Practical method of applying auto update for patch

[theodorus.alvin]

Hello, I am looking for practical example of patching new version of an application using auto updater feature. As side note, I managed to patch new version but using manual update (double clicking on generated msp file).

In my case, I have two version 1.0.0 (installed on end user's PC) and 1.0.1 (latest version with minor updates). In order to update 1.0.0 -> 1.0.1, I have created a patch msp file of which I am going to use to patch version 1.0.0.

Now, I could do manual patching, by double clicking on the msp file without issues, but the problem is, my company wants patch to be automatically applied whenever there is a new fix. From what I read on this tutorial https://www.advancedinstaller.com/user- ... dater.html, auto updater works just fine with patch as it is with updates, but I am struggling thus I have several questions:

• Do i need update.exe and update.ini file for the auto update?

• Since I am going to utilize remote server, do I need to put update.txt file on remote server to let end user's PC know whenever there is a new update?

• On the remote server, do I put the latest msp file for the patch to install automatically?

• When creating a new msp file, I have to specify upgraded image and target image. Under upgraded image, how do i specify msp file location on remote server while patch package file only allows file on localhost?

In case auto update does not work, I am not limiting patch options, so manual update is still possible, but since most of my users are not tech savvy, i will have to make it simple for them. One method is creating check for updates shortcut on the desktop as icon. Under updates tutorial I understand how to do this with updates.exe file, but what about msp file? how do I create desktop shortcut with msp file so that when users double click on that icon, install will begin?

Appreciate if anyone can share suggestions.

Regards,
Alvin

[Catalin]

Hello Alvin,

Managing a patch using the updater is very similar to managing a major upgrade.

Here's the "Managing a patch" section of our Updater tutorial.

Do i need update.exe and update.ini file for the auto update?

The answer here is yes.

Since I am going to utilize remote server, do I need to put update.txt file on remote server to let end user's PC know whenever there is a new update?

The updates.txt file should be placed in a location where the updater.exe can download it to read its' data.

Regarding the other questions, I would suggest reading the above article to better understand how our updater.exe tool works.

Please let me know if you have any other questions and I will gladly assist.

Best regards,
Catalin

[theodorus.alvin]

Hello Catalin,

Thanks for your feedback, I managed to perform patch by putting both update.txt file and latest msp file on remote server. But I have not been able to patch latest version to user's PC automatically.

For my settings, I have done the following:

• Checked check for updates using advanced installer

• Filled in updates configuration file URL

• Selected automatic under updater execution

• Under edit task properties schedule tab, configured the trigger to run on workstation lock

Aside from that, I have also checked install support service under updater as mentioned in this tutorial: https://www.advancedinstaller.com//user ... dates.html. I am doing this because I need to bypass administrator privilege in order to install latest patch.

Also under updater configuration, I have checked install updates without elevation and made sure that my projects already have Per machine only (fails if the user is not administrator) installation type.

Yet when I lock my PC, update.exe does not run because the application version is just the same.

Do you have suggestions of where to make sure regarding the issue?

Regards,
Alvin

[Catalin]

Hello Alvin,

Unfortunately, I can not say for sure why that is not working.

However, I've checked for that option with Scheduled Tasks and from the looks of it it is not really reliable:

Windows 10: Scheduled tasks with workstation lock/unlock not being triggered

That being said, I would advise scheduling it at "user logon" or something similar to that.

Best regards,
Catalin