VB.NET and FTP Auto Update

[Dino M. Buljubasic]

I am building an applicatin that will be able to automatically update itself
from an FTP server.

I'd like to be able to determine which version of application is newer, the
one currently running or the one found on the FTP server (the .msi file).
My idea is to look at the FTP server for an .msi file and compare its date
with the date stamp of the application currently running and then download
the release only if it is newer then running application.

How can I get the information about currently running application such as
its file date stamp?

Any suggestions are welcome.

Regards,

--
Dino Buljubasic
Software Developer
http://rivusglobal.com

[CJ Taylor]

File date stamp would be rather unreliable... get the version info...

plus, there a lot better ways to do live updaters than filestamps (plus
firewall problems..)

"Dino M. Buljubasic" <dino.bu...@rivusglobal.com> wrote in message
news:EL43b.15485$_5.3...@news1.telusplanet.net...

[Dino M. Buljubasic]

Thank you for your reply.

How can I get version number and how to create one?

What is the better way? If you are reffering to auto update from a Web
Server, it is not applicable to me, I have to do it from an FTP server.

Regards,

"CJ Taylor" <cta...@mortonwelding.com> wrote in message
news:OickIkL...@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...

[CJ Taylor]

You can get the version from your Assembly in the System.Reflection
namespace with the

AssemblyInformationalVersionAttribute.InformationalVersion Property

Lot of information. can you have access to a sql server or text file to
compare latest versions of the file?

you can use a webclient to (I think) make connection to FTP. its just a
pain sometimes...

I hate FTP though.

"Dino M. Buljubasic" <dino.bu...@rivusglobal.com> wrote in message

news:mc53b.15576$_5.3...@news1.telusplanet.net...

[Ed Crowley]

Look up .NET Application Blocks on MSDN. You can download some code that
does this.

HTH.

"CJ Taylor" <cta...@mortonwelding.com> wrote in message

news:eMv7#sLbDH...@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

[Dino M. Buljubasic]

Do you mean to have an additional text file stored on SQL Server ? Yes, I
could do that.
The file can contain info about the date, size, etc (probably version
number, too).

Tell me little bit more about that, please.

I am already connecting to an FTP server and downloading test file but would
like to be able to compare the version (or date) of my current application
with the version (or date) of the .msi file on the server.

Thank you, let me know if I am on the right track.

Regards,

--
Dino Buljubasic
Software Developer
http://rivusglobal.com

"CJ Taylor" <cta...@mortonwelding.com> wrote in message
news:eMv7%23sLbD...@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

[Dino M. Buljubasic]

Unfortunatelly, all the samples provided there and online are refering to
AutoUpdate with an Web Server. That is not what I want. I want to do it
from an FTP server.

"Ed Crowley" <curs...@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:ONkhRvLb...@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...

[Dino M. Buljubasic]

Are you using an intranet or the internet to push the
updates? If the internet, you probably can't get there
without a web server. If you are using an intranet, you
can do it from a shared folder. Paul Kimmel has a new
book
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0672324075/internco
m-20/002-4611773-6304806 that discusses this in depth...
I can send you some code to do it. Effectively you need
two assemblies, one that calls the second, and it looks
to somehwere 'else' to check if the somewhere 'else' on
is newer than the one it wants to use. I've done it on
the intranet at work, and on a scale of 1 to 10, it's
about a 4 the first time through, and much easier
afterward, setting the permissions is the main gotcha.

Let me know which scenario you are using and I can be of
more help.

Good Luck,

Bill

W.G. Ryan
dotne...@comcast.nospam.net
www.knowdotnet.com
>-----Original Message-----
>I am building an application that would check for newest
releases on start
>and if new releases exist, it would update itself. All
reference I have
>found are using a web server which I don't want to use.
>
>I am doing this in VB.net, and the updates should be
stored on SQL Server
>2000.
>
>Any ideas how can I do this. I have heard something
about AutoUpdate class.
>Would it work with an SQL Server as well?
>
>Any help will be appreciated,

>
>
>--
>Dino Buljubasic
>Software Developer
>http://rivusglobal.com
>
>

>.

"CJ Taylor" <cta...@mortonwelding.com> wrote in message

news:eMv7%23sLbD...@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

[Ed Crowley]

Why do you have to do it from an FTP server?

"Dino M. Buljubasic" <dino.bu...@rivusglobal.com> wrote in message

news:Or53b.15578$_5.3...@news1.telusplanet.net...

[Dino M. Buljubasic]

that is the requirement

"Ed Crowley" <curs...@pacbell.net> wrote in message

news:eoui31Lb...@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

[Dino M. Buljubasic]

Hi CJ,

how do I get that info though?

When I type :

System.Reflection.AssemblyInformationalVersionAttribute. it does not show
InformationalVersion and does not let me show it let's say in a message box.

