tsoukase wrote on Friday, December 11, 2009:
I want to follow the upgrade chain in the long-term. Can I upgrade any CVS version to a new one or even to the next stable one? Or the only “upgradable” versions are the stable ones that lead to the next stable as is noted ?
Thanks
: http://www.openmedsoftware.org/wiki/OpenEMR_Upgrade_Guides
bradymiller wrote on Saturday, December 12, 2009:
hey,
The issue is with the sql database. If you check out openemr/sql you will note there are incremental sql database updates from version to version. Since the “incremental” upgrade file is not “finalized” when you upgrade to/from a cvs there is potential to cause problems in the database. Most of the upgrades that have had problems seem to be related to users trying to upgrade from a cvs version. If you can , I’d avoid it, but if you really need a feature, then you’ll need to carefully analyze your mysql database when you upgrade in future to a stable release.
-brady
sunsetsystems wrote on Saturday, December 12, 2009:
Actually this is less of a problem than it used to be. The sql_upgrade.php script works together with directives (in the form of comments) in the SQL scripts to check each individual database upgrade step to see if it is already done. If so, then it is skipped. So in theory you should be OK.
bradymiller wrote on Saturday, December 12, 2009:
hey,
But it’s not without risk. For example:
if we introduce a bug into the database script and then fix(remove it) it, your still stuck with the bug
if we introduce a new table; then you use this cvs version; then we introduce a new column or fix into that new table; you’d never get that column or fix in the upgrade (since it’s hidden behind a ifNotTable function).
-brady
sunsetsystems wrote on Saturday, December 12, 2009:
Yes of course. Developers can minimize the risk by being careful. For example in your second case, if a day or more has elapsed between creating the new table and adding a new column, then put the column in as a separate step in the upgrade script.
tsoukase wrote on Monday, December 14, 2009:
Actually, if the only concern is the structure of the sql-database, the upgrade is always possible if the changes in it are made either manualy or through a script.
Thanks.