjects 3.5.1 install this patch set. Detailed release notes, including specific problems fixed with Apple bug tracking numbers, are included in the download package. Please read these release notes for important information on what is and is not covered by this patch.

WebObjects 3.5.1 Patch 4 supercedes all previous WebObjects 3.5.1 general system patches. If you have already installed a WebObjects patch on your system, you can install Patch 4 over your existing installation. If you have not installed any previous patches, you do not need to.

For additional Year 2000 tips for WebObjects developers, see TIL article 70048 .

WebObjects 3.1 users should see TIL article 70099 for information on the equivalent patch for WebObjects 3.1. Users of WebObjects versions prior to release 3.1 should register for and install an upgrade from Apple to WebObjects 3.1 before installing this patch. For more information, please see Apple Enterprise Software's Year 2000 page at http://www.apple.com/enterprise/y2k/ .

The WebObjects Current Patch List, TIL article 70037 , contains information on all available patches and workarounds for all versions of WebObjects, including EOF patches. Please read this document if you're not sure which patches you need on your system.

Introduction

This document describes Apple's Patch 4 for WebObjects 3.5.1. This patch set includes fixes that address the Year 2000 compliance issue (century rollover). Apple recommends that all users of WebObjects 3.5.1 install this patch set. These Release Notes also document the issues found in Enterprise Objects Framework (EOF).

How To Use

This patch consists of patch binaries for Solaris , Windows NT , and HP-UX platforms. The release notes included with the patch contain descriptions of additional steps required for full compliance on developer installations for all platforms. A separate patch installation script is also required for Solaris and HP-UX users.

This patch affects the development and deployment versions of WebObjects 3.5.1 on Windows NT, Solaris, and HP-UX. No WebObjects patch is required for users of WebObjects 3.5.1 on OPENSTEP 4.2 for Mach; however, you must have OPENSTEP 4.2 for Mach Patch 4 or later installed on your OPENSTEP system. WebObjects users on OPENSTEP for Mach should also read sections 3 and 4 of the patch release n otes ; these sections describe some manual steps you should take to avoid some Year 2000-related problems.

Apple has tested WebObjects 3.5.1 with Patch 1 installed and has determined based on the results that the software meets Apple's standard of Year 2000 compliance. For Apple, Year 2000 compliance means that the software does not produce errors processing date data in connection with the year change from December 31, 1999 to January 1, 2000, when using accurate date data in accordance with its documentation, provided all other products used with it properly exchange date data with the Enterprise Software product.. This includes the use of the database adaptors included with EOF, when used through EOF. It has been determined that the direct use of client library API, custom SQL statements, or other use of the database adaptors or software other than through the EOF APIs may produce results that do not meet Apple's standard of Year 2000 compliance.

What Is Not Covered

Third Party Software Applications

WebObjects 3.5.1 is designed to support certain third-party products, including but not limited to databases, web servers and HTML editors. Apple has not tested the Year 2000 status of these products and will not guarantee or provide support for them.

Operating System Software

WebObjects 3.5.1 can be used under OPENSTEP for Mach, Windows NT, Solaris, and HP-UX. Because WebObjects depends on the underlying operating system for some time and date information, Apple cannot guarantee the operation of WebObjects after December 31, 1999 unless the underlying operating system is free of Year 2000 problems. Please contact your operating system vendor regarding the Year 2000 status of your system. WebObjects installations running on OPENSTEP 4.2 for Mach systems must have OPENSTEP 4.2 for Mach Patch 4 or a later patch version installed on their system for Year 2000 compliance.