Thanks,

--
Dino Buljubasic
Software Developer
http://rivusglobal.com

"CJ Taylor" <cta...@mortonwelding.com> wrote in message
news:eMv7%23sLbD...@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

[Ed Crowley]

You'll probably have to use time/date stamps - despite it being a crude
solution. An FTP server really isn't ideal for this kind of thing - you can
do much more with a web server.

"Dino M. Buljubasic" <dino.bu...@rivusglobal.com> wrote in message

news:iB53b.15582$_5.3...@news1.telusplanet.net...

[Dino M. Buljubasic]

I know, but that is the requirement. I wish I could go with web server,
too.

"Ed Crowley" <curs...@pacbell.net> wrote in message

news:expFz7Lb...@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...

[Cor]

Dino,
Did you look at fileinfo?
Cor

[Dino M. Buljubasic]

Hi Cor,

yes FileInfo works fine but the problem is that I am downloading the file
from FTP server. To download the file, I have to create another file on
local machine and FileInfo gets the info about that newly created file, not
the original info of the file from the server.

"Cor" <n...@non.com> wrote in message
news:3f4cf5fb$0$29321$48b9...@reader21.wxs.nl...

[CJ Taylor]

Pardon my french...

but who gave you these fucked up specs?

If you even tell me its a security thing, so help me god....

1993 called. they want there protocol back...

"Dino M. Buljubasic" <dino.bu...@rivusglobal.com> wrote in message

news:Ex73b.15850$_5.4...@news1.telusplanet.net...

[Dino M. Buljubasic]

I know, I know. The problem is I am in a new field here and there is no
time to change requirements. Saying that, I need solution to THIS
requirement although I would be way happier to use Web Server instead.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Regards,

--
Dino Buljubasic
Software Developer
http://rivusglobal.com

"CJ Taylor" <cta...@mortonwelding.com> wrote in message
news:OSNmyENb...@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...

[Cor]

Dino,
Why would you first download
There is a nice example from Microsoft "FTPjnrVB" or something writen in
VB6 that can be almost complete converted with VB2003 (not with VB2002)
When you have taken some time in (and then used the parts you need) you can
find there how to find the creation time on the FTP server.
Cor

[Dino M. Buljubasic]

Hi Cor,

yes I got that. I can check the creation time and then download the file if
it is newer. The problem now is how to reinstall the application. Since I
am not using the assemblies and manifests (don''t know how to), I guess
side-by-side execution is not possible but I am not concerned about that.
All I want is to be able to reinstall the application, wether by shuting it
down first or not, does not really matter.

Any suggestions? Where is that article about FTP?

Tx,

--
Dino Buljubasic
Software Developer
http://rivusglobal.com

"Cor" <n...@non.com> wrote in message
news:3f4dab15$0$31344$48b9...@reader20.wxs.nl...

[Cor]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;175179

[Dino M. Buljubasic]

Thanks Cor,

I think I solve that already. Do you have any suggestions on How To
Reinstall the Application?

Ragards,

--
Dino Buljubasic
Software Developer
http://rivusglobal.com

"Cor" <n...@non.com> wrote in message

news:3f4e2012$0$29227$48b9...@reader21.wxs.nl...
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;175179
>
>

[Cor]

Dino,
I am sorry, no, this is an FTP way like you wanted, a lot of people did give
you advises on more sophisticated ways.
Cor

[CJ Taylor]

I'm thinking about writing an application in which case it consists of an
textbox (multiline of course, as well as the CtrlEnter fix) as well as an
execute button at the bottom of the page...

Now the text box will take instructions in ANY format, hell you can even
copy and paste from microsoft word (we'll create a rich text box so you can
use pretty colors and such... especially BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS, to emphize
certain parts of the task you want to complete.)

Also, there is no language defined for it. Just write it in exactly what
you want to happen, or the general idea of what you want to happen even. It
doesn't matter.

Then after you type your specs in and are satisfied, you hit the execute
button. In which case I spin off 10-20 threads, with no necessary
syncronization, and all with thread priority at high to eat up every CPU
cycle you have.

Then these threads will run for a specified amount of time, depending on how
long your spec document is (character count * color useage penalty *
boldprint penalty * capital letter penalty* random number between 1 and
1,000,000)

Then after all the threads have executed (mainly just running long loops to
eat up MORE cpu time) a message will popup saying

"Have I achived the desired results?" with a yes no type dialog.

If yes.. well... I'll be amazed if that happens, but the program will exit.
(shhh)

If no, then it will select all the text within the spec text box, (so if you
hit a key you delete all of it, and disable CtrlZ by catching it in the
Message Loop) and have to retype your specs...

Repeat...

Only time it will break is on a program exit (which will be disabled of
course) until they type "Why the f*** can't you make my specs work?" or
something of the sort and hit execute.

In which case the program will popup a message saying

"welcome to the life of a software engineer."

And maybe a touch of "reboot fever" just for good fun.

What do you guys think? Should I write it?

=)

CJ

"Cor" <n...@non.com> wrote in message

news:3f4e4537$0$29318$48b9...@reader21.wxs.nl...

[Cor]

in 4 months?
:-)