Upgrading package later?

[JCross]

Hi all!
I'm getting ready to distribute version 1.0 of my application and it has been packaged and deployed ........but I just realized that I don't know how to UPGRADE my users versions when I'm ready with fixes and enhancements! How will I get the new versions to them AND let them keep all of their data??? HELP!

Thanks.

Jennifer

 

[Jack Cowley]

Your database should be split into a backend (tables) and frontend (everything else). When you create improvements you send your customers a new front end which they use to overwrite their exisiting frontend leaving the data untouched. You will need to have code to be sure that the new frontend links to their backend when they start it up.

hth,
Jack

 

[JCross]

Thank you Jack! I have the front end and back end...........but I need to send them a backend already populated with data....do I do this in two separate installations? One front and one back? And any hints on where I can find the code to link them when I update?

Thank you again!

Jennifer

 

[Jack Cowley]

Jennifer -

First let me congratulate you on being a new mom! Terrific!

You can use the PDW (Package and Deployment Wizard, if you can figure it out!) to install both the backend and frontend on your users machine. You will find an article here that will show you how to refresh links in a run-time application. If you do not have the Solutions.mdb database you can also download that from MS as it has some relinking code in it as well. You can search the MS Knowledge Base as there are a number of articles there about re-linking tables. I think just using the word re-linking in the search field in the Knowledge Base should turn up some articles for you to peruse.

I hope this helps and good luck to you!

Jack

 

[JCross]

Thanks for the congrats ( I LOVE being a Mom!) and thank you for the help!

Jennifer

 

[Jack Cowley]

You are very welcome and I bet you are a really good Mom too!

Jack