LiveUpdate mechanism |
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The DataPackURL link inside the products.xml points to a folder on a webserver of yours. From this folder, new files (products, layouts, templates, setup installers) are automatically distributed to your Publisher installations. If your webserver has PHP installed, you can use the Source\4all.EN\Sample DataPackURL (index).php from the SetupWizard as a base for defining which files to distribute. After you modify this file, rename it to index.php and place it in the folder at the DataPackURL location.
The DataPackURL on your server should host at least your products.xml file, which contains current prices, product options & descriptions. The files (incl. products.xml) at the DataPackURL are downloaded:
Update Triggers 1. In order for the Publisher to update product and branding files automatically:
2. In order for the Publisher to update the program binary (i.e. itsself), the $version string of the branding\publisher-setup.exe inside the index.php must be modified to a higher number. For this file only, a different MD5 checksum is not sufficient! You can change version numbers up to a precisions of 3 - example: 3.8.2. Please read the chapter on version numbers for more info. Unfortunately, you cannot force a user to install or update something. However, there's a subtle and a brute force mechanism to remind him that his version is outdated: 3. Update all products at the DatatPackURL, including the products.xml. Inside the products.xml, change the property compatible or ExpireDate in order to force an update. For instance, if you set compatible to 3.5, and put the changed products.xml into your DataPackURL folder, then the next regular download of the products.xml will cause all Publisher versions below 3.5 to become outdated, forcing the user to a software update. ExpireDate will force the user to connect to the internet, if he has not updated his installation and products for a while. Using compatible is the brutal way. Usually the AutoUpdateDays value from the SetupWizard should be set to around 3 days, causing a gradual update process within your user base. Make sure to also update the version number in the index.php file inside your DataPackURL folder, so the user sees what he is downloading. |