About software update function...

[Elminster]

Hellos guys!

I was wondering, I am almost finishing a game software, and I know that in a few weeks... Or a month, I will have to put another function in the game (The Command is already in the interface, its just disable because doesnt have any function created for it yet). I would like to know, how should I proceed to make a function in my game that gives an option to update when I make the new version. The only thing that the update will do is enabled the command in the interface, and add the function to the game.... Its like, you click in the update bootom, them the game conects the last update and applies it to the game.. Like an antivirus update.. Only smaller and a lot less complicated... adding only one function...
Anyone knows how to do it? Or its impossible to do it with VB6?

Thx for your time!


Elminster.

[TheVoid]

Not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for but.

Your executable does have a file version incrimenting variable. Which you can get in VB.

You can then use that value. Have them connect to your download site or whatever and compar the two version info's. If their current version is less, then give them the oportunity to update.

Now as long as you don't need any new dll's along with the update you just made, then you can have it replace the executable.

We do that here where i work. we have about 30 systems who use our program to access the database. They run something like program.exe and that exe actually does the update if needed across the network and then once its done copying the up to date executable, it runs the real executable for the program.

App.Major
App.Minor
App.Revision

are the three main commands for getting the version number.

[Cander]

you are not going to be able to do any binary patching which is what you are thinking. Just provide the updated exe for download, which is actually what most games do these days. Not many do binary patching anymore.

[Elminster]

I was wondering about a new way to solve this problem, and I guess I found one.. I would like to have your opinion guys...
Do you think that its "Polited" or "Professional" do like it:

1-Each version will have a constant that will have a specifc value diferent of each other version. And the first time that the *.exe is run with a new version, it will be saved in a database.

2- When the user clicks on update buttom, it will open a form with a webbrowser on it...A small form that will lead to a webpage that will make a test (in ASP) about the version that the software has saved in database of the user.

3- If the test is ok ( The version is older then the one that is being compared), then the web page will lead to another page with the download link that will ask for you to download the new .exe to the same folder that you had installed the software. And then ask for substitute the old .exe.

4- If the test returns that the version is the same, than it will lead to a web page that will have a message telling that you already have the latest version....


I thought about using asp to solve this problem, because there is some parts of my game that uses asp to send information to internet...

Do you think that its a good way to resolve that update problem?

Thx for your time!

Elminster

[GSIV]

Sounds good (and simple) to me. Good luck!