Inno Setup questions

[robertLL]

Hi,

I am a newbie of Inno Setup. I already used vb package wizards for many years, but feel it is not very stable and UI friendly. During the playing of Inno setup(for vb6 application), have some questions:

1) How to decide which dlls and ocxs file need to be packaged? only can do that by checking References and Components from vb ide's project menu?

2) I complied and run the .iss file in Inno IDE and it works perfectly. I am wondering how to deliver my installation package. If i want to burn CD to my customer, how can i copy the entire installation file to a package?

3) in [files], I have code: Source: "C:\WINDOWS\system32\msvbvm60.dll"; DestDir: "{sys}"; Flags: restartreplace uninsneveruninstall sharedfile regserver
But when compiling, have error: Attempt to deploy DLL file from own windows system directory. Should I install the VB system files to {app} instead of {sys}? But before I always put these file to user's sys folder.

Thanks,

Robert

[randem]

robertLL,

Try using ********** (http://www.**********.com/**********.html). This program will find all your dependencies for you and generate a starter script for your app. try other third party tools like ISTool (http://www.jrsoftware.org/is3rdparty.php) also.

[Pino]

Hi,

I am a newbie of Inno Setup. I already used vb package wizards for many years, but feel it is not very stable and UI friendly. During the playing of Inno setup(for vb6 application), have some questions:

1) How to decide which dlls and ocxs file need to be packaged? only can do that by checking References and Components from vb ide's project menu?

2) I complied and run the .iss file in Inno IDE and it works perfectly. I am wondering how to deliver my installation package. If i want to burn CD to my customer, how can i copy the entire installation file to a package?

3) in [files], I have code: Source: "C:\WINDOWS\system32\msvbvm60.dll"; DestDir: "{sys}"; Flags: restartreplace uninsneveruninstall sharedfile regserver
But when compiling, have error: Attempt to deploy DLL file from own windows system directory. Should I install the VB system files to {app} instead of {sys}? But before I always put these file to user's sys folder.

Thanks,

Robert
Welcome to the forums :)

we have a specific deploymwnt forum now, there is an faq there which you may find infomation which is of use to you :)

http://www.vbforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=72

[kleinma]

instead of installing the 6 VB6 runtime files, and registering them.. MS has a single exe that is just about 1 meg, and contains all 6 VB runtime files in a self installing package... It is much much easier to use.

code would look something like this

[files]
Source: "c:\redist\VB6SP6.exe; DestDir: {tmp}; DestName: VB6SP6.exe; Flags: ignoreversion skipifsourcedoesntexist
[Run]
Filename: {tmp}\VB6SP6.exe; Parameters: "/Q"; WorkingDir: {tmp}; Flags: skipifdoesntexist


you can download said VB6 runtime files exe here (and its service pack 6 as well)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=7B9BA261-7A9C-43E7-9117-F673077FFB3C&displaylang=en

[robertLL]

Hi,

I installed the Inno Script 3.1.5, and created a new project in Inno script, added vb runtime foler, vb project folder,inno setup Script output file(.iss) and vb project application .exe, and clicked oK button. the ********** created the .iss file.

I opened the .iss file in the inno setup, when i compiled the file still have this problem:
in line of "C:\WINDOWS\system32\msvbvm60.dll"; DestDir: "{sys}"; Flags: restartreplace uninsneveruninstall sharedfile regserver
, have error: Attempt to deploy DLL file from own windows system directory.

How can i fix it? and can inno script and inno setup create a whole package that contains all the installation files?

Thanks,
Robert

[randem]

robertLL,

and can inno script and inno setup create a whole package that contains all the installation files?
What do you mean "all the installation files"? All the files that you need will be in the script. Check the manual.

I opened the .iss file in the inno setup, when i compiled the file still have this problem:
in line of "C:\WINDOWS\system32\msvbvm60.dll"; DestDir: "{sys}"; Flags: restartreplace uninsneveruninstall sharedfile regserver
, have error: Attempt to deploy DLL file from own windows system directory.

This is in the manual also. You must move the files to another location after making sure they are safe to be deployed.

[jhermiz]

********** is a load of crap.

When you uninstall an application it maintains all the keys as well as the name of the program in your system. Woka had a problem a WHILE back long time ago noticing that when he was uninstalling an application loaded by inno script it still was in the "Add / Remove Programs" under the control panel.

As many times as you would install the program and uninstall it it would show up on the list...

