Thursday 28 July 2011

File Version VS Product Version

Right click on a file, select Properties, click on Details tab and you will see File properties. File Version and Product Version are among them but what is the difference between these two?


Software product shipped to customers often comprises multiple files. Files have their own life, updates and patches so their version numbers are independent from product versions. Their numbering scheme can be different from one of the product (package) and this is very often the case when file is shared between multiple products. Product Version depends on changes in its components though.

File Version can increase with each build or after code changes (new features added, bug fixes). Changes in components are reflected in final package version: Major Product Version number increases after new features has been added and its Minor number is usually increased for patch releases.


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