How to make automatic installation updates using InstallShield?

Question

I use InstallShield 2009 to create an installation package for a C # program that will be deployed to many client sites, each of which has hundreds of workstations. When we release the patch, I just can’t go to each workstation to start the update manually, and the users are about as smart as the Borneo Wild Man, so of course I won’t rely on each operator to deal with its own update.

Microsoft handles this requirement very well with ClickOnce, but since my installation is nontrivial and already written using InstallScript, I would like to add an automatic update function to my InstallShield project ... if, indeed, it is possible.

Unfortunately, I can not find anything in the reference documentation on this. Maybe I'm looking for the wrong keywords.

Does InstallShield support automatic updating? If so, provide a link to your online documentation where it explains how to do this.

Thanks!

Answer 1

InstallScript support for FlexNet Connect has been more difficult in the last few years, but it is possible. The steps in this article should be available to you, although be sure to use the latest version of FNC. Also note that FlexNet Connect is a service that you may have to purchase in order to use it. In addition, it does not automatically update the machine; it informs users about product updates that they have installed on their machines and directs them through the download and installation process.

As an additional note, InstallScript MSI should be available in the Professional version, but I would not recommend redirecting the project for this purpose.

Answer 2

It seems that this functionality has been carefully hidden in the built-in word "FlexNet". It works only with MSI InstallScript projects, and not with a simplified version of vanilla InstallScript ... and when upgrading from InstallScript to InstallScript MSI, you must have a premiere ... (grumble) ...