Updating a program via internet

[Morthian]

I am creating an application that I would like to self-update from the internet every time it is started. However, of course, I only want it to download the updates if neccessary. I would not want it downloading the exact same files that already exist, but only if the files on the server have changed and now differ from the local ones. How can I program the application to check if updating is neccessary before it decides to do so?

[Pkeod]

Have your problem download what the current version from a text file on your server... then, if there is a new version, have your program download the update program. You could specify in the text file, that has the current version info, of which url the updater should download from.

Also, if you want to have it only download what files are changed from the server (one at a time, I take it) you would need to make a list of files to download for every update that you do... so you could make an array that you download like

fx.dll, 203984
train.txt, 60923
vexx.dll, 34245

where the first thing is the file name and the second is a random number for each update. As often as you would like your program to update, it would need to download the array file. Files that have a changed random number next to them would have to be updated... so say the next time that the program downloads the array this is the array

fx.dll, 203984
train.txt, 45673
vexx.dll, 34245

in this case, the random number is different for train.txt
so, the program would download that file again, and then update the home array to reflect the update
the next time your program downloads the array it is:

fx.dll, 203984
train.txt, 45673
vexx.dll, 34245

nothing new, so no need to update

[Joshtek]

For SmileyHouse, we use an MD5 checksum instead of a random number. This can be done using Binary Quickload and the Binary object.

[neat_Kliker2]

[]This can be done using Binary Quickload and the Binary object. [/]
or just quickhash ?

[Joshtek]

[]or just quickhash ? [/]
Yeah, QuickHash is good (around 40% faster).