show progress while bootstrapper downloads main MSI

[toddpatt]

Ahoy,

I'm using AI 7.6.1 build 27951

While the bootstrapper is downloading the main MSI (not a prerequisite MSI), there is no progress window or progress indicator. Depending on the user's connection speed and the size of the main MSI, the download may take several seconds or even a few minutes. While the main MSI downloads, the user has the impression that nothing is happening.

I've read the documentation and searched the forum, but I didn't find any related info. Is there an option for showing a progress bar during the download?

As a point of comparison, the auto-updater displays a progress bar while downloading new packages (assuming you've run the updater with the appropriate command line switch).

Thanks for your help,
-Todd

[Bogdan]

Hi Todd,

The main MSI download process is not handled by our setup, Windows Installer is the one handling this operation therefore
we cannot control the UI of the process.

The setup just tells to Windows Installer the location of the MSI file and Windows Installer starts the download process and then continues with the installation process.

Regards,
Bogdan

[toddpatt]

Thanks for your reply, Bogdan.

I forgot that the bootstrapper just tells WI the URL of the online MSI and then WI handles the download. It seems silly to me that WI has no progress indicator or at least a message box during this operation.

It would be a nice feature if AI could be configured to download (with a progress bar or some kind of message box) the online MSI to the local machine, and then point WI to the downloaded MSI. That would result in a better experience for users with slow connection speeds. As I said in my original post, when a user runs the bootstrapper, it can seem like nothing is happening if the MSI is large and takes awhile to download.

Thanks,
-Todd

[GabrielBarbu]

Hi Todd,

I am afraid we can not download the msi in Windows Installer's place. Windows Installer needs to know where the msi comes from (needs to know the URL) so it can download its dependencies (CABs).
The download process can't take too long. You're doing a web based install, this means the .msi itself is very small (less than 1 MB most likely). The bulk of your product's content lies in the CABs beside the msi, which are downloaded afterwards, during the install process.

Best regards,
Gabriel

[mssteuer]

There's a difference between showing progress, and showing ANYTHING... why can't you show a simple dialog saying "Now downloading the files need to continue your installation" and then tell the WI to download the MSI?

As Todd correctly points out, right now it seems to users as if nothing is happening or the installer is stuck, while it downloads the MSI...

Please provide a workaround

[GabrielBarbu]

Hello,

I've just tested this behavior and could not replicate it.
What I did:
- placed an .msi file on a remote server
- built an .aip project file with bootstrapper enabled and configured to retrieve the .msi from the URL
- msiexec v3.0 (on Windows XP) and msiexec v4.5 (on Vista) both showed a progress bar while downloading the .msi.

I am asking for your help in determining the exact steps for replicating the issue.

Many thanks,
Gabriel

[toddpatt]

Hi Gabriel,

It seems to be a problem with the Enhanced User Interface.

My project uses the Enhanced UI "Only on install". I just changed the Enhanced UI option to "Never" and rebuilt. Now when I run the bootstrapper EXE, I see a WI dialog with a progress bar that says "Preparing to install..." while the main MSI is downloaded. Please refer to the following screenshot:

WI progress bar during main MSI download.PNG (3.83 KiB) Viewed 18168 times

I also created a new "test" project which is very simple. I was able to reproduce the same behavior (WI progress bar) by switching the Enhanced UI on/off.

Thanks,
-Todd

[GabrielBarbu]

Hello Todd,

Thanks to your detailed help I managed to indeed replicate the issue. We can now proceed to fixing it.

Thanks and best regards,
Gabriel

[xnejx]

Hi Gabriel,

Has this issue been fixed yet? If not, when can we expect the fix for it.

Thank you.

[mihai.petcu]

Hello,

The issue has not been fixed yet. It will be available soon, in a future version of Advanced Installer.

Regards,
Mihai

[ionel.manolache]

Hello,

Is this issue fixed now?
I'm using version 9.8 and I see the same when using Enhanced UI.

Thanks.

[Daniel]

Hello,

Is this issue fixed now?

Yes, this has been fixed in a previous version of Advanced Installer.

I'm using version 9.8 and I see the same when using Enhanced UI.

I'm afraid I don't fully understand what you mean. Can you give us more details about this (maybe exemplify)? Please keep in mind that when use Enhanced UI, the EXE boostrapper should prompt a message box ("Downloading MSI") while the related MSI file is downloaded by Windows Installer.

All the best,
Daniel

[ionel.manolache]

Hello Daniel,

I was referring to the lack of a progress bar in that message box. That's all.

Thanks.

[Daniel]

Hello,

I'm afraid this is the default behavior when the "Enhanced User Interface" feature is enabled.

All the best,
Daniel