The Patch Folder action allows you to compare all files in a folder with a baseline folder and generate a delta file for each, as an update is being created. Then utilize the delta file, along with the existing file to re-create the new file on deployed systems. This action utilizes the Microsoft Delta Compression API to generate the patch file, and re-create the new file starting from the existing file. Update size can be significantly reduced by using this action.
Prepare Stage
During the prepare stage, this action verifies permissions to the target folder.
Execute Stage
During the execute stage, the original existing files are backed up in case the update must be rolled back. The action then uses the patches and applies them to the existing files. After a patch is applied, the hash of the resulting file is compared to the hash of the target file that was taken when the update was created. If any of the resulting file hashes do not match, the action fails and a rollback is initiated.
Cleanup Stage
Removes the backup copies that were made during the execute stage.
Rollback Stage
Replaces all target files with the original back up created prior to performing the Execute stage.