Updating PDA Application Remotely!!

[vimal.naran]

Hi there,

I am developing a compact framework based time reporting PDA
application and have got most of the features completed except one...

....that is being able to make changes to the application, then remotely
deploying it... how do I do this?

I want to be able to set a trigger on the server so when someone in the
field tries to synchronise their data from the PDA, the trigger sends
the newly updated client app to the PDA and updates it. Then they are
able to synchronise data as normal.

Please help... i don't even know where to start!!!!

The client app on the PDA uses the compact framework and stores the
data locally using SQL CE... the remote server is a SQL 2k backend and
communicates using WebServices.

If there is anything else that needs clarifying, please let me know.

 

[Daniel Moth]

Maybe this helps:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnnetcomp/html/AutoUpdater.asp

Cheers
Daniel

 

[bdingman]

What do you do when the handheld's db needs to have a schema update for
added functionality? Pushing the cab is the easiest part.

These are very difficult and complex problems you are trying to solve.
There are companies out there like Dexterra that offer complete mobile
platforms which do such things already.

 

[Lars Black]

What do you do when the handheld's db needs to have a schema update for

added functionality? Pushing the cab is the easiest part.

I have a setup table that has a "DB Version". When the database is opened, I
check this version against a constant version in the application. If they
differ, the program know what DDL / DML statements it has to run to upgrade
the DB.

These are very difficult and complex problems you are trying to solve.

It is not THAT complex, I have a couple of apps running that does it

Cheers,
Lars

 

[David Owen]

To add on to what Lars mentioned, it's not that hard to do. I have a
process where I can update the EXE or any supporting files on a remote PPC
any time the user has a network connection; this allows me to change
web-service locations, etc.

David Owen