Automatic update check in MFC?

[sweetjones]

I have a dialog-based application in MFC, and I was wondering what class or component do I need to implement in the app to check for new updates? For example, on start-up have the app check for a new update from a designated website. I am using VSC++2005. Let me know if you need more info or a better clarification on what I'm talking about. Thanks In Advance!

 

[mgb_phys]

Easiest way is to make an anonymous ftp connection to your site and download a simple file called eg 'latest.txt' and check the version number inside it.

Ftp is faily easy to implement from MFC see CInternetSession and CFtpConnection

 

[quicknote]

I am not an expert in MFC or VSC++2005, but I can provide some general guidance on implementing automatic update checks in an application.

Firstly, it is important to determine the specific requirements for your update check. For example, do you want to check for updates on application start-up or at regular intervals during use? Do you want to check for updates from a designated website or from a central server? These considerations will help determine the appropriate approach for implementing the update check.

In terms of the MFC framework, there are a few potential classes or components that could be used for implementing the update check. One option could be to use the CInternetSession class, which allows for connection to a remote server and retrieval of data. Another option could be to use the CWinHTTP class, which provides similar functionality for HTTP requests.

Once you have determined the appropriate class or component to use, you will need to implement the necessary code for connecting to the designated website or server and retrieving the update information. This may involve using functions such as OpenURL or SendRequest for HTTP requests, or similar methods for other protocols.

It is also important to consider error handling and ensuring the update check does not interfere with the functioning of the application. You may want to implement a timeout or other mechanisms to prevent the application from hanging if the update check takes too long or encounters errors.

In summary, implementing automatic update checks in an MFC application will likely involve using specific classes or components for connecting to a designated website or server and retrieving update information. It is important to consider the specific requirements and potential errors that may arise during the update check process.