Until recently the method for updating of an application was the same as for first installation. You had to create a completely new file, which contained again both the whole installation tool and the files of the application.  In theory you could suffice with only the updated files, but often this goes wrong when a user skipped a version.

To avoid confusing you had to handle an upgrade in the same way as a brand new installation. You provided your users with the same file, and your users had to download and install all the files again.
Even if you change only one tiny file, your users must download and install them all.

LizaJet Installer contains a system that has the following features:

• It is automatic.
• you can define it precisely
• It creates small patches. For each upgrade a small package is created that only contains the changed and new files.
• It is easy for the end-user. The end-user only has to press a button.
• You have the same functionality at installation as at upgrading.

 

Easy user interface
For the end-user upgrading is easy; the upgrade process starts when the user starts the application.  You can add one or more dialogs for asking permission to upgrade, or you can execute a total silent upgrade.

Step	Description
1	The application program is started by the user from the Windows menu. Before executing the application program the Engine is started.
2	Optionally a user dialog is executed, to ask if the user wants to check for updates now.
3	If the user chooses to upgrade the Engine searches for an upgrade script, and if it is available fetches the upgrade script,
4	The Engine executes the upgrade script. Depending on the contents of the script a user Dialog can be started, informing the user about the upgrade and asking if the user wants to upgrade now.
5	The script first downloads all the files to the installation cache
6	After fetching all the files the actual installation is executed.
7	The application program is started.

You can define your own dialogs for the upgrade process or no dialog at all (silent upgrade)

The support of your end-users costs now less effort from your help-desk, they do not have to assist end-users with detailed instructions on how to upgrade software.  And because your users have the latest version installed, you further relieve the burden of the help desk.
And of course the LizaJet upgrade mechanism is highly efficient, only the minimum necessary files are downloaded; it has an overhead of only 1 Kb for the whole upgrade. Never it has been easier to apply small hot fixes to your applications and to distribute them quickly and efficient.