I have a better idea about xcopy deployment now. Can xcopy deployment (or unzipping a file) be built into wix? Is there a way to use customaction for this?
The nature of my .NET applications (described below under "Background") make the extra complexity for programming wix very burdensome. I don't think I need the upgrade, modify, repair, uninstall, and version capabilities. To upgrade, it will just overwrite. To uninstall, the directory can just be removed. But I do want the more professional appearance, the ability to put an item on the start menu and a shortcut on the desktop, and reliable .NET runtime detection and installation. The batch file just looks too clunky. So I guess my question is really: Can xcopy deployment or unzipping a file be executed as a step from within wix? Daniel Goldman Dave Williamson wrote: > Daniel, > > xcopy deployment is just that ... literally copying the files to the > destination drive and that is all that is required. > > However, the ability to not depend on anything else is a function of the > application's design. > > Given the example you gave you could create a batch file on your CD that > copied your C# application binaries from the CD to a hard > set path on the end user hard drive using the "xcopy" DOS command. BUT ... > C# is built on the .NET framework and the client would > need the .NET runtime (version 1.1 or 2.0) installed on their PC for the > application to run. AND yes you could build into your > batch file the install of the dotnet runtime. > > Now what WIX is for .... > > WIX gives you a structured method for creating windows MSI distributions of > your software in a manner that allows the end user to > install, repair, uninstall, and modify the installation. > > GUIDs ... In order for the windows installer engine to keep up with the > applications and their state GUIDs are used ... and thus why > you see GUIDs in WIX. Note however that WIX has a pretty darn cool feature > of putting in ? for a GUID digit and it will just make > up one so in your case you could always do what is called a major upgrade by > always changing the product Id GUID and the package Id > GUID. > > Versions ... each build of the WIX setup needs an incremented version but you > don't have to keep track of it or tie it to anything. > > Dave Williamson > Clear Sky Software > www.clearskysoftware.com > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Daniel Goldman > Sent: Friday, June 30, 2006 1:37 AM > To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net > Subject: [WiX-users] xcopy deployment? > > Can someone explain what "xcopy deployment" is, or point > me to examples/references? Or point out alternative installer > mechanisms that might meet my needs? > > Background: I need to distribute a C# .NET application family. It > is a series of data analysis softwares, with preloaded data (eg, > Texas birth data). Each customized version has different data files, > different auxillary files, etc. There are many customized versions. > > The application was previously in C using curses. Distribution > was pretty simple. For each customized version (there could be > several on a CD), I put a zip file, a batch file, and the unzip > executable in it own directory on a cd. To install, the batch file > unzipped everything into several hard-coded directories, copied > some icons to the desktop, and displayed some messages. The old > installation mechanism looked "clunky", but worked great. > > I'd rather not keep track of versions. If a user installs a > new version, I'd like to simply overwrite any existing files. > There is no need for them to keep the "old version". I'd like > to avoid the complexity of having to deal with hundreds of > different version numbers and GUIDs. I'm concerned that some > mistake may make it fail to upgrade. > > I've read through the wix tutorial. I'm trying to reduce the > great complexity I'm sensing from windows installer, figure > out a simple, attractive install mechanism. > > Daniel Goldman > http://www.ehdp.com/vitalnet/ > 425-235-4747 > > Using Tomcat but need to do more? Need to support web services, security? > Get stuff done quickly with pre-integrated technology to make your job easier > Download IBM WebSphere Application Server v.1.0.1 based on Apache Geronimo > http://sel.as-us.falkag.net/sel?cmd=lnk&kid=120709&bid=263057&dat=121642 > _______________________________________________ > WiX-users mailing list > WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users > > Using Tomcat but need to do more? Need to support web services, security? Get stuff done quickly with pre-integrated technology to make your job easier Download IBM WebSphere Application Server v.1.0.1 based on Apache Geronimo http://sel.as-us.falkag.net/sel?cmd=lnk&kid=120709&bid=263057&dat=121642 _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
