Upgrade my software easier

[NewsArchive]

Hi All. Hopefully this is the correct NG

The software product that I sell is done via an off the shelf method.
From time to time I make improvements to the program and provide the
upgrade to my customers. How I have done this is somewhat manually.

I have a folder that contains the new pro,wfo etc files as well as the
new data structure. The customer copies that folder to a location in
their computer, runs a program and the program then uses append from to
copy all the data from the old version to the new version, the new
version then gets copied (manually) to the current folders and
everything (mostly) functions without errors. The issue I'm having is
that some of my customers (especially the newer ones) don't want to go
through being emailed a zip file, then unzipping, etc etc. What they
want to do is go to my web site and click on 1 file that does everything
automatically. The best way I can figure out how to do this is make 1
exe with all the files (including the dbfs) and do the above steps, but
dbase AFAIK doesn't allow me to extract the embedded files from the exe.
Is there a better way to do this? I was thinking using INNO, but I'm not
sure how inno would 'find' the existing installation (sometimes
customers move their program to a server after initial installation).
The data can be found via BDE so that's not an issue but what about the
pro, wfo etc?

Or is there a better way?
Thanks

Omar Mohammed

[NewsArchive]

For an automatic and professional solution, look at Setup Builder Installer by LinderSoft.com. It allows your software to automatically detect updates, ask the user if they want to install them, and then download all the necessary files from a password protected location on your web site.

SetupBuilder can also be used to create small stand alone EXE files to achieve various functions.

Also, you can buy Comodo Code Signing Certificates from Lindersoft at a greatly reduced price.

-O. D.-

[NewsArchive]

Looks good. How does it work with dbase and all the BDE woes that comes
with it and W7?

Omar Mohammed

[NewsArchive]

Setup Builder is UAC aware and lets you build installations for every version of Windows that exists or has ever existed. I just use the dBase runtime installer for the BDE and let Setup Builder install my program, it's support files, and the data files.

Using the Setup Builder Maintenance Subscription tool, I give my customers a one year Maintenance Subscription with each purchase. At the end of the year (or earlier if I set it that way) the program reminds them that their Subscription is about to expire and reminds them to renew in order to continue getting tech support and free program updates. If they do not renew, the program automatically stops downloading free program updates.

O. D. Williams