Hello Ben,

I'd be happy to help. AppLife Update is very flexible and I am certain that it will fulfill your updating requirements.

I am not quite sure what part of the AppLife Update help system you read, but I assure you that there is no requirement about a main form.  AppLife Update can update services, console apps, formless winforms, or your standard multi-form application from any part of the user interface.

Perhaps the quickest and easiest way to fulfill your stated requirements with AppLife Update would be to add an Update Controller control to your application to a scope that is maintained throughout the lifetime of your application. Then, in the clicked event handler of your own form button (launched from the system tray), simply call the UpdateInteractive method of the update controller.  This method launches a modal dialog that interacts with the user to check for, download, and apply an update.

The UpdateInteractive method is obviously synchronous in operation, so the user must wait for the download.  An alternative solution would be to use the UpdateNotifyIconDisplay control.  This control performs a background update check and interacts with the user through its own system tray icon. There are many options to its operation, and provides the advantage of downloading updates in the background so that the user doesn't have to wait when they elect to apply the update.

And finally, though you've stated you prefer not to write your own user experience code, I'll just state for completeness that the AppLife Update controller API provides the means to do so.

To minimize your evaluation time, I'd be happy to discuss AppLife Update with you and demonstrate its use via GoToMeeting. Just call our tech support line and ask for Brian.  612-486-9653.