Auto-Updates using MSI

[reshugoyal]

Hi,

I need to implement Auto Updates in my application wherein I will be
installing the application using msi.
First time I will be installing it through CD.( Directly running the
MSI file) Next time any of my clients run the application and if newer
version is available(which has to be specified on server) they must get
a notification that "New version is available. Do you want to
Download/Install?" and depending on the user action if Yes the new
version should be installed on the client machine.

Please let me know if somebody has already worked out the solution. I
have seen the examples provided by Microsoft patterns and practices
(MSIQuickstart(CS) solution) but it didn't help.

Thanks,
Reshu Goyal

[Peter Bromberg [C# MVP]]

ClickOnce handles all this. If you do not use .NET 2.0, then you can use a
pattern similar to the "App updater" from Patterns and Practices.
Finally, you can implement your own where your app periodically makes a
webservice call, transmitting it's current version, and this is compared with
the latest version, allowing for the "A newer version is avalable" prompt.
If the new MSI has been constructed properly with a new version number, it
will remove the previous version first and then install the newest version.
Peter

--
Co-founder, Eggheadcafe.com developer portal:
http://www.eggheadcafe.com
UnBlog:
http://petesbloggerama.blogspot.com


"re********@gmail.com" wrote:

Hi,

I need to implement Auto Updates in my application wherein I will be
installing the application using msi.
First time I will be installing it through CD.( Directly running the
MSI file) Next time any of my clients run the application and if newer
version is available(which has to be specified on server) they must get
a notification that "New version is available. Do you want to
Download/Install?" and depending on the user action if Yes the new
version should be installed on the client machine.

Please let me know if somebody has already worked out the solution. I
have seen the examples provided by Microsoft patterns and practices
(MSIQuickstart(CS) solution) but it didn't help.

Thanks,
Reshu Goyal