yishai
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2005 11:54 pm

Patches vs. upgrade

If I need to update my existing installation with some minor changes. Sounds like I have 2 options:

1. Patch - small, but works most of the times, but not always. Depend on having the same product version. Can be generated from msi to msi (but not from an msi packed as an exe), and I am not sure how to generate a patch that will work across more than 2 ,msi's (for example, update my own v 1.0.0, or 1.0.1 or 1.0.2 to 1.0.3).

2. An update install, which is basically the whole package.

Now, my package is big and I'd rather not have the users download all of it when most of the data stays the same. On the other hand, the patch seems not to fit, especially when there are many versions that should be upgraded.

Any suggestion what will be the best way to deploy a small 'upgrade' install that behaves more as an installer file (in an exe format), but updates the existing files and leave the untouched old ones untouched?
Ionut
Posts: 605
Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2005 11:29 am
Contact: Website

Hi,

A patch can contain any number of Upgraded images. Each Upgraded image can in turn have any number of Target images.

Therefore, it is possible to create a patch that updates multiple versions of a product. However, there are some restrictions.

Patches (MSP files) can not be used with a bootstrapper to create an EXE type of setup.

If you need to extract a MSI included in an EXE file in order to create a patch, use the following command line:

Code: Select all

MyPackage.exe /extract:"C:\My work"
In conclusion, if most of your data remains unchanged, use a patch. If however, you need to deploy your package as an EXE or you move files across folders or change the layout of the original source, use an upgrade.

For a comparison between patches and upgrades please visit: http://www.advancedinstaller.com/user-g ... tches.html

For details about using Advanced Installer to add Target images to a patch please see:
http://www.advancedinstaller.com/user-g ... mages.html


Regards,
Denis
Denis Toma
Advanced Installer Team
http://www.advancedinstaller.com/
yishai
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2005 11:54 pm

Thanks

I guess there is no way yet to add upgraded & targets to the aip via the command line?

-Yishai
yishai
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2005 11:54 pm

Actualy...

When running the

MyPackage.exe /extract:"C:\My work"

I get a MS installer 'help' dialog with all msi options and no file is actualy saved/created. Any aprams missing? Any documenatation for this feature?
Ionut
Posts: 605
Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2005 11:29 am
Contact: Website

Hi,
I guess there is no way yet to add upgraded & targets to the aip via the command line?
No, not yet. Thank you for your suggestion, we will add it to the TO DO list.
I get a MS installer 'help' dialog with all msi options and no file is actualy saved/created. Any aprams missing? Any documenatation for this feature?
The command for extracting a MSI included in an EXE is documented here:
http://www.advancedinstaller.com/user-g ... -file.html

This command is only supported by install packages created with Advanced Installer. Please verify that the command is entered correctly and the destination folder exists.

Regards,
Denis
Denis Toma
Advanced Installer Team
http://www.advancedinstaller.com/

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