Configuring Update Notifications

First, you need to configure your protected application to query SOLO Server to check for updates:

1. In the Instant Protection PLUS 3 wizard, enable the "Query SOLO Server to periodically check for new versions of my application" option on the Applications Options step.
2. On the General Product Information step, the version number is needed so that the application can determine if it is currently eligible for an update. If you are using the Instant Protection PLUS 3 DLL, make sure to manually set a version number.
   
3. Later in the wizard on the Update Options step, you will set when your protected application will check for updates. You will also set the Product Update Name, which must match with an update that you will configure in SOLO Server.

You will set these options if you want to check for updates at some point in the future. When you are ready to release an update, you will configure the details in SOLO Server, which is described in the next section.

Once you've configured your licensed application(s) to check SOLO Server for an update, you need to configure the conditions that will result in an update notification being prompted to the user.

1. Log into SOLO Server, and go to the menu Configure / Products.
2. Click on the Product Name for the product that needs the update notification. This must be the same Product ID that your application is synchronized with.
3. At the bottom of the View Product page is the Product Updates tab. Click on that, and then click the Add New Product Update button.
   
   Note that after you have saved a Product Update, it will be listed with a View, Edit, or Del link.
   
4. On the Add Product Update page, fill in the following fields:
   • Minimum Eligible Version: The lowest version number of the product which is eligible for the update. This must be in the format N.N.N.N
   • Maximum Eligible Version: The highest version number of the product which is eligible for the update. This must be in the format N.N.N.N
   • Latest Version: The latest version of the product available through the update. This must be in the format N.N.N.N
   • Product Update Name: This must be the exact same name that was entered on the Update Options step.
   • Release Date: The date the update was released.
   • Verify Password: Whether to verify the password during the update check. This can be left unchecked in most cases.
   • More Info Link: (optional) A "Learn More" link will be added at the top of the update dialog.

If a customer is running a version that falls between the minimum and maximum eligible versions, and the Product Update Name matches, then they will be prompted with an update notification. You can choose what Action you want to occur from the following options: Automatic Download via HTTP, Go to URL, or Display Message.

Automatic Download via HTTP

The Automatic Download via HTTP action displays a message, lists update information, and also links to a file uploaded to SOLO Server. This automatic download process authenticates the License ID to ensure only customers with a valid license will be able to access the download. Use the following settings and follow these steps:

• Action: Automatic download via HTTP
• Server Name: secure.softwarekey.com
• Port: 443
• Path: /solo/customers/DownloadFile.aspx
• Authentication: Use License ID/Password
• Click the Save button.
• Enter the message in the Language Text field, which accepts HTML. We recommend not including links in the HTML.
• Click Submit.

The following buttons will be at the bottom of the update dialog:

• Update: Immediately start the file download in a separate dialog that shows the download progression.
• Skip this version: Continue to the licensed application and skip any future notifications for this update version.
• Remind me later: Continue to the licensed application but another notification will be prompted based on the Update Options settings.

Go to URL

The Go to URL action displays a message, and also lists update information and a separate Update button connected to the specified URL. Use the following settings and follow these steps:

• Action: Go to URL
• Server Name: URL that corresponds to the Update button
• Click the Save button.
• Enter the message in the Language Text field, which accepts HTML. We recommend not including links in the HTML.
• Click Submit.

The following buttons will be at the bottom of the update dialog:

• Update: Link to the URL specified in the Server Name field. This can be a landing page on your website with a download link, or a direct link to download a file.
• Skip this version: Continue to the licensed application and skip any future notifications for this update version.
• Remind me later: Continue to the licensed application but another notification will be prompted based on the Update Options settings.

Display Message

The Display Message action will simply display a message to the user, which does not necessarily need to be a version update message. The dialog will have [Product Name] Important Message as the title, and there will be a Continue button to proceed to the licensed application. Use the following settings and follow these steps:

• Action: Display Message
• Click the Save button.
• Enter the message in the Language Text field, which accepts HTML. We recommend not including links in the HTML.
• Click Submit.

Here is the update dialog when using the Automatic Download via HTTP or Go To URL action:

Here is the update dialog when using the Display Message action:

The text field can be updated by clicking the Edit International Text link on the View Product Update page. The above samples use the following HTML: