Determine Windows Update classification

Question

From the Windows Update COM Library (WUAPILib) I have access to the IUpdate interface however I don't see of any way to use to get the update classification (Critical, Important, Optional) to group updates in the same way like the Windows Update UI in Control Panel does.

Answer 1

With the help of the IUpdate, you can get the IcategoryCollection from the Update ID.

Now, the first ICategory stores the classification of update type for the OS. Do pay special attention to the line where comment is placed:

Console.WriteLine("Patch name = " + ic.Name.ToString());
// In the ICategory collection, first element ICategory stores information of "Update Classification"; 
// whereas second Icategory element stores the product type information.

Test Code:

UpdateSession uSession = new UpdateSession();
IUpdateSearcher uSearcher = uSession.CreateUpdateSearcher();
uSearcher.Online = false;
ISearchResult sResult = uSearcher.Search("IsInstalled=1 And IsHidden=0");
Console.WriteLine("Found " + sResult.Updates.Count + " updates" + Environment.NewLine);
   foreach (IUpdate update in sResult.Updates)
   {
          Console.WriteLine();
          Console.WriteLine("Required update " + update.KBArticleIDs[0].ToString() + " is installed...");
          Console.WriteLine("Update ID = "+update.Identity.UpdateID);
          ICategoryCollection icc = update.Categories;
          foreach (ICategory ic in icc)
          {
            Console.WriteLine("Patch description = " + ic.Description.ToString());
            Console.WriteLine("Patch category = " + ic.CategoryID.ToString());
            Console.WriteLine("Patch Type = " + ic.Type.ToString());
            Console.WriteLine("Patch name = " + ic.Name.ToString()); 
// only first ICategory element stores the patch name,
// which reveals the Classification information
          }
   }

Sample Output: