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1.6.2.2 Optional Upgrades
Optional upgrades allow users to use either the old or the new version of a program. After an optional
upgrade, users can also install and use both versions of the application simultaneously. To deploy an
optional upgrade, right-click the new version in Software Installation and click Properties. Then select the
Upgrades tab in the package file’s Properties dialog box. In the Packages That This Package Will
Upgrade section, click Add, and then select the older version of the program. If both versions of the
program are native Windows Installer packages, this step will be done automatically. Clear the Required
Upgrade For Existing Packages check box, and then click
OK
.
If the older version has been installed, existing shortcuts will still launch the older version. The next time the
user logs on, the user can install either version from Add/Remove Programs. Document invocation will
only install the newer version if the GPO deploying the newer version has the highest order of precedence.
If the older version has not yet been installed, the next time that the user logs on, advertised shortcuts will
start an installation of the newer version. The user can install either version from Add/Remove Programs,
and document invocation will only install the later version if the GPO deploying the later version has the
highest order of precedence.
If you want new users to install the newer version of the program but don’t want to uninstall the application
for people who are currently using the older version of the program, deploy the newer version as an optional
upgrade, and then disable the older version.
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