Scaleform 4.2 retains the same API as version 4.0, so upgrading is relatively straightforward. Scaleform 4.2 adds new features, improved tools, and new platforms, but the usage and API is generally the same as in version 4.0, except for a few differences.
One change is that SF 4.2 utilizes a new 3rd party library, PCRE. This is the Perl Compatible Regular Expressions library and is used for support of AS3 Regular Expressions. It is included in the 3rdParty folder and the Scaleform 4.2 samples and players have updated projects which now link to the PCRE library. Unless you are not using AS3 or not using PCRE (by commenting out SF_ENABLE_PCRE in Include/GFxConfig.h), your game application will likely need to link with the PCRE library as well.
Many of the Scaleform projects have a different set of files in version 4.2, so it’s important to use the Scaleform projects when rebuilding Scaleform source. Otherwise, the wrong set of files will be specified to the build system. This also applies to the Render and Sound projects which are provided even in binary only packages. Be sure to use the project versions that are provided with SF 4.2.
The Render project may also contain a custom build step which builds the Scaleform shaders. All shaders on X360/D3D9/D3D1x are now precompiled, so the following flag option was removed from InitHAL() for those platforms:
The shader build step can be viewed in Visual Studio, by opening up a Render project, right-clicking on ShaderData.xml and choosing properties. Then select the correct build configuration and click on Custom Build Step.
In Scaleform 4.2, there are some minor changes related to license keys. The format for license keys has changed - Scaleform 4.2 keys are now 40 characters long and are not interchangeable with keys from SF 4.0, so be sure you are using the correct key. The main license key is now read from a file called sf_license.txt, instead of gfxlicense.txt as in Scaleform 4.0. This key is checked by the gfx.lib library only in evaluation builds. However, in all builds, including licensed binary and source packages, the sf_license.txt file is checked by the Scaleform AMP and Scaleform Exporter tools as well. Paid licensees will receive perpetual license keys for this purpose.
The eval versions of the Scaleform Video and IME add-ons also read keys, and check for files called sf_video_license.txt and sf_ime_license.txt respectively.
Registered developers can view all their project keys in the Autodesk Gamedev Site.