Title: Automatic plugin update problem
Last modified: August 20, 2016

---

# Automatic plugin update problem

 *  Resolved [Jacob N. Breetvelt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/opajaap/)
 * (@opajaap)
 * [14 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-plugin-update-problem-1/)
 * On automatic update of plugins, the activation hooks are not executed.
 * This results in the fact that required updates of db tables are not performed
   and therefore the generation of run-time (sql) errors.
 * The plugin developer (me) assumes de-activation before and re-activation after
   a plugin upgrade.
 * A workaround is to have my own ‘db revision level’ and checking it in every admin
   page of the plugin and run the required routine then.
 * Leaves us with errors when this has not been done yet.
 * Is the ommission of running the (de)activation hooks a feature or a bug? To me
   its a bug.

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

 *  [s_ha_dum](https://wordpress.org/support/users/apljdi/)
 * (@apljdi)
 * [14 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-plugin-update-problem-1/#post-2133410)
 * > To me its a bug.
 * If this is the case, I agree.
 * Honestly, I wish the auto-update feature wasn’t there at all but if it is going
   to be it should follow a deactivate-update-reactivate pattern. Have you looked
   around the [WordPress Trac](http://core.trac.wordpress.org/)?
 *  Thread Starter [Jacob N. Breetvelt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/opajaap/)
 * (@opajaap)
 * [14 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-plugin-update-problem-1/#post-2133538)
 * I made it a bug on Trac, but they wont fix it and suggest the workaround i do
   already. Thanx
 *  [s_ha_dum](https://wordpress.org/support/users/apljdi/)
 * (@apljdi)
 * [14 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-plugin-update-problem-1/#post-2133541)
 * Why won’t they fix it? What is the reasoning? What is the trac ticket URL?
 *  Moderator [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ipstenu/)
 * (@ipstenu)
 * 🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist
 * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-plugin-update-problem-1/#post-2133542)
 * [http://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/17833](http://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/17833)
 * > This has been a design choice. In the past, the activation hooks ran but not
   > the deactivation hooks (as too many plugins would remove data on deactivation).
   > The suggested method is to utilise a ‘plugin_version’ option, and upgrade any
   > options, and database tables when plugin_version != Hardcoded version in plugin
   > file (And do it when is_Admin() or similar).
 *  Thread Starter [Jacob N. Breetvelt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/opajaap/)
 * (@opajaap)
 * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-plugin-update-problem-1/#post-2133543)
 * This means that we can forget about the activation hook entirely.
 * Is there an add_action() hook i can use and be sure all wp core is loaded?
    I
   need is_user_logged_in() and get_currentuserinfo() during this process.
 * Simply adding a call to my init routine fails here.
 *  Thread Starter [Jacob N. Breetvelt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/opajaap/)
 * (@opajaap)
 * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-plugin-update-problem-1/#post-2133544)
 * It looks like add_action(‘admin_init’, ‘my_setup_routine’) works, altough it 
   is executed twice, once at the top of the screen and once in the wp stats window
   on the dadhboard. But that does no harm.
 * The structure of my_setup_routine is like:
 *     ```
       function my_setup_routine() {
       global $wpdb;
   
       $oldrev = get_option('my_rev', 100);
       if ($oldrev < '306') {
       $my_table = ...
       require_once(ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/upgrade.php');
   
       dbDelta($my_table);
       $iret = fill_new_columns_with_data(); // uses get_currentuserinfo()
       make_my_directories_if_not_exist(); // uses get_currentuserinfo()
       set_my_default_options_if_they_are_new();
       if ($iret !== false) update_option('my_rev', '306');
   
       }
       }
       ```
   
 *  Thread Starter [Jacob N. Breetvelt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/opajaap/)
 * (@opajaap)
 * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-plugin-update-problem-1/#post-2133545)
 * When updating manually, you read:
 *     ```
       Plugin de-activated
   
       Plugin updated
   
       Plugin successfully activated
       ```
   
 * One thinks it is activated, (and hence will run the hook)
 * The text could rather be:
 *     ```
       Plugin turned off
   
       .
   
       .
   
       Plugin turned back on
       ```
   
 *  Moderator [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ipstenu/)
 * (@ipstenu)
 * 🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist
 * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-plugin-update-problem-1/#post-2133547)
 * You can suggest that verbage change in the trac ticket if you want.
 *  [TechStudio](https://wordpress.org/support/users/techstudio/)
 * (@techstudio)
 * [14 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-plugin-update-problem-1/#post-2133656)
 * I am also looking for something to hook to when plugins are automatically updated.
   There must be a definitive way to add an action when this event occurs.

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

The topic ‘Automatic plugin update problem’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Requests and Feedback](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/requests-and-feedback/)
 * 9 replies
 * 4 participants
 * Last reply from: [TechStudio](https://wordpress.org/support/users/techstudio/)
 * Last activity: [14 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-plugin-update-problem-1/#post-2133656)
 * Status: resolved

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