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Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

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    #16
    Re: Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

    Jon, thanks for your kind words.
    Thanks,
    James

    Comment


      #17
      Re: Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

      Just tried it and it does not start. Tried it from the table tab and the code tab. A5V11 on Windows 10

      Edit; Found I needed to close a form that was open.

      Comment


        #18
        Re: Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

        I have tried this several times and keep getting installation errors due to the following files not being present:
        mfc120.dll
        A5DBSESS
        A5XBASIC.DLL
        A5ENGINE.DLL

        Comment


          #19
          Re: Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

          Bob, the files you listed are installed when you install Alpha5. It is possible your Alpha5 installation is corrupt and needs to be re-installed or your antivirus has blocked these files from running. Unfortunately, since this issue is outside the scope of my plugin, there is little I can do to help. I suggest searching the forums for any errors involving these files to see if there is a solution.
          Thanks,
          James

          Comment


            #20
            Re: Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

            Questions Moved to V11 desktop forum Thread: Appin install utility questions v2.2
            Last edited by MikeData; 03-01-2017, 11:12 AM.

            Comment


              #21
              Re: Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

              Mike, thanks for the detailed question. I will get you an answer sometime Saturday or sooner depending on my work schedule. Please keep an eye out for any follow-up questions I may have.
              Thanks,
              James

              Comment


                #22
                Re: Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

                Great, Thanks. Take your time, no urgency.

                Comment


                  #23
                  Re: Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

                  Mike, I am posting a reply in detail so all can benefit.
                  1. Q1 - I have indicated that I want my application to be installed to the root directory (c:\\). When I install the program using the setup file created, it installs the application to the Program Files Directory.
                    ANSWER - Inno's security restricts installations to the root directory by default. To bypass, switch to advanced mode in Appin. The "Restrictions" tab should now appear. Under restrictions, change "Allow Root Directory" to yes.

                    It is also important to note that it is not good practice to specify the "c" directory as the default installation target directory. Instead, select "System Drive" ({sd}) from the drop down menu for the Default Installation Target Directory.

                    If you are testing this on a machine that you have already installed the application on, make sure to uninstall the application before you test again. Otherwise, by default, the installation will look for the prior install and automatically change the target directory to the one used before. To disable this Inno feature, un-check the "Use Previous Installation Settings" at the bottom of the "Defaults" tab screen. This is not recommended for the setup file you distribute.

                  2. Q2 - Is there a way to add to the setup, a way to run the patch?
                    ANSWER - I may not be answering this question in the correct context. If not, please give me more detailed information.

                    You can run separate updates or patches using Appin. Under the "Installation Type" in the "Setup" tab, select "Application Update". This will allow you to create an update file with changes to your application and/or distribute a new Alpha 5 Runtime patch. It is recommended that you create a separate Appin file for each update you distribute. See help files and readme file for more details.

                  3. Q3 - Is there a way to run the icon generated as administrator?
                    ANSWER - This is not currently a feature of Appin or Inno from what I can tell. If it can be done, it would probably have to be added into the [code] section of the inno file similar to the way I have the setup file automatically backup previous installation.

                  4. Q4 - If I have another application to install at the same time, can it be included as part of the setup file?
                    ANSWER - This is currently not a feature of Appin but it can be done through Inno. In fact, I chose Inno as an installation maker because of it's incredible flexibility. Were my plugin lacks, you can always make adjustments directly in Inno Script Studio. Many use Inno to install dependent applications from other third party providers (i.e. net framework ver xxx). If you would like to learn how, review the inno script generated by Appin and note how I added the Alpha 5 runtime setup file. Below are detailed instructions from within Inno Script Studio:
                    • First, if you want this application to show as an optional item to install, add it to the "Components" section using the "New Item" button at the top. Double click on the Runtime line for an example. In the end, the script generated should look something like this:

                      Code:
                      [Components]
                      Name: "MyApp"; Description: "Install MyApp"; Types: All
                    • Add the application to the "Files" section using the "New Item" button at the top. You need to define the source of the application setup file, the destination, the flags to use, and the component (optional) to group in. Double click on the "{#MyRuntimeSetup}" line for an example of where to set the destination and the flags to use. In the end, the script generated should look something like this:

