Global Desktop Shortcut when installing for a single user

[pdperpich]

I'm trying to build a simple installation package that will allow any user to install our application regardless of administrative rights with the expectation that they will get the level of access appropriate for their rights and files will be installed in the appropriate folders (Program Files v.s. User\Name\Appdata, etc).

I've tried a significant number of different configurations (Media\Execution level, Dialogs\InstallTypeDlg, ShortcutsDLg, etc, and InstallationType\Per-User etc).

I'm satisfied with the results with the single exception that in all cases when attempting to install 'Only For Me (name)' instead of 'Everybody (all users)' I get a desktop shortcut on all users desktops (User\Public\Public Desktop) even though I only get a shortcut in the 'Start Menu' for the user logged on during the installation and the program is correctly installed in that user's Users\Name\AppData\... folder.

I used the 'New Shortcut Wizard' in 'Files and Folders' to create the shortcut which placed a copy in the 'Application Folder' and 'Desktop' folder.

Am I missing something obvious here? Placing an icon on each users desktop does allow them to start the program.

Thanks...

[mihai.petcu]

Hello and welcome to the Advanced Installer Forums,

I'm satisfied with the results with the single exception that in all cases when attempting to install 'Only For Me (name)' instead of 'Everybody (all users)' I get a desktop shortcut on all users desktops (User\Public\Public Desktop) even though I only get a shortcut in the 'Start Menu' for the user logged on during the installation and the program is correctly installed in that user's Users\Name\AppData\... folder.

I have tested this scenario and I cannot reproduce the issue. Can you please retest the behavior on another machine, possibly a clean one.

If you can reproduce the issue, then please send us the .AIP (project) and a verbose log of the installation to support at advancedinstaller dot com so we can investigate them.

Regards,
Mihai

[pdperpich]

I have resolved the issue with the global shortcuts by simply starting the project over as a new project. However, I'm having a new problem that is both significant and persistent.

I need the ability to install an application per user but need administrative rights to install files in the Windows system directory.

Set up as AsInvoker and with the installType dialog provided. When logged on to a standard user's account the Installation Type dialog shows the correct options of 'Only for me (StdUserNameLoggedOn)' and 'Everybody (all users)'. However, when selecting the 'Only for Me...' option windows prevents the installation of the files in the Windows system directory which makes sense. If the 'All Users' option is selected the installation runs as expected and all users have access to the program.

If I change from 'Invoker' to 'Require Administrator' and am logged on to the standard users account the Installation Type dialog displays the 'Only for me (AdminUsersName)'. Installation runs as expected but the program is only available from the administrators account.

Is it possible for me to set up the scenario of being able to install the app with administrators rights into a standard users account? If not, is this a shortfall of Advanced installer or the Windows UAC security protocols?

Thanks...

[Cosmin]

Hi,

Per-user installations cannot install files in Windows folder. This is a Windows limitation. A solution is to install your application per-machine and allow each user to register and customize it. Another solution is to use a per-user location for files you install in Windows folder. In this case your application can load those files from that per-user location.

Regards,
Cosmin

[lwardwell]

We've managed to realize we're seeing this now too with 8.6. I even upgraded our project and built as 9.6.1 and it's still putting the desktop shortcut in the public folder, even if running the msi as the administrator. You can see from the verbose logging this property is not set to the current user's profile:

MSI (s) (3C:6C) [07:38:50:005]: Dir (target): Key: AppDataFolder , Object: C:\Users\john\AppData\Roaming\
MSI (s) (3C:6C) [07:38:50:005]: Dir (target): Key: Microsoft_DIR , Object: C:\Users\john\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\
MSI (s) (3C:6C) [07:38:50:005]: Dir (target): Key: Internet_Explorer_DIR , Object: C:\Users\john\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
MSI (s) (3C:6C) [07:38:50:005]: Dir (target): Key: Quick_Launch_DIR , Object: C:\Users\john\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\
MSI (s) (3C:6C) [07:38:50:005]: Dir (target): Key: DesktopFolder , Object: C:\Users\Public\Desktop\

I, too, have magically "fixed" this before by recreating the entire project but that just doesn't seem feasible and this bug was never address.

[Daniel]

Hello,

I'm not sure why you are encountering this behavior. Can you please send us the .AIP (project file) and a verbose log of the installation to support at advancedinstaller dot com so we can investigate them?

All the best,
Daniel

[aldenlong]

I am getting identical behavior with regards to the desktop shortcut. I create my project to install per user, but the desktop icon is placed in the public desktop rather than that for the current user. My operating system is XP sp3. Project file attached.

[Daniel]

Hello,

I've tested your scenario but I cannot reproduce the behavior. Can you send us a verbose log of the installation to support at advancedinstaller dot com so we can investigate it?

All the best,
Daniel

[aldenlong]

I was reproducing the error reliably before, but now it seems that I cannot. Whatever has changed, I do not know. The verbose log is attached if it is of any use to you, but the issue seems to have gone away.

[Daniel]

Hello,

I'm afraid we cannot find the root cause of the related behavior from the attached log file. However, if the problem reappears please send us the .AIP (project file) and a verbose log of the installation to support at advancedinstaller dot com so we can investigate them?

All the best,
Daniel

[aldenlong]

The issue has recurred with my latest build. I do not know what has changed, certainly nothing intentional that is related to my program shortcuts. In the verbose log it clearly shows the desktop icon being created on the public desktop, not the for the current user as the other icon in the start menu is. You should be aware that the shortcut points to a script file named STARTUP.BAT, not an .EXE file. I do see a log file a shortcut supposedly pointing to a file named STARTUP.EXE, but there is no such file in my application. The log file seems to indicate that this shortcut is also being created on the public desktop. I have no evidence that this action produced anything, but the log file does not seem to show any error at that point. My current version is 9.9 build 49525. I am attaching the verbose log and the project file.

[Daniel]

Hello,

Please keep in mind this is the normal behavior when using a per-machine installation type. When you have a per-machine installation the "Desktop" folder path, from "Files and Folders" page, will be resolved to a per-machine location (i.e. "C:\Users\Public\Desktop"). So, can you set the "Installation Type" field, from "Install Parameters" page, to a per-user installation and see if the behavior still persist?

All the best,
Daniel

[aldenlong]

Aha, you nailed it! I had the wrong setting despite having noted the correct setting in my procedural document.