[c#] How to automatically update an application without ClickOnce?

For the project I am working on, I am not allowed to use ClickOnce. My boss wants the program to look "real" (with an installer, etc).

I have installed Visual Studio 2012 Professional, and have been playing around with the InstallShield installer, and it definitely makes nice installers, but I can't figure out how to enable the application to "auto-update" (that is, when it starts up, checks to make sure that it is using the latest version).

I have been asked to make a tiny change to the code - switching an addition to a subtraction, and I don't really want people to have to uninstall the old version, and then have to reinstall the new version every time I make a small change like this.

How can I make the application check for updates, and install them? Or is this not possible (or not easy)?

I think you should check the following project at codeplex.com http://autoupdater.codeplex.com/

This sample application is developed in C# as a library with the project name “AutoUpdater”. The DLL “AutoUpdater” can be used in a C# Windows application(WinForm and WPF).

There are certain features about the AutoUpdater:

1. Easy to implement and use.
2. Application automatic re-run after checking update.
3. Update process transparent to the user.
4. To avoid blocking the main thread using multi-threaded download.
5. Ability to upgrade the system and also the auto update program.
6. A code that doesn't need change when used by different systems and could be compiled in a library.
7. Easy for user to download the update files.

How to use?

In the program that you want to be auto updateable, you just need to call the AutoUpdate function in the Main procedure. The AutoUpdate function will check the version with the one read from a file located in a Web Site/FTP. If the program version is lower than the one read the program downloads the auto update program and launches it and the function returns True, which means that an auto update will run and the current program should be closed. The auto update program receives several parameters from the program to be updated and performs the auto update necessary and after that launches the updated system.

  #region check and download new version program
  bool bSuccess = false;
  IAutoUpdater autoUpdater = new AutoUpdater();
  try
  {
      autoUpdater.Update();
      bSuccess = true;
  }
  catch (WebException exp)
  {
      MessageBox.Show("Can not find the specified resource");
  }
  catch (XmlException exp)
  {
      MessageBox.Show("Download the upgrade file error");
  }
  catch (NotSupportedException exp)
  {
      MessageBox.Show("Upgrade address configuration error");
  }
  catch (ArgumentException exp)
  {
      MessageBox.Show("Download the upgrade file error");
  }
  catch (Exception exp)
  {
      MessageBox.Show("An error occurred during the upgrade process");
  }
  finally
  {
      if (bSuccess == false)
      {
          try
          {
              autoUpdater.RollBack();
          }
          catch (Exception)
          {
             //Log the message to your file or database
          }
      }
  }
  #endregion

A Lay men's way is

on Main() rename the executing assembly file .exe to some thing else check date and time of created. and the updated file date time and copy to the application folder.

//Rename he executing file
System.IO.FileInfo file = new System.IO.FileInfo(System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location);

System.IO.File.Move(file.FullName, file.DirectoryName + "\\" + file.Name.Replace(file.Extension,"") + "-1" + file.Extension);

then do the logic check and copy the new file to executing folder

This is the code to update the file but not to install This program is made through dos for copying files to the latest date and run your program automatically. may help you

open notepad and save file below with ext .bat

xcopy \\IP address\folder_share_name\*.* /s /y /d /q  
start "label" /b "youraplicationname.exe"

The most common way would be to put a simple text file (XML/JSON would be better) on your webserver with the last build version. The application will then download this file, check the version and start the updater. A typical file would look like this:

Application Update File (A unique string that will let your application recognize the file type)

version: 1.0.0 (Latest Assembly Version)

download: http://yourserver.com/... (A link to the download version)

redirect: http://yournewserver.com/... (I used this field in case of a change in the server address.)

This would let the client know that they need to be looking at a new address.

You can also add other important details.