more intall questions....

[Aries Mars]

There's two parts:

1. My Client wants a single install file as opposed to having cab files and such, is this possible? If so any pointers. I was once told that this cannot be done.

2. A member put me on to a program called innoSetup, its a installtion setup program, Im currenly playing with it, but I cant figure out which files my program needs. I mean, I have a good idea of most of them but it's the not so obvious ones I'm worried about. Is there any way to confirm each file that is needed by my program in order to run? I found a couple of files; St6unst.log its the unistall log file and finally setup.lst. It has some of the files but I dont know if thats all of them. Do I also need to include the .frm and .frx files? And can innoSetup create a single install file?

Thanx Guys!

[dglienna]

I suggest going to www.*********** and downloading his program that works with Inno Setup. It's called Inno Script, and you just direct it to your vbp file, and it creates a script that includes all of the needed files for Inno Setup to compile the installation progam (which comes as a single .exe).
He also has an option called the Auto Updater, which will bring the computer's files up to specs, so that the user doesn't have to install anything from Windows Update (as is often required while installing a P & D installation with the cab files.)

There is the Application Deployment forum for these types of questios.

[baja_yu]

My prefference for installer maker is NSIS 2 (Nullsoft Installer). It is also free and has a lot of great plugins you can use (zipping/unzipping, downloading files from the internet, cutomizing the installer GUI, multilanguage support, check/kill running process etc..)

[baja_yu]

Another note, NSIS does create only one file (exe) as the installer.
Regarding what files you need to include, depends on your application. Mainly you only have one exe (compiled application) plus dependency files.
You do not distribute any source code files (frm, frx, vbp etc..).

Your main dependencies are:

1. MsVbVm60.dll - Microsoft VB 6 Virtual Machine
2. Controls - While in VB, go to Project menu and click Components... In the new window check the 'Selected items only' check box. Now one by one highlight the items and you will se its filename and location below.
3. References - If you added other references, go to the Project menu and click References, and find the filename of the ones you added and their filenames and locations.

WARNING! Do not use the files on your system for the installer! You can not simply copy the files from your System folder (for example) to another computer. That can and probably will do permanent damage to the computer you copy it to.
You have to obtain redistributable versions of the files. I think you can find most of them here; http://www.zerohack.it/downloads/ocx.htm

Also be sure that the files you distribute are the same versions as the ones you compiled your application on.