Version 15 and Web Media Blocks

[redbyron]

Hello,

when i create a Web Based output, when running the setup from disk it constantly reports that the download is broken...

Sometimes, if i remove the application runtimes, and add again for example the Windows Installer 3.1 runtime, it works... some times it does not...

I upgraded to the latest 15.22 version of IA with no luck...

[FrancescoT]

Dear Michael,

let me verify it.

Regards

[FrancescoT]

Dear Michael,

I just tried including different runtimes for several times, but I haven't found the problem your are reporting.

Regards

[redbyron]

Hi Fransesco,

i forgot to mention that the setup project is created from a custom template.
I will try to send you the original setup project to check for yourself...

Regards,

Michael

[redbyron]

Also a key for this issue, is that i create MSI outputs...

So please try again with the "Build MSI outputs instead of EXE outputs" setting checked and inform if you managed to reproduce the problem...

Otherwise i will remove our identification from a demo project and post it on the forum....

[redbyron]

FYI

it seems that when you define a FILEBAG in the setup, and is not in the [OFFLINE CONTENT] media block (eg try the Define Setup Globals section),
when the output is msi the installer prompts for broken download links....

I think that this was my issue...

Thanx for your Help.

[FrancescoT]

Dear Michael,

Excuse me, but It is not very clear to me what you are reporting with your last reply.

Are you building a WEB BASED EXE?

I don't understand what you mean with;

it seems that when you define a FILEBAG in the setup, and is not in the [OFFLINE CONTENT] media block (eg try the Define Setup Globals section), when the output is msi the installer prompts for broken download links....

Regards

[redbyron]

Hi Francesco,

the issue is that if you create a web based setup, set the MSI_ALL compiler variable to true, and you define a FILEBAG in the eg Define Setup Globals region,
then when you run the installation it displays a message box that the web media is broken and prompts you to retry or resume the download with no success.

I moved the FILEBAG definition to the [Offline Content] web media, and the installation works as expected.

[FrancescoT]

Dear Michael,

I'm sorry, but I'm not able to replicate your issue.
I have executed several verifications producing a MSI package ... Web Media Blocks are installed correctly.

Regards

[redbyron]

Hi Francesco.

I have attached a zip file reproducing the behavior i described previously...

There are two folders with the same IA project, the [OK] folder and the [PROBLEM] one.
The setup in the [PROBLEM] folder does not work.
In the [OK] folder works...

The only difference is that i moved the following lines from "[DEFINE REGION: Define Setup Globals]" to "[OFFLINE CONTENT]"

Set Variable FILEBAG to
Define File Bag : #BINARIES#\InstallApp.config, get runtime location of files into variable FILEBAG

[FrancescoT]

Dear Michael,

Ok, now it is clear what happens.

if you have a look at IA documentation about Web Media Block you will find that:
"... Each media block is effective until a subsequent media block is encountered."

This means that each installation command which installs files on the target system, will place those files in the named source media block.

In your case, you are including your File Bag within the same Web Media Block for Windows Installer runtimes.
Because the Windows Installer runtimes already stores the required files as File Bag, this can generate some errors to correctly identify the included Files, if you include your File Bag with the same Web Media Block.

So if you want to distribute your File Bag with a Web Media Block, you should declare a New Web Media Block for the given file, as follow;

Code: Select all

[DEFINE WEB MEDIA Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1]
  Include Script: setupmsi31
[DEFINE WEB MEDIA Myblock]
Set Variable FILEBAG to
Define File Bag : #BINARIES#\InstallApp.config, get runtime location of files into variable FILEBAG


or alternatively, you have to explicitly place your File Bag out of the previous Web Media Block, as illustrated below;

Code: Select all

[DEFINE WEB MEDIA Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1]
  Include Script: setupmsi31
[OFFLINE CONTENT]
Set Variable FILEBAG to
Define File Bag : #BINARIES#\InstallApp.config, get runtime location of files into variable FILEBAG


In addition, instead of using a File Bag to store temporarily your file, you could add it to SUPPORT File list and to access it at runtime, use the SUPPORTDIR pre-defined script variable.

Regards

Regards

[redbyron]

Thank you,
now it is clear what was happening.

I was using the SUPPORTDIR variable, but i don't know how i could add the file using the #BINARIES# compiler variable,
is there a way to do it with msi scripting?

thank you in advance,

[FrancescoT]

Dear Michael,

unfortunately, it is not possible.

Regards