Suggestions for Comparing App Version Numbers

General
1

How do you compare app version numbers?

For instance each time my app starts I check a pref file to see if a new version is now being run in case any database or other files need updating.

So using the typical “a.b.c” version number scheme would you use a bunch of “if” statements, use some method convert into a representative double/integer or some other method?

2

If you’re using Kaju, there is a function in the module for that.

Otherwise, a*1000000 + b*1000 + c will give you an integer you can use.

3 Likes
3

I do transform the uncomparable string in a comparable string with:

Public Function ComparableVersionCode(verCode As String) as String
  Dim verCodes() As String = verCode.Split(".") 
  Do Until verCodes.Ubound>2
    verCodes.Append "0" // grow until 4 numbers "version.release.bug.build"
  Loop
  Do Until verCodes.Ubound<4
    verCodes.Remove verCodes.Ubound // trim extra dot things until we get 4 numbers
  Loop
  For i As Integer = 0 to 3
    verCodes(i) = Right("000000"+Str(verCodes(i).CLong),6)
  Next
  Return Join(verCodes, ".")
End Function
1 Like
4

thanks for the suggestions…

5

If you’re talking about notifying a customer of an update. I don’t compare version numbers of the application, instead I compare the app.executable.creationDate.

If you’re talking about a version format of a file, I’d recommend using a single integer in the file (at least a UInt16).