Game Maker Community > Mdu - Automatic Game Updater

mme

Mar 28 2009, 07:45 PM

This updater was previously known as MME Updater, however after rewriting
the whole updater and re-designing it its now called MDU - Automatic Game Updater.

Its now able to handle unlimited updates including the game's exe (of course).
Language packs have also been added to allow different languages with the ability
to include any supported language. A new interface has also been added.

Yoyogames Mirror: Link

What does this do?
Well this is an auto updater for your game/app. It allows to automatically update your games/apps. You can use this even if you don't have Gamemaker Registered

How to use:

Import the 'mdu_check.gml' into your gamemaker game and follow instructions in the script
Use the INI Creator to create your ini file which you upload to your webserver. Use that address in the mdu_check script.
Place mdu.exe in the same directory as the game
Done

So how do I update my game?
Just use the INI Creator to add your updates then replace the the ini file on the webserver

Theme Editor
You can make your own interface using the Theme Editor. The background is a non-transparent PNG (400x247pixels), the overlay and icon are alpha-transparent PNG with the same dimension as the background. You can download some sample PNG's here. Once you have created your theme simply place the 'gui.aex' into the same directory as mdu.exe or in a folder named 'data'.

Language Packs
You can now use a different language for the updater by simply unzipping one of the supported languages and placing it in the same directory as mdu.exe.
If anybody wants to translate the updater into another language please PM me and I will add it.

Supported Languages:

English (Included By Default)
Dutch
Swedish (Translated By MrBanankaka)

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: How do I use Language Packs?
A: Simply download your desired one and extract the contents into the same folder as mdu.exe.

Q: When I open the game maker file it says its not a game maker file.
A: Thats because its a script, you need to import the script.

Q: Does this work with Gamemaker 5.x & 6.x is well?
A: Yes it doesn't matter what version you have, Lite or PRO

Q: I get an Error 32
A: Make sure you execute the script from your game, running mdu.exe by itself wont work.

Q: Does this work with FTP?
A: No it doesn't work with FTP

Q: Can I use host-a.net
A: No it requires a direct link

Q: What is a web server and were do i find one?
A: Search on Google for a free web host.

Here are some examples (Just randomly found on Google, not endorsed in anyway)

http://netfast.org/

http://122mb.com/

http://000webhost.info/

http://bplaced.net/?lang=en

http://www.webs.com/

If you have any to add to this list please PM me

Support the updater

CODE

[url="http://gmc.yoyogames.com/index.php?showtopic=425567"][img]http://mami.hoogetech.com/mdu/images/gmc/banner.gif[/img][/url]

Small Banner

CODE

[url="http://gmc.yoyogames.com/index.php?showtopic=425567"][img]http://mami.hoogetech.com/mdu/images/gmc/banner_small.png[/img][/url]

Bugs:

None ... yet

ardnat

Mar 28 2009, 07:55 PM

neat, but what is it really used for. I mean upload it with ftp would be just as fast.

mme

Mar 28 2009, 08:07 PM

QUOTE (ardnat @ Mar 29 2009, 07:55 AM)

neat, but what is it really used for. I mean upload it with ftp would be just as fast.

What do you mean? It allows you to add an updater into your game not to upload your files onto a server

mrperson

Mar 28 2009, 08:21 PM

Sweet! Ive been looking for an easy way to update games! Btw, Webs is a good free host(www.webs.com).

majix560

Mar 29 2009, 05:41 PM

Original post edited out

MDU - Automatic Game Updater is the BEST! I have seen.
I especialy love that it comes with a program that creates the INI. All example code of previous version was incomplete, making it unusable.

ardnat

Mar 30 2009, 01:31 AM

QUOTE (mme @ Mar 28 2009, 12:07 PM)

QUOTE (ardnat @ Mar 29 2009, 07:55 AM)

neat, but what is it really used for. I mean upload it with ftp would be just as fast.

What do you mean? It allows you to add an updater into your game not to upload your files onto a server

oh doh. Didn't understand the description very well, skimmed it over quickly... lol
Nice, well I could possilbey use this is one of my games.
Awsome Tux

majix560

Mar 30 2009, 11:28 PM

Edit: Sorry folks, I can't get the GML to copy MDU to the games drectory. That, plus the fact I am a noob when it comes to programming in GML is the reason why I will no longer try to put MDU into an extension, and have taken of of this forum. (Box.net shared download is still posted)

ChrisEvans

Apr 4 2009, 03:12 PM

Wow, that's really awesome. It is really useful, and is THE BEST Thing around here.

