Updating Bundle
@drew_dewit wrote:
What is the proper methodology for updating a plug-in bundle. I have a bundle that contains CUI files and LISP routines that the lisp routine has changed. We have a program that copies the bundle to the ApplicationPlugins folder. If I change the file the user doesn't see an updated LISP unless the folder is deleted. Is there a way around this?
Where is the file located? How do you go about updating the files on ApplicationPlugins folder?
@drew_dewit wrote:
I am copying the .bundle folder into the ApplicationData folder under C:/ProgramData. I tried having our utility delete the folder before copying it but our utility performs these just after launch and that folder gets locked down by AutoCAD
Here's how our bundles are setup. We keep the vlx/lsp on the server, what the plug-in loads are a call to load the programs from the server. Will that work for you?
@JamesMaeding wrote:
umm, this subject has been talked about before, and if you run tools from the server, laptops and anything not hooked to it cannot run them. That is not a nice thing to do to users IMO. If they are allowed to work away from the office
Thats the idea. We dont recommend users working away from the office, 🙂
@JamesMaeding wrote:
Now, the big disadvantage of running off the server is any .net dll's get locked once loaded by one machine.
You must kick everyone off it and so on ....
Instead, set up a folder on the server with whatever files you want to end up on the user machine.
Then make a windows script that calls (the free) robocopy util to copy files needed to the user computers.
They will run that on login, or by hand, but with acad closed.
Yes, dll is a whole another ball game. Hence my question was about vlx and lsp.
We do use the same approach as you described above, difference is , it doesnt necessarrily need to be callled off a script, use XML instead.
@drew_dewit wrote:
Exactly what I am trying to do. Can you provide me an example of how you are loading the lisp?
For Lsp and/or vlx.
(and
(or _sourceDriveAndFolder
(setq _sourceDriveAndFolder "K:\\Placeholder\\LsporVlx")
)
(defun _process (sr tr / location Files fl_1 fl_2)
(setq location (car tr)
Files (cadr tr)
)
(foreach itm (cadr sr)
(setq fl_1 (strcat (car sr) "\\" itm))
(setq fl_2 (strcat location "\\" itm))
(cond
((not (findfile fl_2)) (vl-file-copy fl_1 fl_2))
((and (member (strcase itm) (mapcar 'strcase (cadr sr)))
(newer-p (setq fl_1 (strcat (car sr) "\\" itm))
(setq fl_2 (strcat location "\\" itm))
)
)
(vl-file-delete fl_2)
(vl-file-copy fl_1 fl_2)
)
)
)
)
(setq WhereToPlaceFiles
(vl-some '(lambda (pdata / _path)
(if (setq _path
(findfile
(strcat
(getenv pdata)
"\\Autodesk\\ApplicationPlugins\\YourBundle.bundle\\Contents\\Windows"
;< -- wherever the vlx/lsp files are located
)
)
)
(strcat _path "\\")
)
)
'("PROGRAMDATA" "APPDATA")
) ;< -- wherever the bundles are intallled
)
(defun _ListFilesFromServer (sd_ / fileList)
(setq fileList
(vl-remove-if
'(lambda (fl)
(member (strcase (vl-filename-extension fl))
'(".PDB" ".FAS" ".XML") ; <--exclusion
)
)
(vl-directory-files sd_ nil 1)
)
)
(list sd_ fileList)
)
(defun newer-p (f1 f2 / compare)
(defun compare (a b)
(cond
((> (car a) (car b)))
((and a b (= (car a) (car b)))
(compare (cdr a) (cdr b))
)
)
)
(apply 'compare
(mapcar '(lambda (x) (vl-list* (car x) (cadr x) (cdddr x)))
(mapcar 'vl-file-systime (list f1 f2))
)
)
)
(_process (_ListFilesFromServer _sourceDriveAndFolder)
WhereToPlaceFiles
)
(princ "\n<<< Files checked/updated >>>")
(princ)
)
HTH
Hi,
Did you try to change the AppVersion and ProductCode of the ElementName node and (optional but recommended) the Version of the ComponentEntry node in the PackageContents.xml file?
You can see the Autoloader White Paper which the most exhaustive documentation about the Autoloader mechanism.
Sorry but what you're doing is not totally clear to me.
The way I update a .bundle folder with a new application file (cuix, lsp, fas, vlx, dll) if you do not use an installer (msi) should be:
1. Copy the .bundle folder in another location to make the changes
2. In the PackageContents.xml file:
- Increment the AppVersion
- Create a new GUID (with Visual Studio or some in line GUID generator) to replace the ProductCode
- Increment the Version of the changed ComponentEntry (application file)
3. Replace the old application file (cuix, lsp, fas, vlx, dll) with the new one
4. Replace the old .bundle folder with the modified one.
Stupid question time: at launch, at open, etc., does that mean Windows? Or AutoCAD? Are you trying to update contents while running them?
If you are going to fly by the seat of your pants, expect friction burns.
"I don't know" is the beginning of knowledge, not the end.
