The goal was to create a mechanism for updating a mobile app distributed via ad-hoc or enterprise deployment. Every modification or bug fix previously required rebuilding and redistributing the app, which was time-consuming. The customer needed a way to instantly distribute new versions of the FileMaker app to users in the field, while ensuring that data remained preserved between versions.
We developed an auto-update mechanism built directly into the FileMaker application itself. When the app launches, it automatically checks for an available version stored on an FTP or web server.
If the app detects that a newer version is available, the user is prompted to download the update. The new application file is downloaded directly into a FileMaker container, then a local copy is created from it, and the system performs an automatic import of user data from the old database into the new one. After a successful transfer, the new version is activated and launched without requiring administrator intervention.
Thanks to this solution, new versions of the app can be released immediately whenever needed. The mechanism is universal—it can be used for both iOS and desktop solutions (intended for local single-user installations not using FileMaker Server) and significantly shortens the response time for fixes and the deployment of new features.
