Online updates

Question

Hey,

I am developing a software and I was wondering how can I send online updates to the people who download and install it. Lets just say every time I update the source code, how can I send the update when the user opens the program?

Thanks

Answer 1

Write a web service  call in server which will reply with latest version available.

From the software, call the web service on idle time or when application is started. Compare the versions of installed and web service replied. If they are different, prompt the user to update.

Regards,
Jai

Answer 2

Hi Drlynch,

Thank you for your post.

Based on your description, it seems that you want to provide updates automatically.

Referring to your concern, you also might try ClickOnce deployment technology to achieve that.
ClickOnce is a deployment technology that allows you to create self-updating Windows-based applications that can be installed and run with minimal user interaction. ClickOnce application will periodically read its deployment manifest file to see if updates to the application are available. If available, the new version of the application is downloaded and run.
For more information on ClickOnce, please see: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/t71a733d%28VS.80%29.aspx
If you have any problem about ClickOnce deployment, you can post your issue on ClickOnce and Setup & Deployment Projects forum to get more useful help there.

If you want to write some source code like service as Jai mentioned, this forum is for the support of .NET Framework Installation. I think that the best consulting place should the following forums since your issue is related to programming.
For VB.NET -  Visual Basic General forum
For C# - Visual C# General forum
For C++ - Visual C++ General forum
For more forums, see: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-us/categories/

Thank you for your understanding.

Hope this helps! If you have any concern, please feel free to let me know.

Best regards,
Yichun Chen

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Answer 3

thank you for your answers.

i will keep you posted of my findings.

Answer 4

Hi Drlynch,

It's my pleasure!

Thank you for your kindly sharing advance.

Have a good week.

Best regards,
Yichun Chen

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Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.
Welcome to the All-In-One Code Framework! If you have any feedback, please tell us.