Skarik

Apr 10 2009, 04:39 AM

I am definitely using this.

Fire Key

Apr 28 2009, 12:20 AM

This is cool! I probably will download it but I dont understand about all that INI stuff.

mme

May 3 2009, 11:47 PM

A theme editor has now been added

mme

May 10 2009, 07:07 PM

QUOTE (Fire Key @ Apr 28 2009, 02:20 AM)

This is cool! I probably will download it but I dont understand about all that INI stuff.

What exactly don't you understand about the .ini system? You make the .ini file in the INI Creator than upload it to a web server.

Please clarify your question

sfeven

May 10 2009, 07:16 PM

This is very helpful for those who are fixing glitches in their games or adding new stuff onto it. Neat engine.

MrBanankaka

May 17 2009, 05:12 PM

Is it not possible to download a file without having to replace another? According to the ini-creator it looks like it isn't and since it's some encryption in the ini-files made by the creator I can't make an ini manually. Have I missed something here or do I need files to replace? :S

EDIT: By the way. Great work with this otherwise than whats stated above! It'll come really handy!

mme

May 17 2009, 08:57 PM

QUOTE (sfeven @ May 10 2009, 09:16 PM)

This is very helpful for those who are fixing glitches in their games or adding new stuff onto it. Neat engine.

Thank you

QUOTE (MrBanankaka @ May 17 2009, 07:12 PM)

Is it not possible to download a file without having to replace another? According to the ini-creator it looks like it isn't and since it's some encryption in the ini-files made by the creator I can't make an ini manually. Have I missed something here or do I need files to replace? :S

EDIT: By the way. Great work with this otherwise than whats stated above! It'll come really handy!

The updater checks if the file exists if not than download it. It doesn't need to replace an existing file, with the INI Creator it creates a MD5 hash code from your files you want to be included in the update, but you can include files that are not included with your game already.

Hope that helps

extrickster

Jun 7 2009, 02:02 AM

CODE

___________________________________________
ERROR in
action number 1
of Key Release Event for <unknown> Key
for object obj_control:

Error in code at line 1:
mdu_check(vulgarpacman.exe,'http://www.extremetricks.webs.com/files/games/')

at position 11: Unknown variable vulgarpacman

I keep getting this error, I uploaded the game to my freewebs account in /files/games/vulgarpacman.exe?

I think I am messing up with the domain name, does that mean http://webs.com/ or my website name? http://www.extremetricks.webs.com?
I am inputing my website....

Anyways please help me as soon as possible? I call the script mdu_check at the first of the game when my logo shows...

mme

Jun 7 2009, 09:02 AM

Try this:

CODE

mdu_check('vulgarpacman.exe','http://www.extremetricks.webs.com/files/games/')

But the first argument should be the game name and the last argument should be the path to the INI file

CODE

mdu_check('Vulgar Pacman','http://www.extremetricks.webs.com/files/games/yourinifile.ini')

theg721

Jun 10 2009, 06:03 PM

QUOTE (mme @ Mar 28 2009, 08:45 PM)

2. Use the INI Creator to create your ini file which you upload to [the] webserver

.. that I don't have. Ugh.

mme

Jun 10 2009, 08:04 PM

@theg721

Its included in the download

mrgamemaker

Jun 11 2009, 01:04 AM

Whole post edited out

Damn my low resolution, and wordwrap being off, the rest of the instructions was offscreen!

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

EDIT:

QUOTE

Error 41 - please contact MDU support

...a little help?

mme

Jun 11 2009, 11:10 AM

QUOTE (mrgamemaker @ Jun 11 2009, 03:04 AM)

Whole post edited out

Damn my low resolution, and wordwrap being off, the rest of the instructions was offscreen!

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

EDIT:

QUOTE

Error 41 - please contact MDU support

...a little help?

Can you post your script arguments? This error is indicating that it cannot read your INI file or it cant be found.

