I've been putting off digging into learning how to use InnoScript but the time for my procrastinating must come to an end.
Could you tell me which of the fields in parameters are requiered and which can be left blank. I got a message when trying to use InnoScript, All fields must have valid entries - Inno Setup Script Output File (.iss) must have an entry. I had an entry that I thought was valid. What are the requirements of this entry. Perhaps certain other fields needed to be filled in that weren't. I definitely didn't have every field filled in. I'm using version 7.3 Build 1 and am trying to create a custom installation program for a Visual Basic.Net 2003 Standard program. I want it to check if the .Net Framework 1.1 has been installed and if it hasn't been then install it and then install my program.
You should use the lastest version of InnoScript 7.3 Build 2 or 8.0 Beta.
As far as fields that must fields that must be filled in on the main screen... all of them. On the parameter screen... None of them. But it would benefit you to do so.
Output file - a path and File Name with an iss extention. What did you fill it in with??? You can't get an script without a filename to write it to.
I believe the .Net framework contains a check to see if it is installed already and then it will install if it isn't. You should always include what your program needs to run and not could on luck or client confusion for installation.
This may help also Installer Problems (https://randemsystems.com/installationproblems.html)
The help documentation is also helpful. On the main menu go to Help->Instructions to get some helpful information.
Pardon me for not paying attention. I realized that I was mixing up the parameter field called OutputBaseFileName and what the message was referring to which is Inno Setup Script Output File. I didn't have anything filled in for the later so that's why I got the message. I filled in the field Inno Setup Script Output File and what's just above it Visual Basic .Net Project File as well as some other things and then I got some results after clicking the trafic signal for the first time. I noticed that Inno Setup Help tells you about all the parameters if you click index and then enter what you want to know about in the text box.
I installed Inno Script 7.3 Build 2 before I did all of the above. I'm shy about using Beta versions.
After I had a script created by Inno Script I had blanks for some things like AppName and AppPublisher. I was trying to fill those things in but wasn't able to make any changes.
In the instructions it says : Use the template process to change or add line in your script. This is very helpful when you need to add code
sections and other things that InnoScript does not normally do.
How do you use the template process? I haven't yet had succes in making any modifications to the script. I'm sure it's something simple that I'm missing like it always is.
I have the .NET button depressed for InnoScript. This project is for a Visual Basic.NET 2003 program so I have the .NET Framework checked but I'm wondering does it make any difference which of the three radio buttons (Visual Basic Version 5, 6 or 8) is selected since one of them has to be. What is Visual Basic Version 8. Does that refer to Visual Basic .Net?
I think that will be enough questions for now.
Version 8 is .Net. It should automatically select Version 8. This will be fixed.
The Templates are nothing but a cut down script. You fill in the section and the line that you want added or replaced and you make sure the script name has a check mark on the templates tab. Post your template script and I will take a look at it.
If you look at the script, there are comments that tell you where those AppName, AppPublisher, etc.. come from (Your VBP project). I believe .net has the ability to set the same parameters such as CompanyName, AppName etc...
I realized I can edit the script by opening Inno Setup. Perhaps using the templates assists you in not making mistakes in editing or adding script.
When adding folders if the folders have folders inside of them that need to be accessed should you enter those or is it enough to just enter the one folder that has the other folders inside of it?
After running InnoScript the message said that there was 1 file not found and it was :
Source: vb_dcom_mdac_jet_autosetup_xp.exe
I tried compiling the script that InnoScript created in Inno Setup and I got a message :
Compile Error : Mismatched or misplaced quotes on parameter Parameters
Here's part of the line that was highlighted :
Parameters: /q:a /c: install /l /q
Maybe you know how the quotes are supposed to be. Perhaps the unfound file created some kind of problem. I should probably take care of that first.
If the file was not found why did you attempt to compile it? That would not provide a complete installation. Download the file and point InnoScript to where the file is as per the instructions.
InnoScript is designed so that you do not have to hand edit the script everytime. The tool is designed so that you can re-run as many times as you like and end up with the same script. In that way you can change features of the script using the templates and thereby be assured that the rest of the script will remain the same. When you need to make changes it is best to make them inside InnoScript and re-run. It will at least provide you with some sort of documentation.
I will check on the folder copy question.
Sub Folder Copy is not supported currently. If you want the whole contents of the folder with sub folders copied use the flag recursesubdirs on the line with the folders. You can add this flag in with the templates function. This has been included with the latest revision of the Beta release.
That file vb_dcom_mdac_jet_autosetup_xp.exe is 32 MB. Is that really necessary? If someone is installing a VB.NET program and they don't have the .NET Framework that has to be installed and that's 23 MB. This other file is 32 MB. So that's an extra 55 MB if they don't have either. Do you ever create an installation program that asks the user if they want to install this mdac file before it's installed. I'm thinking that's the route I might want to go.
If you are installing a database you need database support so yes it's necessary to install some database support. It's your choice how you go about it. The Auto OS Updater is a complete solution but you can choose a different approach.
The script provided by InnoScript provides a check box that the user can select if it gets installed, but it is still included in the installation. There is also a choice (Internal Installs) to have the Auto OS Updater included in a support folder that the user can download separately and place in that folder and deploy if they like and that would make your installation smaller and that seems to be your main concern.
Thanks for your help. I saw where you can choose to have the Updater or not after I posted.
In the instructions for InnoScript it says :
AppName, AppVersion and AppPublisher are not included on the screen but are added to the script and are
taken from the VBP project file from the following areas: Project->Project Properties->Make
Is that for a VB.NET project? The script that InnoScript is creating for my project has those fields blank but I have filled in the things that I would think it would be using. I don't see any entries called Project, Project Properties and Make. There's a list of entries for Deployment Project Properties. I have filled in Manufacturer, Product Name and Version as well as some other things. I can always just fill those things in manually but it would be good if I learned how InnoScript can do it for me. I'm attaching a screen shot of part of a Visual Studio screen that shows Deployment Project Properties. You can tell me if InnoScript is looking somewhere else to get the information for AppName, AppPublisher and AppVersion. (https://randemsystems.support/discus/messages/12/8584.gif)
You said earlier :
I believe the .Net framework contains a check to see if it is installed already and then it will install if it isn't.
I want to create an installation program for the version of my program that I'll be selling on cd. If someone was trying to install my program and they didn't have the .NET Framework 1.1 (necessary for a Visual Basic.NET 2003 application) installed on their computer if I include the .NET Framework 1.1 redistributable among the files in the InnoScript list will the install program that Visual Studio created look for it and use it? Is Innoscript creating an install program that uses the install program that was created by Visual Studio or not? I'm thinking that it does use it but I'm not clear on this. I'd like for the cd version of my program to install the .NET Framework without anyone having to hook up to the internet. I'd create a separate install program for the version of my program I sell over the internet and that would of course download the .NET Framework either directly from wherever my program is beig downloaded or it would connect them to the microsoft site and download it.
I have much to learn but I just keep going until I figure it out.
The short answer... Yes. In depth... When you want to include a .NET installation or any other type of installation, you can include it in the External Installs Tab. If you remove the check mark from Internal Installs, InnoScript expects all the needed installations to be in the sub folder Support that is created inside the Output folder that Inno Setup creates for your output file. You would simply copy the whole Support folde to your CD where your installation is (which will be considerably smaller since they are not included in the installation). The installation process will remain the same the check marks will still be present for the user to select which (external) installation they would like to install.
So to answer your question you can include the .Net framework in the Support Folder and have the installer look there for it on the CD.
As far as the .NET project. Could zip you post the .net project file you are using. Not the whole project (unless of course you just want to)
Here's the .NET project file. It's only 14 KB so I didn't zip it.
Here's the big folder that has the vb.net project file and everything it uses zipped. I'm adding a copy of the folder Stuff for Ray Rover without the .net framework and the mdac file so you have everything I'm working with if you want it.
Ok, I will take a look at it soon...
Now I can say that you have everything I'm working with. The gif images are used by Ray Rover for texture brushes. The Visual Studio installation program is installing them to the Program Files folder inside a folder named Taylor Entertainment and that's where Ray Rover looks for them. I might want to change that and install them to a separate folder in case the user doesn't install the program at the suggested location. Ray Rover will use a different type of brush if it doesn't find the gif images so it's not that critical. Plus the images are used very little.
I've unzipped a decent number of things but today is the first time I remember zipping anything and sending it to someone. I noticed that the Ray Rover folder I put inside of a Ray Rover Folder. On my computer it's not like that.
The folder Copy of Stuff for Ray Rover is inside of the folder Stuff for Ray Rover. The sub folder should be taken out of the other and Copy of removed if the vb project file is going to use it. I'm telling you this in case you want to install the program on your computer. If you keep on helping me and we get a succesful result which I'm sure we eventually will I'll gladly pay you something for your time. I can make a donation.
Which version of VB .NET are you using?
VB.NET 2003 Standard
Here's a link to a VB Forums thread that you might be interested in.
