Dear Cato Users:

As the providers of the commercial "off-the-shelf" software package Cato, which is being used as a qualified element in systems validated according to GAMP5, we are obliged to provide the highest standards of quality. This also requires us - among other things - to create and provide new versions of the software according to a clearly identifiable system.

Therefore we would like to explain to you this way our procedure for software updates, which is effective immediately, to allow you to decide on a case-by-case basis which updates could be important to you.

Basically there are three different types of updates available with cato^®:

(1)   main releases

(2)   supplemental releases

(3)   Hot-fixes of main and supplemental releases

All three types of updates have the following features in common:

• As a registered user you can always obtain a complete list of changes (a "change-log") on our website), in which the changes of each version are documented.
• Besides, all updates can be installed easily and reliably in a uniform manner with the help of Cato-admin software from a central location with just a few mouse-clicks.

There are differences regarding the frequency and the maintenance cycle:

(1) Main releases:

Main releases are being provided by us twice per year.

With each main release, we will go through special efforts to actively provide information to our customers regarding the new features (since the last main release). For this purpose we are planning, for example, a separate online presentation.

After publication of main releases there will be no additional features implemented, only errors will be corrected (hot-fixes).

Therefore main releases are potentially particularly stable.

Main releases are always available in all language versions.

Updates of the user manual are only provided as part of main releases.

Validation support documents (IQ/OQ, etc.) are only "readily" available for main releases.

(2) Supplemental releases

Supplemental releases will be published by us on a monthly basis and therefore - as a rule - they contain also new features - with all advantages and disadvantages associated therewith.

Corrections of errors (hot-fixes) will be implemented only until the publication of the next supplemental release, ie. only for approximately one month.

Supplemental releases are not immediately available in all languages.

New features of supplemental releases will not be included immediately in the user manual, but will only be included in the list of supplmental updates.

Validation support documents (IQ/OQ, etc.) are not guaranteed to be "readily" available for supplemental releases and therefore their update may have to be provided at a price.

(3) Hot-fixes

Hot-fixes are corrections of critical errors and they will be provided as needed (as quickly as possible) for the current main and supplemental releases.

At which point should which version be installed?

As a rule we would like to encourage our users to obtain updates only upon publication of main releases.

The reason thereto is that main releases are likely to be especially stable due to the fact that the scope of features is constant for at least 6 months and that only corrections of errors are being implemented.

Besides users do not get confused by too rapid expansions of features.

Supplemental releases should only be installed if certain circumstances occur, ie. if one of the following takes place:

A feature is needed urgently, which is already included in a supplemental release, and the customer cannot wait until the next main release.

However, it must be considered that additional corrections of errors are only included for approximately one month after the publication of this supplemental release.

In order to obtain corrections of errors published later, one would have to switch to a newer supplemental release (or possibly a newer main release, which is published in the meantime).

 

Hot-fixes of main and supplemental releases should be installed immediately

if the list of updates contains the description of the corrections of errors, which appear to be relevant for the safety of one's own application.

For the sake of completion we would like to inform you that the next main release version of Cato will have the version number 2.19.

We hope that you will find this information useful.

We are, of course, always at your disposal if you should have any questions.

Your Cato Support Team