Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attached.

[CarlMPearson]

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[Fisher]

Re: Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attach

Good Idea. I always do that manually.

[PowerGen]

Re: Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attach

Has my vote, I file the updates in named folders, but I sure would appreciate the named approach, particularly as the file properties dialog does not identify the file version.

[WendyWelton]

Re: Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attach

That would get my vote also. I've been doing that manually as well.

[gsownsby]

Re: Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attach

A really great idea...I have a testy collection of update files going back to the early days of V10.

[Steve Wood]

Re: Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attach

But all of the patches dating back to the first are available on the patch site. Why would you store any of them other than the latest just to distribute?

[aschone]

Re: Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attach

I store all of the patches for Alpha5 locally. A website may be unreachable for several reasons outside of my control. By storing them locally I eliminate this possibility.

[MikeC]

Re: Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attach

....and Alpha, like most companies, will eventually not have them available....and is conceivable that various clients will have to use different builds dependent upon their needs and possible issues of each build.

There are also times where you have to go back in builds to find one which satisfies the need of a feature, but does not have a certain issue that comes up in a later build (or vice-versa). Having them stored is easier is all to do this.

Just another couple of reasons I think that justifies saving more than just the latest.

[Pat Bremkamp]

Re: Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attach

This has been asked for over and over, but in 15 years of using Alpha Five, I've never needed it. Really now, what's the chance the internet will be down at the same time you need a prior build? If the internet is down, can you get to your server anywhay? If you are worried about the latest build having a problem, then don't download it for a week or so. Watch the board and if there's a problem, it will be listed there. That way you never have to go back to a prior build.

If you have a feature that used to work, and now it doesn't, it was probably a bug that you were exploiting. Don't expect Alpha to reintroduce the bug! Just find another way. In alpha there are at least 4 ways of doing anything.

[gilbertro]

Re: Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attach

I create a named folder for each release. I find it easier this way.

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attach

It's no big deal to add the version to your download. But I agree that it's not a bad idea to keep patches of any version you think that you may need to go back to. Nothing in this world is permanent - least of all the Internet. I'm especially concerned about those videos. The only reason I haven't downloaded them all (both v10 & v11) is due to space considerations. In this day of financial instability and massive national debt, where even huge conglomerates go down overnight, where the DOW gyrates wildly by hundreds of points any given day, a small company like Alpha could disappear in a flash! That's not a criticism of Alpha, it's just a reality of economic and business life today.

[SNusa]

Re: Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attach

It's no big deal to add the version to your download. But I agree that it's not a bad idea to keep patches of any version you think that you may need to go back to. Nothing in this world is permanent - least of all the Internet. I'm especially concerned about those videos. The only reason I haven't downloaded them all (both v10 & v11) is due to space considerations. In this day of financial instability and massive national debt, where even huge conglomerates go down overnight, where the DOW gyrates wildly by hundreds of points any given day, a small company like Alpha could disappear in a flash! That's not a criticism of Alpha, it's just a reality of economic and business life today.

I've often thought of this and totally agree! (But wouldn't there be chaos regardless, due to installs needing validation from the Alpha servers anyways?) Seriously: This is a huge concern for me at my place of business (for all critical software.) ~ Consequently, I have one rule of thumb I follow religiously when implementing software solutions:

If software needs remote server validations for installation, I won't use it, period. I find another solution.
Only exception to this is for MS products. Because, if they ever were to "go down" ~ well, it's all over...... end of line....
(It's all about risk management & minimizing potential problems.)

The deeper I delve int a5, the more I should pay attention to this. If Alpha servers were ever to go down, wouldn't it be all over for all of us the moment we replaced our aging hardware? I don't know why, when or how frequently Alpha installations actually check for validation. (Or whether they always "phone home" when restoring a windows image to new hardware using tools like Acronis, or Storagecraft ShadowProtect.) ~ via hardware independent / bare metal restore...... But even if this is not an issue on the desktop, what about the web server component and or unlimited desktop runtimes? They all "phone home", right?

[Steve Wood]

Re: Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attach

If software needs remote server validations for installation, I won't use it, period. I find another solution.
Only exception to this is for MS products. Because, if they ever were to "go down" ~ well, it's all over...... end of line....

But you are an Alpha Five user? Their Developer and Web Server both require remote server validation. Developer must be remotely activated within 30 days and Web Server must be activated immediately upon install. If you want to move either to some new location, you need to remotedly de-activate and re-activate at the new location.

[Davidk]

Re: Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attach

Only exception to this is for MS products. Because, if they ever were to "go down" ~ well, it's all over...... end of line....

Too funny... I can just hear the dinosaurs saying the same thing as they watched the meteor. Well... I guess for them it was all over. Still... here we are.

I have a feeling we'd all survive if MS went down. Crap... I'd have to go back to WordPerfect... yikes!

As for the versions, I just add the numbers to the end of the filename when I save... no big deal.

[SNusa]

Re: Software Updates - Any chance of adding the version to the file name? See attach

But you are an Alpha Five user? Their Developer and Web Server both require remote server validation. Developer must be remotely activated within 30 days and Web Server must be activated immediately upon install. If you want to move either to some new location, you need to remotedly de-activate and re-activate at the new location.

Sort of.... But thus far, my involvement with Alpha has been mostly a "hobby" (as sick as it may seem to most.) I just recently built a point rewards online tool for my business patrons who used it all last season. (It's in place, and works fine, but isn't fully finished as I envision it.)

I'll tell you this though: If I wanted to build a custom POS system (mission critical) that I needed to "stand the test of time" ~ I'd be very hesitant to use Alpha. Albeit slower to develop with, I would be thinking Dev Studio. (which is a beast) ~I think this whole topic touches upon a serious potential threat that has very deep implications. ~ Nothing lasts forever. God forbid, what would happen to Alpha if they ever lost Richard &/or Selwyn? ~ I much prefer supporting small companies, BUT they don't have the "immortality" of companies like Microsoft / Apple / Oracle / Ford / Chevrolet etc........ Even people were concerned with Apple when we lost Steve Jobs......

And Peter G. is right. Even companies that I consider to be large go "kaboom." ~ They're just less likely to do so.
(And apparently unless you're GM, the government certainly isn't going to help you out.) ~ Which (IMHO) was wrong on so many different levels anyways, but now I'm way off topic.