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How to Test Your Application Using a New Version of Alpha Anywhere

Description

Multiple versions of the Alpha Anywhere Application Server can be installed and run on a server. This is useful if you need to test your application on a new release before deploying it.

Discussion

Backup Your Workspace

Backup or make a copy of your workspace to a separate location before you begin. You can easily backup your workspace by copying the directory containing the *.adb file for your application. Be sure to copy all of the contents of the directory to a separate location.

  1. Click the on the Web Projects Control Panel.

    images/openProjectFolder.png

  2. Navigate up to the folder that contains the directory with the entire workspace. In the image below, the top-most directory is "aa":

    images/openProjectFolder2.png

  3. Select the folder that contains the workspace and copy it.

    images/openProjectFolder3.png

Install the Application Server

If more than one version of Alpha Anywhere Application Server for IIS is installed, the last one that was installed will set the registry key used by the "Default" location type. To ensure the correct version of Alpha Anywhere is used by a published application, the IIS Publishing Profile must specify the installation location of the version of the Application Server to use on the server. See How to Install Multiple Versions of the Alpha Anywhere Application Server for IIS for more information.

  1. Download and run the installer for the Alpha Anywhere Application Server.

  2. On the Destination Location page, click the Browse button to change the install location.

    images/iisInstall1.png

  3. When prompted to choose the installation directory, change the installation directory and click OK. You must manually type the folder name into the textbox. In the example below, the Application Server for IIS will be installed in "C:\Program Files(x86)\aa_iis_v4_5_5":

    images/iisInstall2.png
    When specifying the folder, using the build number (for pre-release builds) or Alpha Anywhere version (for release builds) in the folder name is helpful to distinguish different versions of Alpha Anywhere. You can locate the Build Number or Alpha Anywhere Version on the download page.

  4. Finish the installation.

  5. Classic Application Server: Configure the server to launch using a different port number. See Running Two Classic Application Server Instances on the Same Hostname Using Different Ports for more information.

Setup a New Publishing Profile

  1. Duplicate the publishing profile for your existing application.

    images/duplicateProfile.png

  2. Application Server for IIS: Change the Location of Alpha Anywhere Application Server from "Default" to "Custom" and specify the path on the server to the installation directory of the version of the Alpha Anywhere Application Server for IIS to use in the Path to Alpha Anywhere Application Server property.

    images/iisProfileExisting.png

  3. Change the location where the application will be published.

    Classic Application Server: Specify a different Target folder and Server URL with a different port number for the application.

    Application Server for IIS: Specify a different Application Name for your application.

    images/publishProfileTest.png
    Specify a different Target folder and Server URL for the Classic Application Server
    images/publishIISProfileTest.png
    Specify a different Application Name for the Application Server for IIS

Publish Your Application

Use the new publishing profile you created to publish your application.

See Also