nci logo
NIH
U.S. National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute

Auto-updating in SEER*Stat

SEER*Stat can operate in one of two modes, "local" and "client-server". In local mode, all processing and data are local to your computer system, that is, the program and data files are stored on your PC, your local network, or a CD. In client-server mode, the SEER*Stat software installed on your PC is the client and contacts the SEER server via the Internet to access data and perform calculations.

If you are operating in local mode, you must manually install new versions of the software that are posted on the SEER*Stat Installation page. (E-mail notifications are sent to all users when major changes are made to the software.)

If you are operating in client-server mode, SEER*Stat is auto-updated using one of two methods as determined by the server setting of the Data Location in the SEER*Stat Preferences. You may receive:

  1. auto-updates for every release, including minor changes; or
  2. less frequent upgrades, reserved for major software releases.

Please read through the following descriptions of both methods to determine which best suits your needs.

Automatically Upgrade with Every SEER*Stat Release

If set to automatically upgrade with every release, SEER*Stat will verify that you are using the latest version each time it is opened. If there is a newer release, the auto-update feature will automatically install the latest version. Updates to the software may be frequent and will include minor fixes that do not affect the overall performance of the software. If you are interested in staying on the cutting edge of the SEER*Stat releases and do not find the automatic installations to be burdensome, do the following:

  1. Open the File menu and select Preferences to access the SEER*Stat Preferences dialog.
  2. Click Add Server to add the following address in the Hostname Field: seerstat.cancer.gov
  3. Type 2039 in the Port Field.
  4. Click OK. Your new data location will be added to the list, and will be active.

Update Only for Major Software Releases

If you have a slow Internet connection, downloading and installing the SEER*Stat files for every minor fix may be time-consuming. You can edit the SEER*Stat settings so that it automatically upgrades only for major releases. These releases usually occur once or twice a year and include new software features. Follow these steps to change your settings:

  1. Open the File menu and select Preferences to access the SEER*Stat Preferences dialog.
  2. Click Add Server and add the following address in the Hostname Field: seerstat.cancer.gov
  3. Type 2038 in the Port Field. (If no port number is specified, port 2038 will be used by default).
  4. Click OK. Your new data location will be added to the list, and will be active.

This is the default setting for auto-updates when you install SEER*Stat.