Muliple instances creation

[fazeelk]

Hi

I have to support multiple instances in my installer, I have tried the Generate instances at install time option and it is supporting the installation of multiple dynamic instances. At the time of installation of the first instance it was just like our normal installation and second time its prompting for new instance or maintenance of existing instance. If I am proceeding with new instance then also its getting installed and seemed to be fine.
Is it a proper way of creating multiple instances?

In the user guide I have found that "Generate instances at install time ->This option enables generating custom name instances at install time for the selected build. It implies loosing all previously created instances."

Also uninstall is also not working properly if i am creating the multiple instances.

I have tried the "Creating a new instance" option, but I am not sure about the number of instances required and I have to avoid the instance selection during the first installation as in the "generate instances at install time" option.

Which is the best way for creating multiple instances with the above requirements

[Dan]

Hello,

Before the 11.2 version of Advanced Installer, in order to install multiple instances you needed to define them in the Multiple instances view. So you could only install instances defined there and as many as you had defined. For example, if you defined 3 instances, you could install only these ones. So, after the first time installation of your installation package you were prompted with the following dialog, to install a new instance from the predefined list. Please see the attached image for your reference:

PredefinedMultipleInstances.png (42.08 KiB) Viewed 7881 times

Starting with the 11.2.1 version of Advanced Installer, there is no need to define them in the Multiple Instances view. All you have to do is to enable the Generate instances at installation time option and if you run once again your installation package, after you install it for the first time, you are prompted to install a new instances. Also, you can install as many as you want, not as before as you could only install as many as you defined in the Multiple Instances view. Please use the attached image for your reference:

GenerateInstancesAtInstallationTime.png (36.23 KiB) Viewed 7881 times

I am not sure about the number of instances required

If you don't know the number of the instances of the application, you can enable the Generate instances at installation time option.

Also uninstall is also not working properly if i am creating the multiple instances.

I'm not sure I fully understand your scenario. Can you please give us more details about this?

Best regards,
Dan

[fazeelk]

Thanks Dan
Whenever I am trying to uninstall the second instance I am getting an error "Error applying transforms. Verify that the specified transform paths are valid"

[Dan]

Hello,

I'm not sure why you encountered the this behavior.
In order to have a better view about this, can you please send us the .AIP (project file) and a verbose log of the installation process to support at advancedinstaller dot com so we can investigate it? If it contains confidential information you can send us a small test project which reproduce this behavior.

Best regards,
Dan

[fazeelk]

Hi Dan Thanks for your response,

Actually I have created a test application and installed two instances. I tried the uninstall of first instance, it got uninstalled but control panel entry hasn't removed.
Then I tried the uninstall of second instance, but it throws an error "Error applying transforms. Verify that the specified transform paths are valid". Please find below the error log

DEBUG: Error 2203: Database: C:\Users\User1\AppData\Roaming\Your Company\TestApp 1.0.0\install\instname-custom.mst. Cannot open database file. System error -2147287037
1: 2203 2: C:\Users\User1\AppData\Roaming\Your Company\TestApp 1.0.0\install\instname-custom.mst 3: -2147287037
MSI (s) (44:A8) [17:26:42:485]: Product: TestApp -- Installation failed.

MSI (s) (44:A8) [17:26:42:487]: Windows Installer installed the product. Product Name: TestApp. Product Version: 1.0.0. Product Language: 1033. Manufacturer: Your Company. Installation success or error status: 1624.

Error applying transforms. Verify that the specified transform paths are valid.
C:\Users\User1\AppData\Roaming\Your Company\TestApp 1.0.0\install\instname-custom.mst

I have checked in the folder for the instname-custom.mst file, But it was not creating during the installation itself,
I think issue happening only in windows 2008 server R2.
I have attached the . aip file and log files for your perusal. Please help to resolve this issue

[Dan]

Hello,

I've tested your scenario and this seems to be an Advanced Installer issue.
This is currently under investigation and as soon as I have a conclusive answer, I'll get back to you. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.

If you have other questions, please let us know.

Best regards,
Dan

[fazeelk]

Thanks Dan
I am waiting for your reply, Could you please suggest a work around (if any) to resolve this issue

[Dan]

Hello,

At this moment doesn't seems to be a workaround but we investigate this and as soon as I have a conclusive answer, I'll get back to you.

Best regards,
Dan

[Dan]

Hello,

This was fixed in version 11.6 of Advanced Installer released on October 23rd, 2014.

Best regards,
Dan

[fazeelk]

Thanks. The issue has been fixed but still the entry in the control panel is not getting removed. Could you please have a look into this also