Does it work on all systems

The client application has been built with no dependencies on MFC, VB or .NET library files. This allows the client to be smaller and to work on more operating systems than any other updating technology. It also means that you can be confident that your updates will really reach your customers!! And conversely, being a stand-alone executable, our customers integrate the AutoUpdate+ client with applications written in anything from DOS based console applications to large .NET based applications. Our testing has been undertaken on Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP and 2003. Windows Vista is currently in Beta, but will be part of our supported platforms in future releases.

How does it work

Two components are involved in each update. The AutoUpdate+ client, which is an executable file you deploy with your application to provide update management, and the update XML file, which is a file that resides on your server and defines the update requirements and steps. The update management process will only be triggered if the update XML file specifies that a new application version exists, and will remain completely dormant at other times.

The AutoUpdate+ client can function in various modes. Typically if will be used in automatic mode which means that it automatically detects and manages updates at each execution of your application. It can also be used in manual mode, which allows you to make update checks at pre-defined intervals, or to add a 'check for updates now' menu option to your application.

File download errors

There are three common file download errors that occur:

• Missing files. You forgot to put the file on the server.
• File size error. The file you put on the server has a different size to that listed in the update XML file. This is usually fixed by rebuilding the update XML file so that it reads the new file size.
• MIME type errors. This occurs because your web server does not permit the file extension you are trying to download.

There are many times a file could not get downloaded due to ISP regulations that forbid delivery of files with certain extension types. When a request is made for the file, the response is usually a redirect to a generic error page, which means that AutoUpdate+ cannot determine the cause of the problem and will just display a generic file download error message. To see if this is the case for you, just type http://Server/File.ext into your browser and see if you can actually download the file, or if you get a redirection to an error page. To rectify the error contact your ISP, or email us for a work-around. Users of IIS may find this Microsoft help page useful.

Restricted User Permissions

You can install AutoUpdate+ with a service application that manages the updates for users without administrator rights to their PC. The service application will undertake all update actions that require high permissions, such as creating files in certain directories, creating sub-directories or modifying the registry. This provides a secure work-around to the fact that many home and office PC users do not run as administrators. The file 'UpdateService.exe' is the AutoUpdate+ service component that enables restricted users to run updates, and you can find this file in the AutoUpdate+ installation directory.

The Update Service component

The update service file is only necessary if your application is deployed in a restricted environment, such as a secure office environment. Note that Windows 95 and 98 computers run without any access controls, and consequently have no need for this file at all.

The update service has three different command-line options:

• UpdateService.exe -install
• UpdateService.exe -uninstall
• UpdateService.exe -help

To use this feature, just deploy the UpdateService.exe file into either the Windows or client application directory and get your application to run 'UpdateService.exe -install' during the installation phase of your application.

Update the update client

Even the update application must at times be updated. Starting from AutoUpdate+ 2.7, the update capabilities are built-in. When a new version of our client is available and built to your requirements, simply add it as a standard update file. The AutoUpdate+ client will recognize the new version and switch it in. For older versions of our application (pre-2.7), you must email us to receive a fix that allows self-updates to occur.