Shoutbox

Spanish translation can be found here: Preguntas frecuentes sobre la auto-actualización de scripts y skins (Español)

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Messenger Plus! 4.70 adds automatic update support for skins and scripts, amongst a few other features. This means all scripts and skins can now be automatically updated! This will ensure you always get the benefits from the latest versions of the components you use without worrying about them.
Almost all the current scripts and skins are supported by the system. Update check is done once a week, as usual, and you can force a manual check by using the /checkupdates command in any chat window. If an update is available, you will be notified once automatically. If you choose not to install a particular update, Messenger Plus! won't prompt you about it anymore unless another update is available. This was done to remove the annoying factor of this kind of auto-update procedure. Of course, all of this can be disabled in the preferences.

This FAQ will try to explain auto-update in detail and answer most questions from both skin/script developers and users.


Information for developers

How does Plus! detect updates?

To find updates Plus! will read information from SkinInfo.xml or ScriptInfo.xml and compare this with the information in the download database (skins & scripts). Skins and scripts (items) not available in the download DB won't be updated automatically. If your creation is not on the site yet, now is the time to submit it! There are three methods to use auto-update, which method is used depends on the tags provided by your XML file.

Method 1: Legacy
The legacy method is mostly used for older items, created before Plus! 4.70 was introduced. This method uses the <Name> and <Version> tags in your XML file. Plus! tries to find an item in the download DB with the exact same name. If the same item is found and the version is different, an update notification is triggered.

XML code:

---

<!-- Some tags irrelevant for this example were removed -->
<Information>
    <Name>Super Awesome Skin</Name>
    <Version>1.51</Version>
</Information>

---

Because the legacy method can be inaccurate in some situations we strongly recommend you to also use an <UpdateId> tag like described below.

Method 2: UpdateId (recommended)
The UpdateId method is strongly recommended. All you have to do is add two new tags to your XML. The new tags are <UpdateId> and <BuildNumber>.

• <UpdateId> is a unique ID for your item between 6 and 8 characters long. The UpdateId will be used by Plus! to recognize your item in the download DB, instead of relying on the Name. You can pick your own UpdateId. Only alphanumeric characters and underscores are allowed and this value is case sensitive. Should you pick an ID already used for another item you will be mailed back to correct this when you submit your item.
  
• <BuildNumber> is the build number of your item. If the download DB has an item with the same UpdateId and a higher BuildNumber, it triggers the update notification. The BuildNumber can be between 1 and 99999 and should be increased on every version. Only whole numbers are allowed, so no 1.0, 1.51 or 2b. Instead you can simply increase the BuildNumber by one every time you release a new version. For example: v1.0 = BuildNumber 1, v1.51 = BuildNumber 2, v2b = BuildNumber 3, or if you like: v1.0 = BuildNumber 100, v1.51 = BuildNumber 151, v2b = BuildNumber 202... as long as you increase the BuildNumber on every version, including alphas, betas or other special releases.

XML code:

---

<!-- Some tags irrelevant for this example were removed -->
<Information>
    <Name>Super Awesome Skin</Name>
    <Version>1.51</Version>
    <UpdateId>Chl_SkSI</UpdateId>
    <BuildNumber>2</BuildNmber>
</Information>

---

Method 3: Disabled
You can disable Plus' auto-update on your item if your script has its own automatic update feature. Although we recommend everybody to use Plus' own auto-update as it will save you bandwidth and the users can find everything in one central place. To disable auto-update, all you need to do is add <AllowAutoUpdate>false</AllowAutoUpdate> to your XML file. The item will be ignored during the auto-update process, whether it is added to the download DB or not. Please continue to keep your items updated in our download DB too, so your users wont be bothered with an update notification directly after installing.

XML code:

---

<!-- Some tags irrelevant for this example were removed -->
<Information>
    <Name>Super Awesome Skin</Name>
    <Version>1.51</Version>
    <AllowAutoUpdate>false</AllowAutoUpdate>
</Information>

---

The priority order that Plus! assigns to the above methods when searching for an update is 3,2,1. If the item doesn't have auto-update disabled it will look for an UpdateId/BuildNumber combination, if that isn't found it will fall back to the legacy method.


Using your XML properly.

Auto-update relies on your XML file, so proper usage of the tags is more important than ever. The <Name> and <Version> (and <Compatibility> for skins) tags are required for every item submitted to the download DB. Besides having the required tags its also important to have all your tags filled with the proper data:

• <Name>: The name of your item. Do NOT include the version, author (your name) or language info in this tag.
  
• <Description>: Describe your item and include your name and language info if you like. Make sure everything is still visible in the import window after you packaged your item.
  
• <AboutUrl>: Normal http:// links only. Link to your own site/blog/profile or a forum topic with more info about the item. Email addresses are not allowed in this tag.
  
• <Version>: The version of the item. Do NOT include version, v, or any author/language information.
  
• <Screenshot> (skins only): Make sure the screenshot is visible in the import window after you packaged your item. Something is wrong with the file, or your XML, if the image doesn't show up.
  
• <Compatibility> (skins only): Make sure you always use this tag in your skins and test the compatible Messenger versions. When you support beta versions, specify Messenger's build number to avoid future problems. For example:

  XML code:

  ---

  <Compatibility>
      <MsgVersion Major="9" Minor="0" Build="1407" />
      <MsgVersion Major="8" Minor="5" />
  </Compatibility>

  ---

• <UpdateId>: Make sure you use a unique ID for each of your items. See How does Plus! detect updates? > Method 2.
  
• <BuildNumber>: Whole numbers only between 1 and 99999. Do not forget to increase this number each version. See How does Plus! detect updates? > Method 2.

More detailed information is available in the official skins/scripts documentation. Download it from inside the Plus! software, or get it here:

• Skinning Documentation
  
• Scripting Documentation

Submitting skins and scripts to the download DB.

Its important to have the same data in your XML file and the data in our download DB. To assure we have the correct data we will read the Name, Version, UpdateId, and BuildNumber directly from the XML file in your PLSK/PLSC package. When adding/updating an item you don't have to include the UpdateId and BuildNumber in your mail. We appreciate it if you still include the Name and Version in your mails so the mails are easier for us to recognize, but we will always use the values from the XML file. If any required tag is missing or you're not using a unique Name/UpdateId for your item we will mail you back with instructions. The Name and UpdateId can not be changed after your item is accepted in the download DB.


What should I use as UpdateId?

You must pick your own UpdateId. An UpdateId must be between 6 and 8 characters long, consisting of alphanumeric characters and underscores only. An UpdateId must be unique for every item, if you created multiple scripts/skins each item must have a different UpdateId.
We recommend a combination between your name and the item name to avoid other people use the same UpdateId as you. For example, if my name is MenthiX and the name of my skin Super Awesome Skin I could use MX_SuAw or ThiX_SuA as UpdateId. Once you submitted an item to the download DB you can't change the UpdateId for that item anymore. You will be mailed back and asked to choose another UpdateId if the UpdateId you chose is already used by someone else. Keep in mind that the UpdateId is case sensitive.


Can somebody else submit an update for my skin or script?

This is not allowed. We perform multiple automated checks to ensure the updates come from the original author and to detect conflicts in item Names and UpdateIds. If other people submit updates or translations for an item they didn't create they will be told to contact the original author directly.


How about beta and test versions?

All items in the download DB should be tested and stable. Beta and test versions can exists publicly with an older (stable) version in the DB when the <UpdateId> and <BuildNumber> tags are used properly. See How does Plus! detect updates? > Method 2. Be aware: not using an UpdateId and BuildNumber can cause false update notifications when using a newer version than available in the download DB.


Can I have my script listed in multiple languages?

If your script comes in multiple languages you can list it in multiple language sub-categories on the download DB. Note: we do not create sub-categories for languages which Messenger Plus! itself is not translated to.
The only requirement for multi-language scripts is to have all languages in a single PLSC package. A separate PLSC for each language is not accepted anymore. As a solution we strongly recommend you to use a translation class, like various other scripts already do. Free to use translation classes already exist, or you can create your own. IF you need any help, post a message on the scripting forum.
Multi-language skins are allowed too (as long as they at least contain English), but we wont create language sub-categories for skins.



Information for users

Auto-update downgraded one of my skins or scripts?

We try our best to make auto-update work perfectly, but in a few situations it's possible the auto-update offers an older version than you currently have installed. This happens when the developer did not use an UpdateId and you have a newer version installed than available in the download DB. To prevent this from happening in the future we suggest you try to contact the author of the downgraded item. You can point the author to this FAQ and ask him to submit the latest version with an UpdateId to the download DB. See How does Plus! detect updates? > Method 2.
If you can't reach the author, email or PM me to report which item(s) do not have the latest version available in the download DB. When possible, tell us where you got the newer version and which version number it had. We will then try to contact the author directly and disable the auto-update feature on the specific item until we receive an update from the author.


I get update notifications from both Plus' and the script's auto-update features?

When a script developer uses his own auto-update feature he should either disable Plus' auto-update feature in his XML file, or disable his own auto-update feature completely. We suggest you try to contact the author of the conflicting item. You can point the author to this FAQ and ask him to submit the latest version with either his own auto-update feature disabled, or AllowAutoUpdate set to false. See How does Plus! detect updates? > Method 3.
If you can't reach the author, email or PM me to report which item is conflicting. We will then try to contact the author directly and disable the auto-update feature on the specific item until we receive an update from the author.


I don't see any update notification?

You will only see update notifications once a week when the auto-update feature is enabled and new updates are found. Update checks are preformed once a week, it can take up to 7 days after installing a new version of Messenger Plus! before the first update check is performed. You can force the update check by typing /checkupdates in a conversation window. An update notification is only triggered when a newer version is available in our download DB.
The XML tags in your currently installed version may be incorrect if you are sure you're using an older version than available in the download DB. Download the newer version from the download DB manually. If the problem continues to exist after installing the latest version from the download DB, email or PM me about it.


I updated all of my skins and scripts, but the same update re-appears every time?

This should not happen, email or PM me when this happens. Please include a list of all installed skins/scripts with their version numbers, and which updates keep re-appearing. We'll work out the problem together and fix it in the download DB so this wont happen anymore in the future.



We hope this answered all your auto-update questions, if you want to know more: reply below, email , or PM me. Updated skins and scripts can be sent to the usual submit address (skin submit & script submit).

New skins and scripts can always be found at the download DB:

• Messenger Plus! Skins DB
  
• Messenger Plus! Scripts DB