I currently have a program that uses Qt, MySql, and MS Visual Studio 2010 compiler. I want to create an installer that can be put on a fresh computer, and when opened, it will install my program plus all the needed files from the others.
I don't know if it matters but I followed this blog to install the files in the first place: http://eraden.blogspot.com/2013/05/my-fight-with-qt-5-and-mysql-drivers.html
Is there any way for my installer file to first run through the steps to install the support files, then have it install my program in such a way that the program has all the files it needs?
Thanks in advance,
-Duncan
You need to add the resources as prerequisites to the main package, this will make them install before your application, so the system is ready to launch the application when the installation is done.
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We have a Windows 8 Modern / Metro app that we wish to deploy outside the store. I have read a bunch of materials on getting a side loading license to allow this. However, we need to go beyond just copying the app over and running some PowerShell commands, we also need to install a particular hardware driver and make some registry keys.
Can anyone recommend an installer creator that can perform all of these tasks?
Out of curiosity, is it possible to distribute through the Windows Store and have it do more than just copy the app down, i.e. execute an installations script?
By design, the installation process for a Store app, whether downloaded from the Store or side-loaded, is not customizable. For Store downloads, this is done to guarantee that the app install won't create anything that cannot be reversed during an uninstall, e.g. create registry entries, copy files, and otherwise do things that can permanently alter the system.
For side-loading, although you cannot alter the specific package deployment process itself, you can use the Powershell deployment as just one step in an overall install process. You should be able to build such an installer with any number of existing Desktop application installer tools, which give you control over all steps in your install process including registry, drivers, running scripts, etc. So you'd just have the app package and PS scripts as part of the installer .msi or .exe, and executing the PS script is done from the installer.
(By the way, the Store/PS app install processes use the same API in Windows.Management.Deployment.PackageManager to do the work. This API can be used only from a full-trust process like the Store (a piece of system code) or Powershell running in an admin console, but is there so desktop apps can implement alternate install procedures directly.)
I need to create a C program that requires a MySQL database. For this, I've seen on the web that I need to use a MySQL connector (which I installed in my PC). I run my code with Code::Blocks/mingw and I don't know how to add the mysql libraries to it.
To connect to a MySQL database I need the mysql.h file (I have the file but I don't know where to place it in my computer). Can you guys help me?
If you're using mingw, then from mingw installer you should find the support for MySQL library. If it doesn't appear there, then you can download the MySQL-devel source tarball and then compile and install it with mingw (you need GCC and other software building tools installed). In this way you'll get support of mysqllib support in mingw like GNU/Linux environment.
I have a VB Windows forms application that uses a mysql database to keep track of everything within the application.. The problem that I know will occur is that most of the applications users will not have MYSQL let alone know how to install it properly... To install the application on the users systems I am using the Visual Studio Setup Installer to handle creation of the msi files.. What needs to happen first is the installer needs to check to see if MYSQL is installed on the host system and verify server name.. If true then import database, if not then install followed by import database... The importing is not the issue here... How do I make the installer install mysql with controlled parameters such as server name, etc, etc. Any ideas on this??? I have hammered google for the past 3 hours looking for bread crumbs on this but to no avail...
Usually existing packages (like the MySQL installer) are added as prerequisites. Visual Studio setup projects do not support custom prerequisite creation. However, this can be done by manually generating the required manifests.
You can find the manifests structure here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms229223(VS.80).aspx
These manifests can be generated automatically with the Bootstrapper Manifest Generator tool.
After generating the package manifests, you can add all these files (including the package) in a separate folder in the Visual Studio prerequisites folder, for example:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\Bootstrapper\Packages\
You can then select the prerequisite in your setup project properties page.
Well... that's a good question. The first thing that pops up in my mind:
You could build the check in your application instead of the installer and warn the user about it. If needed, you could provide another installer to make sure everything is available (MySQL and the database itself).
I hope it helps you further.
Yours sincerely,
Roland
What is the best practice for creating an installer for a winform application.
The application is supposed to install the following without connecting to internet.
.Net Framework 3.5sp1
MySQL Server
My SQL Connector
Restore Mysql db
Update Config file with the MySQL uname/pwd.
I have all the msi files for installing the above mentioned items. But am wondering about the best practice to create the installer.
Thanks in advance,
Hi I came up with a similar situation. Firstly you should have .NET framework offline installer which can be downloaded from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=992cffcb-f8ce-41d9-8bd6-31f3e216285c. I assume you are using visual studio installer. There are couple of choices but I prefer to copy the offline .NET installer to the setup projects output directory and from requirements on target machine tab I set the install URL property of .NET framework the exact name of offline setup file. As described in the figure.
So the installer does not try to connect to a remote computer to download .NET framework and install it however I think it is more appropriate that it connects to a Microsoft server and installs it. Anyways the next step is to configure the MySQL server. MySQL is really generous for me since they support a fully documented noinstall files. You can find the document here: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.5/en/windows-install-archive.html
Using a noinstall zip archive you can copy the dbengine core files to any folder on the clint machine. And change the configuration parameters of MySQL. You can name the MySQL service anything you want. Start the the service and create tables. You can do all of this stuff from custom actions tab of the setup project choosing the appropriate script files or you can write code for it. The beautiful thing is that your customer does not need to know that he/she is installing a database engine on the target machine. I hope this helps. Thanks.
I have a .NET application which uses an accdb file (MS Access 2007 format) as its database. To install this app on another machine I need to install the Access engine on that machine. Microsoft has this file: AccessDatabaseEngine.exe which includes the engine, but when extracted during installation, runs another .msi installer.
As you can guess, since this msi is run during the installation of another msi (my app's installer) the Access engine setup fails with error 1500: "Another installation is in progress. Finish that one before continuing this one..."
I found the Runtime for Access 2007 as well, and it does install the engine, but the Runtime package is again an msi installer which means I'm still having the same problem.
Any ideas to include the engine in my app's installer?
You probably want to have a look at this article: Adding Programs to Access 2007 Deployment Packages
The Access Developer Extensions offer a basic but functional installer that can take care of the general deployment scenarios.
The best think would be to build your own msi pack including needed access files. You could use a product like VERITAS Wininstall. You have this "Discover" method that allows you to build a fully operationial .msi file by (1) taking 2 snapshots of your system (one before the installation, one after) then (2) creating the .msi file corresponding to the installation process.
Anyway, I'd advise you to have multiple packs, one for Access, that can be installed with a "for all users" option when the computer joins your company's domain, one for your app. By doing so you will be able to distribute new versions of your app without redistributing Access, which takes a few mega of space as well as a few minutes of user's most precious time).
Sio if Microsoft already delivers an Access Runtime msi package, just keep it 'as is' and distribute it automatically on your network when a new machine joins the domain.
I wouldn't recommend WinInstall, we have it in my office and we have to keep calling them in to package stuff for us as it's so finiky to use. Some things they haven't been able to package at all. WISE Studio is better or a free alternative is AppDeploy whihc I have heard great things about.
I found this software called "Bootstrapper Manifest Generator" or BMG. It helps create a prerequisite package using an MSI or EXE installer file, and adds it to VS2008 Prerequisites dialog box in Setup and Deployment projects. Although it's not that user friendly, it does the job. It's on MSDN: code.msdn.microsoft.com/bmg
Thought it's good to save others from going through all the trouble.