How I update software without installers

[Sphinx]

Hello

 

I just thought I'd share a tip on how I update software that doesn't use installers, but may be in use when Ketarin downloads an update, guess the keyword for this tip/technique is in use, since if it's not in use you can just unpack it to the folder where you have your old version.

 

In my example I will use Ketarin itself, I also use this for Miranda IM (which has an installer, I know, but I don't use all the plugins so i prefer to use the zip when updating) and Flexible Renamer.

 

For this tip/tuturial you will need two other programs in addition to Ketarin, those are PendMoves and MoveFile, two programs written by SysInternals, now bought by Microsoft (they are still free), and they are available here

 

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897556.aspx

 

After Ketarin has downloaded an update for itself i run this command in the "Execute the following command after downloading:" box

 

"C:\program\Winrar\winrar.exe" E -ac -ibck -o+ "{file}" "C:\Ketarin_temp\Ketarin\" && "C:\Ketarin_temp\ketarin.bat"

 

This extracts the files to the temp folder I have picked to use, marked in green, you may choose to use a different folder, it's up to you, and of course you can use any unpacking software you choose

 

Now after Ketarin has run the command that unpacks the files, it will run a bat file (marked with red)

 

This is where MoveFile comes in. In my .bat file, the following commands are run

 

cmdow @ /HID
@ECHO OFF
movefile "c:\program\Ketarin\Ketarin.exe" ""
movefile "c:\program\Ketarin\System.Data.SQLite.dll" ""

movefile "C:\Ketarin_temp\Ketarin\Ketarin.exe" "c:\program\Ketarin\Ketarin.exe"
movefile "C:\Ketarin_temp\Ketarin\System.Data.SQLite.dll" "c:\program\Ketarin\System.Data.SQLite.dll"

EXIT

 

 

The first part

 

cmdow @ /HID

 

are optional, what they do it hide the command window (for the cmdow @ /HID command you'll need another piece of software available here)

 

 

The second command

 

@ECHO OFF

 

will tell the command window not to show any text output of the commands that are following

 

 

The first file commands

 

movefile "c:\program\Ketarin\Ketarin.exe" ""

movefile "c:\program\Ketarin\System.Data.SQLite.dll" ""

 

will tell windows that on the next reboot, delete these files, these are the old files, then ones you want replaced with new version, now you may wonder why not just copy the files over the old ones, well it's, simply put, because of how movefile works

 

 

The following commands

 

movefile "C:\Ketarin_temp\Ketarin\Ketarin.exe" "c:\program\Ketarin\Ketarin.exe"

movefile "C:\Ketarin_temp\Ketarin\System.Data.SQLite.dll" "c:\program\Ketarin\System.Data.SQLite.dll"

 

will tell windows to move the new files from the temp folder into the folder where you had your old files.

 

 

And the last command

 

EXIT

 

will quit the command window, even if it's not shown

 

 

Notes

• This tip/technique will only update your software after a reboot, so it you want a faster update you'll need to quit your running program and update yourself
  
• The movefile and cmdow programs must be either in your Windows/System32 folder or in the same folder as your bat/cmd file
  

 

Now you may wonder what you needed the PendMoves program for, well, this command tool will check what files will be moved on the next reboot, which can be of help to you when you write your own .bat/.cmd file to check if you have written the filepaths correct or not (after you have manually run the .bat/.cmd file)

 

I hope this may be of use to someone.