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=360427 (http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=360427)
the second page of the thread has this link:
http://www.zerosandtheone.com/examples/Install-Dot-Net-App-With-Inno-Setup.aspx (http://www.zerosandtheone.com/examples/Install-Dot-Net-App-With-Inno-Setup.aspx)
Code is posted for an INNO install but its checking for and installing the .NET Framework 2.0 which is for Visual Basic 2005. I'm using VB.NET 2003 so my program needs the .NET Framework 1.1. VB.NET 2002 I think uses the .NET Framework 1.0 and Visual Basic 2008 something else. You have to have each one separately to run the different versions of VB.NET. So if you have the .NET Framework 2.0 that's for VB2005 and only VB2005. If you wanted to run a VB.NET 2002 program, a VB.NET 2003 program, a VB.NET 2005 program and a VB.NET 2008 program you would need 4 different .NET Frameworks. 1.0, 1.1, 2.0 and something else for 2008 maybe 3.0. I'm probably not telling you anything you don't already know.
Yes, You can check the registry entries and that will be included in a template in the next version of the beta release.
This is what the template would look like:
[Code]
// Indicates whether .NET Framework 1.1 is installed.
function IsDotNET11Detected(): boolean;
var
success: boolean;
install: cardinal;
begin
success := RegQueryDWordValue(HKLM, 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v1.1.4322', 'Install', install);
Result := success and (install = 1);
end;
// Indicates whether .NET Framework 2.0 is installed.
function IsDotNET20Detected(): boolean;
var
success: boolean;
install: cardinal;
begin
success := RegQueryDWordValue(HKLM, 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727', 'Install', install);
Result := success and (install = 1);
end;
// Indicates whether .NET Framework 3.0 is installed.
function IsDotNET30Detected(): boolean;
var
success: boolean;
install: cardinal;
begin
success := RegQueryDWordValue(HKLM, 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v3.0', 'Install', install);
Result := success and (install = 1);
end;[/b]
BTW: I only have VB .NET 2005 and those parameters come from a AssemlyInfo.vb file. Which will also be included in the next beta release.
Have you tried VB express 2005? it's free. I loaded you app converted it and builded an exe all without any errors.
I knew that VB2005 express is free. Maybe I should try it. You can use ClickOnce with VB2005 and I want to eventually set my program up for updates and ClickOnce I understand makes that easy. I have an academic version of Visual Studio 2005 but I thought it wouldn't be good to release my program using that and I'm sort of a penny pincher so I thought I'd make some money with this version of my program if I could and then upgrade to 2005 or 2008 later.
Do you know what the express version of VB2005 would lack?
You said you built an exe of my app. Did the app run ok? You said there weren't any errors and maybe you mean there weren't any errors and it ran ok.
Yes, it ran. Even though I could not exit the program (did not know how), it did run.
I do not know what VB2005 lacks, I still use VB6... Maybe one day I will be bored enough to attempt a conversion of one of our programs to see what the differences are.
You right click the mouse to exit Ray Rover. It's listed in the keyboard and mouse controls if you press S. There's a message for the first couple screens to press w for instructions or S for keyboard and mouse controls. Maybe I should let the message run longer or periodically. You're one of my first beta testers for Ray Rover. The first 219 screens use the A Phase section which uses the most basic graphics but things get fancier if you keep on watching. There's over 2500 preset screens and 5 different phases or sections that create graphics and you can create your own custom screens and save them. Press w for instructiions and S for a list of controls. You can jump ahead by pressing j or J for a big jump. This is assuming everything is working as it's supposed to and the translation from vb03 to vb05 didn't create any problems.
If you want to download VB2005 express you're directed to VB2008 express. Does that work ok with InnoScript? I didn't think that VB2008 was going to be released until Feb 2008 but I guess the express version is out now.
I haven't tested VB2008 yet but there's something to do to keep me awake...
Thanks to your input I've modified Ray Rover so that the message about instructions and keyboard and mouse controls runs longer and also periodically in case someone misses it at the beginning.
You said you haven't tested VB2008 yet. Do you think that there would be any reason it wouldn't work ok with InnoScript?
I guess I can just go ahead and download it and test it myself.
I had certain difficulties when I had both Visual Studio 2005( academic version ) and Visual Basic 2003 on my computer when I was working with my VB2003 project. I uninstalled Visual Studio 2005 which entailed some problems and afterward the icons for the different modules in the application folder appeared different as they do now but everything still works the same.
There should not be a reason it would not work unless they have broken their direction which I don't believe they have. I would believe the changes to VB2008 would have mainly been in the framework and the calls to it and that would have no effect on InnoScript.
Could you do me a favor and unpost the zip file Ray Rover Zipped. The others you can leave. I don't know if you have a download counter for the files but if you do it would interest me to know if Ray Rover Zipped was downloaded more than once.
