Distribute My FP26 APP Exe w/DK Wizard 1

[fp26guylearningvfp60]

Hi! I am looking for a way to distribute my written app compiled as a FPW26 exe. I have the DK Wizard (although I'm confused as to why it seems to be a 25 ver, it keeps asking for a different ESL file other than the FP2600.ESL, but I sub the 2600.esl when asked to find the ..2500.esl?)

First I was disappointed that it wanted to use 3-1.44 disks,
then when I tried to install it, it crashed with a "corrupt file...source...destination" error msg.

Second, I took the contents of the image files (disk1,2,3) combined them into 1 big folder and burned a CD. When I tried to install from the CD, the setup.exe crashed when trying to install, coz something wanted to "write to" the CD and of course you can't do that.

I do have access to the InterDev 60 studio, and see that there is an installation program there, but it seems geared to C++ installation. Would it work to install my fpw 26 exe?

Looked at InstalShield but choked on the $350 for the base "express" product. Short of just burning the exe on a CD and telling users to copy it over to their C:\ (how ugly), does anyone have any ideas? This is my first attempt at distributing exe and would really appreciate your kind assistance. TIA

 

[davidtoranzo]

Hi,

This may be your first attempt at creating installing disk, but I'm sure it's not your first time you get RW failures with diskettes! Certainly, diskettes are not the most trustable way of distibuting important soft.

Your idea of doing this by CD is correct. You have two ways:

1. Copy de image folders "as is" (I mean, don't copy the contents of the three folders into one)

2. Modify the contentes of the "disk.dbf" table in the "dkwizard" directory, so you can get different destination size options.

I've done this many times. The only problem I've found is that the files intalled from the CD are read only, but there are some third-party applications that allow to modify file attributes from within the application, if necessary.

Let us know if this helped!

David.

 

[fp26guylearningvfp60]

David;

Thanx for your quick response. Just got yer answer and will try it as soon as I log off.

If I could trouble you with a coupla more questions.

What is the issue with the files being Read Only? MyApp creates the tables and cdxs from with-in so that would not be an issue. Am I missing anything else?

This is my first time with distributing fox26 windows exe. Is there anyway to prevent the Fox App from appearing in the taskbar, and have MyApp appear there in it's place?

Is there anyway to put MyIcon on the start menu bar or desktop? Is there anyway to change the fox head icon?

Reference to specific 3rd party tools would be deeply appreciated.

Regards - Wayne

 

[davidtoranzo]

Wayne,

1. If you create your working tables from within your application, they'll be RW (or the default directory attribute, as in certain network OS you can set). But sometimes you distribute with your project some tables to be RW and you want to keep that state.

2. You can modify as you want the appearance of the enviorment, basically setting the main window system and the main menu system at your pleasure. That's done by, for example:
MODIFY WINDOW SCREEN FILL FILE <yourbackground.bmp> TITLE <yourtitle> ICON FILE <youricon.ico>
DO yourmenu.mpr

3. Once the exe file is created, you can execute addicon.app (sited in the FPW base directory). It will embbed the icon file into the exe file. So, when you execute the setup application to create the distributing files, your are asked in which destination directory and group/folder (and if you will allow the user to modify these parameters during installation)

4. Some interesting sites to visit are:

http://abri.com/foxpro.html

http://www.jjtc.com/Fox/

and, of course, walking around this forum you'll find very usefull material.


Hope this helps. I don't know how much you know, so I don't want to be redundant. Ask whatever whenever, if anybody knows the answer, you'll get it.

Good luck,

David.

 

[fp26guylearningvfp60]

David!

[2. You can modify as you want the appearance of the enviorment, basically setting the main window system and the main menu system at your pleasure. That's done by, for example:
MODIFY WINDOW SCREEN FILL FILE <yourbackground.bmp> TITLE <yourtitle> ICON FILE <youricon.ico>
DO yourmenu.mpr]

Gosh! That was a GREAT bit of advice! 5 Star! Still working on the other issues, but just wanted to quick touch base and say Thanx.

Other places....I usta hang in the CI$ FoxForum under the nom de plume &quot;was.not.was&quot; Ever since I left, I've been looking for a good alternative. Been pretty disappointed. Although, I try to be very clear and precise, I seem to have somehow SET IGNORE ON. I just wanted to say how much I appreciated your help and guidance on these issues.

BBL - Wayne