Packaging App Questions

[Catrina]

In the past the only Apps I have created an install disk for,using Package and Deployment were small one form Apps, now I am trying to package a much larger App which uses 16 forms, one code Module, ADO, a third party control and an Access Database among other things.

Here are all the questions (in some cases problems) I am having with creating this install package.

1. On the 3rd party control (SAXCOMM7.OCX) and something for ADO(msadox.dll), I received a message "Missing Dependency Information....Below is a list of files for whick dependency information could not be found. To proceed without the dependency information for the file(s), click OK. To permanently mark a file as having no dependencies, select its checkbox" (I checked the boxes and continued.) First, what does this mean, and second should I check the files, or proceed without the information?

2.Shared files, should I select the files to be shared when prompted? (I did)

3.I have an Access database and a couple of files that my app needs, should they be included in the package? (I did include)

4.The package and deployment produced 10 CABS(which took 10 disks). Is this normal, or do I have way too much of something. Do textbox, label etc arrays cut down on the size of the app? (I'm just learning, and I learned how to use arrays about 1/2 through my app)

5. Once I got the cabs copied to disks, I tried to run the install. I got to disk 3 (out of 10) and received a message(reworded a bit as I did not write it down) "File not found c:\windows\TEMP\ms(something)\ST6UNST.EXE..Do you wish to browse" I did, and found this file in the Support folder of my package (which was not copied onto any of the install disks, I didn't think it needed to be)I had to go to Win Explorer and copy this file into the TEMP directory before the install would let me continue, then it asks for Disk 1 again, Disk 2, and at Disk 3 begins the installations screen which when I click INSTALL, asks for the Disk Labeled 0, then excepts no disks, and I have to abort the setup.

Hope I haven't lost you. Any help would be appreciated as I am supposed to have this install ready for a client demo by 5:00 tonight.

Thanks

Catrina [sig][/sig]

 

[Ruairi]

1) For every file included in your package the P&D wizard checks whether or not there are any other files that the file depends on(need to be there for it to work. for example ADO was one of the dependencies the P&D wizard found for your vb project, thats why those dll's are included.) Checking them should be fine, it just means you won't be warned next time. Usually the reason no dependency info was found is because that file has no dependencies.

2) When a file is shared it will not be removed by the uninstall program unless all programs that use the file are removed. If the files will be used by other apps install them as shared, otherwise don't. This really doesnt matter because if you install a file that only your program uses and it is installed as shared there will be no other programs using it and the user will be asked if they want to delete it.

3) Absolutely the DB and other files should be installed, otherwise you would have to copy them manually for each install.

4) VB installations are usually larger than you expect, because the vb runtime has to be installed among other things. also MDAC(microsoft data access components) has its own install, which was probably included in your package since you use ADO. This shouldnt be a problem. I don't believe Control Arrays would not cut down on the size.

5) You are correct in thinking you dont need the support folder on the install disks, the files there can be used to recreate the installation.

I have seen the error message you refer to in the past. It is looking for an uninstallation program for your app. Is the app you are trying to install already installed on the machine? If so try uninstalling it first. I'm not sure if this will help but i think that might have been how i ended up fixing it. [sig]<p>Ruairi<br><a href=mailto:ruairi@logsoftware.com>ruairi@logsoftware.com</a><br>Experienced with: <br>
VB6, SQL Server, QBASIC, C(unix), MS Office VBA solutions<br>
ALSO: Machine Control/Automation using GE and Omron PLC's and HMI(human machine interface) for industrial applications[/sig]