I created the launching/update program.  You're spot on as to the the method
for updating.  Here's the code (I made a few changes to protect passwords,
etc):

'*********************************************************************************************************************
Public Sub CheckforUpdates(LocalFile As String, ServerFile As String,
FileToBeUpdated As String)

'This routine checks for version updates to the front end and other modules:
The variable FileToBeUpdated contains 'the module name that will be updated.
It is used in the messagebox.

'1) Version number updates - checks the version numbers

On Error GoTo Err_Ctrl

Dim dbe As PrivDBEngine
Dim ws As DAO.Workspace, db As DAO.Database, rs As DAO.Recordset

Dim ServerVersion As String, LocalVersion As String
Dim UpdateFileName As String
Dim LocalDBType As String
Dim ServerDBType As String
Dim WorkgroupFileName As String
Dim X As Boolean
Dim Response As Integer

'First check the workgroup file
X = GetWorkGroupFile(WorkgroupFileName)
 
If X = False Then
   MsgBox "Can't find the workgroup file. Cannot check for updates to MyApp.
", vbOKOnly + vbCritical
   GoTo Exit_Sub
End If

'Now get the version numbers of both the local file and the
'server file (possible update file)

Set dbe = New PrivDBEngine

With dbe
   ' start Jet.
   .SystemDB = WorkgroupFileName
   .DefaultUser = "compact"   'This is an administrative User ID
   .DefaultPassword = "mypassword"
 
 ' open workspace, database, recordset for Local File.
   Set ws = .Workspaces(0)
   Set db = ws.OpenDatabase(LocalFile)
   Set rs = db.OpenRecordset("SELECT * FROM VersionRef", dbOpenSnapshot)
   LocalDBType = Nz(rs("DB_TYPE"), "")
   LocalVersion = Nz(rs("Version"), "")
   rs.Close
   db.Close

 ' open workspace, database, recordset for Server File.
   Set ws = .Workspaces(0)
   Set db = ws.OpenDatabase(ServerFile)
   Set rs = db.OpenRecordset("SELECT * FROM VersionRef", dbOpenSnapshot)
   ServerDBType = Nz(rs("DB_TYPE"), "")
   ServerVersion = Nz(rs("Version"), "")
   rs.Close
   db.Close
   
End With

 
   
'Now compare versions
'Make sure only Jet versions are compared to Jet versions and SQL Server
versions
'to SQL Server versions
If ServerDBType = LocalDBType Then
   If ServerVersion > LocalVersion Then
   
       Response = MsgBox("A new version/update of " & FileToBeUpdated & " is
available." & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
       "Click 'OK' to download the new version/update to your PC.",
vbOKCancel + vbExclamation)

       If Response = vbCancel Then
           GoTo Exit_Sub
       End If

       DoCmd.Hourglass True
           
       Kill LocalFile
       FileCopy ServerFile, LocalFile
   
       'Pause for execution
       DoEvents
       Pause (5000)
           
       DoCmd.Hourglass False
       
   End If

End If

Exit_Sub:
DoCmd.Hourglass False
Set rs = Nothing
Set db = Nothing
Set ws = Nothing
Set dbe = Nothing

Exit Sub

Err_Ctrl:
DoCmd.Hourglass False
   MsgBox "Error No. " & Err.Number & " -> " & Err.Description, vbCritical
   Resume Exit_Sub

End Sub
'******************************************************************************************************

Thanks.