About UpdateManager

What is UpdateManager?

UpdateManager is an importing automation tool for FileMaker developers. It streamlines and automates the import of a live data solution into an empty "Development" version of the same solution. Because it's automated and comprehensively error checked you know in advance that you won't miss any steps and that you can guarantee the process performs as expected.

UpdateManager can be used on any FileMaker solution from version 7 onwards, and it doesn't require that you make any changes at all to your solution.

Why use UpdateManager?

You could easily build and develop your own update routines to handle this process, it's certainly possible. However it would take you a long time to build a process that was as detailed and comprehensive as the process built into UpdateManager. This product has complete support for every different combination of options and solution types and has error checking every step of the way. You can be guaranteed that every record has come across and that every serial field is set correctly, exactly as you specified.

UpdateManager allows you to write the update process once, and perform it consistently every time. So you can test your new changes without concerns about the import process changing.

And best of all you can implement UpdateManager without making any changes to your solution files at all, so you can get a working update process without altering the live working files.

What about the Separation Model?

There are many developers these days who prefer to work in files where you have separated the data and UI. This presents some definite advantages to either a single or multi file model, but it still has some drawbacks for when you're wanting to update the data model. UpdateManager is useful in these situations as you can use this update process to make the data model changes with the least amount of down time.

Availability

Both versions of UpdateManager are available for download and purchase today. However the Distribution options should be considered still in beta. We would be grateful for any testing or feedback on this version and will be giving discounts for those who assist in testing.

Versions

UpdateManager is available in two versions, each with it's own licence code. You can certainly use and test both versions, as the registration code is stored inside the main file in a global field. So you will need 2 copies to test both versions.

For in-house developers - Developer Licence

There are two great advantages for in-house FileMaker developers. First, you can do all of your development off-line, without risking your live data, and bring your development version live in a single automated process. This cuts down the chance of development conflicting with data processes. And your import process happens as quickly as possible, reducing down time when you update.

Secondly, you can implement a more rigorous testing and development cycle where you can create a new "test" version of your solution at a moments notice with the latest data and the latest development files. So you can finally implement that test regime you've been reading about.

Internally Goya uses UpdateManager for all of our clients, and it means we can develop new features for our clients without compromising their live data. We can bring into the development copy a set of up to date data records any time we want. And then finally we can connect remotely out of business hours and click a few buttons to bring all of the live data into the newly updated solution. This is a great time saver for any developer.

For product developers - Distribution Licence

UpdateManager means that you can supply a new version of your solution with a single install file, and have it customised to your liking. Your end users only need to run an installer and click a button to start. And you know that all of the imports will work the same. You can include your own software logos and customise the display of dialogs as well as choosing which features are enabled.

This gives you a single click update process for your product, and allows you more time to spend developing your solution, not managing updates. One of our testers has been using UpdateManager to update a product with over 500 installs and it's saving them hours of work.

The main difference between the two versions is that the Distribution Licence has extra features in it, designed for product distribution. So you can package up the UpdateManager file with all of the new "Development" versions of the solution, so that you only have a single fp7 file to distribute. As well, you can add "Other Actions" which allow you to copy new startup files, or run post or pre-import scripts or other actions. And you can add all of your own logos, solution details as well as customise all of the dialog boxes and default locations.