I am trying to make autoupdate check and upgrade procedure (now from location on shared drive, in future maybe from server).
I have created "Visual Studio Installer" project that creates setup and it is possible to install the app. Also I have created another binary that searches for updates - if there are updates and user wants it, it runs the setup and app ends - if no updates, it runs main program. I have selected 2 binaries system in order to have possibility to run app without updates checking.
But If I confirm the update I am getting "Another version of this product is already installed. error code..." dialog.
I am not sure if my approach is right, probably not. But I found only commerce solutions and ClickOnce which seems to be for updating from network.
Thank you in advices for your answers.
It seems you are looking for something that allow you to have folder in your disk or a shared drive that can be used as local server to help you make updates without using internet connection , I introduce you to Squirrel.Windows its an open source installation and update framework for Windows desktop apps.
Here is link for Getting Started With Squirrel.
And here is a Youtube Video by Tim Corey where he explain Squirrel practically with demo windows forms project.
Happy Codding...
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I want my application to automatically check for updates and update the application if needed. I installed InstallShield Limited edition, but when I went to the update section I found out that I need to install FlexNet which requires me to purchase it.
I found out that Windows has stopped supporting Windows Installer which is why in Visual Studio 2013 it's not listed in the setup and deployment section.
I also read about ClickOnce, but there is a small issue when I tried to deploy my application to the FTP server. It asked for the username and password, but it added a warning that these values will be in plain text! So, what should I do? Is there another third-party way of creating an installer and setting up automatic updates?
I've used ClickOnce with dozens of applications and have never seen the username/password prompt. My process is:
Declare the application is downloaded from "http://www.yourSite.com/yourApp/"
Publish to folder "yourApp" in whatever location you want
Drag and drop that whole folder into your WWW space on your server
Email your users the link "http://www.yourSite.com/yourApp/yourApp.application"
For updates, just repeat this same process (except emailing users), and everything else takes care of itself. Be sure check the box in your application settings that tells it to check for updates of course.
The prompt about the username and password only applies during the deployment. So I wouldn't deploy the app using FTP in a Starbucks using their Wi-Fi, but it should be fine at work or on your private network at home.
Consider looking:
How to: Manage Updates for a ClickOnce Application
How to: Check for Application Updates Programmatically Using the ClickOnce Deployment API
You can distribute your application using a webserver, even your application can run from a link in a web page.
And also you can check for update using code.
I have been working on a C# application which needs bug fixes and updates once i deliver it to clients. I am currently trying clickOnce method of microsoft to provide updates.
For that i need to publish my application to server with frontpage server extension (If i am not wrong!). We are using windows server 2008 enabled machine, with Apache running, i googled regarding "Publish c sharp application on Apache server" and i found this workaround.
It edits .htaccess file to allow access to VS to publish application. But it doesn't seem working. I guess the page is out dated, written in 2006.
So my questions are:
How do i publish c sharp app on apache box?
How do we publish app? Using VS or any other method?
The manifest and payload (files) just need to be generated and then copied en masse to your server, it doesn't have to be a Windows machine.
Publish to a local folder/share and then replace the entire ClickOnce folder so that the code security values remain intact. I'd suggest you always rename your current folder and then copy your latest bits into a "new" folder that is your install location.
i managed to give updates with this workaround (i dont know how feasible is this! Need inputs!)
I used database to track version numbers and (link for) latest copy of software. Then i check for updates on startup. If new update is available it downloads exe (in app itself), closes app and run the setup.
I am using install-shield to generate setup. But when i run setup in machine which is already having older version of software, it doesn't update it, even though it displays its updating.
I know visual studio also provides option to create installation, but it isn't working either!
I'm trying to create an installer for my application (win form) by visual studio, creating a new project type setup, and am having great difficulty in doing so, for example:
1 When I create the installer and run it installs, but there is the option to uninstall? and I can not install the same application because it already exists on the machine.
