Updater for different components, and scheduler

[jlavery]

Hi there,
We have a VB6 application which has an Access database and associated Word documents, and would like to add Updater support.

Scheduling.
The documentation says that the updater can be scheduled using Windows Task Scheduler. Is it also possible to make it run as a service, checking periodically?
If we use Windows Task Scheduler, can we insert the Tasks as part of Advanced Installer, at the same time as installing the 'updater-enabled' version of the application?

Updating Application, Database, Documents separately
From the documentation, I understand how the Updater configuration can be used to automate updates of the application. However, we need to carry out updates which may perform one or more of the following:

1. Update the application
2. Update the database
3. Update the documents

What's the best way to achieve this? It seems that to control the database updates (we may have updates to database content which does not have an associated application update) and document updates separately, I may need to create a small database version application and document version application, whose role is just to hold the version of the database and documents respectively. I can then configure updaters for each.

Or is there a better way?

Thanks,

James

[Daniel]

Hello James,

The documentation says that the updater can be scheduled using Windows Task Scheduler. Is it also possible to make it run as a service, checking periodically?

I'm afraid we don't have predefined support for this. However, as a workaround you can create your own service which will launch periodically the Updater with a silent command line. Also, the updates package should be configured to be installed silently. Please take a look on the "Launching AutoUpdater from service" thread which debates a similar topic.

If we use Windows Task Scheduler, can we insert the Tasks as part of Advanced Installer, at the same time as installing the 'updater-enabled' version of the application?

Yes, just enable the "Automatic: using a Windows scheduled task" updater execution option from "Updater" page and configure accordingly the Updater scheduled task.

From the documentation, I understand how the Updater configuration can be used to automate updates of the application. However, we need to carry out updates which may perform one or more of the following:

1. Update the application
2. Update the database
3. Update the documents

What's the best way to achieve this? It seems that to control the database updates (we may have updates to database content which does not have an associated application update) and document updates separately, I may need to create a small database version application and document version application, whose role is just to hold the version of the database and documents respectively. I can then configure updaters for each.

Or is there a better way?

Please note that you can build your application updates as a major upgrade package or as a patch package. Our updater role is only to detect if the updates package should be installed and, if so launch the updates package for installation. In order to update the application, databases, documents, etc. you should make sure that the upgraded package is configured to include the updated version of your files (applications, databases, documents, etc.).

Please take a look on our "Using the Updater" tutorials which should be useful for you.

Also, in order to update your databases you can use our SQL Scripts support. Please keep in mind that this feature is available only in an Enterprise or above license.

Also, here's a list of articles you can follow:
- Configure most common SQL connections
- Using SQL Scripts
- ODBC/SQL how to's

If you have any questions just let us know.

All the best,
Daniel

[jlavery]

Hi Daniel,
Thanks for the comprehensive reply - you've given me enough information to get a proposal to my customer!

Regards,

James

[Daniel]

You're always welcome James.

All the best,
Daniel