Re: Package for Windows -- Best Practice
Some apps do ship with their own uninstallers (but then why not use an installer in the first place). However, Windows itself will still not know how to uninstall your app, and many users rely on the Add/Remove Programs control panel to uninstall applications. Regards, Scott Rossi From fuzzy memory, I've tried using installer creators before, and did not care for whichever ones I had tried. I do have a new one to try, but haven't had a chance to look at it. One thing that bothered me had to do with sensitive registration information. I really did not want to share that info with an installer. All I wanted was the installer to place the program in the Programs folder and maybe create a desktop shortcut, and let the program itself do the rest. In other words, I wanted the installer to install my software, but I want my software to install any pertinent other pieces it may need. Especially where they may relate to registration. And if I did not share all that info with the installer, then it's uninstaller would not properly uninstall. So it's a Catch-22. I ended up just putting an Uninstall option in the menus of the software. If someone wants to get rid of the software, they can run the Uninstaller, it will remove everything that is outside the program's folder, then when they delete the folder all traces are gone. I'd like to get away from this. But with both Mac and Windows creating things outside the folder whether I want it or not, even if I move to everything being in one place, they'd still need a way to Uninstall. Windows needs registry things. Mac has the whole plist thing. And as far as I know, both are unavoidable. Shari -- Gypsy King Software Mac and Windows shareware games http://www.gypsyware.com ___ use-revolution mailing list use-revolution@lists.runrev.com Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution
Re: Package for Windows -- Best Practice
Both Install Creator and InstallGadget ship with uninstallers. ___ use-revolution mailing list use-revolution@lists.runrev.com Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution
Re: Package for Windows -- Best Practice
Recently, Shari wrote: >> -- if your app does not use an installer, Windows will not know how to >> uninstall your app, and thus users will not know how to remove your app if >> they wish. Many folks consider this bad form. >> >> So if you want to follow the Windows convention (ie Best Practice) you >> should consider using an installer. > Unless, of course, you include your own Uninstaller... Some apps do ship with their own uninstallers (but then why not use an installer in the first place). However, Windows itself will still not know how to uninstall your app, and many users rely on the Add/Remove Programs control panel to uninstall applications. Regards, Scott Rossi Creative Director Tactile Media, Multimedia & Design - E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] W: http://www.tactilemedia.com ___ use-revolution mailing list use-revolution@lists.runrev.com Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution
Re: Package for Windows -- Best Practice
-- if your app does not use an installer, Windows will not know how to uninstall your app, and thus users will not know how to remove your app if they wish. Many folks consider this bad form. So if you want to follow the Windows convention (ie Best Practice) you should consider using an installer. Regards, Scott Rossi Creative Director Unless, of course, you include your own Uninstaller... Shari -- Gypsy King Software Mac and Windows shareware games http://www.gypsyware.com ___ use-revolution mailing list use-revolution@lists.runrev.com Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution
Re: Package for Windows -- Best Practice
Can you give me the "philosophy" behind using an installer versus just having people download a .zip file? For Windows users? Especially where an application is, well, it's own document. Having it "slip away" into the applicatons folder or program's directory doesn't necessarily make sense. It's one thing to put MSWord into the programs folder because your documents are actually on your desktop or wherever "My Stuff" may be, ... in the case of a Rev standalone, that is not creating other documents ?? In a standard Windows system, a lot of the folders are hidden to the user and produce warnings if you try to open them or see what is inside them. So telling people where to put things may not be possible. Also, you want an exact folder structure, with your app and the externals folder in the same place, then your externals inside the externals folder. This gives lots of room for error. Finally, Windows expects you to provide a Start menu entry and an uninstaller. While you could do this yourself, it's really easier to get an install making program and let that handle it all. I use Install Creator form Click Team, which is free so long as you don;t mind the last screen of the installer being an ad for them. HTH, Sarah ___ use-revolution mailing list use-revolution@lists.runrev.com Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution
