Once a patch file has been created it is sent to the target system, the system which has an original version of the file which needs to be updated. At the beginning of the patch application process, ActivePatch performs a number of checks on the patch file and the file which is to be updated, including validating that the patch file is undamaged and has not been modified. It also checks to make sure that the original version of the file is the same as the one that was used to generate the patch. These checks ensure that the patch is performed correctly and does not result in a corrupted file when the process has completed.

There are a number of options that are available when applying the patch file depending on the specific needs of the application. For example, ActivePatch can be instructed to relax certain criteria, such as validating the file timestamps. It can also be instructed to create backup copies of the original file or search the system for the file if it cannot be found in the expected location.

Of course, the most important aspect of patch application is ensuring that the file has been patched correctly. This is why ActivePatch goes through numerous validation checks before and after the patch application process. If any error occurs, the original version of the file is not altered or removed from the system.