Update vs install

[Edgar Prothero]

Hello,

I have created a program that I may want to update periodically.  I was wondering how I can make my setup utility auto detect whether or not the original program is in place and just perform the movement of the files needed to be updated?  I would also like to be able to execute a program that will extract the settings for the original copy so that the user does not have to manually reset their settings.  I have the code already written and fully tested - I just need to write the setup / update portion with Inno.  Any ideas?

Ed Prothero

Michigan 

[Jernej Simončič]

On Sunday, May 19, 2024, 20:30:52, Edgar Prothero wrote:

I have created a program that I may want to update periodically.  I was wondering how I can make my setup utility auto detect whether or not the original program is in place and just perform the movement of the files needed to be updated?  I would also like to be able to execute a program that will extract the settings for the original copy so that the user does not have to manually reset their settings.  I have the code already written and fully tested - I just need to write the setup / update portion with Inno.  Any ideas?

In general, there's no difference between install and update – the same installer can do both, and you don't have to do anything special for updates to work.

Regarding settings: the installer normally shouldn't touch any areas that contain settings (this is especially true if your installer runs elevated, and the program is installed to Program Files). The settings should be written to user-specific areas (either %APPDATA%/%LOCALAPPDATA% or HKCU in Registry, neither of which should be touched by the installer, because the user installing your program may not be the user that will be running it afterwards).

-- 
< Jernej Simončič ><><><><>< https://eternallybored.org/ >

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