How to make an auto updater! For noobs :)

[EmiloZ]

Ok, you got your program ready, now make this :

• A label with text "Version : "
• A .txt file on your webserver with text like "1.3.0" which is program version!

When made the label then double click the form so it will be in the codes under "Form Load"

Then insert this code

Using wc As New Net.WebClient()
            Dim url As String = "http://yoursite.com/version.txt"
            Dim src As String = wc.DownloadString(url)
            Dim myVersion As String = "Version: "
            Dim myVersions As System.Text.RegularExpressions.Match = System.Text.RegularExpressions.Regex.Match(src)
            If myVersions IsNot Nothing Then
                myVersion = myVersions.Value
            End If
            Label1.Text = ("Version: " + myVersions)
        End Using
'This is for dl!
        If myVersions.Value = "1.2.9" Then My.Computer.Network.DownloadFile("http://yoursite.com/app.exe" ,"C:/app.exe") Else Do Nothing

Enjoy guys!

[ReidE96]

Might I suggest using the TEMP directory, rather than the C drive? I use similar code for the same purpose:

Imports System.IO
Imports System.Net
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Diagnostics.Process

Dim CurrentVersion as String = "1.0.2"

Private Sub UpdateCheck()
        'Download the text file
        Dim LocalFile As String = Path.GetTempFileName
        DownloadFile("http://www.website.com/version-latest.txt", LocalFile)

        'Read the text file and get the current version
        Dim Reader As TextReader = New StreamReader(LocalFile)
        Dim LatestVersion As String
        LatestVersion = Reader.ReadToEnd
        Reader.Close()

        'Compare the numbers and ask to update (if appropriate)
        If Not LatestVersion <> CurrentVersion Then
            If MsgBox("You are currently running an outdated version of <PROGRAM NAME>. Would you like to update?", MsgBoxStyle.YesNo, "PROGRAM NAME") = vbYes Then
                DownloadFile("http://www.website.com/Program-" & LatestVersion & "Update.exe", Path.GetTempPath & "Program-Update.exe")
                Start(Path.GetTempPath & "\Program-Update.exe")
                File.Delete(LocalFile)
                End
            End If
        End If

        'Delete the temporary text file
        File.Delete(LocalFile)
    End Sub

It allows them to decide if they want to update or not, and clears all unused things afterwards. Though I should really learn regex at some point...

(oh yeah, I just call UpdateCheck when the program starts up.)

[Fireking300]

Nice Coding both of yall. +Rep x2 to both.
Edit: I gave rep to EmiloZ, but I have to spread around some reputation before I can give more to ReidE96.

[Allstar .ιllιlı.]

Not bad, but shouldn't the version numbers be online somewhere? Like in a database?

That way, you won't have to change it in your code everytime.
I suggest you download a .txt file which contains the newest version number, and compare it with your version. Or you can use a database (like I did with Allstar to get the newest version number.).


EDIT: This only aplies to Emiloz. ReidE96 already has an online version number.

Greetz

[AzolexX]

Why not just encrypt a txt file? and it will have numbers in it :P that program will read?