How can one installation package replace another without uninstalling and reinstalling?

For such cases I just keep the id and name of the package unchanged and increase the version number.

e.g. if the base package has:

$manifest = array(

'name' => 'myPackage',

'version => '202008100001'.

...);

$installdefs =array(

'id' => 'myPackage',

...);

I'll set the next package to:

'version => '202008100002'.

BUT BE AWARE, when doing so you cannot uninstall that package any more, the UNINSTALL button will disappear in module loader.

For such cases I just keep the id and name of the package unchanged and increase the version number.

e.g. if the base package has:

$manifest = array(

'name' => 'myPackage',

'version => '202008100001'.

...);

$installdefs =array(

'id' => 'myPackage',

...);

I'll set the next package to:

'version => '202008100002'.

BUT BE AWARE, when doing so you cannot uninstall that package any more, the UNINSTALL button will disappear in module loader.

It there a way to make the old version disappear?

The module loader shows only the latest version in its list when you keep name and id unchanged.