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I've been struggling with this idea for quite a while, but I've not been able to use anything besides a download object, or FTP.
Basically, I want the game to launch, and check the version number with the one hosted on my server. If they match, the game opens. If they're different, then the game downloads the newest update from the server.
Is there any possible way to do this?
Yes, I used a pretty lucrative and secure method with my Stock Market Game.
I'll spill the beans on how I did it:
Create a text file called vernum.txt and pack it with your game. Inside include the value (version of the game) thats it. So;
1.2
When you have an update ready upload the installer exe to your server with an incremental filename, example setup13.exe (version 1.3) also upload to a folder on your server a copy of vernum.txt and put inside it 1.3, rename the destination as newver.txt
Compare the 2 values in the text files, if vernum.txt (installed) is equal or greater then next frame. If not, update frame.
Inside your update frame then download the setup13.exe, once download is complete, launch setup13.exe, end application. User will update then.
If this doesn't make sense fire me any questions, if I get round to it I may make a more suitable tutorial or widget.
This is very interesting.
Can you post a simple example, please?
Just get your program to write a batch file... or have a seperate autoupdater... I've used both of these.
Crian if I get chance in the morning which I should, I'll post an example!
http://www.clickteam.com/epicenter/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=190456#Post1904 56
It would need to be modified a bit, but that shouldn't take long :)
I remember seeing this Game_Master. Awesome widget.
However i have always needed clarification for the term server.
What exactly do u mean by server?
A server is a hosted storage place where you can upload files that others can download. It's typically paired with a domain, so others can access the files without using an FTP client.
I'd also like an example of this.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyC
sooo if i were to upload my files to mediafire, mediafire would act as my sever?
Yes and No.
Yes, it will allow people to download the game.
No, because unless you pay for the premium membership, you can't use a direct link to the download. Which means the game would have to just open the webpage where the player would then have to enter in a captcha code and download the game from that page.
You couldn't use those free hosting sites for this type of in-game download.
Unless you find a file hosting site that gives you free direct downloads (which would be rare, since getting people to come to their download page is how they advertise)
Things can be simpler. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyC
Have the version number stored as a Global Value WITHIN your program. This way, nobody can fake the version number and dodge the update.
Use the Get Object to download a simple .txt on your server with the new version number and a link to the update, written in the INI format. Then pass the data of the Get Object to INI++ to compare the version numbers and read the download link.
Badabing badaboom!
Things couldn't be simpler. ;)
Thanks, Metal. I'll try that when I get up tomorrow.
For those who are looking for a server host, but don't have the money to afford one, FileDen and FileAve are both great hosts, with plenty of space, that allow hotlinking of files. FileDen doesn't allow .exe or .txt files, but FileAve allows pretty much everything.
Before I got this server, I was using it for all kinds of stuff.
EDIT:
Okay, I'm having trouble passing information between the get and the ini++. I'm just not sure how to do it.
You shouldn't need to use an ini file. Just plain .txt.
Be careful with those FileDen/FileAve sites with regards to updates - you will probably find that each time you upload an update, you will have a new URL.
I see that most of the people is using method and names which I posted while back on TDC as an article how to create an autoupdater. That really sounds nice.
In my version I also used zip file - could be password protected. To download content of update and patch maker as one of the best instalators for patches' cause where's point in downloading the whole game again?
But in general I liked the idea which we discused with MadeByNewt for his Galaxia Chronicles (using my system). Because he based his game on subapps - each level was seperate vitalize file! (WTF!) it would be possible to update game even during it's runtime so player could play the game and other levels could be updated but we skipped that idea and just introduced updating at startup of application with possibility to turn it off.
Also dont forget about checking for internet connection first or you app my crash/freeze/or be threated as a virus trying to connect to internet all the time even when there is no internet connection. The easiest way would be to ping Google.com.
It's very easy, really:Quote:
Originally Posted by samanoskeake
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/7615/exampleed.png
Be sure to use the INI++'s Load From String action.
It can be any filetype. The ease of using the INI format is being able to read data much easier.Quote:
Originally Posted by Game_Master
For instance, if you want to have multiple download links, for different languages. Or if there are certain expansions available. You can make the update information as wide as you want, and still remain easy to read.
You could, yes, but that'd require more coding. You could just have en.txt, fr.txt etc, which would serve the same purpose, without the need to have the ini being read.
I don't see how. As you can see in the image, it only takes 1 event to parse the .txt to INI++. It takes just as much events to read directly from the Get Object (or an Edit box, or a List object, etc...) as it takes reading from the INI++ object.Quote:
Originally Posted by Game_Master
Sounds like a tiresome process! Why maintain multiple files when you can cram it all into 1 file? Gives you a much easier overview for spotting errors and mistakes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Game_Master
I'm not forcing anyone to use this method. I'm just stating the major convience of it. :)
Hey Geo, could you put an example file up?
I'm using Get to get the url, but I can't load the received data into ini.
Hmm, doesn't using INI just overcomplicate things? I'd think it would be relatively simple, but I don't have access to MMF at the moment so I could be wrong. I guess I'm mostly repeating what others said, but here it is step-by-step:
1. Create a TXT file on your website. Let's say the URL is http://www.example.com/version.txt. We'll say the version is 2.3, so add that as the only text in the file.
2. Add the Get Object to your frame (in MMF).
3. Add the following two events:
I think that should work. I'm wrong about some of the action/expression names of the Get Object, but that should be about right.Code:On check for updates:
--Get Object: Get data from "http://www.example.com/version.txt"
Get Object: Data Received
AND ReceivedData$("Get Object") <> "2.3":
--[This version is different than the current one, do actions here]
Yeah Jaffob, that works just fine... Not sure why they are pushing it through an Ini and all that. =p
I don't understand how you people have enough information with just a version number. Wouldn't it be important for you application to know what file it's supposed to download? Unless it always downloads the same file (which is hardly convenient!)
The file that gets read in my current project has a structure similar to this:
Comes with mirrors and a link to a changelog.Quote:
Originally Posted by urls changed for good reasons
Since the whole update system of my project is automatic, I want to have as much control as possible. And I already know I'll be expanding it with more mirrors, links to language packs, updates of themes/skins, plugins, etc...
Unfortunately, I don't have any access to MMF2 right now. But could it be that you're using INI++ 1.5 by any chance? I'm using plain ol' INI++.Quote:
Originally Posted by samanoskeake
Here's what I've done:Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaffob
Get "url"
On Get Complete
AND Received$(" Get object ") > "2.0"
It keeps telling me "Cannot understand your expression."
samanoskeake, you're using > instead of <>
Greater than (>) is only going to work with numbers, but "2.0" is text.
Greater than works perfectly fine with strings. FOr his purposes though, you're right. We tried to explain this to him in gwerdy.
val(Received$(" Get object ")) > 2.0
is what he needs
Yeah, you successfully described it.
I've got it down, but the downloader isn't downloading my file.
I can get it through the browser (http://crunchyfresh.net/cubsy.exe), but the downloader won't fetch the URL.