Any ClickOnce users that can tell me how to test deployment?

Is it as easy as publishing to alternate location and running from there?

I published (to web) a small application and it is live. I have now made changes, including implementing a new reporting engine, and I want to test the deployment without publishing it to the production site and potentially making unhappy users if I dont have it right.

TIA!

Keith Chisarik

I have been using ClickOnce for several years. There are some unusual situations on clients that I have never been able to resolve (assemblies don't get updated, random failures, etc.). Recently, I was connected to a utility called AppLife Update. It was promoted in these forums last fall. You can find their product at http://www.kineticjump.com. For the price, it is unbeatable. It is an excellent product with wonderful support (just like StrataFrame!!). I have completed testing on the use of an MSI file being distributed via Group Policy Active Directory (one-time setup, no admin rights necessary--very simple). The ongoing updates are all handled by AppLife. It is slick, chock full of features and very professional looking. You won't be disappointed if you chose that route.

Check this out: http://blog.kineticjump.com/

I have actually had a conversation with these guys and this really is a good tool. Once I get my head above water we may use this tool for some of our projects. This really is a good tool and moves away from ClickOnce.

The thing that didn't work in my situation was the initial deployment. 99% of my users are remote. Like panhandle Texas remote (oh, did I say that out loud?!!?). Just providing the setup program wasn't working. ClickOnce reduces installation overhead by like 200%, so it has been worth the pain. However, I really like AppLife for the update process, looked very nice.

ClickOnce is good.

MSI with AppLife is better.



I've asked Brian Haas from AppLife to blog on the differences between these two approaches. There are pros and cons for each. He will obviously be biased, but I think he will also provide a fair shake to the ClickOnce methodology.



Great summary, Greg. I've forgotten some of the stuff involved in getting a ClickOnce deployment going. Keith, it may look daunting, but once it is in place and working, it really is nice and simple after that. I am still deploying my app via ClickOnce...I do not even think about it anymore. I increment the version and publish. That's it.