NewsArchive
05-07-2008, 11:06 AM
HOWTO: Add live Internet version updating to my program
See also:
http://www.lindersoft.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9459
Question:
I need to add live Internet version updating to my program to make sure our
users have the most up-to-date versions of programs on their systems. Does
SetupBuilder support this?
Answer:
Yes, the Web Update feature in SetupBuilder Developer Edition provides an
easy and royalty-free way for software application developers to simply add
live Internet version updating to any program. Web Update uses the Internet
to make sure your users have the most up-to-date versions of programs on
their systems.
There are two cycles of tasks that you perform when using Web Update to
perform periodic updates over the Internet: Initial Deployment and Web
Update Deployment. Once you have performed the Initial Deployment steps for
your application, each time you want to distribute an update of that
application to your customers, you perform the Web Update Deployment cycle
of steps.
STEP 1: Initial Deployment
You are ready to ship Version 1.0 of your CoolApp software product and you
would like to make it "live update ready".
Let us assume, you have to install the following files:
File (Version)
------------------
coolapp.exe (1.00)
readme1.txt (1.00)
readme2.txt (1.00)
readme3.txt (1.00)
1. Use SetupBuilder to create the installation project for your application.
Add all files, registry entries, shortcuts, etc.
2. The next step is to configure the iDeploy Web Update client. This gives
your software the ability to check a specified location on the Internet for
updates. When you use Web Update for the first time, you are just preparing
your current software for future updates. Choose View -> Project
Definition -> Web Deployment. The Web Deployment Visualizer opens.
3. In the left pane, set the "Enable Web Update" checkbox.
4. Edit the iDeploy Web Update properties in the property sheet to the right
(see attached wu1.gif image).
http://www.lindersoft.com/community_images/wu1.gif
5. In the left pane, set the Install Web Update Client checkbox. This will
automatically add the Include Web Update Client script function to the [
Modify System ] script section.
THAT'S IT!
6. Compile your project. The resulting installation executable will install
the web client along with your software on the target machine.
7. Distribute your installation file (e.g. CoolApp10.exe) and upload the
Server Manifest File (e.g. coolapp.ini) to your web server.
8. Your application can execute the wupdate.exe file (located in the root of
your app) to check for updates.
You deploy CoolApp to 8,000 happy customers. If the customer "check for
updates", the message "You already have the most recent version of CoolApp
on your system" displays. The money rolls in and you work hard to enhance
your software product. Then it's time to make CoolApp Version 2 available
and you would like to live-update all existing users over the Internet.
Let us assume, you have to update the following files:
File (Version)
------------------
coolapp.exe (2.00)
readme1.txt (2.00)
readme3.txt (2.00)
STEP 2: Web Update Deployment (the automated way)
1. Create a Web Update project for an existing web update enabled
application by choosing File -> New -> Web Update Project. The New Project
dialog box appears.
2. Browse to or enter the name of the project location and press Save. The
Create Web Update Installation Wizard will open. The Wizard helps you
quickly and easily build a basic web update project. Press Next when the
welcome dialog displays.
3. Select the original installation project file. You can press Browse to
select a file. Then press Next to scan the project.
4. Specify your new application version (enter a higher version number).
Press Finish to create the web update script.
5. Modify the update project (add changed files, registry entries, etc.).
In this case, we add the following modified files:
File (Version)
------------------
coolapp.exe (2.00)
readme1.txt (2.00)
readme3.txt (2.00)
6. Compile your script.
7. All your files are now located in the \Web subfolder. Upload your
installation file (e.g. WebUpdate.exe), cluster files (WebUpdate.0000x)
and the Server Manifest File (e.g. coolapp.ini) to your web server.
TEST: Test the project
Download the small (575 KB) test installation here:
www.lindersoft.com/web_test/CoolApp10.exe
The SetupBuilder installer will not harm your system. It will install the
coolapp.exe and three test files to c:\CoolApp. In addition to this, it
will create CoolApp Application, Check for Updates, and Uninstall CoolApp
shortcuts.
1. Start CoolApp Version 1 and click "Check for Updates" (see attached
wu2.jpg image)
http://www.lindersoft.com/community_images/wu2.jpg
2. The Web Update Wizard appears. Press Next to check for a new version.
3. The "New version available" dialog appears. Click Next to get the new
version.
4. If you executed the Web Update process from the running CoolApp
application, you'll see a "Application is currently running" message. Close
CoolApp and click OK.
5. The update is installed and offers a CoolApp restart.
6. CoolApp Version 2 is active (see attached wu3.jpg image).
http://www.lindersoft.com/community_images/wu3.jpg
SOURCE CODES:
The source code projects CoolApp10.sb6 and WebUpdate.sb6 are part of the
Examples package now.
http://www.lindersoft.com/sb6_Examples.exe
Hope this helps!