For instance, if you had an app called googler desktop and you uninstalled it 3 times..then in your add / remove program files youd have the following:

googler desktop
googler desktop (1)
googler desktop (2)

I could not find any help nor any assistance with this, eventually I gave up on INNO Setup / Script. Do yourself a favor and buy a good installer.

Jon

[randem]

jhermiz,

The only thing that is a load of crap... is people who cannot properly read. This also means the ones who cannot tell the difference between two seperate application made by two seperate companies. So.... You cannot expect what they say to be acurate or even close!

But that's our education system in action...

[kleinma]

easy guys...

jhermiz, if you didn't know, randem is a (if not the) developer of **********. Telling him his software is a piece of crap is not acceptable on here. As it looks bad for other forums members who may find it very useful...

If there IS an issue with it, perhaps letting the author know would correct the problem, or provide you with assitance.. I mean its not every day a product can be supported on here because the writer is a forum member. Wouldn't you agree?

Randem, take it easy man, although I understand your frustrations.

as far as the issue at hand, I personally don't use **********, but I use the actual installation package INNO SETUP, because I write all my own scripts myself and know how to code pascal and such in the installer. But I DO KNOW, that when I uninstall apps using INNO it removes everything that I told it to when I installed it, including entries in the registry for add and remove programs. Most likely user error was what caused your problem jhermiz, sorry to say.

Don't tell people INNO is not a professional installer, I use it on over 12 applications that go to thousands of users of our commercial software.

[robertLL]

Hi Randem,

"all the installation files" means all the files i can put in the installation package, just like VB Package and Deployment Wizard, all the file is included under the package folder and then i can burn installation CD using that files under this folder.

Robert

[robertLL]

I spent half of my Sunday on the Inno script/setup. What i did was moved all the vb system files(.dll, ocx) that in the setup.lst from windows system folder to certain folder. the .iss file can be compiled and run in Inno setup. But i am wodering can inno create some setup.exe file? how can i deliver my setup to user?

robert

[robertLL]

Oh, I found a output folder under the inno script folder, the exe file that i wanted in the last post is there!!!

Thanks,
Robert

[jhermiz]

easy guys...

jhermiz, if you didn't know, randem is a (if not the) developer of **********. Telling him his software is a piece of crap is not acceptable on here. As it looks bad for other forums members who may find it very useful...

If there IS an issue with it, perhaps letting the author know would correct the problem, or provide you with assitance.. I mean its not every day a product can be supported on here because the writer is a forum member. Wouldn't you agree?

Randem, take it easy man, although I understand your frustrations.

as far as the issue at hand, I personally don't use **********, but I use the actual installation package INNO SETUP, because I write all my own scripts myself and know how to code pascal and such in the installer. But I DO KNOW, that when I uninstall apps using INNO it removes everything that I told it to when I installed it, including entries in the registry for add and remove programs. Most likely user error was what caused your problem jhermiz, sorry to say.

Don't tell people INNO is not a professional installer, I use it on over 12 applications that go to thousands of users of our commercial software.

sorry

but i still have had no solution and woka and i have had this same issue for over a year.

if i uninstall my app that was installed by inno it leaves it in the add / remove program settings as

app
app(1)
app(2)

its the same app...how come other installers do not do this, even IF i uninstall and reinstall them ???

Just because i made some minor changes doesnt mean its a totally different app, could be just an upgrade, how does inno handle that ????

[robertLL]

I tried the unins001.exe under the app folder, it works well and after the uninstallation, the new item under the add/remove programs disappeared. So i am wondering why the
app
app(1)
app(2) happened for you. jhermiz?

By now, generally saying. I feel the Inno script/setup is a good installation tool. the advantages are:
1) only one .exe installation file , and the compression rate is good(it is 9.81M using VB P&D W, only 2.61M using Inno)
2) the script make the installation more flexible.
3) the friendly UI and perfect running efficience.
...

Robert

[kleinma]

sorry

but i still have had no solution and woka and i have had this same issue for over a year.

if i uninstall my app that was installed by inno it leaves it in the add / remove program settings as

app
app(1)
app(2)

its the same app...how come other installers do not do this, even IF i uninstall and reinstall them ???

Just because i made some minor changes doesnt mean its a totally different app, could be just an upgrade, how does inno handle that ????

from what I have seen (in INNO itself, not **********) is this has to do with the value you set for the AppVerName setting, in the [setup] section

if it varies from a previous AppVerName value, it will create a new entry if you install this new version, if it remained the same, it would overwrite the existing one and you would only have 1 entry. However, when you uninstall your app, it should remove this entry as well.

