Download prerequisites directly from MS

[glenharvy]

Hi,

I would like to configure my project to download and install prerequisites directly from Microsoft.

Can someone please point me to a tutorial on how to do this. This must have been implemented hundreds if not thousands of times and I'm surprised there doesn't appear to be an InstallAware white paper on the subject.

I need to check for and then install SQL2005 CE as well as the .Net2 etc.

Thanks.

[joltman]

This works.


----------------------------------------------

Code: Select all

Check/Install .NET Framework (check v2.0, get result into variable NETFW)
if Variable NETFW Equals FALSE
  MessageBox: .Net framework 2.0 missing., Microsoft .net framework 2.0 is needed for this application to work. Would you like to download it now?
  if Variable DOWNLOADFW Equals YES
    Run Program http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/info.aspx?na=90&p=&SrcDisplayLang=en&SrcCategoryId=&SrcFamilyId=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&u=http%3a%2f%2fdownload.microsoft.com%2fdownload%2f5%2f6%2f7%2f567758a3-759e-473e-bf8f-52154438565a%2fdotnetfx.exe
    else
    MessageBox: .Net framework 2.0 missing., Installer will exit without installing Flexcrypt
    Terminate Installation
  end
end

-----------------------------------------------------------

Worth noticing is that you need access to MSI scripting (developer version and above). Also this downloads the english version of .net 2.0 redistrubutable. Could easily be changed for other languages.

Would be REALLY nice if installaware and microsoft could coordinate something and put webbuilds of .net framework 2.0 on the net.

[glenharvy]

Thanks very much for this - it will aslo help me learn other similar functions.

Would be REALLY nice if installaware and microsoft could coordinate something and put webbuilds of .net framework 2.0 on the net.

I am actually stunned that this common scenario is not on the "community website" somewhere - as a minimum as part of a tutorial on how to use MSIcode. I put that in quotes as there exists a "whitepaper" that states "hundered's of examples can be found there"!

I had to go to codegear.com and dig deep in there to find a video on Installaware!

The simple solution (to a beginner anyhow) would be to simply change the web address in the supplied prerequisite and have Installaware detect the extension and run accordingly.

This is becoming a rant - once again, thank you very much for your help.

[joltman]

Could you explain how to do this more in detail please, I think this sounds much better than my "hack".

[glenharvy]

The "simple solution" is my wish list.

I have no idea how to implement it.