Hi Try Refox XI+ (www.refox.net) - it has compression inbuilt - not only does it brand the exe but also reduces the size thereof - in my case a 20.8 MB exe became 1.95 MB ( 93.75 % size reduction) - of course compression percentage may vary for you - Note: the website says that the new exe should be about 25% of the original i.e. a 75% reduction in size. And of course new exe is branded and therefore it should be a bit more difficult see the source code and forms etc
Mahmud Abdulla > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Kurt Wendt > Sent: 08 November 2008 04:12 > To: profox@leafe.com > Subject: Splitting of Distributable VFP System > > Hello there folks, > > I've been doing a little research recently on a problem with > regards to a system here at my new job. I work within the Apparel > industry. And, the application originally started as a FoxBASE++ > system. > They are beginning to move to more of a Windows based system (they are > even creating a completely new version of their system based upon C# & > .Net - although I am not involved with that). However, on the VFP > front, they have been creating a new version of the system based upon > Forms, with much less PRG's. But, here in lies the problem. > > Previously when they would distribute their system to their > clients - they would give them mostly FXP files - so their clients > can't' so easily look at the code. (Of course, someone with ReFox still > could - but, that's another story.) And, with their current systems > that have been pulled into VFP with minimal changes - and only a couple > of forms designed in VFP - they distribute an EXE to their clients, > with most of the rest of the system being FXP's. The EXE is not too big > - at like 1.4MB, since the rest is all just FXP's. > > But, their new system, based almost completely on screens/Forms > - is now compiled into a single EXE application that is around 14MB - > and GROWING! So, the problem is two-fold. A 14MB EXE takes longer to > load each time a user wants to run it. But, the problem really is with > regards to upgrades. With the older system, fix a single program, then > upload that FXP to the client - and you don't have to kick everyone off > the client's system to install it. But, with the new app that is a big > EXE file - you must kick everyone off the system for each and every > upgrade. Or, in this case - they MUST do the upgrades at night! > > As such, I was recently doing a little research into what > possibilities existed to split up the Windows EXE system into chunks. > Part of the concept was to split based upon functionality - like a > chunk specific to Order screens, another for Pick Tickets, another for > Invoicing, etc. > > It seems that the most logical way to do this would be to create > separate project files for those chunks, which would include the > specific forms/screens - then compile those chunks as DLL's that would > be called from the main EXE distribution file. However, the creation > and calling of DLL's is not something I have done in the past. And, > from the research I did - it seems to require a certain amount of > complexity to implement - including the creation of OLE public class > user-defined classes in either program (.prg) files or visual class > library (.vcx) files. Then, after discussing this with one of the > developers here - I found out that the DLL's option poses another > complication. Their existing system relies on a LOT of Public variables > (and, yeah - I don't think that's the best thing to do either, creating > a lot of pub vars - but, I didn't create the original system) - and I > was told that the screens within the DLL's would NOT be able to see > those var's. So, that pretty much means the DLL idea is not a viable > option. > > I also read up a little on FoxPro link-library files (FLL's). > But, my research didn't turn up much on how to do this, and whether it > was really viable. > > So - I am turning to this mailing list in hopes of getting ideas > for a possible solution! > > I look forward to hearing replies from the group. FYI - I am > writing this e-mail at 5:40pm on a Friday night - so, I won't be able > to reply back to anyone until Monday - should someone post a reply > soon. > > Thanks, > Kurt > > P.S. Just an FYI. This is my first posting to the list, so I am a > newbie here. But, not a newbie to VFP - as I have been working with it > since the initial Foxbase+ release! Am back in a fulltime job now, > doing VFP development - although I have been in-and-out of VFP > developing over the years, including 2.5 years as a fulltime Mr. Mom - > although, at that time I developed a system for my own uses - to track > artwork, new artists, review of artwork, and data to rebuild the > gallery hosted on Yahoo - which you can find here: > http://Gallery-3D.com/ > (And - yes, I am one of the artists in the gallery - as I also do 3D CG > besides FoxPro, and I also teach classes in 3D at FIT here NYC.) > > Too bad I found this wonderful mailing list so late in life - I really > could have used it about 2 years ago!!! > > Anyway - sorry for the extra little [OT] stuff, at least the main topic > is ON topic! > > [excessive quoting removed by server] _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: ProFox@leafe.com Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/[EMAIL PROTECTED] ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. 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