These dialogs are killing me

[GFXDude2010]

First, when installing a program, it's quite normal to see file names flashing as files are installed and copied to their appropriate locations, with a progress bar accompanying the files to give the user a sense of progress. However, I am unable to reproduce this functionality. I'm fairly certain I don't have to update a variable manually for every file that's getting installed, for that file to be reflected on the dialog, above the progress bar.

Second, I've found myself needing a dialog with two progress bars on it. The first bar is fine to be a marquee, but the second is a global progress bar, that needs to be updated manually. I understand that this dialog would need manual updating as opposed to the prior complaint of manually updating filenames on a label. The issue is that I've found reference to having multiple dialogs on one screen, and the solution is to 'just bind another variable to the dialog, instead of the default $PROGRESS$'. That's the end of every instance I've found mentioning this functionality. How do I go about binding a new variable to the progress of my global progress bar? Double clicking the progress bar in the User Interface Editor does not bring up the "Define Interactive Characteristics" as it does with other controls. I assumed I could bind the "receives information" section to a variable, and that would be the new progress. But, I cannot get access to the interactive characteristics for progress bars.

Third, I've got a dialog with four radio buttons. I would like the top one to be checked by default. In the Object Properties the Checked property is set to True, and in the dialog editor the radio appears checked. When in debug/run mode, however, all radios on the page are empty, including the one I've told to be checked. Do these radios need to somehow be connected into a radiogroup, similar to how a webpage's radio buttons work?

Fourth, my Back buttons on the dialogs are set to 'Go to Previous Dialog'. However, this seems to be ignored. Clicking Back always functions as if Next was clicked. I can literally install the software by clicking back every time I should click Next.

Fifth, my Cancel buttons on the dialogs are essentially having the same issue as my Back buttons. Only the very last Cancel button actually terminates the installation, instead of going to the next dialog. They give the 'Are you sure' prompt every time they're clicked, and when Yes is clicked, the next dialog is brought into view.

I've been tasked with converting an older Wise installer to be compatible with W8, thus we are using InstallAware. I'm fairly new to it, but feel that I've thoroughly attempted to resolve these issues in a manor that would be sensible, yet it seems the functionality I would expect is hiding somewhere.

[FrancescoT]

Dear GFXDude2010,

1> by default "the description of the current installation task" is automatically handled internally by the IA engine when the "Apply Install" statement is executed. This causes the engine to redirect the current installation task "output" to the active progress dialog. To see how it works, just create a new project from scratch based on the "basic" template, add something to install to the project then build and run the project.

Alternatively, you may use "PROGRESSTEXT" pre-defined variable to display any custom text while the progress dialog is active.

2> Please have a look at: http://www.installaware.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9566

3> Please have a look at: http://www.installaware.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=657

4 & 5 > Please have a look at: http://www.installaware.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=18689

Hope this helps you.

Regards

[GFXDude2010]

1. I am still unable to get this functionality to work. It seems that you are implying that the 'Apply Changes' with 'Install Product' selected is the proper command to issue. I'm not sure what this command does. The documentation states "...this command applies all pending changes tot he target system." In my current code, I use many 'Install Files' commands to install the files I need. Is this not the proper method of installing files? It seems like in order for Apply Changes to install pending changes, there must be a method of building up a change buffer, where all of the installations occur simultaneously after executing the Apply Install command. How do I build this buffer?

2. That link is relatively useless to the functionality I originally posted. I do like that I can have the progress fill the taskbar icon, though I'd rather it fill a second progress bar in the same dialog.

3. I'm not having issues gathering the return value from these radio buttons. The issue at hand is having one of them selected by default when the dialog is initially opened. In the Object Properties of the Radio I would like to be selected by default, the Checked property is set to True. In the User Interface Editor, the radio is checked as expected, though once in debug/run mode, the radio is NOT selected when the dialog loads.

4/5. I have been able to get these working with the link provided. Thanks!

[FrancescoT]

Dear GFXDude2010,

1> with a Windows Installer based setup, the "install Files" command (as any other MSI command) is not executed immediately but deferred to Apply Install Execution. For more details about Windows Installer commands (PURPLE COMMANDS) please see: http://www.installaware.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4338.

This means; if with your current code you use many 'Install Files' commands to install the files you need, these commands are not executed when the same are sequenced in your script, but instead when the "Apply Install" statement is executed. When this happens, the engine automatically updates the progress text displayed ("PROGRESSTEXT" pre-defined variable ) on the active progress dialog.

As I said with my previous reply, "To see how it works, just create a new project from scratch based on the "basic" template, add something to install to the project then build and run the project".

If you want to display any custom text while the progress dialog is active, set the PROGRESSTEXT" pre-defined variable.

Example, use the following code in your script to display a progress text;
- Set Variable PROGRESSTEXT to This is my process text!

Please note, all the progress messages coming from Windows Installer cannot be modified and these messages will replace any custom text used.

Alternatively you may replace (using the dialog editor) the default progress text control of the progress dialog, with a generic control that displays a custom installation message. In this case you have to define and to associate with the control, a custom progress text script variable, in order to update the displayed text from the script.

2> You can create your own master progress bar and increment that manually, while the regular progress bar would continue to display the installation progress of the on-going runtime. This really isn't difficult - you just bind one progress bar to a custom variable and the other one to the regular progress variable (see the built-in progress dialogs for an example of the latter). In the the User Interface Editor, double click on any control and then in the "Define Interactive Characteristics" dialog, select the custom Progress Bar control.

3> The link describes how to set the default state of a RADIO control (when the dialog is initially opened)
and more specifically; "Just pre-define the variables in your script, before showing the dialog. Set them to TRUE or FALSE based on their desired values."

Regards