Web update & license keys

[MDA]

Greetings,

I actually have two questions about development…

1. What is involved in building an application that can be updated via the internet? I have seen .DLL’s for sale that do this but I don’t think it would be all that challenging; I am just not sure where to start, what technologies are involved?

2. What is involved in building a license key into my VB application? Is this something that can be done with Windows installer via .Net deployment wizard or do I need something like Installshield, or is this something that is built right into the application?

Thanks for any advice,

M

 

[chrissie1]

1. I think you mean windows forms applications. There is something called "application block - updater" or something like that wich is free and from microsoft. and you can find it here

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnbda/html/updater.asp

2. I know that it is in there somewhere never used it and I hate it already. because I have a few components here that use it and its very hard to get it working. sometimes even after you fill in the license key it still bugs me that im not registered. for one comoponent I even had to make the registry key myself.

Christiaan Baes
Belgium

If you want to get an answer read this FAQ faq796-2540
What a wonderfull world - Louis armstrong

 

[MDA]

Thanks for the tips... The Updater Application Block for .NET seems to be something used within an organization, would this be something used in a "public" environment as well? For instance many applications I have used, have a button that says "check for updates..." The application connects via the internet to the host computer containing the update files. The files are than updated if a newer version exists.

This updater seems to be close to what I am looking for but I wonder if this is what is generally used?

Thanks again for your time and response.

M