--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910
"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 6.7
Create Windows Vista ready installations in minutes
-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner
See also:
http://www.lindersoft.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9459
Question:
I need to add live Internet version updating to my program to make sure our
users have the most up-to-date versions of programs on their systems. Does
SetupBuilder support this?
Answer:
Yes, the Web Update feature in SetupBuilder Developer Edition provides an
easy and royalty-free way for software application developers to simply add
live Internet version updating to any program. Web Update uses the Internet
to make sure your users have the most up-to-date versions of programs on
their systems.
There are two cycles of tasks that you perform when using Web Update to
perform periodic updates over the Internet: Initial Deployment and Web
Update Deployment. Once you have performed the Initial Deployment steps for
your application, each time you want to distribute an update of that
application to your customers, you perform the Web Update Deployment cycle
of steps.
STEP 1: Initial Deployment
You are ready to ship Version 1.0 of your CoolApp software product and you
would like to make it "live update ready".
Let us assume, you have to install the following files:
File (Version)
------------------
coolapp.exe (1.00)
readme1.txt (1.00)
readme2.txt (1.00)
readme3.txt (1.00)
1. Use SetupBuilder to create the installation project for your application.
Add all files, registry entries, shortcuts, etc.
2. The next step is to configure the iDeploy Web Update client. This gives
your software the ability to check a specified location on the Internet for
updates. When you use Web Update for the first time, you are just preparing
your current software for future updates. Choose View -> Project
Definition -> Web Deployment. The Web Deployment Visualizer opens.
3. In the left pane, set the "Enable Web Update" checkbox.
4. Edit the iDeploy Web Update properties in the property sheet to the right
(see attached wu1.gif image).
http://www.lindersoft.com/community_images/wu1.gif
5. In the left pane, set the Install Web Update Client checkbox. This will
automatically add the Include Web Update Client script function to the [
Modify System ] script section.
THAT'S IT!
6. Compile your project. The resulting installation executable will install
the web client along with your software on the target machine.
7. Distribute your installation file (e.g. CoolApp10.exe) and upload the
Server Manifest File (e.g. coolapp.ini) to your web server.
8. Your application can execute the wupdate.exe file (located in the root of
your app) to check for updates.
You deploy CoolApp to 8,000 happy customers. If the customer "check for
updates", the message "You already have the most recent version of CoolApp
on your system" displays. The money rolls in and you work hard to enhance
your software product. Then it's time to make CoolApp Version 2 available
and you would like to live-update all existing users over the Internet.
Let us assume, you have to update the following files:
File (Version)
------------------
coolapp.exe (2.00)
readme1.txt (2.00)
readme3.txt (2.00)
STEP 2: Web Update Deployment (the automated way)
1. Create a Web Update project for an existing web update enabled
application by choosing File -> New -> Web Update Project. The New Project
dialog box appears.
2. Browse to or enter the name of the project location and press Save. The
Create Web Update Installation Wizard will open. The Wizard helps you
quickly and easily build a basic web update project. Press Next when the
welcome dialog displays.
3. Select the original installation project file. You can press Browse to
select a file. Then press Next to scan the project.
4. Specify your new application version (enter a higher version number).
Press Finish to create the web update script.
5. Modify the update project (add changed files, registry entries, etc.).
In this case, we add the following modified files:
File (Version)
------------------
coolapp.exe (2.00)
readme1.txt (2.00)
readme3.txt (2.00)
6. Compile your script.
7. All your files are now located in the \Web subfolder. Upload your
installation file (e.g. WebUpdate.exe), cluster files (WebUpdate.0000x)
and the Server Manifest File (e.g. coolapp.ini) to your web server.
TEST: Test the project
Download the small (575 KB) test installation here:
www.lindersoft.com/web_test/CoolApp10.exe
The SetupBuilder installer will not harm your system. It will install the
coolapp.exe and three test files to c:\CoolApp. In addition to this, it
will create CoolApp Application, Check for Updates, and Uninstall CoolApp
shortcuts.
1. Start CoolApp Version 1 and click "Check for Updates" (see attached
wu2.jpg image)
http://www.lindersoft.com/community_images/wu2.jpg
2. The Web Update Wizard appears. Press Next to check for a new version.
3. The "New version available" dialog appears. Click Next to get the new
version.
4. If you executed the Web Update process from the running CoolApp
application, you'll see a "Application is currently running" message. Close
CoolApp and click OK.
5. The update is installed and offers a CoolApp restart.
6. CoolApp Version 2 is active (see attached wu3.jpg image).
http://www.lindersoft.com/community_images/wu3.jpg
SOURCE CODES:
The source code projects CoolApp10.sb6 and WebUpdate.sb6 are part of the
Examples package now.
http://www.lindersoft.com/sb6_Examples.exe
Hope this helps!
--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910
"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 6.7
Create Windows Vista ready installations in minutes
-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner