I have an existing system installed at client side & I have made changes in the application (added new fuctionality into it).
How can I create a patch file (exe) or updateble setup which will do all necessary changes in existing application & update database as well?

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Sandeep Gupta

Hi Sandeep,

In your scenario, since the application is added some new functionality, you'd bettercreatea major upgrade package for the new version of the application. Patch is usually used in small modifications scenarios.

To make a major upgrade installer, open the Setup project for the previous version of the applicationin Visual Studio. Select the Setup project in Solution Explorer and switch to Properties Window. Increase the Version property and answer Yes when a dialog pops up asking if you want to change the ProductCode. Set the RemovePreviousVersions property to true. Build the Setup project.

When you install the new MSI package, it will uninstall the previous version of the application first if any and install the new version of the application on the target machine.

In addition, as Phil has suggested, you can use Custom Action to install/change database. The following aritcle may be helpful to you:
"Deploy your application and database."
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/database/Deploy_your_database.aspx

Hope this helps.
If you have any question, please feel free tolet me know.

Sincerely,
Linda Liu

The update mechanism provided by Visual Studio setups is to use RemovePreviousVersions. On VS 2008 this will update your installed app using version rules. You can use a custom action to update your database. Is it a static database or does it get updated after installation?

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Phil Wilson

Database can be (sql express) mdf file or any file with encrypted data written.

Any link will be appreciated of demo of this.

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Sandeep Gupta

Demo what exactly? Database encryption?

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Phil Wilson

Hi Sandeep,

In your scenario, since the application is added some new functionality, you'd bettercreatea major upgrade package for the new version of the application. Patch is usually used in small modifications scenarios.

To make a major upgrade installer, open the Setup project for the previous version of the applicationin Visual Studio. Select the Setup project in Solution Explorer and switch to Properties Window. Increase the Version property and answer Yes when a dialog pops up asking if you want to change the ProductCode. Set the RemovePreviousVersions property to true. Build the Setup project.

When you install the new MSI package, it will uninstall the previous version of the application first if any and install the new version of the application on the target machine.

In addition, as Phil has suggested, you can use Custom Action to install/change database. The following aritcle may be helpful to you:
"Deploy your application and database."
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/database/Deploy_your_database.aspx

Hope this helps.
If you have any question, please feel free tolet me know.

Sincerely,
Linda Liu

Hi Linda,

I do agree with in case of Sandeep but what if he hasn't made changes and just minor error solved. What is the exact procedure to create patch for the existing system.

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DA