Difference between Xcode version (CFBundleShortVersionString) and build (CFBundleVersion)
Objective CXcodeObjective C Problem Overview
In Xcode 4, I see this for my target summary:
The "Version" input corresponds to CFBundleShortVersionString in the info.plist file, and the "Build" input corresponds to CFBundleVersion.
What's the difference between these two? I see a lot of people on the internet wanting to put the same value in for both, and my suspicion is that is for backwards compatability.
I have two questions:
-
If I were starting from scratch, what would be the best practice for versioning your app?
-
In all previous releases of my app, I only used
CFBundleVersion. In order to not mess up the upgrade process, should I continue to incrementCFBundleVersionthe same way I have been or is it possible to switch to the "right way", assuming one exists?
Objective C Solutions
Solution 1 - Objective C
The Apple document "Information Property List Key Reference" says that CFBundleShortVersionString represents a release version, whereas CFBundleVersion represents any build, released or not. Also, CFBundleShortVersionString can be localized, though I don't know why you'd want to, since they say it is supposed to be "a string comprised of three period-separated integers". For a release build, it would be reasonable to make the two numbers the same. For a development build, you might tack something else on to the CFBundleVersion, maybe another dot and integer.
Solution 2 - Objective C
To JWWalker's question on why you would want to localize CFBundleShortVersionString, that would be the decimal separator. For example in locales where the decimal separator is actually a comma, the version "1.5" would be "1,5".
Solution 3 - Objective C
Quick Fix:
Just add the CFBundleShortVersionString to the plist file and edit your version.
- Reveal your
InfoPlist.strings - Highlight it and paste the code below in (assuming its in source code mode)
> {"CFBundleShortVersionString" = "1.1";}
- Change the 1.1 to whatever your new build is.
- Build & submit with no more error!
Solution 4 - Objective C
See the Apple documentation on uploading binaries.
> Numbering versions and builds: > iTunes Connect extracts its prerelease version number and build number > from the binary. The prerelease version number is the Xcode Version > number, or the "Bundle version string, short" key in the Info.plist. > The build number is the Xcode Build number, or the "Bundle version" > key in the Info.plist. The prerelease version number and build number > will be shown on the Prerelease tab, as described in Viewing Builds.