check for new versions

[Mike Wilson]

Hello all,
The A5 help menu option --> check for new versions.... somehow looks into the current alpha version and matches it against the latest version listed on a website. I would like to be able to have this built into an application I am developing. Can someone try to help me understand the elements necessary and how this is accomplished?

[DaveM]

Re: check for new versions

Hi Mike
No expert here
you can use a function to get your app version from alpha and if you post the newest version number on a website some where alpha can go to the site and read it? I think I am right on that.
A5_GetAppVersionNumber()reads the app version to a variable

Maybe HTTP_GET() for the web side.

I have never done this at all, but sounds like something I need to do.

[preston2]

Re: check for new versions

I use Actual Installer to build my install packages. It has the option of including an update utility that you can then call from your Alpha app. It will then look on the web (where you specify) and compare the users installed version against the latest update version you have on the web. If there is an available update it will then ask them if they wish to download it.

When creating the actual update installer with Actual Installer, you specify that it is an update and you can also specify a minimum and maximum current version of your app to allow the update to install. This is useful for keeping users from installing a update on a very old release of your app.

[Bob Whitaker]

Re: check for new versions

Are you wanting to check for the current version of Alpha or your Application.
If its the former then

a5_HelpMenuNewVersionTest()

Does the trick
Bob

[Mike Wilson]

Re: check for new versions

Hi Bob,
I've been working on other things, sorry for the lack of response. I want to look for the version of our software. Alpha gives the functionality to have a version of our software retrievable and updated. Now I need for the capabilities to go to a website and capture the version value from a webpage..... somehow. Not versed in web stuff, and maybe I should post this on the web side of the MB.

[DaveM]

Re: check for new versions

Mike,

I am working on this right now for a very solid app that I have almost finished that I expect to have around 1500 copies sold over a few years.

If you dropped a new file in an ftp spot on your website and used something like this

dim fgetname as c = myfile  ' this being the name of the file on your ftp folder on web
FTP_GET_FILE("ftp.Smarterasp.net","alda-001","Mypassword",var->fgetname,"c:\cchub.txt")  'last could be whatever you name it like "c:\myapp\checked.dvf" 
FTP_GET_FILE("your ftp site","name needed","Yourftppassword",var->fgetname,"c:\cchub.txt")

You could then read the first(or any) line on the .txt file to get your newest version and check that against you current version.

You could then have a zip or install.exe file to download in the same place for the update.

How you do that is up to you, but very possible.


updatesftp.png

[Mike Wilson]

Re: check for new versions

Thanks David,
Will investigate this

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: check for new versions

Mike,

Are you wanting the latest A5 release build from an Alpha web site or the latest release of your app from your own web site? Probably the latter, and if so you could easily build a script or function using using http_get_page2() on which you could do some screen scraping using Alpha's scanner functions to get the latest release number, something you could make easy and foolproof on your own web page. I have done quite a bit of screen scraping this way on web sites I do not control. Once you study the various scanner functions it is not difficult, though on sites you don't control it could be impossible and/or a bit difficult. Still, everything I have tried has worked so far, except when someone changes the site and my scanners have to look for something different.

I am sure (!) I could get the latest A5V11 build number off the A5V11 View Release Notes page.

Raymond Lyons

[DaveM]

Re: check for new versions

Ray,
I am almost positive he is looking to give update or information from his own website. (I think).
a simple text file with one line including the newest up date is all that is needed.
bring it to your site with and ftp function. read the first line with alpha to a variable, compare it to the variable for current in the adb and pop a message box up if needed. With a choice from that, can do nothing or can download the update file to wherever necessary (like desktop). the run the update. All is good again.

I am working on that whole thing right now and will share all the details when done and fully tested.

Similar is also going to be used for app registration. Again, I will share it when done.

A little precursor to this though. I used cpanel to create a folder in ftp and then a ftp user name to go directly to that folder. text file is name newest.txt. One line in it is "15.0514"(without the quotes) to match the date like I use for my apps.
The app version is in the adb, so any updates I put there will include the adb and any other changes applicable to my app.

