Web update - variable host directory

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich,

I have a client project that he is leasing out to a second company. My
client doesn't want them to have automatic access to the same update that he
gets - at least not at the same time, so he can test it and make sure there
are no problems.

My idea is that I can set the host directory based on which client is using
the program. Is it safe to modify the registry setting for it, or does this
need to be set by the install? I'm aware that it must be modified from an
elevated process, but that's not a problem.

Do you have any ideas/words of wisdom on this?

Best regards,


--
Arnór Baldvinsson - Icetips Alta LLC
Port Angeles, Washington
www.icetips.com - www.buildautomator.com - www.altawebworks.com
Icetips product subscriptions at http://www.icetips.com/subscribe.php

[NewsArchive]

Hi Arnór,

> I have a client project that he is leasing out to a second company. My
> client doesn't want them to have automatic access to the same update that
> he gets - at least not at the same time, so he can test it and make sure
> there are no problems.
>
> My idea is that I can set the host directory based on which client is
> using the program. Is it safe to modify the registry setting for it, or
> does this need to be set by the install? I'm aware that it must be
> modified from an elevated process, but that's not a problem.
>
> Do you have any ideas/words of wisdom on this?

What I do in SetupBuilder is the following (two steps). The server manifest
file for SetupBuilder is named "sb70_dev.ini" (stores the latest version
number and the name of the update file). My web update files are in form of
"sb7_build_edition.xxxxx" (e.g. "sb7_2680_dev.exe).

1. Before I upload the new web update files (.exe, .0000x, manifest file) I
rename the manifest to "sb70_dev_TESTONLY.ini". Then I upload all files.
Because "sb70_dev.ini" on the web server is still the "old" one, web update
does not detect the new version. So it's still "disabled".

2. I go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Lindersoft\WebUpdate\A pps\{YOURPRODUCTGUID} and
change the HOST_INI value data from "sb70_dev.ini" to
"sb70_dev_TESTONLY.ini". This enables it just for me!

As a result, the installed web update detects the "new" version now and I
can test it. All customers still receive the "no update available" message.

So what you can do is to change the HOST_DIRECTORY and/or the HOST_INI or
even the HOST_ADDRESS.

To "enable" the new web update for all users, I remove the old
"sb70_dev.ini" and rename the new "sb70_dev_TESTONLY.ini" to "sb70_dev.ini".

Does this help?

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich,

> As a result, the installed web update detects the "new" version now and I
> can test it. All customers still receive the "no update available" message.
>
> So what you can do is to change the HOST_DIRECTORY and/or the HOST_INI or
> even the HOST_ADDRESS.
>
> To "enable" the new web update for all users, I remove the old
> "sb70_dev.ini" and rename the new "sb70_dev_TESTONLY.ini" to "sb70_dev.ini".
>
> Does this help?

Yes, this is what I use for testing, just wasn't sure if I could apply the
same method to the host_directory or if the installs would overwrite it.

Since my client gets updates every time I work on the project, but his
customer is only entitled to once a year update (unless he decides
otherwise) I can't keep them in the same folder. I think this will work
very nicely for me:)

Best regards,

--
Arnór Baldvinsson - Icetips Alta LLC
Port Angeles, Washington
www.icetips.com - www.buildautomator.com - www.altawebworks.com
Icetips product subscriptions at http://www.icetips.com/subscribe.php

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich,

> Since my client gets updates every time I work on the project, but his
> customer is only entitled to once a year update (unless he decides
> otherwise) I can't keep them in the same folder. I think this will work
> very nicely for me:)

This seems to work perfectly! I create a small source project that updates
the registry with a command line parameter. This exe is run elevated and it
works perfectly on win7:)

Best regards,

--
Arnór Baldvinsson - Icetips Alta LLC
Port Angeles, Washington
www.icetips.com - www.buildautomator.com - www.altawebworks.com
Icetips product subscriptions at http://www.icetips.com/subscribe.php

[NewsArchive]

> This seems to work perfectly! I create a small source project that
> updates the registry with a command line parameter. This exe is
> run elevated and it works perfectly on win7:)

COOL :)

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich,

> COOL :)

Works like a charm in my tests here!

This is actually pretty cool stuff! In this case I'm storing the folder in
a SQL database that is replicated to remote dbs. So I can change this in
the consolidated database and it cascades to the remote databases. Before
the main exe runs I run a small stub exe that checks for things and if it
detects that the folder name doesn't match the registry, it runs the
registry update program and updates the HOST_DIRECTORY. This allows me to
handle any number of different update schedules for different companies that
may use this software in the future!

Best regards,

--
Arnór Baldvinsson - Icetips Alta LLC
Port Angeles, Washington
www.icetips.com - www.buildautomator.com - www.altawebworks.com
Icetips product subscriptions at http://www.icetips.com/subscribe.php

[NewsArchive]

Hi Arnór,

Wow, very interesting. Very cool idea!!!! :-)

Friedrich