Features of the AppLife Update Software Updater Solution

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AppLife Update Features

Integrates into your application
Integrate AppLife® automatic update features into your .Net application by adding a single component
Windows Forms Visual Updating Controls New visual controls available for code-less integration of a variety of updating user experiences into Windows Forms applications.
WPF Update Controls
WPF controls that provide a drop-in automatic update integration. The controls provide property-based customization options, and can also be re-templated for a completely customized WPF facelift.
Dynamic Code Action
Easily define customized update activity using C# or Visual Basic.Net. Your code is automatically compiled and packaged with your published update, then executed on your clients as the update is applied.
New SQL Server Update Actions
New SQL Server specific actions supports both transacted and non-transacted database work. Open SQL Connections for exclusive access, Backup your database, Begin and Commit SQL transactions, Run GO separated sql files and queries, and Close your connection using new built-in update actions.
Conditionally Perform Update Actions
Add a true/false expression to conditionally perform update actions during an update.
Install the .Net 4.0 Framework during an Update
his action checks for the presence of the .Net 4.0 Framework then installs the framework during the update, if necessary.
Identify the Architecture of Client Operating System
When executing an update, it is often necessary to identify whether the client is running a 32 or 64 bit operating system. The Set Shared Property action now provides this ability.
Full Windows 7 / Vista UAC Support
Set your updates for UAC elevation prompting with a single property. Code signing support for publisher identification.
Update Databases
Update client side databases during your updates. Provider-independent database actions allow you to easily perform transacted database work during updates.
Pass Client-Specific Data to the Update Process
Client-Specific information can be passed into the update process to be used in action conditional expressions, Dynamic Code Actions, and custom actions.
No server requirements
Host AppLife® Update packages on any file server.
Automatically Determine Changed Files
Automatically compare a current application directory with a baseline application directory and include any changed files in a new update. New in 2.0, compare and include files based on bit comparison as well as date comparisons.
Resume Previous Downloads
Resume previous downloads on network errors.
Create Shortcuts during Updates
Place .lnk shortcuts to new files while your update executes.
Fine grain versioning control
AppLife® Update provides fine control over the specific software versions that can apply your updates.
Download and publish updates using Http/Ftp/UNC/Filepath addresses
Use AppLife® Update over the internet, on your local network, or both.
Send Custom Http Headers
Send client information to a custom IHttpInterface server handler through the http headers collection.
SSL Download Support
Configure your application to check for and retrieve updates from SSL protected network locations. Place updates in password secured network locations and pass network credentials while getting updates.
Automatic proxy detection
AppLife® Update automatically detects proxy settings for you. You can also manually configure proxy server settings.
Completely Customizable Update Engine User Interface
The update engine user interface displayed as an update is being executed is now completely customizable. The entire update process can be modified to match your application visuals.
Public-Private key validation
Have peace-of-mind that your software is secure with AppLife® Update. Each update package is signed with your own private key during publishing and verified with the associated public key before it is applied.
Enhanced Update Engine Logging
Update engine logging has been enhanced in version 2.0. New API classes to programmatically access application update history and log files. View a Log
Update Log Viewer Utility
The new update log viewer utility lets you quickly verify your updates are performing as expected and helps identify the root cause when an update fails.
Create custom update actions
Perform application specific custom update activities with AppLife® Update custom actions. Create custom actions in your favorite .Net language. Patterned after the .Net custom control architecture, building custom actions for AppLife® Update is extremely intuitive to .Net developers.
Expansion Variables
Share information between actions with Shared Property expansion variables.
Controlled rollout
Avoid server and network congestion by staggering update rollout over a period of hours with controlled rollouts.
Documented API
Complete and thorough documentation on all of the customizable features of AppLife® Update.
Limited availability updates
Publish updates for a limited user group then switch on the fly to normal availability.
Flexible licensing options
Multiple licensing options available to accommodate different product teams.
See licensing information here.

Update without Admin Assistance
For updates that require elevated privileges, now choose between using the AppLife Update Windows service or UAC prompt elevation. User identity impersonation ensures actions that target the users profile will operate properly. After updates, your applications are always restarted by the original initiating user.
Multiple Callable Action Lists
Segment your update action lists into independent, callable action lists. This new feature will not only help organize complicated updates, but enable performing recursive and looping update activities.
Multiple Update Location Support
Publish updates to one or more network update locations. Manage and compare update locations. Move updates between update locations, and more…
Write Update Summaries using Rich Text
Write update summary text using rich text. All built-in user interfaces support displaying rich text, and the Update Controller API exposes rich text to your application as HTML.
Automatic Update Chaining
Updates that target intermediate versions can be downloaded and applied in a single update process.
Limited User Updating (Elevated Privileges)
Allow standard users to apply updates that require privileges to your product without administrative support using the AppLife® Update windows service.
Windows Update Service Utility
The new Windows update service utility helps in developing updates that utilize the AppLife Update Windows service for permissions elevation. During development, easily register your dev applications for update testing.
File Patching Action
The Patch Existing File Action utilizes the Microsoft Delta Compression API to generate a patch file, and then re-create the new file from an existing file during an update. Using this action can significantly reduce update package sizes.
Add and Remove GAC Assemblies
Add and remove assemblies from the global assembly cache (GAC) during updates.
RegAsm Action
Register .Net interop assemblies during updates.
Command Line Action
Perform command line activity during updates.
Pre/Post Build Batch Scripting
Move/Copy files and take other actions before and after an update is built. Pre and post build scripts add additional automation options and improve the ease with which update creation can be integrated into automatic and continuous build processes.
Replace Files on Restart Replace locked files during an update by registering them to be replaced at the next operating system restart.
Enhanced Built-In Application Shutdown Coordination
Built-In Update Controller Inter-Process communications (IPC) provides the functionality to coordinate the shutdown of all instances of the host application, as well as any supporting processes.
Update Asp.Net applications
Integrate an update process directly into your Asp.Net applications, then build and publish updates with AppLife Update.
Get the web controls here
Replace files, register COM assemblies, edit config(xml) files
Using AppLife® Update, you can easily perform most of the actions necessary to update .Net applications by using built in AppLife® Update actions.
Supports the .Net Client Framework
Update applications that target the .Net Framework 3.5 Client-only subset
Localized Built-In User Interface
Provide update user interfaces for users in English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. Perform the string translations and you can utilize the AppLife® Update user interface in any language.
Get details here
Cached Update Downloads
Allow users to defer applying an update for a future restart of your application without re-downloading the update.
Build and distribute an AppLife® Update, distribute Msi upgrades, or distribute your own update
With AppLife® Update, you can implement automatic updates in your software based on an AppLife® Update action list, a Windows Installer Msi or Msp file, or you can distribute your own custom updater.
x64 Operating System Compatibility
Update your applications on both 32 and 64 bit Windows XP and Windows Vista. Explicitly target the 64 bit Registry and File System, as well as register 32 and 64 bit COM components.
Easily integrate licensing controls
You can check licensing status or perform any other validation before allowing a client to download and apply an update. Perform this validation for individual updates. Implement fine control over update distribution, allowing some clients to update and denying others based on your specific business needs.
Synchronize assembly version and update version
AppLife® Update supports using the .Net assembly version of the host application to identify the current software version. Alternatively, allow wildcard assembly versioning and identify your software version directly through AppLife® Update.
Asynchronous update methods
Customize the update process within your application by using synchronous and asynchronous methods to check for and download updates. The threading model used with these methods marshal events back to the calling thread, making it extremely easy for you to create very custom update processes.
Command line utility for automation integration
Integrate AppLife® Update directly into your automated build process with the command line build and publish utility.

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