What I showed above in another post was an image from filezilla. That is not the final, but a rough idea.

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: check for new versions

Dave,

That's all well and good--there almost always is more than one way to skin a cat, and your way is probably as good as any. Still, if it is his web site, on which he lists and maintains his app's latest version number, the method I described should be just as easy and simple as your suggestion. Or at least it would be for me, but of course I have plenty of experience with using the scanner functions to scrape things off web pages. Mike is more brilliant than I am, so I am sure he could figure it out in short order. I could give a detailed example, but I am too busy being retired.

Ray Lyons

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: check for new versions

...I could give a detailed example, but I am too busy being retired.
Ray Lyons

Okay, I guess I'm not quite that busy, especially since it is so simple. Below is just one example using the A5V11 Release Notes web page as an example. If it was Mike's own web page it would, if anything, be easier and more foolproof. Once he got the build number he could do whatever with it. Also, it needs to be noted that the scanner method I use below is only one of many scanner methods one could use to get the same thing. On highly complex web pages where, for example, the "Build" you are after is not the first "Build" on the page, other scanner methods would need to be employed. Try the code. It works.

Raymond Lyons

URL="http://downloads.alphasoftware.com/A5V11Download/releasenotes.html"

result=http_get_page2(url,.f.)

'*********** for testing ************
'CLIPBOARD.SET_DATA(result)	'capture so can put it into a text file to examine it to determine
				'how best to capture what you are after.
'end
'**********End of testing **********

dim scanner as P
dim Startpoint as L =.F.
dim Build_Number as c =""

scanner=stringscanner.create(Result)	'loads the entire web page into memory (Result)

Startpoint=scanner.SkipToStringI("Build")	'The 1st "Build" on the web page. Only works cuz
					'Alpha puts the latest release at the top. Otherwise you
					'need to examine the HTML for another way to find
					'what you need. If it is your own web page you can
					'make it even easier and more foolproof.
If Startpoint =.F.
	msgbox("NADA","'Build' not found.")
	END
end if
Build_Number=scanner.ScanOver(16)	'16 beacause that's enough--could be more or less
					'plus there are other scanner ways to get what you want.
msgbox("A5V11 Build #",Build_Number)
end

[DaveM]

Re: check for new versions

this is real
'created a txt file with notepad with one line in it: the one line is simply "15.0514"  = 2015 may 14

'I have this and the second part in a button.  

FTP_FILE_XFER("ftp.aldweb.com","rthupt","eeles195","c:\alda12\church\reg.txt","/public_html/dnload/"+"reg.txt","put")

' sent the file directly to my sites


' this is all you need in the users install:
FTP_GET_FILE("ftp.aldweb.com","rthupt","eeles195","/public_html/dnload/reg.txt","c:\samefile.txt")
'brought it back

'Sorry, but I changed passwords and stuff for my own safety

This happens in an instant

If you do this with a windows server, the pathing will be different, but not by much.

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: check for new versions

...This happens in an instant....

I am not 100% sure what Mike was asking for but from Mike's 3rd post above:

I want to look for the version of our software. Alpha gives the functionality to have a version of our software retrievable and updated. Now I need for the capabilities to go to a website and capture the version value from a webpage..... somehow.

I thought my sample code was responsive to what he was looking for. Maybe not--beats me.

As for doing it in a mere "instant", your mileage may vary, but I timed my code (my old machine, my mediocre internet speed, etc.) and it ran in (roughly) 0.09 seconds in V10, V11 and V12. So I don't think speed is much of an issue. If my approach to what I thought Mike was asking is of no use to him or to others, so be it.

In any case, I decided to see if the approach I used for the A5V11 build # would work to get the latest V12 build #, and sure enough simply scanning for the first "Build" won't work, as that word first appears the V12 release notes in places that are of no help. So, after examining the text from my clipboard testing, I first scanned for "Alpha Anywhere V3.11". Once that was found I scanned again, this time for the first "Build" after "Alpha Anywhere V3.11" (plus a whole lot of blank space). This too ran in 0.09 seconds. The V12 code appears below.

Now, what I really thought Mike was looking for has little or nothing to do with the Alpha builds in my examples. My examples are just to show the basics of how it could be done with a sample web page we all have. From what Mike wrote I assumed he would be going to his own web page to get his app's latest version # and compare that to the version # of the inquiring user, and if they don't match then do something else. In a case like that getting the latest version from his web page, using some scanning method or another, is almost child's play, and it is very fast.

If Dave's approach to whatever Mike was after is the way to go, I am not here to argue otherwise. I'm just trying to point out some methods that might be useful in some context or another (I suspect the scanner methods are little used by desktop users, but I have found them to be very powerful, if a tad confusing).

I am done with this thread--I hope!

Raymond Lyons

URL="http://downloads.alphasoftware.com/A5V12Download/ReleaseNotes/releasenotes.html"
result=http_get_page2(url,.f.)

'*********** for testing ************
'CLIPBOARD.SET_DATA(result)	'capture so can put it into a text file to examine
'end
'**********End of testing **********

dim scanner as P
dim Startpoint as L =.F.
dim Buildpoint as L =.F.
dim Build_Number as c =""

scanner=stringscanner.create(Result)	'loads the entire web page into memory (Result)
Startpoint=scanner.SkipToStringI("Alpha Anywhere V3.11")	'The 1st "Alpha Anywhere V3.11" 
If Startpoint =.F.
	msgbox("NADA","'Alpha Anywhere V3.11' not found.")
	END
end if

Buildpoint=scanner.SkipToStringI("Build")
If Buildpoint =.F.
	msgbox("NADA","'Build' not found.")
	END
end if
Build_Number=scanner.ScanOver(16)
msgbox("A5V12 Build #",Build_Number)

end

[DaveM]

Re: check for new versions

In my scenario the way I will use it,

First step is to make the txt file.
send it to the web folder
My users will check it automatically when the log on to the app. ( no buttons)
app will autodownload the txt file
read it
compare the numbers using variables
if there is a new update, user will be prompted with the choice to continue or update.
if choice is update
app will download the update(probably to the desktop) and instructions(if needed)
user gets out of alpha
runs the update
--Or I could set it up so that the update is auto run on users exit.
restarts alpha with updates complete.

I will build a small app when time permits that will demonstrate the whole thing that all can see how it will work. It is a good test for me as well.
I still won't be giving my usernammes and passwords out though. LOL

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: check for new versions

As an alternative to what Dave is proposing, here is how one might proceed using the scanner functions to get the latest app build # and a zipped update of the application files (not data files):

Of course the latest build # has to be on a web site, along with--for my way of doing this--a zip file containing the latest application files. Since my method of checking for the latest build # is so fast, this could be done in the autoexec, at the top, each time the autoexec is run. The autoexec would then check the users build # (also very fast). If the latest build # is greater than the user's app build #, ask if they want to update. If yes, use A5 download functions to download the zip file and put it in a specified location (probably just in the user's app folder, which the autoexec code could quickly determine). Next you may need a wait for idle (or??) and then still in the autoexec use an A5 unzip function to unzip the downloaded zip file into the application folder�including if need be the ABD and associated files (yes, the ADB files will be replaced while the user is still in and going to continue with the old autoexec). When unzipping is complete the user could continue with the rest of the old autoexec to open the app. However, as the new autoexec may be different, you would probably want the old autoexec to exit the app and automatically restart the app with the new autoexec. Or, something like the above! Oh wait, I forgot: I would also have the autoexec routine do a pre-specified backup of at least the old application files�maybe even all the files in the application folder. Always better to be safe than sorry.

Or, do it Dave's way.

Now, I have no use for any of this and don't sell anything, so I am not going to take the time to build a sample like Dave says he is going to do. However, I have used and/or tested the basics functions involved enough to be confident everything I outlined above will work. It really is fairly simple and it uses nothing but A5 functions.

Now if Mike would only tell what he is really after! Come on Mike!

Raymond Lyons