diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-cell.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-cell.yml
index 64c4ead..d283b30 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-cell.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-cell.yml
@@ -51,13 +51,13 @@ jobs:
             mingw-w64-x86_64-cmake
             mingw-w64-x86_64-make
 
-      - name: Install test dependencies (STLSoft + shwild + xTests)
+      - name: Install test dependencies (STLSoft + shwild + woad + xTests)
         uses: ./.github/actions/install-sis-deps
         with:
           build-type: ${{ inputs.build-type }}
           c-compiler: ${{ inputs.c-compiler }}
           cpp-compiler: ${{ inputs.cpp-compiler }}
-          dependencies: STLSoft shwild xTests
+          dependencies: STLSoft shwild woad xTests
           toolchain: ${{ inputs.toolchain }}
 
       - name: Configure via prepare_cmake.sh
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index c13c39b..5f6c82d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -262,13 +262,13 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: Install test dependencies (STLSoft + shwild + xTests)
+      - name: Install test dependencies (STLSoft + shwild + woad + xTests)
         uses: ./.github/actions/install-sis-deps
         with:
           build-type: ${{ env.BUILD_TYPE }}
           c-compiler: gcc
           cpp-compiler: g++
-          dependencies: STLSoft shwild xTests
+          dependencies: STLSoft shwild woad xTests
 
       - name: Configure via prepare_cmake.sh --no-cpp
         shell: bash
@@ -300,13 +300,13 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: Install test dependencies (STLSoft + shwild + xTests)
+      - name: Install test dependencies (STLSoft + shwild + woad + xTests)
         uses: ./.github/actions/install-sis-deps
         with:
           build-type: ${{ env.BUILD_TYPE }}
           c-compiler: gcc
           cpp-compiler: g++
-          dependencies: STLSoft shwild xTests
+          dependencies: STLSoft shwild woad xTests
 
       - name: Configure via prepare_cmake.sh --wide-strings
         shell: bash
diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 6640f0e..618c31f 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,6 +1,16 @@
 # cstring - Changes <!-- omit in toc -->
 
 
+## 4.1.0-beta6 - 6th November 2026
+
+* version:
+  * added `CSTRING_VER_4_1_0_B6`;
+* build:
+  * CI installs **woad** before **xTests**, which **xTests** 0.29 requires;
+* documentation and boilerplate:
+  * **Doxyfile** `PROJECT_NUMBER` is **4.1.0-beta6**;
+
+
 ## 4.1.0-beta5 - 3rd November 2026
 
 * renamed **examples/cpp/cstring.dynload** => **examples/cpp/windows.dyamic-load**;
diff --git a/Doxyfile b/Doxyfile
index b9ff2de..4c0ca69 100644
--- a/Doxyfile
+++ b/Doxyfile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 PROJECT_NAME           = "cstring"
 PROJECT_BRIEF          = "Extensible C-style strings and vectors of such, for Unix and Windows"
-PROJECT_NUMBER         = 4.1.0-beta4
+PROJECT_NUMBER         = 4.1.0-beta6
 # Prefer SIS_CMAKE_BUILD_DIR-aligned output (same convention as Diagnosticism).
 # ./dox/ remains gitignored for legacy/local runs that override OUTPUT_DIRECTORY.
 OUTPUT_DIRECTORY       = _build/doxygen
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 4f24825..225cbad 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 | Date                | News Item                            | Details |
 | ------------------- | ------------------------------------ | ------- |
 | Available from [**cstring** project on GitHub](https://synesissoftware.com/cstring):  |
+| 6th November 2026   | Release of [cstring 4.1.0-beta6](https://github.com/synesissoftware/cstring/releases/tag/4.1.0-beta6) | CI installs **woad** before **xTests**; **Doxyfile** `PROJECT_NUMBER` |
 | 3rd November 2026   | Release of [cstring 4.1.0-beta5](https://github.com/synesissoftware/cstring/releases/tag/4.1.0-beta5) | directory renames |
 | 2nd November 2026   | Release of [cstring 4.1.0-beta4](https://github.com/synesissoftware/cstring/releases/tag/4.1.0-beta4) | **STLSoft** **1.11.5**; **xTests** **0.28.2** |
 | 1st November 2026   | Release of [cstring 4.1.0-beta3](https://github.com/synesissoftware/cstring/releases/tag/4.1.0-beta3) | `File:` labels use the project-relative path; **Check test names** |
diff --git a/include/cstring/cstring.h b/include/cstring/cstring.h
index 8ce1b70..37d96c5 100644
--- a/include/cstring/cstring.h
+++ b/include/cstring/cstring.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * Purpose: Definition of the cstring.core API.
  *
  * Created: 16th June 1994
- * Updated: 2nd November 2026
+ * Updated: 6th November 2026
  *
  * Home:    http://synesis.com.au/software/
  *
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 # define CSTRING_VER_CSTRING_H_CSTRING_MAJOR    3
 # define CSTRING_VER_CSTRING_H_CSTRING_MINOR    13
 # define CSTRING_VER_CSTRING_H_CSTRING_REVISION 4
-# define CSTRING_VER_CSTRING_H_CSTRING_EDIT     107
+# define CSTRING_VER_CSTRING_H_CSTRING_EDIT     108
 #endif /* !CSTRING_DOCUMENTATION_SKIP_SECTION */
 
 
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@
 # define CSTRING_VER_4_1_0_B3   0x04010083
 # define CSTRING_VER_4_1_0_B4   0x04010084
 # define CSTRING_VER_4_1_0_B5   0x04010085
+# define CSTRING_VER_4_1_0_B6   0x04010086
 #endif /* !CSTRING_DOCUMENTATION_SKIP_SECTION */
 
 /** \def CSTRING_VER_MAJOR
@@ -136,7 +137,7 @@
 #define CSTRING_VER_MAJOR                                   4
 #define CSTRING_VER_MINOR                                   1
 #define CSTRING_VER_PATCH                                   0
-#define CSTRING_VER_RELSTATUS                               0x85
+#define CSTRING_VER_RELSTATUS                               0x86
 
 #define CSTRING_VER \
     (0\