[AccessD] Updating front-end via batch file?

I recommend my clients against as it's too easy to end up using an old
version of something.

Here's the setup I use:

1. Each FE has a table called tblAppVersionControl.  One record is entered
per release and has the version number, developer comments, user comments,
and release date.

2. Up on the server, I create the following structure.

  X:\Custom
        \<Database Name>
            <database>.MDB
            Upd_database.Bat
            \Backup

3. In the front end is also a link to tblAppVersionControl in the copy
stored on the server.  At app startup, a version check is made between the
two tables.  If a difference exists, the user comments are displayed and the
user is told they need to update.  The update is the execution of the batch
file.  They only need to execute the batch file directly for the initial
setup.  After that it's accessed via a shortcut.

4. The batch file copies down a new front end, any supporting files (help,
icons, DLLs, etc), and registers any DLLs or type libs.  It also calls a VB
program I wrote to create any required DSN's and shortcuts.


The development cycle is:
  1. Copy MDB to development machine
  2. Make changes.
  3. Update app version control table.
  4. Save current version in \..\backup.  Rename to <database>.version
  4. Copy new version to server.

 Below is one of the batch files.

HTH,
Jim Dettman
(315) 699-3443
jimdettman at earthlink.net

@ECHO.
@ECHO.
@ECHO Checking for application directories...
@ECHO.
%HOMEDRIVE%
CD\
if not exist "%HOMEDRIVE%\Program Files" mkdir "%HOMEDRIVE%\Program Files"
if not exist "%HOMEDRIVE%\Program Files\Traverse Custom" mkdir
"%HOMEDRIVE%\Program Files\Traverse Custom"
@ECHO.
@ECHO.
@ECHO Copying application files...
@ECHO.
COPY "P:\Traverse Custom\EDITrafficMonitor\EDITrafficMonitor.MDE"
"%HOMEDRIVE%\Program Files\Traverse Custom"
COPY "P:\Traverse Custom\EDITrafficMonitor\EDITrafficMonitor.ICO"
"%HOMEDRIVE%\Program Files\Traverse Custom"
COPY "P:\Traverse Custom\Update.ico" "%HOMEDRIVE%\Program Files\Traverse
Custom"
COPY "P:\Traverse Custom\vbSendMail.dll" "%HOMEDRIVE%\Program Files\Traverse
Custom"
@ECHO.
@ECHO.
@ECHO Setting up environment...
@ECHO.
"P:\Traverse Custom\SetClientEnv.EXE" EDITrafficMonitor %HOMEDRIVE%
"C:\Windows\System32\Regsvr32.exe" "%HOMEDRIVE%\Program Files\Traverse
Custom\vbSendMail.dll" /s



-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Christopher
Hawkins
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 3:39 PM
To: accessd at databaseadvisors.com
Subject: [AccessD] Updating front-end via batch file?


Hello, all.

I have a client who is constantly tinkering with his home-grown
Access solution and is constantly rolling out updates (against my
advice, of course).

I was about to set him up with a simple batch file that just uses
COPY [origin] [destination]  to copy  the latest version of the .mdb
from a folder on the server to a user's machine.  But before I do, I
want to know if it is possible to get a little fancier.

I would like the batch file to a) compare the filename on the user's
machine to the filename on the server, and then b) do the copy if the
names are different, or c) NOT do the copy if the names are the same
(my client likes to put the version number in the filename).

Is this too much to ask of the humble batch file?


-Christopher-

P.S.
And for those of you who wonder why I don't use a vbscript file, this
client swaps eMachines and other budget boxes in and out of his
business based on what's on sale at Costco that week (again, against
my advice).  I can't be sure that new boxes he brings in will have
WSH or any of the complementary components installed on the
bastardized version of WinXP that ships with a lot of thses crap
boxes.  But I know that batch files work on everything from Win95 up.
;)
Respectfully,

Christopher Hawkins
Software Developer
(559) 687-7591
http://www.christopherhawkins.com


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