InstallAware

I'm evaluating IA and trying to bang out a copy of our existing installer and I've been running into some weird problems. My initial project somehow became corrupt and I had to restart. Now that I've added a bunch of files, services and service actions, my compiles no longer work. When I try to do a build, I get the following error:

"Error during build: At least one Web Media Block must be defined before installation commands that may require media"

This is strange to me as I've always been compiling a single file EXE without any problems. I have no intention of using web blocks.

I've searched this forum and the KB and there is nothing related.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Hi Bill,

Sounds like a web media block has been enabled (or disabled) and some remnants are present in the MSI Code.

Have a look through and see if you can spot the header, and remove it. Then you should be good to go.

Thanks for the reply. Forgive my ignorance, but what would I be looking for? A previous reply said to look through the code, and using the group listbox I selected Web Blocks. It had two entries, each named Offline. I delete those Offline Content tags so there is nothing under Web Blocks in MSICode, and the design view Web Media Blocks object has no entries. The compile still fails with the same error.

Hi Bill,

Interesting ... that should have killed them off.

If you want, zip up your project folder and fire it over and I'll have a look when I get a minute a bit later ([email protected]).

Sent, thanks.

Bill,

I've found the problem - you have also removed the [OFFLINE CONTENT] markers - you will need to re-add these above your Install Files lines, as well as the DIFx lines.

This should fix things for you.

But it was giving me the same error when those markers were there. I'll add them now and follow-up in a few minutes.

Stupid question #17: How do I add those markers back in? I can't seem to find a correct object. They aren't comments, are they?

Hi Bill,

You are right - sorry, I should have said!

The easiest way of doing it is to open a new project quickly, select the line and copy it. Then reload your project and hit paste where needed.

OK, I cut & pasted the [OFFLINE CONTENT] line back in just before the Install Files actions and just before the DIFx Install actions. Same error occurs on build.

I know I can blow it all away and start again, but I've done that once already when my first project kept installing into the \\Program Files (x86)\\ folder even though it was set to be an x64 installer. Recreating the project fixed that one, but I'm starting to wonder about the fragility of the IA project files in general. I've got 8 years of MSI experience (I was an Altiris Forum Advisor for their Wise series of install builders) and am quite comfortable using the tables directly, but I'm not doing anything magical here and I've come across two weird glitches.

Your help is very much appreciated. It may even get you guys a sale if I can work past this by the end of your half-off sale tomorrow.

Bill,

Can you send me your mia and mpr files that you currently have? I'll take another look ...

Your suggestion to add the missing [OFFLINE CONTENT] tags to both the install actions and uninstall actions has worked. How they got to be missing in the first place is still a mystery, but at least I can move forward.

Thanks for your help. It was much appreciated.