Game updater

[MetalGeo]

explanation

Things can be simpler.

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.

[samanoskeake]

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.

[Game_Master]

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.

[Fanotherpg]

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.

[MetalGeo]

Okay, I'm having trouble passing information between the get and the ini++. I'm just not sure how to do it.

It's very easy, really:

Be sure to use the INI++'s Load From String action.

You shouldn't need to use an ini file. Just plain .txt.

It can be any filetype. The ease of using the INI format is being able to read data much easier.
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.

[Game_Master]

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.

[MetalGeo]

You could, yes, but that'd require more coding.

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.

You could just have en.txt, fr.txt etc, which would serve the same purpose, without the need to have the ini being read.

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.

I'm not forcing anyone to use this method. I'm just stating the major convience of it.

[samanoskeake]

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.

[Jaffob]

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:

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]

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.

[Konidias]

Yeah Jaffob, that works just fine... Not sure why they are pushing it through an Ini and all that. =p