Single file installer

[kirkm]

Hi,
This may not exactly be a LabWindows/CVI question but I expect many of you have already solved this problem.
I'm using LW/CVI 8.01 and use Build Distributions to create an installer which I copy to the target computer and install.
Until now most of my LabWindows/CVI work has been for production test equipment in our facility that I can just walk up to and install.
Now I have the need to distribute to many more customers in the field and I would like to provide a single file that can be downloaded or emailed and then installed with a single click.
What are you all doing to accomplish this?
Thanks much,
Kirk

[Ian.W]

I have had good success using WinZip's "Self Extractor" program. http://www.winzip.com/prodpagese.htm I first just zip up the distribution kit folder into a regular zip file and then use the self extractor wizard to make it into a self extracting exe for software installation. Post back if you run into issues - it is pretty straighforward.

Don't plan on e-mailing exe files as attachments, though. Both the size of the file and reluctance of e-mail servers and clients to handle exe files means you'll need a download system.

Good luck.

[kirkm]

Ian,

You're right about using email, my installer files total up to about 40MB.  Back in the day of CVI5.5 the same application was only about 1.9MB.   Ya gotta love progress.

I'm going to take a good look at winzip as it sounds like it will work for me.

Does winzip automatically  run setup.exe after it unpacks the files?

Thanks for the help,

Kirk

[Ian.W]

Yes, it has an option called "Self-Extracting Zip file for Software Installation" to run setup.exe (the only trick is to be sure to specify ".\setup.exe") after unzipping to a temporary location. It waits for the setup to finish, and then cleans up after itself. Nice.

More on 8.x distribution kit sizes here, in case you are interested and missed that thread.

Good luck!

[kirkm]

Ian,

I downloaded the "Try before you buy" versions of the winzip software and was able to create and install a from a single .exe.

Very easy and works well!  Looks like I'll need to buy a copy.

The thread on 8.0 distribution kits has some good info.

While I'm on the topic of installation (maybe should be a new thread but here goes anyway ) I have a question --

When I un-install my application using add-remove programs it leaves the application folder and a couple of files that are created by the  application while it runs.

How do I get the un-installer to remove these files?

Thanks again,

Kirk

[Ian.W]

That is a tougher one. To the best of my knowledge, that feature is not available through the CVI distribution kit builder. 

Assuming I have that first part right, then your answer lies in modifying the MSI installer file. See here. Searching on Orca and "Wise" will also turn up other threads on this topic.

Another plan would be not to write files in to that folder. I wonder if they are small ini-type files, you could use the registry instead. If you initalize those keys as part of the install (see the "Registry Keys" tab) then perhaps they would all be removed upon uninstall.

Pure thinking out loud on my part though!  Hopefully others can confirm or deny whether this might work.

--Ian

[Mert_A.]

Registry keys that are part of the installation are removed at uninstall, so if you have a modest number of configuration data, you can install uninitialized registry key values, then have your application read and write the values at run-time.

Also, as of CVI 8.1, any runnable (batch files, executables, etc) files you install can be flagged to be run during uninstallation.  This way, you can install a script that cleans out data files in certain directories.  You don't need to worry about cleaning up any directories that the installer creates -- just the files and/or directories created by the application at run-time.  This "Launch During Uninstallation" option is found on the Installation File Options subdialog, which is accessed by double-clicking (or right-clicking) the file item in the lower file browser on the Files tab.

Hope this helps.

Mert A.

National Instruments

[harkirat.guron@wispry.com]

Hi, I have successfully created installer for my exe file built with LV8.2. I have some ini files which are not part of exe file but my exe file need them at run time.Is there any way I can also include this folder with installer so that I don't have to manually copy this folder to target machine?

Thanks in advance for your help

Harkirat  

[TreyB_NI]

Hi Harikirat,

You should be able to add an ini file in your project explorer by right-clicking on My Computer and selecting Add»File.  Then when you build your application, you can select to Always Include that file in the Source Files part of the My Application Properties Window.

Then your installer will include the ini file which is part of your application.

In the future please create a new forum topic for different questions.  This is the LabWindows/CVI board, and your question is about LabVIEW.  You'll likely get questions answered faster this way too.

Trey B
Applications Engineering
National Instruments

[harkirat.guron@wispry.com]

Thanks for your help Trey. It worked for me.