- MME

mrgamemaker

Jun 11 2009, 07:17 PM

Nevermind, i got it to work, if anyone wants a example proving the program works, download

and "Update" it for the ability to turn right :3

Mr. RPG

Jun 13 2009, 02:39 AM

I don't understand how to use this.

I keep getting the same thing over and over

___________________________________________
COMPILATION ERROR in Script: script_mdu
Error in code at line 1:
#define mdu_check

at position 1: Unexpected symbol.

mme

Jun 13 2009, 07:33 AM

Can you please post your script arguments?

mrgamemaker

Jun 13 2009, 08:47 PM

QUOTE (Mr. RPG @ Jun 12 2009, 07:39 PM)

I don't understand how to use this.

I keep getting the same thing over and over

___________________________________________
COMPILATION ERROR in Script: script_mdu
Error in code at line 1:
#define mdu_check

at position 1: Unexpected symbol.

Remove the "#define mdu_check" and rename the script itself to mdu_check.

I don't know why you have to do that but it worked for me.

mme

Jun 13 2009, 11:05 PM

What version of gamemaker are you using as I see no problems with the script on my end.

nilaro

Jun 26 2009, 10:37 PM

Great tool !
But I'm having a problem :
after updating my game, the tool launches my game again, but doesn't close the first window. Thus I have two games launched (and actually, the tool is downloading again and again the files, like if it wasn't seeing that that files are updated..

)

So, I'm asking myself if I'm doing the thing right : is it normal that the auto updater is being launched by the game ? Actually, i'm calling the auto updater in the first room of my game, but I don't know if it's how I should do.

mrgamemaker

Jul 11 2009, 10:04 PM

QUOTE (nilaro @ Jun 26 2009, 03:37 PM)

actually, i'm calling the auto updater in the first room of my game

bad idea, add a button that calls it, else the game will close and check for a update every time the room starts.

duc05

Jul 28 2009, 02:10 PM

any tutorials? I just don't get it -.-

mme

Jul 28 2009, 02:48 PM

QUOTE (nilaro @ Jun 27 2009, 12:37 AM)

So, I'm asking myself if I'm doing the thing right : is it normal that the auto updater is being launched by the game ? Actually, i'm calling the auto updater in the first room of my game, but I don't know if it's how I should do.

You should have the updater check with a button or something otherwise it will go into a loop

QUOTE (duc05 @ Jul 28 2009, 04:10 PM)

any tutorials? I just don't get it -.-

What part exactly are you having trouble with?

manuel777

Jul 29 2009, 06:59 AM

I liked it, after i tried it out i started making off my own

after i finished it i found myself in a bit of a dilema... you cant delete the exe youre executing, so, you always need a secondary app to update the game (just like you did)... mine and yours got pretty much equal, im still trying to find a DLL or something to allow mysef of deleting the source .exe once the update is done ( you know, to give the game a more "professional" and simple look

)
if you manage to do that, you will get a perfect updater

edit: my idea is to include ALL the content of the game into ONE app, without an auxiliars... maybe i wasnt clear... sometimes i confuse myself

ps: why you worry about security so much?

ui_dsa

Aug 26 2009, 08:40 PM

Below is a video of what keeps happening when I run your updater.
MDU Error 1

1st, I run my game (Ultzerian Dawn)

2nd, I press Control+U to update the game.

3rd, my game closes and MDU comes up. After that, the error screen appears and dissapears, and then the game attempts to update. My EXE file is renamed UltzerianDawn.exe.bak.

Then, the connection is timed out.

Any suggestions?

mme

Aug 26 2009, 11:06 PM

@ui_dsa

Could you please post or PM your script arguments in your Control+U event.

- MD (mme)

ui_dsa

Aug 27 2009, 01:25 AM

QUOTE (mme @ Aug 26 2009, 02:06 PM)

@ui_dsa

Could you please post or PM your script arguments in your Control+U event.

- MD (mme)

Here it is:

CODE

if keyboard_check(vk_control)
{
mdu_check('UltzerianDawn','http://uzdrts.pbworks.com/f/update/mdu.ini')
}

mdu_check()

CODE

/*

== MDU CHECK ==

This script will check for updates for your game.

