Creating an install package question-folder placement recommendations

[jkwrpc]

Given the current state of the A5 install creator I have been trying out a number of open source install creators. I have found one I am liking pretty well to this point. My install logic has me installing my app files to the C:\ directory. I create a folder for my software and then install the app files in it. I also need to install the runtime files and will do that in a separate folder as well.

My questions is are there any recommendations for the placement of the runtime folder in relation to my app folder. I would like to have it in a sub-folder of the app. but will that be a problem?

My logic has the folder setup looking something like this...

C:\My App Folder
C:\My App Folder\Runtime

So is this a bad install design or should it work?

[DaveM]

Re: Creating an install package question-folder placement recommendations

John,

I am going the route you are. I suggest testing that in win8. I am working on that as time allows.

currently I have a folder I place on apps and shadowed apps of:

c:\alda
c:\alda\app1
c:\alda\app2
c:\alda\rt

[Ted Giles]

Re: Creating an install package question-folder placement recommendations

That should work John.
Usually when running an app install using the Alpha installer, you have the choice having the app and RT in the same folder or not.
It makes sense to me to have them separated as long as you know where the install is actually going!
Is there a user driven option which might wreck your plans?

[Ted Giles]

Re: Creating an install package question-folder placement recommendations

Dang, Dave's up early - bed must have collapsed.

[jkwrpc]

Re: Creating an install package question-folder placement recommendations

Ted & Dave thanks for the feedback. I knew the general recommendation was to have them in the C:\ that is (root) directory. I was not clear about ;possible sub-folder issues. I thought having the runtime folders as described may be cleaner, having all my application in one place. I am not giving the user a chance to change the location or folder naming convention. By doing that I am hoping my pre-created shortcut will consistently work. That has been a bit of an install issue for me as well.

I will forge ahead and again thanks.

[DaveM]

Re: Creating an install package question-folder placement recommendations

John,

I did that for similar reasons as you and I looked at some of the big apps to see what they did. Some put it one place or the other, but the vast majority do not give an option of placement.

note: i also place my data files in a particular spot on a server(even if it is on the same computer). they do not go in conjunction with the app and rt folders. Each app has it's own home in a specified folder. lan address has nothing to do with this. example: ups data is in upserve in some drive on some computer somewhere while the shdow is on the c: of the user's computer.

You can do a silent install of runtime, but it always goes to program files that way which is not all bad either. Still working on this.

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Creating an install package question-folder placement recommendations

....I am not giving the user a chance to change the location or folder naming convention. By doing that I am hoping my pre-created shortcut will consistently work. That has been a bit of an install issue for me as well....

John, so your app is such that it never ends up on a network server? As for an installer, what are you settling on? I need to find something and I don't think Astrum any longer makes sense if they are no longer doing any further development (yes, it probably still works, no one needs to point that out--it's the future I am concerned with and I don't want to be learning something that one day may no longer work). I would think an installer should allow you to create shortcuts based on where the user chooses to install the app, but maybe that's naive given you want the app to open not just the runtime?

Raymond Lyons

[jkwrpc]

Re: Creating an install package question-folder placement recommendations

Ray - I will have server version but that will be separate from my demo release which is what I am working on at the moment. Right now I am using Install Maker from Bytessence. It seems easy to use and supports both 32 bit and 64 bit installs on Win OS from Win95 through Win 8 including server versions through 2012. It doesn't require heavy scripting. I am still am working out the final form and contents, but of the many I tried, to this point I like it best. Its worth a look and is free (open source).

If anyone is interested here is a link http://www.bytessence.com/bim.html

[SNusa]

Re: Creating an install package question-folder placement recommendations

Ray - I will have server version but that will be separate from my demo release which is what I am working on at the moment. Right now I am using Install Maker from Bytessence. It seems easy to use and supports both 32 bit and 64 bit installs on Win OS from Win95 through Win 8 including server versions through 2012. It doesn't require heavy scripting. I am still am working out the final form and contents, but of the many I tried, to this point I like it best. Its worth a look and is free (open source).

If anyone is interested here is a link http://www.bytessence.com/bim.html

Interestingly enough, this installer was written using "PureBasic." (www.PureBasic.com)

[DaveM]

Re: Creating an install package question-folder placement recommendations

Ray,

I use 2 installs on a lan setup.
The server part installs what will be the data files with the support.
The work station installs alpha(and all the other junk) plus the application. The app actually has a boot strap adb named the same as the adb on the server. It boots to make a shadow on the workstation.

If you know where the data is going to be(name of the server computer), you can have all preset when the user gets it. Otherwise they have to type in something like: "\\myservername\mydata\myadb.adb" or "h\mydata\myadb.adb"

[jkwrpc]

Re: Creating an install package question-folder placement recommendations

Dave - how do you separate the data files from the application files? When I create a project it sets all the files into the app folder. Do you have a recommendation about a good way to move them to a separate folder and have the app see them?

It would be nice if you had the option when creating a app to set or create separate folder for the data files.

[DaveM]

Re: Creating an install package question-folder placement recommendations

John,

I said it wrong. The application files are the data, supporting files, and adb + other files.
They all need to go in the data folder. When you make a shadow, the support files all get copied to the shadow folder and a file for each table is made in the shadow folder that is basically a redirect to the same name dbf file on the server.

Sorry for the misinfo.

I see the data stuck in remote places by people all the time. There should be no reason for it to be buried 5 levels deep in a folder structure. Too much chance of a mistype in the path.

I also see people using mapped drives. No reason for mapped drives. On different work stations, different drive letters get mapped for the data folder. Why not use the name of the server. Instead of a data path like H:\dataspot\data.adb, why not \\myserver\dadtaspot\data.adb and skip having to map a drive letter on a bunch of work stations?

By the way, you can copy the registry entries for alpha into the install package and then to the client machine so you can keep all settings that you want your application to have. You can also change the name of alpha5.exe to whatever you want. You can make an exe with all your command lines and imbedded icon to start alpha, so others cant muck around with it. All you then need is to copy a startup.link to put on the client desktop.


Getting back to the issue:

I do not install runtime at the client workstation computer.
I copy(with the installer) the whole folder that contains runtime and shadowed copy. When the install.exe is clicked on client work station, the whole this is copied to their c drive, any c++, net, etc is installed, files are registered and they are ready to start the app. On app start, the bootstrap prompts them for the data path to the server. Once shadow is done the bootstrap has been overwritten.

I am working on a data finder, but have not had the time to fully explore it yet.

[jkwrpc]

Re: Creating an install package question-folder placement recommendations

Dave that make better sense to me, and thanks!