Track Software Releases With Web Versions

Martin Brinkmann
Apr 10, 2010
Updated • Oct 31, 2016
Software, Windows software
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Web Versions is a free program for Microsoft Windows devices that helps you check whether program updates are available for local software applications.

Some software programs make use of automated or manual update checks to inform you about new versions of the software when the checks are performed. Most programs execute those checks when they are started on the operating system. Some go a step further and add an updater either to a task scheduler or to the autostart of the system, and some may even update automatically.

And then there are applications that do not have either option. To update those you would have to visit the developer's website or a software portal to see if an update is available.

Web Versions

web versions

The portable software Web Versions aids you in that task by providing you with the means to automatically check websites for updated versions.

It basically works by adding information -- the program name and version -- to the program. You link the information to a page on the Internet, or more precisely an element on that page, that the software then checks to see if an update is available.

It is possible to use the developer's homepage for those checks, or a software site like Betanews or Softpedia as long as the page does not change for the individual program but remains accessible on the same URL.

The program ships with a database of about 120 different programs; most seem outdated and it is probably best to clear the whole list (pressing Del key) to start with a blank list. A right-click in the application's interface and the selection of new will open the new record window.

Here it is that the URL and parameters are defined for checking for new program versions. Mandatory fields are the application's name and the web address. The website address should be a page that contains update information and the new WebVersion the latest version that is displayed on the page. Lets use the popular open source encryption software True Crypt as an example.

True Crypt is entered as the name at the top. My version can be used to enter the current version of True Crypt that is installed on the computer system. The address of the True Crypt website that lists the new releases is the True Crypt homepage at http://www.true-crypt.org/. The newest version of the program now needs to be entered into the New WebVersion field. A click on find loads the source code of the page. The program tries to find the version number entered on the page automatically, and displays a suggestion to the user. The result can then be saved with save to list.

It can happen that the first occurrence of the version number is not the correct one. It is then necessary to click on Advanced Options to enter the right html elements that appear before and after the correct version manually.

Additional programs can now be added to the listing. These lists can be loaded or saved in case they need to be transferred to other computer systems as well. A click on the Web Update button in the main window will check all configured websites for program updates and indicate the updates to the user.

It is necessary however to download and install those updates manually. A double-click on a program name will open the website of that program in the default web browser.

Web Versions is a portable software for the Microsoft Windows operating system. It is compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit editions of the OS and available for download at the developer's website.

Summary
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Software Name
Web Versions
Operating System
Windows
Software Category
Administration
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Comments

  1. Roman ShaRP said on April 11, 2010 at 11:35 am
    Reply

    Thanks Rarst for comparing with Ketarin!

  2. Will said on April 11, 2010 at 3:27 am
    Reply

    I prefer Sumo (http://www.kcsoftwares.com/?sumo) myself.

  3. Rarst said on April 10, 2010 at 10:21 pm
    Reply

    Seems pretty much like what Ketarin does, except that Ketarin can actually download stuff for you.

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