Re: Package for Windows -- Best Practice
Recently, Sivakatirswami wrote: > OK -- more naive questions from someone who is out of his league, > I only hope such questions are of benefit to other newbie lurkers: > > Can you give me the "philosophy" behind using an installer versus > just having people download a .zip file? For Windows users? > Especially where an application is, well, it's own document. > > Having it "slip away" into the applicatons folder or program's directory > doesn't necessarily make sense. It's one thing to > put MSWord into the programs folder because your documents > are actually on your desktop or wherever "My Stuff" may be, > ... in the case of a Rev standalone, that is not creating other > documents ?? > > I could make up some good reasons on my own -- I have to explain this to > other people -- but I would rather have the reasons from the "wizard's > mouth" (professional Windows User-developer) > > The question always is: "Why not let people put this stuff > where they want to on their own" ? Your post is titled "Best Practice". Chipp was getting at the fact that "typically" Windows apps are installed using an installation process. This is not to say there are no drag-drop-install apps on Windows, but the majority of apps use installers. Part of this reason involves uninstalling -- if your app does not use an installer, Windows will not know how to uninstall your app, and thus users will not know how to remove your app if they wish. Many folks consider this bad form. So if you want to follow the Windows convention (ie Best Practice) you should consider using an installer. Regards, Scott Rossi Creative Director Tactile Media, Multimedia & Design - E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] W: http://www.tactilemedia.com ___ use-revolution mailing list use-revolution@lists.runrev.com Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution
Re: Package for Windows -- Best Practice
Chipp, thanks. I think I already bought Monte's gadget, if not we will. OK -- more naive questions from someone who is out of his league, I only hope such questions are of benefit to other newbie lurkers: Can you give me the "philosophy" behind using an installer versus just having people download a .zip file? For Windows users? Especially where an application is, well, it's own document. Having it "slip away" into the applicatons folder or program's directory doesn't necessarily make sense. It's one thing to put MSWord into the programs folder because your documents are actually on your desktop or wherever "My Stuff" may be, ... in the case of a Rev standalone, that is not creating other documents ?? I could make up some good reasons on my own -- I have to explain this to other people -- but I would rather have the reasons from the "wizard's mouth" (professional Windows User-developer) The question always is: "Why not let people put this stuff where they want to on their own" ? Sivakatirswami Chipp Walters wrote: Sivakatirswami, Yes, create a new folder, put the DLL and EXE there and then launch the EXE to make sure it runs. Then zip it. Once you have the folder you may want to try Monte Goulding's InstallGadget (built in Rev) to build an installer for it. http://www.sweattechnologies.com/InstallGadget/ best, Chipp ___ use-revolution mailing list use-revolution@lists.runrev.com Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution ___ use-revolution mailing list use-revolution@lists.runrev.com Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution
Re: Package for Windows -- Best Practice
Sivakatirswami, Yes, create a new folder, put the DLL and EXE there and then launch the EXE to make sure it runs. Then zip it. Once you have the folder you may want to try Monte Goulding's InstallGadget (built in Rev) to build an installer for it. http://www.sweattechnologies.com/InstallGadget/ best, Chipp ___ use-revolution mailing list use-revolution@lists.runrev.com Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution
Package for Windows -- Best Practice
I just had my first standalone for Windows which put a .dll (the rev xml lib) into an externals folders. So, this is the first time I'm distributing a windows standalone which requires additional components. It seems obvious, but correct me if I am wrong: 1) make a new folder "New Rev App" 2) move "New Rev App.exe" and "externals" (folder) into the new folder. 3) zip the whole thing. Windows users will download NewRevApp.zip; unpack it and get a folder on their desktop /New Rev App/ which contains the application and the externals folder. Is this all the correct way to do it? Sivakatirswami www.himalayanacademy.com Get Hinduism Today Digital Edition. It's Free! http://www.hinduismtoday.com/digital/ ___ use-revolution mailing list use-revolution@lists.runrev.com Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution
