yeilam
Posts: 19
Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2006 6:22 am

Installation of an optional "Add-on"

Hello,
We would like to allow the user the option to download and install an additional "add-on" at the end of the installation.
First, the user downloads and executes ("Bootstrapper") the basic instalation (it is ~10MB).
When this installation is about to finish we would like to ask the user if s/he wants the "Add-on". If yes, we should download and install it (it is an additional 10MB).
Could you suggest a way to do this?
Thanks,
Yigal
gigi
Posts: 2103
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:55 am
Contact: Website

Hi Yigal,
When this installation is about to finish we would like to ask the user if s/he wants the "Add-on". If yes, we should download and install it (it is an additional 10MB).
This can be done by using a custom action. A custom action to download the add-on file.

http://www.advancedinstaller.com/user-g ... -page.html

Under "ExitDialog" you can add a check box "Install Add-on...". And condition the execution of the above custom action with the state of this check box.

The CA condition will look like this: CHECK_PROP=1 (where CHECK_PROP is the property of the check box and '1' its value, both defined in the "Properties" list of the check box control).

Best Regards,
Gigi
______________
Gheorghe Rada
Advanced Installer Team
http://www.advancedinstaller.com
yeilam
Posts: 19
Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2006 6:22 am

Hi Gigi,
Under "ExitDialog" you can add a check box "Install Add-on...".
I'm selecting "ExitDialog" and have only options to "Show read me file" and "Launch application".
I have Advance Installer version 4.6.4 License type professional. Is this the problem?
If not please be more specific with the UI actions.
Thanks,
Yigal
gigi
Posts: 2103
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:55 am
Contact: Website

Hi Yigal,

If you need UI customization you need to create an "Enterprise" type of project (which requires an "Enterprise" license).

Regards,
Gigi
______________
Gheorghe Rada
Advanced Installer Team
http://www.advancedinstaller.com
yeilam
Posts: 19
Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2006 6:22 am

I'm using the trial version of Enterprise edition.
I added a button at ExitDlg, near the "Finish" button.
How do I make this button download and install another instalation (which is the "addon")?
Thanks,
Yigal
gigi
Posts: 2103
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:55 am
Contact: Website

Hi Yigal,

You need to create your own custom action to download the add-on file and launch it.

Other solution is to use a "Launch File or Open URL" type of custom action (use "Add Predefined Custom Action") instead of creating your own custom action. But in this case the URL provided when you configure the CA will be opened with default browser installed on the target computer.

Schedule this custom action under "UI Custom Actions" section in the "Custom Actions" page with "Asynchronous execution, do not wait for return" option set.

Now in the "Dialogs" page select the new added button and add a published event like this:
Name: DoAction
Argument: select the custom action created above

Hoe this helps.

Best Regards,
Gigi
______________
Gheorghe Rada
Advanced Installer Team
http://www.advancedinstaller.com
yeilam
Posts: 19
Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2006 6:22 am

Hi Gigi,

I have added a new dialogue box that asks the user if to download and install the add-on (with a check box as you initially suggested).
The CA is a .exe instalation of the 'add-on'. I built this installation as a "thin" .exe and a remote .msi that resides on the server.
If the user checks the box, then before the Finish dialog, the add-on installation is operated: Windows installer progress bar appears while downloading the msi of the add on.

It almost works. The problems are:
1. Windows installer progress bar is not so nice (any way to custom it?) and seems slow than normal download (right?)
2. When the 'add-on' installation finally starts it prompts an error message: 'Another installation is in progress. You must complete that installation ...'

Openning a URL is not a good solution as it is quite strange combination and it is not synchronized with the 'basic' intallation.

What could you suggest?

Yigal
gigi
Posts: 2103
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:55 am
Contact: Website

Hi Yigal,

1. You can change the attributes of the progress bar (for example you can change the "Progress 95" attribute to false and the progress will be drawn as a single continuous rectangle).

2. You get this error because two MSI packages cannot run at the same time. The only way to launch other MSI file during installation is by scheduling it as custom action under "InstallFinalize" with "Asynchronous execution, do not wait for return" option set.

Regards,
Gigi
______________
Gheorghe Rada
Advanced Installer Team
http://www.advancedinstaller.com

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