[2008] How to check if DirectX is already installed

[Xancholy]

What file do I need to search for to check if DirectX is already installed on end users system ?

Thanks

[RobDog888]

You could place your CreateObject call in a Try Catch code block and use Late Binding.

[Xancholy]

Thanks RD. I should be clearer.

I'm trying to setup Bootstrap Manifest Generator to add DirectX runtime as prerequisite.

To do that I am setting up the Conditions on install. If DirectX NOT installed, install it.

Valid options inlcude File Check or Registry Check or RegistryFile Check.

Can you please tell me OR Is there any tutorial out there on properly setting up DirectX as a prerequisite in ClickOnce.

[RobDog888]

Dont know of any tutorial but you may want to search the games forum perhaps in addition to google.

I was under the impression you were looking to use teh DX objects at the time of checking so my suggestion doesnt really apply to your needs.

[alex_read]

You can check for the following registy directory, and it's associated version key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\DirectX

[Xancholy]

Thanks Alex. In Bootstrap Manifest Generator I have the registry check option under which I can enter HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\DirectX

but there must be a "Property for Result" and "Registry Value"

Have you ever done this before ?

[alex_read]

Nope to be honest I've never touched it or seen that before. Do you have any intellisense help or a help file telling you what those arguments are for?

From the sounds of their names, I presume you might need to assign the return value to a variable, i.e. the equivalent of this in VB:

Dim retval as integer
retval = methodcall(argument) 

' or i f the property is a byref argument:
methodcall(retval , argument)

The second suggests you can't look at a registry folder, but you need to specify a key name perhaps, which could be Version. Alternatively, it's after you to specify a value to check against that of the actual registry key value which would be tricky as you'd need to know all the possible released versions of DX for that. If the latter is the case, is there some sort of "any value exists" check this framework might provide - something similar to this for example:

If registryKeyVal <> string.empty

[Xancholy]

Thanks for trying Alex. It's a little difficult to go posting back and forth over these forums.

Perhaps this would be a great tutorial and benefit to the community if someone more knowledgeable than me would try this out with me.

Any volunteers ? The objective is to add DirectX runtime to ClickOnce's list of prerequisites.

[alex_read]

Well, we're all here to help. To be honest bootstrappers are in the realm of C++ or possibly assembler programmers so I would assume none of us here have played with this before. You could try on the C++ forum on this site, but I just wondered whether you'd found any help files at all when looking at this tool so we could try and help you understand the arguments and put this into code for you.

[Xancholy]

Actually the bootstrap manifest generator is available for download here

Adding DirectX as a prerequisite using this, makes it immediately available to ClickOnce. Do you have time to give it a go ? I would imagine anyone creating apps would need to bootstrap installers other than .net framework ???

[Xancholy]

Gentlemen, I was using the wrong version of Bootstrap Manifest Generator.

Download the latest beta here with native 2008 support.

This makes bootstrapping a breeze. Add the installer to the generator, set conditions and voila in your project under Prerequisites, you'll find your installer there.

Rate this post if you find it helpful.

[alex_read]

Cool, thanks for posting to let us know. Must admit, I was trying to lend a hand there for you but this was out of my league and hadn't done any of that side before - kind of a relief to hear that!

[Jenner]

Yea, when you plow through it once, it's not hard to do from that point on. I made a Bootstrap of .NET 2.0 SP1 not too long ago.