                      Code:
                      [Files]
                      Source: "MyAppSetupFile"; DestDir: "{tmp}"; Flags: skipifsourcedoesntexist nocompression; Components: MyApp
                    • Add the application to the "Install Run" section using the "New Item" button at the top. You need to define the filename, working directory, and flags. Double click on the first line for an example of how the runtime file is installed. The order in this section matters. You do not need to hide the installation wizard of your app if you do not want to. Make changes as necessary. In the end, the script generated should look something like this:

                      Code:
                      [Run]
                      Filename: "{tmp}\MyAppSetupFile.exe"; WorkingDir: "{tmp}"; Flags: hidewizard skipifdoesntexist; StatusMsg: "Installing MyApp Files"; Components: MyApp


                    Now your chaining your installation requirements into 1 setup file. How cool is that?
                  Thanks,
                  James

                  Comment


                    #24
                    Re: Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

                    Wow, that is great to get all that info. I do appreciate it.
                    There is only one problem, now I have to digested it.
                    Lots of details. Thank you very much for taking the time.
                    I'll get to work.

                    Comment


                      #25
                      Re: Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

                      Hi James,

                      Great addin, this is so much better than the installmaker that comes with a5

                      I've done some modifying of the Inno_script file to get the install to where I like it but I'm stumped with the splash screen after the initial install and the client runs the app for the first time to set the shadow tables and connect to the master tables. After the shadow is made on the client machine the alpha splash still comes up and I'd like to either have the app splash or none at all.

                      As I see it, the create_shadow2 command creates the shadow app on the clients machine yet that command has limited options for customizing the shadow app

                      My question is is there a way to have a custom splash or no splash after the initial install? Is this done in your addin or within Inno?

                      I'm sure I'm not doing something simple, kinda like checking if there's batteries in a flashlight that doesn't work.....

                      Comment


                        #26
                        Re: Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

                        If I understand correctly, after a shadow db is installed, the shadow execution displays the Alpha 5 splash screen instead of the one designated. I will assume that you used the "Appearance" tab to modify the "Startup Command Line Options File". This is where you designate the icon filename, splash filename, and application title. Is this correct? You designated the splash filename and title here but it is not working. Please let me know and I will take a look at. I may have to wait until this weekend before I respond again to give me time to test.
                        Thanks,
                        James

                        Comment


                          #27
                          Re: Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

                          Hi James,

                          Sorry for the false alarm.
                          I should have stopped working earlier and given my brain a rest, maybe I would have noticed my error.

                          It works great

                          Thank you for the quick reply

                          Regards

                          Keith

                          Comment


                            #28
                            Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.3 Released

                            Version 2.3 has been released. Below is the link. See release notes for changes.

                            https://files.secureserver.net/0s4vshV1EJvr9c
                            Thanks,
                            James

                            Comment


                              #29
                              Re: Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

                              James,

                              [1] Thank you very much for your efforts developing this tool! Much appreciated!

                              [2] I am a first time user of your installer.

                              [3] I may have overlooked, but besides the release notes and a short install note, I can't find some type of manual? Maybe it's not needed because of the pop-up help, just thought I should mention this related to my following question as so you know that IF there was a manual, I didn't read it....

                              [4] At the first tab, you can select the "runtime file". However, the runtime isn't distributed by Alpha "as a file", it is distributed as a zipped folder, which I can't select here (your installer is telling me to select an exe). So what do I do here? How do I select the zipped runtime installer?

                              [5] I noticed dependance on 2 files, one of them from the jrsoftware site. This site has now been unavailable for a few days, which influences your installer. Wouldn't it be better to just install those required files as a part of the addin package (with permission of the authors ofcourse)?

                              Comment


                                #30
                                Re: Alpha5 Install Maker - APPin v-2.0 - A Installation Maker Designed for Alpha5 v10, v11, & v12

                                Fred, below are the answers to your questions:
                                1. Unfortunately there is not a manual besides clicking on the help icons located throughout.
                                2. Unzip the runtime zip folder so you can select the runtime install EXE. Since this plugin creates 1 compressed executable, you do not want to include any zipped folders that are part of the setup process.
                                3. I do not include the files necessary b/c Inno publishes updated versions a lot and the minimum version required by this plugin is old. However, if you look under your "AppIn Files\Inno Setup Files" directory, you will find the Inno files I used to test this plugin. I just do not publish this b/c I would prefer that people download the updated files from Inno's website.


                                Let me know if you have any other questions.
                                Last edited by jhackney; 06-22-2018, 01:32 PM. Reason: wrong name in reply
                                Thanks,
                                James

                                Comment

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