Feature-Based Prerequisite "Status" text

[thenefield]

I have some prerequisites that are included as Feature-Based prerequisites. They get installed once the main installation has started. I was curious to know if there is a way to dynamically update the "Status: Installing prerequisite software" field above the progress bar or the "Installing [PACKAGE NAME]" text field above it. I have a vbs script that is performing multiple install steps and I would like to update the status of each one, rather than breaking them down into a bunch of prerequisites.

[mihai.petcu]

Hello,

For a custom action, that text is configurable from the Action text... button. Note that only deferred custom actions can set an Action Text.

All the best,
Mihai

[thenefield]

right, but I need to do this from a feature-based prerequisite that is installed outside of the main package installation.

[Daniel]

Hello,

To achieve what you want you can proceed like this:
1. go to "Dialogs" page and select the "ProgressDlg" dialog
2. select the "ActionText" control and in the "Subscribed Events" tab edit its existing event like this:

• Event: Display action data during install
  Attribute: Text

3. rebuild and test again the scenario

All the best,
Daniel

[Philm]

Hello!

I don't get it: What you describe, is exactly the standard setting in AI? (Subscribed Event: "Display action text during install" with attribute "Text"). So what is the point?

And I have the same problem. The idea with feature-based prerequisites is good, but at least the name of the prerequisite installing is missing. Only the general text that it is installing prerequisites, is shown during feature-based prereq install.

If there is any possibility to show at least the prereq name currently installing?

Moreover- if the feature-based prereq is a MSI file, would it be possible to show it's action text there?

[Daniel]

Hello,

I don't get it: What you describe, is exactly the standard setting in AI? (Subscribed Event: "Display action text during install" with attribute "Text"). So what is the point?

And I have the same problem. The idea with feature-based prerequisites is good, but at least the name of the prerequisite installing is missing. Only the general text that it is installing prerequisites, is shown during feature-based prereq install.

If there is any possibility to show at least the prereq name currently installing?

Yes, please note that there are two similar events: "Display action text during install" and "Display action data during install". Please use the "Display action data during install" one and rebuild your project.

Moreover- if the feature-based prereq is a MSI file, would it be possible to show it's action text there?

I'm afraid this isn't possible.

All the best,
Daniel

[Philm]

Hello Daniel,

Thank you for your clarification concerning :

"Display action text during install" and "Display action data during install". Please use the "Display action data during install" one and rebuild your project.

(And sorry- I had a couple of other issues, but now this point has got important again.)

I will try out, what you wrote, but could you please explain, what is the exact difference in behaviour between the two.
And with "...action data..." -is it possible to influence the shown text (and how)?

Thanks in advance, Philip

[Philm]

Hello!

Now I have tried out. The result: action data is fine until the file copy is finished. But all custom actions after that have stopped to use their own action text.
To make it worse: During all these custom actions (and they are taking a long time in our setup), only one single text is shown: Status: Name xxDir, Value: c:\thisdir, Action 1
This is no reference which makes sense at all, e.g. the text "Action 1" is shown for all custom actions after InstallFiles.


So, how I understand it, one has currently to decide if he wants "feature prereq" texts naming each feature or correct custom action texts. During copying files the special file texts are fine for me.

But how to get back the custom action texts?

[Philm]

And is there anything we can do with "Installation script information" setting there?

TIA

[Daniel]

Hello and I apologize for my delayed reply,

When the "Display action text during install" event is used on "ProgressDlg" it will be displayed the text from "Table Editor page -> Action Text table -> Description column".
When the "Display action data during install" event is used on "ProgressDlg" it will be displayed the text from "Table Editor page -> Action Text table -> Template column".

To achieve what you want you can modify accordingly the text set in the "Template" column of the "InstallFiles" action.

Also, please note that our "Table Editor" feature is available only in an "Enterprise" or higher project type.

All the best,
Daniel