Auto-update add-on to VB?

From: Fred (fred_at_acme.com)
Date: 08/28/04 

Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 22:38:08 +0200

Hi,

        I did read the archives, but most of the threads are a bit
old, and usually deal with easy updates, typically only a single
binary needs to be updated, or the list of dependencies is static. I
already wrote some code that can fetch an INI file from our www
server, and go through the list to check that all the files are there
and up to date, but I'd rather something more thorough.

Ideally, I'm looking for an add-on that can auto-update over the web,
but able to download additional dependencies, and be very easy to use
by developers. So, before writing my own clunky solution, I'd like to
have your feedback ...

1. on the products I found (feel free to add products I missed):

AutoUpdate+ http://autoupdateplus.com

FileStream InstallConstruct http://www.filestream.com

Bennet-Tec UpdateLive http://www.bennet-tec.com

Sunisoft IncUpdate http://www.sunisoft.com

FlashUpdate http://www.synopsis-software.com

Desaware's VersionStamper

Indigorose TrueUpdate http://www.indigorose.com

AppUpdate http://www.appupdate.com

Lindersoftware SetupBuilder Web http://www.lindersoftware.com

Asta Binary Patcher http://www.astatech.com/products/binarypatcher +
add-ons TWebUPdate or WebUpdate2

Install Shield's WebUpdate http://www.installshield.com

Wise Installer http://www.wise.com

Installer VISE http://www.mindvision.com

2. ... and on some requirements I thought of:

- Little or no work to integrate to existing VB applications (eg. just
a call in Sub Main() or ActiveX to add to project)

- Ideally, this tool can parse the source code and the compiled EXE
and update the list of dependencies automatically (ie. I don't need to
think about updating the list of dependencies when adding a file to
the project such as a new OCX or some JPG, etc.)

- The UI (eg. "A new version is available. Would you like to
upgrade?") must be available in major languages, not just English

- For those customers connecting in dial-up, must be possible to let
them ignore the update only for so many launches or time (ie. we want
them to update at least once a month)

- Also for dial-up users: The tool must be able to launch the RAS
connection directly, instead of requiring their clicking on Cancel in
the UI, connect themselves, and relaunch our app

- Dial-up users again: Able to deploy the update to other hosts on the
LAN from the host that has the Internet dial-up modem

- Since our www server is a shared host, this solution should not
require our installing any binary program on the server, unless it's a
PHP script

- Must be easy to deploy, ideally compiled into the main EXE or as an
OCX that we can stick into the EXE with PE Bundle so as to make this
change transparent to our existing customers

- Works on all flavors of Windows

- Anti-virus- and firewall-friendly, and knows how to handle the case
where the user is logged on with
    insufficient rights to update files

- Handles cumulative patches, and only download the delta this
particular customer needs (ie. if many patches are available since the
customer didn't upgrade for a month, should only retrieve the latest
patch, instead of downloading and patching multiple times)

I doubt any tool satisfies all of those requirements, and at an
affordable price, but we'd be happy to find an affordable solution
that could at least handle customers with a permanent Internet
connection.

Thank you for any help
Fred.

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