Installation and updates

The following section contains technical updates concerned with installation and updates.

For more detail, see our main Technical Documents Installation area.

Q4 2024

FastStats

Add last updated date to virtual integrity report

We’ve added a new column to the virtual integrity report, to list the last updated date of a Virtual Variable (obtained by readying the LatestRefresh.xml files).

Add non-admin shortcut to launch FastStats Configurator

We’ve added a shortcut for the non-admin executable. We’ve also added whether you’re running this as an admin or not to the configurator title bar.

Incorrect results using distributed processing when fsDat >16GB

We have a fixed a bug that caused the .fsDat file record wrap arounds when they reached 16GB, and therefore no longer read the wrong records from the tables.

PeopleStage

Upgrade NewtonSoft version used in the Apteco software platform

We’ve updated our Apteco software platform from version 11.0 to 13 in the licensing component.

Update retries for emarsys to 5 with a stepped backoff time

We’ve increased the number of retries for emarsys and changed the back off to be 1s, then 2s, then 3s.

Q2 2023

General

Meta API version 17.

We’ve updated Meta Facebook API from version 15 to version 17.

This update was patched to the relevant Apteco software versions. For more information on how to apply this patch, see:

Q2 2022

PeopleStage

Compulsory parameters when using Salesforce/ExactTarget Data Extensions channels

The Q2 2022 release introduces some compulsory parameters (ClientId, ClientSecret & SenderProfile) for channels using the Salesforce/ExactTarget broadcaster. If you are upgrading from a release prior to this and have previously configured a channel that did not use the ClientId, ClientSecret or SenderProfile parameters then the channel settings can no longer be saved until they have been added. Additionally, it isn’t possible to publish any campaign (irrespective of whether they are using that channel or not) as PeopleStage requires all channels to be valid before a publish can take place.

Q2 2021

General

Introduction of digitally signed Binary assets

The Q2 2021 release has introduced digitally signed binary assets, which increases security, by verifying the integrity of the code downloaded by the launcher.

To take advantage of this feature, the binaries need to be updated and a new launcher created and distributed to the users of the system.

Troubleshooting:

In the rare event that a new launcher has been configured, but the binaries NOT updated, then the following exception (or similar) is received when opening the launcher:

Q4 2019

FastStats

Changes to the FastStats Orbit Updater

A change was introduced in October 2019 that meant the FastStats Orbit Updater can now automatically update itself as well as the Orbit UI and API. To take advantage of this functionality, you need to uninstall your existing version and re-install the version of the FastStats Orbit Updater present in the Orbit.zip file from the Software releases area of the Apteco web site.

Q4 2019

PeopleStage

Integrations Manager

In the Q4 2019 release we added a method for updating the email, SMS, Facebook, and LinkedIn integrations through the Apteco configurator’s upgrade mechanism. You can choose to upgrade only the integrations if you require a patch for your broadcaster, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

The integration files are installed into the following directories for the 2019 Q4 software release:

  • %PROGRAM FILES%\<system>\Integrations\EmailBroadcasting\<broadcaster>\_1.0.19210

  • %PROGRAM FILES%\<system>\Integrations\Facebook\_1.0.19210

  • %PROGRAM FILES%\<system>\Integrations\LinkedIn\_1.0.19210

By default, we now use the integrations manager for both Facebook and LinkedIn. If you wish to use the integration manager for your email broadcaster, then you need to add the tag ps_broadcast_integration_debug with the value true to the additional debug settings.

Q1 2018

FastStats

Launcher Install Rights

The Q2 2018 release introduced a change to the launcher install process. In earlier versions (pre-Q2 2018) the Launcher.msi file was configured as a per-machine installer. This installer required UAC elevation. We have changed the Launcher .msi to be a per-user installer. This means that by default the application is installed into the current users Local Application Data folder and the UAC elevation is not required for installation. This should make upgrading and installation of the launcher application far easier for end users.

Note: If an older version of the Launcher was installed by a per-machine installer then UAC Elevation is still required when upgrading as the installer requires enough permissions to perform a per-machine uninstall. A new launcher would need to be configured and distributed to the end users to take advantage of this change.

Q1 2018

FastStats

DPI scaling Issues in Apteco FastStats

The Windows 10 ‘Anniversary Update’ introduced an issue that meant FastStats could use incorrect DPI scaling logic and become difficult or impossible to use. The Q1 2018 Launcher introduces application scaling support for FastStats which addresses this issue. Upgrade, configure, and distribute this launcher to improve your users’ experience.

Note: Using the new launcher, FastStats scales to the scaling factor of the main Windows screen (that was used to login) and so may still produce varied scaling on multiple monitor machines with varied scale factors.