Using the Packager for Windows › How to Package Products Using the Automatic Method › Determine Which Type of Product to Create › Delta Version

Delta Version

A delta version is only an update. It is not a complete product. For a delta version to be installed correctly, a previous version of the same product, called a predecessor, must already be installed on the target computer.

If the predecessor product has not been installed on the target computer when the Installer attempts to install the delta version, the Installer automatically installs the predecessor first and then all delta versions.

A delta version can be created in two ways. The situation determines which procedure to use:

• You know exactly which files need to be updated or added to enable the newer version of the product to run. This may be the case, if you are a software developer, or if the software supplier has given you precise instructions. In this case, follow the instructions in Create Product Version.
• You do not know which files have been modified since the last version, there are too many files to track, or you want to change only the registry and not the file system. In this case, follow the instructions for creating a delta version in Create a Combined or Delta Product or a Delta Version.