Updates

Introduction

SimFlow supports an automatic update installation feature. This option is enabled by default. When automatic updates are enabled user does not have to do anything to keep SimFlow up to date. If new release is present it will be downloaded and installed in the background without user interaction.

Check current version

You can check the current version of SimFlow you are running on in 2 places. If application is not running start SimFlow and under the Launcher Window you can:

  • 1 Open Settings window

  • 2 Read version string on top of the Advanced Settings window

check version launcher

In case when you are already running SimFlow you can view the version number by:

  • 1 Select Help from the menu bar

  • 2 Choose Send Diagonstics option

  • 3 Unfold System Info panel

  • 4 Read SimFlow Version property

check version software

Requesting update

It might happen that due to internet connection problem the SimFlow did not automatically update itself. In this case you can request SimFlow do check if any new update is published. SimFlow will then download and install the newest update patch.

In order to request update:

  • 1 Select Help from the menu bar

  • 2 Choose Updates section

  • 3 Select Check & Install option

check and install

Install by using Update Package

If for some reason user’s computer can not access the web you still can update SimFlow without need to re-install whole application. In this case you can download the "update patch" in the form of ZIP archive and install it from within SimFlow.

In a rare occasions it might be required to debug SimFlow on the client computer. In this case SimFlow team creates extra update package which should be installed on the tested computer. This package usually contains a "hot fix" that can be tested on the target machine.

In order to install manually the update package:

  • 1 Select Help from the menu bar

  • 2 Choose Updates section

  • 3 Select Check & Install option

install manual

Versioning System

The versioning system can be divided in 2 logical parts:

  • Major

  • Minor

The Major versions refers to first 2 numbers in the version string, while the Minor is the last number:
4.0.53 (major.sub-major.minor)
in the above example the Major version is 4.0 while Minor is 53.

The Major version changes in 1-2 year cycle. It usually contains significant software changes that might change the way software is used by the user. While the Minor version refers to security and bug fixes patch. It might also introduce new features without significant changes to the application workflow.

Apart from the above description there is one more significant difference between Major/Minor versioning. When Minor version changes SimFlow can install it via the software update (automatic usually). On the other, when the Major version changes it is no longer guaranteed that SimFlow will be able to update itself. With this Major version it is expected that crucial software components will change which are not suitable for the update. In this case user should install a new version of SimFlow by downloading the installer from the website. The new version can be installed alongside the old one, or you can first remove old installation and then install the new one.