SOFTWARE UPDATING AND DISTRIBUTION

The present invention reduces complicated support and maintenance issues to a simple model. This model is called a procedure. A procedure includes two elements. The first element is called "criteria". Criteria are specified by the user and are used to create a filter that determines which workstations, workstation directories, workstation files, users, and/or file server directories are to be updated. The second element of a procedure is called an "action". Actions are used to specify what steps are to be taken automatically at the selected workstations or file server directories. Any type of process that can be carried out from the workstation keyboard can be automated using an action. One embodiment of the invention provides a system for updating software on at least one computer connected to a computer network, including hardware and software for defining at least one procedure, the at least one procedure including a set of criteria specifying a predetermined condition of the at least one computer hardware and software, responsive to the hardware and software for defining, for executing a predetermined action, such as a program, when the set of criteria are true.