diff --git a/docs/sphinx-docs/source/conf.py b/docs/sphinx-docs/source/conf.py
index cbb3586d0b..28807d3f58 100644
--- a/docs/sphinx-docs/source/conf.py
+++ b/docs/sphinx-docs/source/conf.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
 
 # General information about the project.
 project = u'SasView'
-copyright = u'2017, The SasView Project'
+copyright = u'2018, The SasView Project'
 
 # The version info for the project you're documenting, acts as replacement for
 # |version| and |release|, also used in various other places throughout the
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
 # The short X.Y version.
 version = '4.2'
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags.
-release = '4.2.0'
+release = '4.2.0-beta'
 
 # The language for content autogenerated by Sphinx. Refer to documentation
 # for a list of supported languages.
diff --git a/installers/README.txt b/installers/README.txt
index c557f9ee16..baffa166f8 100644
--- a/installers/README.txt
+++ b/installers/README.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,23 @@
 Release Notes
 =============
-
+    This is a beta pre-release version of 4.2.0.  A number of fixes and changes
+    have been made in the year since the previous release.  
+    Full release notes will be compiled prior to the full release 4.2.0.
+    
+    Highlights are:
+        - Infrastucture for calculating 2D patterns from 3D orientated objects
+          has now been totally refactored
+        - Plugins have completely migrated to the new infrastructure now, 
+	  including sum/multiply models
+        - Some batch slicing options have been introduced
+        - The known issue with the core_shell_parallelepiped is now fixed
+        - Several data loading improvements
+        - Several save Project improvements (though there are more to come)
+        - Numerous bug fixes
+        - Lots of documentation enhancement
+    
+    In the meantime please report any bugs or issues found while using this beta
+    
 1- Features
 ===========
     - New in Version 4.1.2
diff --git a/src/sas/sasview/__init__.py b/src/sas/sasview/__init__.py
index f47b871915..32447d34b4 100644
--- a/src/sas/sasview/__init__.py
+++ b/src/sas/sasview/__init__.py
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-__version__ = "4.2.0"
+__version__ = "4.2.0-beta"
 __build__ = "GIT_COMMIT"
\ No newline at end of file