Pinnacle 21 Community 4.2.0 is here, and this one requires a manual install

Pinnacle 21 General News
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Pinnacle 21 Community 4.2.0 is now available for Windows. A Mac build is on the way, and we’ll update this post as soon as it’s out.

Please read before you update. Unlike previous releases, 4.2.0 will not arrive through auto-update. You’ll need to download and run the installer yourself, one time.

Why auto-update won’t work this time

Starting with 4.2.0, Community is code-signed as Certara rather than Pinnacle 21. Your currently installed version checks that an update is signed by the same publisher it was originally installed under, so it will reject the 4.2.0 package rather than install it. Nothing is broken. The signature simply doesn’t match what your existing install expects.

This is a one-time interruption. Once you’re on 4.2.0, auto-update resumes as normal and future releases will install themselves the way you’re used to.

What’s new in 4.2.0

A few highlights:

  • DatasetJSON 1.1 output: Data Converter can now convert data into DatasetJSON 1.1.
  • Define-XML 2.1 is now the default under the Generate Define menu.
  • WHODD 2026 March support, which handles the new format that no longer includes .txt files.
  • MedDRA can now be configured when Standard = ADaM.
  • SNOMED installation now takes a folder rather than a description file.

Also in this release:

  • The ClinicalTrials.gov Miner has been removed.
  • The Category column has been removed from the validation report.
  • Fixed a crash that occurred when running P21C offline.
  • Fixed the MedDRA IQ check firing incorrectly when the installed dictionary has language subfolders.
  • Fixed ADaM 1.1 / 1.2 / TIG 1.0 define generation failing when a config ItemDef was missing a Description.
  • Fixed duplicate Comment references being generated for Value Level items in Define.xml.

As always, the download includes the latest set of standard validation configurations.

How to upgrade (Windows)

  1. Go to the download page: Download Pinnacle 21 Community | Pinnacle 21 Help Center
  2. Download the Windows installer.
  3. Run it. You do not need to uninstall your current version first, since 4.2.0 can be installed alongside it.
  4. Launch Community and confirm the version under Help > About Pinnacle 21 Community.

Mac users

The 4.2.0 Mac build isn’t ready yet. Stay on your current version for now, and it will keep working. We’ll post here and update the download page when the Mac installer is available. The same manual-install guidance will apply.

Why it’s worth doing now

Staying current keeps you aligned with the latest FDA and PMDA validation engines, controlled terminology, and dictionaries. Older versions of Community eventually fall out of compatibility with agency requirements. Just as important, moving to 4.2.0 is what puts you back on the auto-update path.

If you hit anything unexpected during the upgrade, reply here or reach out to support and we’ll help you sort it out.