InstallAware

Hello,

i downlad first the testversion of installAware15 and tryed out the web updates function. I created updates and patches, which i upload on a webserver, so that the clients could download and install the updates. All worked fine with the testversion!!!

Now we purchase the installAware16. And i do the SAME work(create update packages, downloading, installing) with that version. The first main setup, which i installed manually on client machine was successfully installed. BUT the web update mechanismus is not working correctly. The downloading of the updates packages work fine, but the installation NOT.

In the msi, i create a messagebox which shows the return value of the "run install" process of the updates. In the project which is created with the testversion i get the installation return value "0". With the new installAware Version 16 i get the return value "11". The problem is on a windows xp. On windows 7 it works correctly.Why does the update mechanismus not work with the installaware version 16, on a windows xp?


Best regards
Sarah

Dear Sarah,

Honestly, I have not received any other support request about a similar issue and even with my personal tests, I didn't find problems with web updates.

If you can replicate the issue with a sample project, I can verify it.

Regards

Hello,

when i worked with the testversion InstallAware15 i created a test project with a changed update msi code. So that the webupdate mechanismus is split in download part and installation part.

With this command "setup.exe /update" the update packs are download from webserver.
With the command "setup.exe /update2" the update packs are install on the client machine.

When the testversion was expired and we purchase the installaware16, i have use the project which was original created with the testversion, but i have build my update packs with InstallAware 16. The download part works fine, but the installation part not. The problem is happen in line 628 of the updates msi code. "Run Program.....". When i builded the update packs with the testversion, the web update mechanismus worked fine.

So to reproduce the problem, i will attach you this project. This project works neither on a windows 7 nor on windows xp. Please copy this "Automatisiertes_Setup_Test" under "C:\Temp"....

The monitor url is not important for the reproduction of the problem (download part works). Because of that, i type a sample url, which does not exist. So please do the next steps to reproduce the problem:,

-Create a virtual drive D:
-run "C:\Temp\Automatisiertes_Setup_Test\Setups\basic setup\basic.exe" ->after that step the file "testdoc.txt" will be copied unter "D:\Program files\My Project"
-copy "C:\Temp\Automatisiertes_Setup_Test\Setups\Patch1\patch1.exe" and "C:\Temp\Automatisiertes_Setup_Test\Setups\Patch1\updates.ini" under D:
-copy the attached directory "VARIABLES" under D:
-run "path to basic.exe" /update2 ->After that step the file "patch1.txt" should copied unter "D:\Program files\My Project". But this does not happen!!!

for the installation part the internet connection is not needed!


I very thankfull for your help!

Best regards
Sarah

Dear Sarah,

I'm very very very sorry ...
... but it is really hard for me to understand what your update code really does or better, why you used such complicated way to achieve your goal.

Last but least, there are several programming errors with your code as well ( ... as for example, custom variables "Used" but never "Declared").
Honestly, I am very surprised that it used to work.

I will try to prepare a code snippet for you, in order to describe how to split the default IA web update functionality, in two separate sequences.

Please accept my apologies but I'm sure you can understand my reasons ...
... unfortunately, it takes more time to find out how your code should work than to create a snippet from scratch.

I will be back as soon as possible.

Regards

Hello,

thanks for your reply, you don't need to say sorry...I am always open to suggestions for improvement.
but i have some things to mention....
1. How i understand... you know my goal... But i think it is important to understand my code, to understand my goal exactly. There are some algorithm in the code which are really important for our goal, because of our special computer systems (write protection). The code is not splitting only in download and install part, it do more work.
-it always checks which packages are already download, and only downlad the rest of the downloads packages, which are available on the server. (Because download part could be execute for example 10 times one after another )
-When a package is installed successfully, then the respective downloaded package (.exe file) will be deleted from harddisc.
-It is ensured that a package is not installed twice.
-i wrote a batch script independet of installAware, which checks in specific time intervals, if download packs was downloaded on the harddisk. If yes then computer have to first pick up the write protection (special computer systems, because of virus save write protection is set normally) , then reboot, and then the installpart of the updates msi code is execute(setup.exe /update2). Thats one of the reason why i create the file ("VARIABLES\UPDATE_DOWNLOADED.txt"). If this file exist on the harddisk, then the batch file knows, that download packs are available and can pick up the write protection and reboot bevor execute install part.
-The files in the VARIABLES directory are the communication file between the download and installation part. The variable content of which downloads have to be install are save in the file "VARIABLES\UPDATE_DOWNLOADED.txt".
-The download and installation part works really independet of each other. For example at one day the download part could execute 10 times, and then the installation part is call 2 times, or in reverse order. The order and count of the execution of the download and installation part must be variable and independent. In every constellation the code must work.
-Only the installation part can write on C: drive. The download part only have access to the D: drive.

I know there are some unnecessary code, and many messageboxes (for debug reasons), but i think it is not the reason why this error comes. Wenn you open my project with the testversion and create update packs with that...the web update mechanismus will work.

2. What i don't understand, that my code works with the installaware testversion, but with the purchase version Installaware16 not.

Now you have my code, and maybe you can first ignore the code and create normally update packs with the testversion. the code works with the testversion! And then try the same with the installAware16 and it does not work. Can you not debug the "Run Program..." command? I know that the error happens in the "Install Update" part of the update msi code at the line 628, when the run Program is called...So the problem is limited! The messagebox in line 629 shows the return value of the run Program command. With testversion the return value is 0 (OK). With installAware16 i get return value 11. (NOT OK)

Francesco, i am really thankfull for your help!!!

Best regards Sarah

Dear Sarah,

I have tested your package as by your steps and it works fine.

This is the screen-shot of the result message-box;

Honestly, I suppose the problem you had could be caused by the patch execution.
What you receive as return code from the Run Program execution, it is very probably, the result of the patch package execution and not a failure of the command execution itself.

The files you sent me only contains the patch project and not the base project.
It is always recommended to keep each project version separated (under unique project folders ...especially when working with patches), otherwise it can be really difficult to find out errors if something doesn't go as expected.

Unfortunately, I can not inspect your code deeply (... which it is quite large) in order to find out what really are your targets.
I can help you on singular cases where an unwanted behavior occurs, if an error may be caused by an IA malfunction or if you need suggestion to handle a specific matter.

That's the reason why we ask always to receive a very minimal project when we need to verify a possible issue ... otherwise It would be impossible to give a response to all users who uses this board.

I am sure you full understand my reasons.

Finally, I may suggest you to first practice and experiment with standard setup packages and Patch functionality.
Then successively, to work with more complex aspects as your target requires.

For your convenience, you find attached the screen-shot sequence produced when I tested your package.

Regards

Dear Francesco,

i don't understand why my patch works on your computer. On my computer and other computer it does not work!
i really have experiment with the patch functionality much!!! With the testversion(InstallAware 15) i had really no problems!!!Since i have installed the installAware16
i have problems with the patchs. So you sayed to me, that the problem could be a problem of the patch execution. i have take the project of rene "rene.rar"(viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9414), which you have edit for him. So the patch functionality should work!!! When i execute the existing builded setups Version1.0 and Version 1.0.1.0 then i can install them on my computer (OK).


After that i copyed the rene-Project to the path "C:\Temp\Patch_Problem" on my computer. After that i opened the basic project with InstallAware16. I build the project and get the "Version 1.0.exe". After that I opened the patch project and I ONLY adjust the Path (basic of patch)to the "Version 1.0.exe" (C:\Temp\Patch_Problem\Version1000\Release\Single). Then i build the patch (Version 1.0.1.0.exe). After that i installed "Version 1.0.exe" on my computer. The execution of the basic works. Then i execute "Version 1.0.1.0.exe". While i executed this Patch i get the following error " "" is not a valid integer value" (See Attachment->Patch_Problem\error.png), and then the program hangs (see Attachment->Patch_Problem\program_crashes_taskmanager.png). My computer has the following system information "Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit". I tryed the same installations on 3 virtual machines (Windows 7 Professional 32 Bit,Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit , Windows XP). And the same Patch error comes ("" is not a valid integer value), while installing the patch!!! Only on ONE other test maschine (Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit) the installation works...I really don't know a solution for that problem...It looks like a general Patch Execution problem with this installed installAware 16. Why the Patch installation works on some machines and on some not? I do a repair installation of the installAware16, but it solves not the problem.

I attach you the whole rene Project builded with installAware16! Hope you can reproduce the problem....Thanks

Best regards

Sarah

Hello,

could somebody reproduce this problem?


Best regards

Sarah

Dear Sarah,

I'm not able to reproduce your issue and I can assure you that doesn't exist a problem with handling patch projects with IA 16 (... otherwise, this forum should full of similar issues).

How I have tested using IA 16, the original project available from ( ... previously edited by me);
http://www.installaware.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9414

- Builded the Project "Version1000"
- Updated the Patch reference to "Version 1.0.exe" in project "Version1010"
- Builded Project "Version1010"

Finally;
- Builded the Project "Version1010" patch.

I may suggest you to first try the builded packages included with the attached project, in order to verify what happens if my build are used with your target machines.

I used the last InstallAware version available (IA 16.07).
If you are using a different IA version and to be sure that your error may be caused by an issue with the activation of your IA product, please try the following;

- Completely un-install your IA 16 installation.
- Re-install IA 16 once again using the last update available (IA 16.07)
- Re-generate your personal license file, BUT LEAVE YOUR IA INSTALLATION AS TRIAL (DO NOT ACTIVATE IT - YOU WILL ACTIVATE LATER).
- KEEP IN A SAFE PLACE THE GENERATED ACTIVATION FILE AND THE IA 16.07 INSTALLER FOR LATER USE.

Finally;
Repeat the steps (exactly) I used the rebuild both projects.
Test your builds and report your results.

Regards

Hello Francesco,

i downloaded your attached .zip file and I have done the installation test on 4 target maschines (with your builded files), and i get the same results like described in the post of "Wed Jul 17, 2013 4:18 am"! The installation of "Version 1.0.exe" works on all target machines(4). The patch "Version 1.0.1.0.exe" installation only works on 1 machine.
When i install the patch, which you find in the ORIGINAL site "viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9414", on all machines the patch is installed successfully. The unsuccessfully test with your builded "Version 1.0.exe", "Version 1.0.1.0.exe" shows that the problem can not come because of the installAware Version on my computer, or because of a licence problem. The problem is general. Anyway i deinstalled the version on my computer, reboot and install again without, activation, and i get the same problem again. The problem comes always while the patch installation '"" is not a valid integer value'... The problem comes only with installaware 16. with the testversion 15 i never had this problem. I don*t understand, why the problem comes on some machines and on some not...Do you have any idea?


Best regards

Sarah

Dear Sarah,

honestly, It is really strange ... I'm not able to replicate the same.
I widely tested the posted packages with several OSes.

Can you please contact me at; support@installaware.com .

Regards