Windows Vista Logo

[FernandoML]

Hi,

We are trying to certificate our app to Windows Vista Logo. Therefore we are looking for a installer tool to help us. Searching them on the net I found installware and I was very impressed. I downloaded the express edition but i had a problem. I Could not be able to build a installer for a SQL DB. The system raises a error (Can not be able to connect). Another issue is related to a site that says the installware is not prepared for this certification. (http://www.metalinkltd.com/?p=74) Is it right? If it is possible could you help us to use installaware to build the msi providing a guide?

Regards

[CandiceJones]

You won't have trouble with certification - in fact we have two customers right now who are in the certification process and are being helped out by our team; they should have their logos anytime now.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure what the issue is with the SQL - you will need to provide further information on the tech support forums for troubleshooting on that one.

[RobertKozak]

You won't have trouble with certification - in fact we have two customers right now who are in the certification process and are being helped out by our team

We are also in the process and I was wondering what kind of help we can expect from your team once we become customers. I am holding off on the purchase for a week because I want to make sure that InstallAware will do what we are expecting. So far it looks good except for a few things that are downright annoying.

Robert Kozak
Chief Software Architect
Nowcom Corportation

[CandiceJones]

In the unlikely event that you are unable to get the certification automatically, we will work with you and Veritest to get the matter resolved expediently.

[RobertKozak]

Thanks. Just what I wanted to hear.

Robert Kozak

[FernandoML]

Hi Candice!

I would like to know if th Express edition could be able to this. If there is any problem. Please tell me, because I do not want to purchase the wrong version.

Thanks

[CandiceJones]

Yes certainly, all the way from Express to Studio Admin.

[thornsoft]

I too, am looking at this for Vista logo certification.
Is the InstallAware Express that comes with Codebuilder (delphi 2007) up to the task? I played with it tonight, and it seems wonderful. I couldn't figure out how to make a MSI though, and the help wasn't any help. To be fair, I don't actually know what MSI IS ALL ABOUT anyway.
My app seems fairly straightforward, with no runtime, no shared DLLs, no dependencies like ODBC or IIS.
I just need to know what version I need to buy, and what needs to be done to make it Vista-compliant MSI.
Maybe there's a Vista/MSI sample project around? I haven't looked very hard...

Also, anyone have anything good/bad to say about Keystone, and whether it's reasonable to get through certification in two months?
Thanks,
Chris

[CandiceJones]

The latest update - 6.5 - is your best choice for automatic Vista Certification.

The CodeGear edition is based off of the 6.42 version which still produces logo certifiable packages, as confirmed by Microsoft. However some test cases at Veritest are malformed, again as verified by Microsoft, and until they are corrected, you may need to spend several rounds going back and forth at Veritest and requesting exceptions.

For this reason we recommend 6.5. In the Delphi 2007 IDE, on the Welcome Page, click the InstallAware Express link under the Resources menu. That will show you how to upgrade with our special offer for Delphi 2007 users.

[thornsoft]

For this reason we recommend 6.5. In the Delphi 2007 IDE, on the Welcome Page, click the InstallAware Express link under the Resources menu. That will show you how to upgrade with our special offer for Delphi 2007 users.

Thanks!
Any thoughts on Veritest vs. Wipro? I talked to someone who had quite a bit of this round-and-round with them, with faulty testing. If I proceed with this, I don't have time to waste.

[CandiceJones]

As long as you submit an uncompressed build, and there are no ICE errors in your MSI package, you should be set with Veritest, using 6.5.

[thornsoft]

As long as you submit an uncompressed build.

That seems kind of silly. I'm in the Shareware business. People want small downloads, not big ones. I compress everything possible. This sounds like a broken process.

[CandiceJones]

Its a broken process, but its not ours, its Verisign's. Allow me to explain:

InstallAware's web builds are ideal for shareware developers like yourself - in fact, they were suggested by the shareware community when we first started development. They provide fully functional stand-alone setups which download only optional runtimes from the web when needed. So if all the runtimes are available on a reviewer's machine, nothing is downloaded from the web - unlike all other web deployment schemes out there.

So of course, one requirement of the shareware community was that, when you are indeed downloading runtimes, broken downloads should be resumed from where they are left off, aborted setups resumed without re-downloading everything, and so on.

This, however, will cause you to fail Veritest's "installer rollback" testing. You will have to go back to them and explain that this is really a feature and not the installer leaving behind files after an aborted installation. So you can go ahead and take that route, requesting an exception...or you can just submit an uncompressed build for Veritest's testing, its your choice either way.

But before calling our work silly, stop and think for a moment that there is a reason for everything we do. Unlike other companies, we put serious thought into our product, and try to deliver you the best value. We are the first vendor to provide LZMA/BCJ2 compression, which produces the smallest downloads possible. We are still the only vendor providing a runtime decompressor, so your runtimes are also the smallest out there. In the same way, we are providing the fastest way to getting the Vista Certified logos.

[thornsoft]

But before calling our work silly

I'm sorry for my ambiguous remark - I wasn't clear. I was referring to Veritest's process, and/or Microsoft's testing criteria. I commend you for making things easier on authors by making accomodations for their broken process in your latest release.

[CandiceJones]

Another clarification in that regard would be that you can also send them a single file compressed build - would probably make the logistics a lot easier. Just don't send them a web build...