Can I use a template to make an entry for AppName and AppVersion and AppPublisher or no. If I could you probably would have told me. That's why you suggested I upgrade to VB2005. You might want to make this a possibility for future versions of InnoScript in case someone is using VB03 like me or VB02.
I'm spending more time with Ray Rover now but I'll eventually get back to working with InnoScript and Inno Setup. I just keep going at my own tortoise pace.
They were only downloaded by me. I have removed them.
Yes, you can use a template to add to or change any part of the script.
That's good to know. I'll try to stop being so lazy and figure some things out for myself. Sometimes my progress is just at a snails pace but snails can get where they want to go if they keep going.
In the next version of the Beta you will be able to update the AppName, AppVersion and Company name from the Parameter Screen if those fields are not picked up from the project files.
Why is it that sometimes when I open InnoScript I get all the buttons at the top like .NET etc. and other times there are no buttons. Right now I can't seem to get the normal screen just the one that has File, Colors, etc at the top. I tried opening a project previously created and that didn't work and I tried creating a new project and entered some values into parameters and that didn't work. I remember one time in the past I opened Inno Setup and minimized the screen then I opened InnoScript and I got the screen I wanted but that isn't working right now.
I see it says in the instructions:
1. Install InnoScript in the Administrative Account. InnoScript must be run once from this account
after installation for proper operation in a limited users account. Any License information update
must also be done from the administrative account.
This is not clear to me the reference to Administrative Account. Maybe you can enlighten my limited intelligence. I just have Windows XP Home edition. When installing software I don't see any questions about Administrative Account or otherwise. I installed InnoScript and have gotten results but I'm not sure what's going on now. I know that I've entered all the registration info before and it was working.
Another question that I was about to attempt to solve before I ran into this problem is what exactly would I put in the template to set AppName, AppPublisher and AppVersion to what I want. I tried just putting :
AppName=Ray Rover Computer Art Program
and the rest but I saw some kind of message when I did that. I'm not remembering what it was right now but I can't duplicate it because I can't get the normal screen.
As a home user you are automatically in an administrator account. A big mistake if I might add but that is the default. So when you installed InnoScript you are fine in that aspect.
In order to do set the appname etc... You will have to use the latest Beta version Build 9 which I haven't uploaded yet. I will let you know when I upload it.
What version are you using?
When I was trying to open InnoScript I had already logged onto this site and as long as I was I didn't have any success in getting the normal screen with the buttons at the top. I logged off this site after posting a few minutes ago, closed InnoScript and then I opened it and I got the good screen with the buttons at the top. It appears that being logged onto this site may have had something to do with the problem but anyway I'm good to go again. I didn't log off the internet but I left this site.
I'm using InnoScript 7.3 build 2. When I purchased InnoScript I had build 1 but upgraded to 2 a few days ago.
I don't see what logging onto the site would have to do with it I am logged in and using InnoScript.
While learning InnoScript you should at least look at the Beta to get some ideas on how the next release will operate.
InnoScript is opening like it should. I tested the theory about being logged on and don't see it confirmed. It was opening ok before I logged on just now and it still is so I don't know what was going on before but it appeared that there was a connection because it wasn't opening when I was logged on, I logged off and then it opened like it should and now it's always opening like it should. This is one of those seemingly mysterious things that has some simple explanation that we're not aware of.
I've been thinking about it and I'll probably go ahead and download the Beta. When Microsoft comes out with a new version of VB or a new version of Windows they're building something comepletely new but your Betas of InnoScript are more like an improvement of something that already works so I think it's a safer type of upgrade.
Yes, you are correct. Not something new, just a little different with a different feel. You should run both at the sane time to validate how the changes affect your script.
I asked on VBForums what VB2008 Express lacks in comparison to the Standard version. RobDog888 who is a VBForums super moderator said:
The Express editions can produce the same code that you can with the standard or above but you wont get mobile device support or other supported functions and wizards etc. Unless you are doing medium to large sized apps for business, the express editions are just fine. Plus they are free
I was looking into pricing but as far as I can tell there isn't any out for VS2008 because VS2008 isn't out ( except for the express version ) but I noticed that the prices have come way down for VS2005. On ebay I found a price of $ 137 for Visual Studio Pro Full new in the box. Some places are still selling the same for $ 724. I can get the Standard full version of VS2005 for under $ 100 so I decided I'm going to upgrade. VB.NET 2003 doesn't support ClickOnce like Visual Basic 2005 does and ClickOnce makes doing upgrades on your apps very easy. I was pricing a hand full of months back and it was a much different story.
I may still try Visual Basic 2008 Express. If that does everything that I need it to then I don't need to spend the money but I'll upgrade one way or another before I release my app.
Great, I thought it would be of some benefit to you. Free is always good...