diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index bceda66..7d544d2 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+New in 1.1.8:
+
+    * XPT reader/writer: Improved support for format strings #257 #258
+    * SAV/DTA writers: Improved checking of non-ASCII characters #256
+    * Build: Link to libm on GNU systems #255
+    * SAS commands: Support more syntax
+    * SPSS commands: Make file names optional
+
 New in 1.1.7:
 
     * SAV writer: Permit missing ranges for integer variables #251
diff --git a/VS17/PropertySheet.props b/VS17/PropertySheet.props
index d7543ac..d49eff0 100644
--- a/VS17/PropertySheet.props
+++ b/VS17/PropertySheet.props
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   <PropertyGroup />
   <ItemDefinitionGroup>
     <ClCompile>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>READSTAT_VERSION="1.1.7";_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>READSTAT_VERSION="1.1.8-rc0";_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
   </ItemDefinitionGroup>
   <ItemGroup />
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 3dcae76..35f5009 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 # Update this with each release. Be sure to change VS17/PropertySheet.props too
-AC_INIT([ReadStat], [1.1.7], [https://github.com/WizardMac/ReadStat/issues], [readstat], [https://github.com/WizardMac/ReadStat])
+AC_INIT([ReadStat],[1.1.8-rc0],[https://github.com/WizardMac/ReadStat/issues],[readstat],[https://github.com/WizardMac/ReadStat])
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([foreign subdir-objects])
 AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])
 
 # Don't forget to update these too
 READSTAT_MAJOR_VERSION=1
 READSTAT_MINOR_VERSION=1
-READSTAT_MICRO_VERSION=7
+READSTAT_MICRO_VERSION=8
 
 # libtool stuff, see https://www.gnu.org/software/libtool/manual/html_node/Updating-version-info.html#Updating-version-info
 READSTAT_VERSION=$READSTAT_MAJOR_VERSION.$READSTAT_MINOR_VERSION.$READSTAT_MICRO_VERSION
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_ZLIB], test "$ac_cv_lib_z_deflate" = yes)
 
 AM_CONDITIONAL([CODE_COVERAGE_ENABLED], test "x$code_coverage" = "xyes")
 
-AC_OUTPUT([Makefile])
+AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile])
+AC_OUTPUT
 
 AC_MSG_RESULT([
 Configuration: