Application updates itself

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Question:

I want to allow my application to update itself. I run into a problem here when I try to copy the updated version of my executable over the one existing on the server. Windows will not let me if a client is running it.


Answer:

I had to do the same task for SourceCoder's web edition. At least in Windows NT/ 2000, the following will work - (I think it does not work with Windows 95).
Let's assume that the name of your .EXE file is myApp.exe.

1) delete an old backup, if existing

2) rename the running EXE to *.exe.bak

3) copy the new EXE over

4) restart the application and close the existing one.

You can also use the WinNT/Win 2000 _MoveFile_ _API_ to delete the old version at the next reboot.

See the sample source code below.

	procedure UpdateMyself; var bakName : string; begin bakName := ChangeFileExt(Application.ExeName, '.old'); if FileExist(bakName) then DeleteFile(bakName); RenameFile (Application.ExeName, bakName); CopyFile('c:\downloads\' + Application.ExeName, Application.ExeName); // restart and shutdown old session WinExec(Application.ExeName, sw_ShowNormal); Application.Terminate; end;

Comments:

2007-08-06, 15:14:33

from Finland

Hi, your example is helpful, but I suppose it would be easier, to include an update check on the OnCreate event, then prompt the user for update, call a separate updater program, and go on with business as usual. If the updater program needed to be updated first, the main application could handle this. This way it would work, regardless of the OS.

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