PFC version check - Suggestions welcome
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 9:47 am
Ideally an application performs an update check itself. This is a complex feature though and is therefore not supported by all applications. PFC holds all information needed to retrieve the current version of an app for a given id number and also provides a download link. I thought that this could be used for a version check or even a semi-automatic update mechanism.
Check out PAL V3 Beta for an implementation.
Configuration (once):
- Right click and add the main executable or click Start [main menu/start] -> File -> Download programs ...
- Click [green start button/main menu] -> File -> PFC Updater.
- Download Universal Extractor if you haven't yet.
- Select "All" to see all apps and select the PFC Id for the applications main executable.
You should now be able to check if your apps are outdated. It should look somewhat like this:
Updating an app can be a bit more tricky. In fact, it's not always possible.
- Backup your applications; especially backup the settings of your applications.
- Click [green start button/main menu] -> File -> PFC Updater -> Reinstall.
- Select the correct download link and accept licence.
- You may be questioned what to do with the downloaded file (exe) or you may have to confirm to overwrite the application files (zip).
Is that applicable/would you use it? Can you think of a better way to improve the mechanism? Would you like to share your experience trying it with your favorite apps from pfc?
Note: The best way to update paf file installations is to use the portableapps.com launcher.
Check out PAL V3 Beta for an implementation.
Configuration (once):
- Right click and add the main executable or click Start [main menu/start] -> File -> Download programs ...
- Click [green start button/main menu] -> File -> PFC Updater.
- Download Universal Extractor if you haven't yet.
- Select "All" to see all apps and select the PFC Id for the applications main executable.
You should now be able to check if your apps are outdated. It should look somewhat like this:
Updating an app can be a bit more tricky. In fact, it's not always possible.
- Backup your applications; especially backup the settings of your applications.
- Click [green start button/main menu] -> File -> PFC Updater -> Reinstall.
- Select the correct download link and accept licence.
- You may be questioned what to do with the downloaded file (exe) or you may have to confirm to overwrite the application files (zip).
Is that applicable/would you use it? Can you think of a better way to improve the mechanism? Would you like to share your experience trying it with your favorite apps from pfc?
Note: The best way to update paf file installations is to use the portableapps.com launcher.