only getting \"install failed\" message

[mchahn]

When my installer runs it show "install failed" near the end. I built an msi log and it doesn't tell much more (see below). Does the /l=logfile option on my .exe default to verbose? If not can I make it run verbose?

Property(S): ProductToBeRegistered = 1
=== Logging stopped: 3/1/2006 16:48:25 ===
MSI (s) (80:24) [16:48:25:343]: Note: 1: 1708
MSI (s) (80:24) [16:48:25:343]: Note: 1: 2205 2: 3: Error
MSI (s) (80:24) [16:48:25:343]: Note: 1: 2228 2: 3: Error 4: SELECT `Message` FROM `Error` WHERE `Error` = 1708
MSI (s) (80:24) [16:48:25:359]: Note: 1: 2205 2: 3: Error
MSI (s) (80:24) [16:48:25:359]: Note: 1: 2228 2: 3: Error 4: SELECT `Message` FROM `Error` WHERE `Error` = 1709
MSI (s) (80:24) [16:48:25:359]: Product: Deqo Backup -- Installation failed.

[MichaelNesmith]

Dear Mark

There will be more than just those lines in the error log. I'd encourage you to double-check your setup script, or post the entire log here as an attachment so we can help you troubleshoot the issue.

[mchahn]

I couldn't find anything that looked like an error between the install section and this error. I've enclosed the log file. Thanks in advance for looking at it.

File Attached:

msi.log

[MichaelNesmith]

Dear Mark

There seem to be a lot of patch related entries in this log...is it a patch you are trying to install? If so, please make sure you have reviewed the Patching help topic and followed the guidelines described therein.

[mchahn]

I noticed that also. I makes no sense. I am not doing anything with patches and wouldn't know how to if I wanted.

[MichaelNesmith]

Dear Mark

Some questions to get you started:

Are you perhaps trying to do a patch build?
Does your product installer have unique product and revision codes?
Are you able to try the installer on a clean machine to see what happens?
Are you executing the Apply Patch command instead of the Apply Install command?

[mchahn]

I set a break on the "apply patch" and it broke. This was condtioned by the compiler variable BUILDMODE. I searched my script for a set command on BUILDMODE and found nothing. Where are compiler variables specified?

I looked throug my visual pages and I couldn't find anything relating to patches. In particular my patches page was empty.

I tried setting BUILDMODE to blank in global setup but it still runs the apply patch.

How do I debug BUILDMODE?

[MichaelNesmith]

BUILDMODE is set internally by the type of build you are doing.
Can you try to build the Win32 template project and see what happens with that one?

[mchahn]

AARRGGHH

I changed the word PATCH to xxx everywhere and the apply patch is still executed even though it is surrounded by this BUILDMODE check:

[compiler if variable BUILDMODE equals xxx]
apply patch ...
[compiler else]

How in the world could BUILDMODE equal xxx?

[mchahn]

Do you mean that BUILDMODE is set when the template is initially chosen and can't be viewed or changed later? That is horrible.

Can I change to a WIN32 build type without reentering all settings?

How do I find the build type setting of my current project? I can't find it anywhere. I think I set it to .net when I started since most of my code is c#. There are also many other languages included.

[mchahn]

I just discovered that if I read the build log while it is going by I can see that it is building in patch mode.

I also discovered that there was an error at the end of the build saying there was nothing to upgrade. I had never looked at the build log and so I always thought it was building successfully. Your UI really needs to indicate when the build fails.

[MichaelNesmith]

Mark

Sorry about the confusion.

No, the BUILDMODE compiler variable is set at build time. So you could do three builds, using the batch build option, and it would receive three different values during each of those builds.

The build window remains open if there is a build error so you can review the error message. It automatically closes if the build completed successfully. It appears you were not reading the last build message on-screen and attempting to run the produced, erroneous output.

I am not sure where you stand right now - if you have defined a BUILDMODE variable yourself, be sure to delete that. And set a build type in the Project | Options screen, we recommend going with Uncompressed while debugging your setups as its the fastest build option.

Please let me know if I missed anything or you run into further trouble.

[mchahn]

I have been doing a build command, not build patch, so shouldn't BUILDMODE be something different than PATCH?

I think the problem is that any "if" test against BUILDMODE is behaving like BUILDMODE equals patch when it isn't. I told you earlier about my xxx test. "if BUILDMODE equals xxx" is returning true!!!

I'm about to give up for now. I tried installshield and their software was so buggy I couldn't use it. I tried wise and while there were no bugs, I found the output was impossible to debug.

I was excited about your product since a script should give me full control and let me understand what was happening. This big problem is not allowing me to use installaware.

[MichaelNesmith]

Mark

I am so sorry for your bad experience!

Why not post your project folder here as an attachment - and I'll see if there is anything I can do to fix it, and then explain the problem to you so you don't run into it in the future.

Please compress your entire project folder (no subfolders needed) and add it here as a, say, ZIP attachment.

[mchahn]

My project is really humongous. Would you want to VNC or Microsft Remote Desktop into my desktop? I have a T1 upload speed.