smash81
asked on
Making A setup program
Hello,
I have completed a project in VB and Access.Before i can package and distribute it I would like to know a couple of things.
1. I want to make the program in such a way that the client need not have Access installed on his machine.
2 I need to modify the setup program in such a way that it automatically installs DCOM98 from the installation CD to the clients machine and also copies a default database from the installation CD to the clients machine.
Can anyone please give me the steps to follow in order to achieve this.
Thank you.
Cheers
I have completed a project in VB and Access.Before i can package and distribute it I would like to know a couple of things.
1. I want to make the program in such a way that the client need not have Access installed on his machine.
2 I need to modify the setup program in such a way that it automatically installs DCOM98 from the installation CD to the clients machine and also copies a default database from the installation CD to the clients machine.
Can anyone please give me the steps to follow in order to achieve this.
Thank you.
Cheers
Hi,
If your project is a vb program relying on an access database you won't need having access installed on client machines.
Use the deployment tool shipped with VB.
Include the access database (just the mdb), the DCOM98 only if the client machines are under win95 or 98. No need for it under NT or 2000.
Don't forget to include the mdac (preferrably the latest version.
If these tools are properly included (and the deployment wizzard is easy to use), everything (including the mdac) will be installed according to your demands.
Hope this helps you out.
Bye
Rem
If your project is a vb program relying on an access database you won't need having access installed on client machines.
Use the deployment tool shipped with VB.
Include the access database (just the mdb), the DCOM98 only if the client machines are under win95 or 98. No need for it under NT or 2000.
Don't forget to include the mdac (preferrably the latest version.
If these tools are properly included (and the deployment wizzard is easy to use), everything (including the mdac) will be installed according to your demands.
Hope this helps you out.
Bye
Rem
The exact name for the ODE Tools:
Microsoft Office Developer Edition 97.
We've got it from the Select CD: Feb.97 Release.
D'Mzzl!
RoverM
Microsoft Office Developer Edition 97.
We've got it from the Select CD: Feb.97 Release.
D'Mzzl!
RoverM
Hi,
As suggested by rem you can use package and deployment wizard, be sure to include the .mdb file and since during installation the user can install the files to any directory, you will have to take care of this in your application.
Instead of using something like(in ADO's)
cn.open "test.mdb"
use
cn.open app.path & "\test.mdb"
(in case you are installing the .mdb in the same folder as your .exe)
bye,
Riaz
As suggested by rem you can use package and deployment wizard, be sure to include the .mdb file and since during installation the user can install the files to any directory, you will have to take care of this in your application.
Instead of using something like(in ADO's)
cn.open "test.mdb"
use
cn.open app.path & "\test.mdb"
(in case you are installing the .mdb in the same folder as your .exe)
bye,
Riaz
smash81: The guidance you have been given is great so far. You can copy the sample db easily by adding it to the list of files in the p&d wizard. You can also specify the target directory for this file. Now for installing DCOM automatically that is a slightly different issue. You have two options really. You can either include it as you would the db and copy it to the local machine and rely on the first run of your application to determine whether it is installed or not and install it if required, or to modify the setup1 application that is used to install the application. The code for this can be found in a sub folder of the ...\vb98\wizards\pdwizard folder on your development machine. This is used by the p&d wizard to install the application. Any modifications you make to it should be saved seperately from the existing version as they will be used for all subsequent builds if you don't. You can modify this to check for DCOM and install it if required, many people do so in order to create desktop shelllinks. This would provide the most transparent method to your users but is more complex to implement.
ASKER
Thank you all,
I am grateful to you guys for this help.Timcotte has been very helpful.
TimCotte, there is one thing that i dont understand here, what code do i need to put in the setup project that will help me install the DCOM automatically.There are so many forms in the project that i dont want to take a chance with it.One more thing, do i really need to create a dependance file.Please let me have these details.Thank you.
Cheers
I am grateful to you guys for this help.Timcotte has been very helpful.
TimCotte, there is one thing that i dont understand here, what code do i need to put in the setup project that will help me install the DCOM automatically.There are so many forms in the project that i dont want to take a chance with it.One more thing, do i really need to create a dependance file.Please let me have these details.Thank you.
Cheers
The dependence file is not necessary but can be helpful.
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ASKER
You seem to be a VB Guru!
I wonder how long I will take to reach your level.
You're simply Great!!!!
I wonder how long I will take to reach your level.
You're simply Great!!!!
Just hang around here long enough and you will learn a hell of a lot. I thought I new a fair bit when I started and then it took me a few months just to get an answer accepted. Over the last couple of years I have had a number of projects at work and contributed here in 1000s of questions the amount of knowledge built up through my participation here means that I now know nearly as much as I thought I did a couple of years ago.
ASKER
Hey TimCottee
I tried following your guidance but am stuck at one point.When I was packaging the application, I tried to add the database in the file list.By default it was expecting files of type exe.Now, here do i have to put the access application or the database.ANother thing is that the database target location is set by default.What if i want to save it on into some other folder like c:\smash81\file.mdb, how can i achieve this.
Please help again.
Thanks
I tried following your guidance but am stuck at one point.When I was packaging the application, I tried to add the database in the file list.By default it was expecting files of type exe.Now, here do i have to put the access application or the database.ANother thing is that the database target location is set by default.What if i want to save it on into some other folder like c:\smash81\file.mdb, how can i achieve this.
Please help again.
Thanks
Q2: In the ODE tools you can add, at the end, all programs, batch files and so on you wish to run after installation.
D'Mzzl!
RoverM