This patch is now obsolete. Please see the OPENSTEP Current Patch List, TIL article 70033 , for information on the most current patches for OPENSTEP and Enterprise Objects Framework. This obsolete patch is provided here as a convenience to our customers who have not yet upgraded to the most current patch level.

About This Patch

This OPENSTEP 4.2 for MachOS patch fixed several problems relating to date processing including a number of problems with processing dates after 1999. This patch is obsolete; please see the OPENSTEP Current Patch List, TIL article 70033 , for information on the most current patches for OPENSTEP and Enterprise Objects Framework

Installing OPENSTEP 4.2 for Mach Patch 1

1. Download the Mach version of the patch from Apple's FTP site at ftp.info.apple.com. The file is located at:

/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/MultiCountry/Enterprise /openstep/patches/4.2Mach_Patch1.pkg.compressed

2. Uncompress the Mach package file. Your web browser or FTP client may perform this step for you.

3. Log in as root . If you're not sure how to log in as root, see your system administrator.

4. Double-click on the 4.2_Mach_Patch1.pkg file. Make sure that no OPENSTEP applications are running before you perform this step.

5. Click the Install button in the Installer package window. An Install Package panel will open.

6. Click 'Install' in the Install Package panel and, when prompted for confirmation, click OK to proceed. The Installer window displays information about the progress of the installation, which may take several minutes.

Problems Fixed

Corrected in OPENSTEP 4.2 for Mach Patch 1

Four Digit Year Entry with /bin/date
Apple reference # : 2179467

PROB LEM :
Certain dates could not be input using the Unix /bin/date command which shipped with OPENSTEP 4.2.

RESOLUTION:
The /bin/date command now correctly handles 2-, 3-, and 4-digit years for dates in the valid Unix range (1 Jan 1970 - 31 Dec 2037). This patch allows four-digit year entry through /bin/date. In addition, input dates are now checked for validity and out-of-range dates are rejected.

New RCS Package
Apple reference # : 2249097

PROBLEM:
The version of RCS which shipped with OPENSTEP 4.2 did not handle dates after 1999 correctly in some commands.

RESOLUTION:
This patch installs RCS version 5.7, a much more recent version which does not experience this date problem. Please see the RCS documentation for a complete list of new and updated features in this release.

Hardware Clock Setting
Apple reference # : 2253935, 2258123

PROBLEM:
Previously, setting a date after 1999 with /bin/date or with the OPENSTEP Preferences application would cause an illegal value to be stored in the hardware clock of Intel and NeXT-branded Motorola hardware systems. As a result, some systems would show an incorrect year after reboot.

RESOLUTION:
With this patch, the hardware clock is now set correctly for dates after 1999.

Date handling in ftpd
Apple reference # : 2251927

PROBLEM:
The ftp daemon's MDTM command did not handle dates after 1999 correctly.

RESOLUTION:
The ftp daemon has been updated to handle these dates correctly.

tmac Macro Date Handling
Apple reference # : 2256331

PROBLEM:
Previously, default dates generated by the tmac macros used for troff and nroff typesetting were not correct for years after 1999.

RESOLUTION:
The various man, me, and ms macros now generate default dates after 1999 correctly.

Date reporting in atq
Apple reference # : 2258151

PROBLEM:
In OPENSTEP 4.2, the atq command displayed the job date incorrectly for jobs created with the at command after 1999.

RESOLUTION:
The atq command has been modified to correctly represent jobs scheduled from 1970 through 2037.

Job scheduling and execution with at and atrun
Apple reference # : 2263271

PROBLEM:
Under certain circumstances, atrun did not correctly handle jobs scheduled with at after 1999.

RESOLUTION:
The at and atrun commands have been modified to correctly and consistently handle the scheduling and execution of jobs regardless of date.

Date display in /usr/ucb/mail
Apple reference # : 2259253

PROBLEM:
In OPENSTEP 4.2, the Date: header of email messages written by /usr/lib/sendmail used a two-digit year in the creation time. This problem affected email created and read with the /bin/mail and /usr/ucb/mail programs.

RESOLUTION:
sendmail has been modified to write four-digit years in the date header.

ntpd Error Messaging
Apple reference # : 2260775

PROBLEM:
Under OPENSTEP 4.2, the error message returned when an excessive offset was encountered did not report the year correctly for years after 1999.

RESOLUTION:
This error message now reports the year correctly.

Disclaimer

THE SOFTWARE PATCH PROVIDED FROM APPLE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. APPLE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT WILL APPLE BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER RESULTING FROM IMPAIRED OR LOST DATA, SOFTWARE OR COMPUTER FAILURE OR ANY OTHER CAUSE, EVEN IF APPLE IS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY OTHER CLAIM BY CUSTOMER OR FOR ANY THIRD PARTY CLAIM.