So basically don't change your AppVerName value and you should be fine, unless you wouldn't want it to overwrite the existing add/remove entry

(by the way this info is in the INNO help file)

[baja_yu]

My suggestion is always Nullsoft Installer (NSIS). It is free like inno, there is a script generatring wizard for VB source. I found it to have many advantages over Inno, one of the most important ones is the ability to download files from the internet on the fly, so you can create those online installers which are under 100KB in size and download the files from the net. You can also download zip files and unzip them after download.

One note when using NSIS, use the LZMA compressor, it has the best compression.

Here is the code to use to download files:


Function DownloadFiles3
NSISdl::download http://download.microsoft.com/download/vb60pro/Redist/sp5/WIN98Me/EN-US/vbrun60sp5.exe vbrun60sp5.exe
Pop $R0 ;Get the return value
StrCmp $R0 "success" +3
FunctionEnd

Function ConnectInternet
Push $R0

ClearErrors
Dialer::AttemptConnect
IfErrors noie3

Pop $R0
StrCmp $R0 "online" connected
MessageBox MB_OK|MB_ICONSTOP "Cannot connect to the internet."
Quit

noie3:

; IE3 not installed
MessageBox MB_OK|MB_ICONINFORMATION "Please connect to the internet now. Setup needs to download and install VB runtime libraries."

connected:
Pop $R0
FunctionEnd


then in your mainsection use:


IfFileExists "$SYSDIR\msvbvm60.dll" NoErrorMsg ErrorHere
ErrorHere:
Call ConnectInternet
Call DownloadFilesNow
Exec "$SYSDIR\vbrun60sp5.exe /Q"
NoErrorMsg:


this way you dont have to distribute the msvbvm60.dll which is 1MB.

[randem]

baja_yu,

Just for the Record: Inno Has those tools also.

And downloading msvbvm60.dll.... You still need to check the version of all files you intend to download even if they do exist to make sure you have the current one. If not the current one you will still need to download.

[jhermiz]

from what I have seen (in INNO itself, not **********) is this has to do with the value you set for the AppVerName setting, in the [setup] section

if it varies from a previous AppVerName value, it will create a new entry if you install this new version, if it remained the same, it would overwrite the existing one and you would only have 1 entry. However, when you uninstall your app, it should remove this entry as well.

So basically don't change your AppVerName value and you should be fine, unless you wouldn't want it to overwrite the existing add/remove entry

(by the way this info is in the INNO help file)


I never have changed the app version, and it has renamed the same throughout all my installs...

[kleinma]

I never have changed the app version, and it has renamed the same throughout all my installs...

I don't know what to tell you, if you wanted to post or PM me the setup script, then I would take a look at it. All I can say is I never had that problem, and I still don't have it.

baja_yu, like randem said, not only does INNO have all the plugins like file downloading, encryption, etc... it supports fully functional code in it. You can even make API calls from INNO setup, install MDAC, .net framework, MSDE, etc...

[baja_yu]

Then I stand corrected. It did not have them when I first needed them :)

[alok_som]

In inno setup I want embed a gif image into the wizard page.
Can anybody please help.
I can only see functions for bitmap files but i want a rotating image. so need gif file.

Thanks in advance
please reply....:)

[kleinma]

I believe there is only support for BMP files at the moment.

[alok_som]

Thanks kleinma for such a quick reply...
Can you please suggest some work around for my problem.
I need to run file at the end of the installation. Execution of this file is going to take long time. While running this i need to show user that display that file is getting executed.
I tried with progress bar. but i am not able to show progress when file is running.
Please suggest some solution....
Thanks and regards

[kleinma]

what kind of file are you running at the end? A regular EXE or some type of script?

If its an EXE that you created, you could simply add a form to display progress while the operation is running. If this is not an option, then you could add your file to execute to the RUN section in INNO and set the StatusMsg flag to indicate a long running operation is going...


The line would look something like this:
[run]
Filename: {app}\appname.exe; WorkingDir: {app}; Flags: skipifdoesntexist runhidden; StatusMsg: "Doing Stuff, this can take several minutes..."

[alok_som]

Thanks for the reply kleinma
It's a exe file which needs to be run. I will be showig progress bar through this exe file to show progress as i need to give a dynamic display for user till file is getting executed.
I tried with form but it again i have to show a static msg while executing. I need to show something like progress bar, i.e. dyanamic

Thanks and regards
Alok:)

[kleinma]

why doesn't a progress bar in the exe work?

[alok_som]

Progress bar in exe will work. I haven't tried it yet.
I was interested in using inno setup progress bar for it. But now i will use exe for progress bar display

Thanks & Regads
Alok