Web Update Package - Many updates & download efficiency

(Ignore patching for this question)

It appears that as the number of updated versions of the software grows so
does the possibility that at sometime ALL the files will need to be
replaced.

If I have released 25 updates then my single web update package will contain
all the files needed to update from Version 1. If the Version 24->25 update
changes just one file ALL the files will still be replaced.

This question concerns File Properties | Conditions | Replacement Option =>
"Check File (CRC)"
and the option for "Delayed File Install".

It would seem using "Check File (CRC)" with a web update would be the way
for the Web Update package to check all the files to be replaced and create
a list of files that only FAIL the CRC check.

With that "Fail CRC Check" list created the Web Update Package would then
ONLY DOWNLOAD and install the files that failed the CRC ckec;

(1) Is this the way the Web Update Package works when the file replacement
option "CRC Check" is used?

(2) What bearing does the "Start Delayed File Install" have. In reading the
docs it seems that you would always want to use "Delayed File Install"
because a TCP/IP connection can always be presumed to be problematic.

Thank you,

Michael

PS: As you can tell I am trying to understand how the Web Update system
performs as the product matures. The web update system I use I wrote myself
and it is file based instead of version number based.

To clarify a little bit....

Asume:
- The current update number is #25
- A user has update #24 installed
- All files between update #1 and update #25 have changed
- Only one file between update #24 and update #25 has changed.

The Web Update Package should check the CRC of all files
currently installed against the CRC for the files in the web update package.

For the user with update #25 installled it will determine that only one file
has changed and it will ONLY DOWNLOAD that one file for the
web update process.

Is this how the web update system functions? (It should I think)

Thanks,

Mike

Mike,

Yes, this is correct. If a user is on update #24 and only one file changed
between update #24 and update 25#, then the web update process to #25 will
only download and install one file.

Friedrich

--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 6
Create Windows Vista ready installations in minutes

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

HURRAY! That is just wonderful! Thank you for the foresight to design it
that way.

Michael

Hi Friedrich.

This is something I've been wondering for a while as well..

If patch 23 to 24 includes 3 files (X, Y, and Z), and patch 24 to 25
includes 1 file (Y), then are you saying that a user going from version 23
to 25 would get X, the latest Y, and Z, and a user going from 24 to 25 would
get just Y?

How does that work? My understanding is the when a user checks for web
updates they check the WUD file, which points them to the latest files to
download (Y). The latest WUD file does not seem to refer to the old files
(X, old Y and Z) at all.

Does that happen automatically or do I need to adjust the file replacement
options settings?

I hope my question makes sense..

Thanks!

Best Regards,

Gary.

Gary James
Strategy, South Africa
Web: www.strategyonline.co.za
Blog: www.strategyonline.co.za/blog

Hi Gary,

Web Update always updates to the latest available version.

Let us assume we have the following:

- Update #23 to #24 has the following files on the server:

File X (Version 1.24)
File Y (Version 1.24)
File Z (Version 1.24)

- Update #24 to #25 has the following files on the server:

File X (Version 1.24) <-- changed in #24
File Y (Version 1.25) <-- new
File Z (Version 1.24) >-- changed in #25

1) User is on Update #23:

Web Update updates File X, Y, Z.

2) User is on Update #24 (means: he already has a new File X and Z:

Web Update updates only File Y

3) Now let us assume, the user is on Update #24 but was smart enough to
remove File X, Y, and Z from his system.

Web Update detects this and this time, it updates File X, Y, Z.

All this happens automatically. You only have to make sure the file
replacement options are set to "Check CRC".

Does this help?

Friedrich

--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 6
Create Windows Vista ready installations in minutes

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

Fantastic!!!

I didn't realize that's how it worked.. I have had "Check CRC" turned off
this whole time, so every update includes all my DLLs and users have to
download the whole lot. Wow, this is great. Thanks Friedrich..

My customers are going to be very happy about this.. Thank you..

Best Regards,

Gary.

Gary James
Strategy, South Africa
Web: www.strategyonline.co.za
Blog: www.strategyonline.co.za/blog