-Credits
Made By MME

-Arguments

0: Gamename - the name of your game
1: Url - the url to your INI file
2: Allow External Language Packs? (optional)

-Language Packs (Optional)
Language Packs can change the updater language from English to any other supported language
These packs can be downloaded from the GMC topic or where you downloaded this from

-INI
In order to make this work you need to upload your INI file to a web server. your INI file can be created by the INI Creator
which can be downloaded from the GMC topic or where you downloaded this from */ var exe, name, url; exe=filename_name(parameter_string(0)); name=argument0; if string_length(name)>60 {show_message('Please Enter a Name Less Than 60 Charaters'); exit;} url=argument1; if name='' or url='' {show_message('Please Enter a Name and URL')} if !file_exists(working_directory+ '\mdu.exe') {show_message("Unable to locate 'mdu.exe'"); exit;} ini_open('tmp'); ini_write_string('info','name',name); ini_write_string('info','url',url); ini_write_string('info','exe',exe); ini_close();execute_program(working_directory+ '\mdu.exe','',false);game_end(); /*

-Usage
mdu_check(gamename,url)

*/

var exe, name, url; exe=filename_name(parameter_string(0));
name=argument0;
if string_length(name)>60 {show_message('Please Enter a Name Less Than 60 Charaters');
exit;
}
url=argument1;
if name='' or url='' {show_message('Please Enter a Name and URL')
}
if !file_exists(working_directory+ '\mdu.exe') {show_message("Unable to locate 'mdu.exe'");
exit;
}
ini_open('tmp');
ini_write_string('info','name',name);
ini_write_string('info','url',url);
ini_write_string('info','exe',exe);
ini_close();
execute_program(working_directory+ '\mdu.exe','',false);
game_end();

By the way, I'm using GM 6.1A Registered, if that affects anything.

Thanks for your help.

UtArEfSoN

Aug 27 2009, 04:53 AM

This is a great tool, and very simple to use, congratz! But, can you add the option of saving the downloaded file to a subfolder? In a project of mine I have all the resources stored in different folders, so just getting all the files in the root folder won't work at all...

mme

Aug 30 2009, 11:38 AM

QUOTE (ui_dsa @ Aug 27 2009, 03:25 AM)

Here it is:

[code]if keyboard_check(vk_control)
{
mdu_check('UltzerianDawn','http://uzdrts.pbworks.com/f/update/mdu.ini')

Hi Make sure your domain name is correct because when I checked your links it pointed to an incomplete domain:

QUOTE (mdu.ini)

http://uzdr

That was the domain name that it was trying to reach (http://uzdr/f/update/UltzerianDawn.exe) which wouldn't work.

Hope that helps

QUOTE (UtArEfSoN @ Aug 27 2009, 06:53 AM)

This is a great tool, and very simple to use, congratz! But, can you add the option of saving the downloaded file to a subfolder? In a project of mine I have all the resources stored in different folders, so just getting all the files in the root folder won't work at all...

It should do this automatically already when files are downloaded they are stored in a temporary folder than moved to their appropriate folders / locations.

- MD (mme)

Da SteveVinci

Sep 9 2009, 07:29 PM

best i have found so far around.. seems to work even though I haven't tried it but i was trying to find something like this before I started programming a RPGO I was planning to. thanks mme!

mortalpico

Sep 17 2009, 10:09 AM

Finally found this! I need this for my online game!Dude 98/100!

PASSOUT

Sep 28 2009, 12:32 AM

I can't figure this out. "In order to make this work you need to upload your INI file to a web server" But to make the INI file I have to have it already on a web server. It just seems paradoxical to me. I'm very confused.

sargunster

Oct 19 2009, 01:10 AM

It says it timed out when I try to update it

mme

Oct 21 2009, 08:10 AM

QUOTE (PASSOUT @ Sep 28 2009, 02:32 AM)

I can't figure this out. "In order to make this work you need to upload your INI file to a web server" But to make the INI file I have to have it already on a web server. It just seems paradoxical to me. I'm very confused.

No please read the instructions carefully:

1. You need to first make an INI using the ini.exe provided with the MDU updater
2. Then you need to upload the INI file to a webserver

QUOTE (sargunster @ Oct 19 2009, 03:10 AM)

It says it timed out when I try to update it

PM'ed You

halfamind

Nov 13 2009, 06:00 AM

I don't get how to work the Theme Editor, can some one explain?