Auto update app from web 1

[msgopala]

There are several share and freeware out there that had to ask if anyone had used a auto update tool or component in delphi.

We distribute our software updates through the web and are now looking to incorporate auto update which would update our clients app without having them login to our website.

Have looked at clever component suite, net updater and a few others

Thanks in advance.

 

[Griffyn]

it's not that hard to set up yourself. Set up a reusable unit that creates a TIdHTTP object, and checks a webpage on your site. The page should return the latest software version number, and URL to the software update. You then compare that version number to the running version to determine if an update is available. You then use TIdHTTP to get the update.

You now have the new version in the same folder as your current version. One way to do a self update is to create a batch file that sleeps for a few seconds, then renames the current version to <myprog>.exe.old (or something), then renames the update to the proper name, and then runs the new version. After the batch file is created, you launch the batch file and terminate the program. The batch file will continue to run, and the sleep command is there to make sure the program has terminated before renaming it's exe.

voila - program has been updated.

 

[msgopala]

Giffyn:

Thanks for the reply. checking a page on our site would mean logging into our website and kinda want to avoid this and want to run the update behind the screens without any user interaction.

 

[Griffyn]

The page can be anything. It doesn't have to require the login cookie or anything like that. If your entire site is blocked out by requiring authentication, just set up another folder in the root that is not protected.

 

[msgopala]

Thanks, will try that.