Mac App Store and Final Cut Pro X Updates

[jrtilson]

Hi there,

I've read and followed the advice available in the pile of FCPX threads here.. We've basically done the following:

1. Purchased a volume licence for Final Cut Pro X and received a batch of license codes.
2. Redeemed a code on one machine associated with one Apple ID, then packaged and deployed the software to faculty/students.

Now, there's an update available. As I understand it we need to re-download the updated Final Cut Pro X app with the original Apple ID then re-package and re-deploy. This is pretty straightforward (albeit kind of annoying, but thats another discussion).

The problem we're having is that our faculty/students are seeing an update for Final Cut Pro X in the Mac App Store on their machines.. If they click update, they get a popup that says:

You have updates available for other accounts Sign in to xyx@xyz.com to update applications for that account

(Where xyz@xyz.com is the original account we used to redeem the code)

This seems to contradict Apple's own support article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4781

Near the bottom it states:

Only the Mac system on which the application was originally downloaded will be notified of application updates.

Is there any way to keep the update from appearing on the Mac App Store, thereby stopping it from prompting them for our Apple ID password?

[donmontalvo · Accepted solution]

We've deployed FCPX to several hundred multimedia production users, followed Apple's guidelines as you described.

Users will get the prompt when an update is available, irrespective of what Apple ID may be set up in Apple App Store.

When FCPX 10.0.6 was released, we followed the same steps and provided it through Self Service, so users who have 10.0.5 installed can upgrade themselves to 10.0.6.

But yea, the App Store prompts stink...it's an area Apple needs to work on. :(

Don

[jrtilson]

Thanks for the reply, Don. I wish Apple would manage volume purchases in a sane way..

[donmontalvo]

I would submit a bug report for this KB so Apple can correct the statement:

Note: Only the Mac system on which the application was originally downloaded will be notified of application updates. To deploy the updated application across all target systems, download the new version of the application from the Mac App Store on the original system. Then, deploy the new version of the application to all of the target systems.

Apple Bug Reporter site:

http://bugreport.apple.com

[mscottblake]

This statement is referring more to one user with multiple computers that are automatically set to install purchased apps. Since we are packaging the original app and deploying that version, I'd say it's safe to say that the information saying it was the original system would be included in your package.

I haven't tested this, but it may be possible to purchase the app on one system and create your package on a secondary system that is setup like that. Maybe it won't prompt within your package in that case?