what installer do you use?

Developers, what installer are you using for Pocket PC software installation?

I've struggled with this and can't find anything really suitable. MSI is very flexible, but I
can't get it to work. It installs my application folder in C:\Program Files, opens the
Add/Remove Programs, but then doesn't actually install the CAB file.

The free installers I've tried are very easy to use but not very complete. I don't see any way
to help the user with Compact Framework installation or other dependencies such as OpenNETCF.

So, what are you successfully using?

--TWestley

Ginny
Mon Apr 19 14:04:11 CDT 2004

Terry,

Although it might be overkill for some projects, I use a Rapi app as a
custom installer.
--
Ginny Caughey
.Net Compact Framework MVP

"Terry Westley" <twestley@buffalo.veridian.com> wrote in message
news:kPUgc.40$GR2.60550@news.uswest.net...
> Developers, what installer are you using for Pocket PC software
installation?
>
> I've struggled with this and can't find anything really suitable. MSI is
very flexible, but I
> can't get it to work. It installs my application folder in C:\Program
Files, opens the
> Add/Remove Programs, but then doesn't actually install the CAB file.
>
> The free installers I've tried are very easy to use but not very complete.
I don't see any way
> to help the user with Compact Framework installation or other dependencies
such as OpenNETCF.
>
> So, what are you successfully using?
>
> --TWestley
>

antispam
Mon Apr 19 14:22:30 CDT 2004

On 4/19/2004 8:24 PM, Terry Westley wrote:

> Developers, what installer are you using for Pocket PC software installation?

Look at tools available on http://www.pocketpcdn.com
There is one free open source installer, as I know.

Greets

--

Mateusz £oskot
mateusz at loskot dot net

Terry
Mon Apr 19 17:46:14 CDT 2004

"Ginny Caughey [MVP]" <ginny.caughey.online@wasteworks.com> wrote in message
news:uRDIZEkJEHA.1312@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Although it might be overkill for some projects, I use a Rapi app as a custom installer.
> --
> Ginny Caughey
> .Net Compact Framework MVP

You wrote a Rapi program in which you determine which is the right cab file, copy and
execute it, modify registry where needed, etc? The thing I like about that is that you really
know everything that's happening in the install; nothing hidden by an installer program.

Care to share a sample with us or point to a program that does this sort of thing?

--TWestley

Ginny
Mon Apr 19 18:00:54 CDT 2004

Terry,

That's pretty much what I did, except I already know the platform since I'm
loading up industrial hardware. The other thing my app does is manage data
transfer to and from the devices with conflict resolution. I've heard a
rumor that somebody will be putting together a white paper showing how to do
what you want--and if it's not true, I'll do it myself. It's really not that
hard. What language(s) do you use for the desktop? If you like VB.Net or C#,
the Rapi class on OpenNetCF's communication section gives you pretty much
what you need.
--
Ginny Caughey
.Net Compact Framework MVP

"Terry Westley" <twestley@buffalo.veridian.com> wrote in message
news:XEYgc.58$GR2.103820@news.uswest.net...
> "Ginny Caughey [MVP]" <ginny.caughey.online@wasteworks.com> wrote in
message
> news:uRDIZEkJEHA.1312@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> > Although it might be overkill for some projects, I use a Rapi app as a
custom installer.
> > --
> > Ginny Caughey
> > .Net Compact Framework MVP
>
> You wrote a Rapi program in which you determine which is the right cab
file, copy and
> execute it, modify registry where needed, etc? The thing I like about that
is that you really
> know everything that's happening in the install; nothing hidden by an
installer program.
>
> Care to share a sample with us or point to a program that does this sort
of thing?
>
> --TWestley
>

Terry
Mon Apr 19 21:03:35 CDT 2004

"Ginny Caughey [MVP]" <ginny.caughey.online@wasteworks.com> wrote in message
news:OAf%23rImJEHA.528@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> That's pretty much what I did, except I already know the platform since
I'm
> loading up industrial hardware. The other thing my app does is manage data
> transfer to and from the devices with conflict resolution. I've heard a
> rumor that somebody will be putting together a white paper showing how to
do
> what you want--and if it's not true, I'll do it myself. It's really not
that
> hard. What language(s) do you use for the desktop? If you like VB.Net or
C#,

C#

> the Rapi class on OpenNetCF's communication section gives you pretty much
> what you need.

I've used a few of the OpenNetCF classes, so far. I'll take a look at the
RAPI sample program as well. Thanks.

> --
> Ginny Caughey
> .Net Compact Framework MVP

Terry
Thu Apr 29 08:01:11 CDT 2004

"Terry Westley" <twestley@buffalo.veridian.com> wrote in message
news:kPUgc.40$GR2.60550@news.uswest.net...
> Developers, what installer are you using for Pocket PC software installation?
>
> I've struggled with this and can't find anything really suitable. MSI is very flexible, but I
> can't get it to work. It installs my application folder in C:\Program Files, opens the
> Add/Remove Programs, but then doesn't actually install the CAB file.
>
> The free installers I've tried are very easy to use but not very complete. I don't see any
way
> to help the user with Compact Framework installation or other dependencies such as OpenNETCF.
>
> So, what are you successfully using?

I finally got an installer to work based on the Microsoft MSDN article
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnnetcomp/html/netcfdeployment
.asp). Even more helpful was
http://simon.kittle.info/articles/packaging_and_deploying_pocketpc_apps.htm.

This should be a lot easier than it is. I tried the Nullsoft installer but really didn't
understand what I was doing. Now that I got the msi installer to work, I may go back to trying
the Nullsoft.

--Terry