NISHAT LINEN PAYROLL v1.9.0 — UPDATE EXISTING INSTALLATION

IMPORTANT: DO NOT RUN INSTALL.PHP AGAIN.

BEFORE UPDATING
1. Open Backup and download a database backup.
2. Keep a copy of the current application folder if possible.
3. Confirm the current MySQL user has ALTER and CREATE permission.

UPDATE STEPS
1. Upload the v1.9.0 ZIP to the parent folder of the payroll application.
2. Extract and overwrite the existing application files.
3. Preserve the existing config.php file.
4. Preserve the existing uploads folder and its files.
5. Do not run install.php.
6. Open the normal payroll URL. The database upgrade runs automatically.
7. Press Ctrl+F5 once to clear old CSS/JavaScript cache.

AUTOMATIC DATABASE UPDATE
- Adds Permanent / Seasonal employment type, joining date and next salary review date.
- Creates employee salary increment history and an initial salary record for existing employees.
- Adds bonus-pool distribution metadata for equal division among permanent staff.
- Adds three saved receipt-design slots and migrates the previous active receipt image to Design 1.
- Refreshes open draft payroll so seasonal staff do not receive bonus or incentive.
- Keeps paid payroll snapshots unchanged.
- No manual SQL import is required.

AFTER UPDATING — QUICK CHECK
1. Employees: open one employee, set joining date, next review date and test a dated salary increment.
2. Employees: filter Seasonal and test End seasonal staff after taking a backup.
3. Bonus & Incentive: test Divide total equally, then select rows and save individual amount changes.
4. Reports: confirm Absent Deduction appears in preview PDF, PDF download and Excel.
5. Settings: upload Design 1–3, choose one active, then select Basic to print without a banner.

PRESERVED DATA
- Admin login and settings
- Employees, branches and payroll history
- Attendance, Conveyance, Food, Advances and supported bonuses
- Existing reports, uploaded logos and receipt images