2 In dialog window, I see you have the options to create multiple screens and add textbox for example, but where do I set the events of that textbox?
3 º This application works with sqlserver, and I can install it on the machine by the installer, but as I set him to work with my application linq, since I would have to modify the connection string on each machine that I will install the application.
I've researched a lot about these issues and I find no documentation that can teach me how to do this, if anyone knows some please show me,
I appreciate those who can help me, and sorry my english.
I answer your first question at this time due to the lack of time:
In VS, right click the setup project. You have 2 options: Install and Uninstall.
1.) You need to uninstall the program through your operating system. Go to the Control Panel, Programs and uninstall it. Then you can try installing the application.
2.) In design view you can double click the textbox. You will be taken to the method that handles the “TextChanged” event. Write your code there.
3.) If you are installing on a server you need to create a Web Setup project instead of a Setup project. The latter installs files into the file system of a target computer; whereas, the former installs into the virtual directory of a Web server.
I need to create a simple installer of sorts for a different application. That other application already has it's own simplistic installer, and I don't want to meddle with it.
The reason for my own installer is to allow the user to install SQL Express if (s)he so chooses, and also to pre-install any other basic requirements for such a procedure.
At the moment, here's where I'm at:
I've created a single Windows form application, with big buttons (this is for a user which likely won't be very good with computers) to install SQL Server Express (using silent install with a predefined set of arguments) or the actual application, along with some helpful text to let the user know what's going on. Something along the lines of Visual Studio autorun window.
I've also added the standard set of pre-requirements to the application (.NET, Windows Installer).
Everything works OK if I run the app by using the executable. HOWEVER, if I publish it to create a ClickOnce application (so the pre-requisites are installed when needed) and run it, it stops running other installers.
EDIT: Apparently the problem with not being able to run other application from a ClickOnce application is only on my end, and probably deserves a new question, not necessarily here on StackOverflow (perhaps on MSDN forums?).
In your program before launching the installer you can check if .NET is installed. Its pretty easy to check if a particular s/w or a version of s/w is installed. Write a program that will check HKEY/LocalMachine/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Uninstall and in that there will be list of programs that have been installed on that machine. If you find then go ahead with your install else suggest user that he needs to install pre req.
When you create a setup project you can right click on the setup project, go to properties, and click on pre requisites. In that you can mention which version of .NET framework is needed and then give the location of the framework. In this link look for Huggy Bears response eggheadcafe.com/community/aspnet/2/10131905/setup-project.aspx
I've settled for a "Click Once" application. It can install all required .NET components needed for it to run, thus becoming an "sure-to-run-non-native-C++-code-splash-screen".
Granted, there ARE issues with Click Once, but this is far better than nothing. It's also better than running C++ or unmanaged code applications. ;)
I am starting to deploy my desktop application. It is a syntax highlighting notepad. I am considering deploying it on the web. What is like a list of things that I should do before I deploy my application?
Before you deploy an application. On the top of my head (some of what we do before each release)
Test it :-)
Test it on a clean PC. What happens it it does not have .NET installed?
Test it as a standard user (not everyone is an administrator)
"Polish". Use a consistent version on all files (important for later upgrades)
Make sure that licenses, copyright messages are correct. That the year is correct etc.
I am no expert in deploy issues, but perhaps you could deploy to a private server, and see if you can actually do the entire process.
And just as a suggestion, —I know its not directly related to the deployment per se— is it a Web 2.0 style (free/user oriented) app? Perhaps a beta version where people expected to not be perfect would help, although that's more after deployment
As this is a desktop application you could use ClickOnce deployment. This bundles your application and all its dependencies into an installer which you upload to the web. Your customers then either download the installer or run it from the web.
ClickOnce also enables automatic updates. You set the update check frequency on deployment, then just upload the new version to the web. The next time the user runs your application and it's time to check, the new version will get downloaded and installed.