[CD-ROM version of WPI]

Nevermind this post.

Started all over again and added stuff bit by bit.

I shouldnt have copied over generate.js

[CD-ROM version of WPI]

Hello,

if anyone here can help me now would be appreciated.

I downloaded 4.3.5 and copied across my working network environment version of generate.js, useroptions.js and config.js

Made following change to wpi.cmd

set wpipath=%~dp0

to

set wpipath=%cdrom%

Changed file paths in WPI to be %cdrom% instead of the network location.

Burnt to a CD, run WPI - starts up fine.

Select something to install and hit 'Begin Install' but nothing happens

If i deselect the software program, hit 'Begin Install' it then goes to the RunOnceEx window with the item i unchecked then doesnt even install it.

Any ideas?

[resolution is messed up]

@echo off&setlocal enableextensions

REM put the sharename and the application directory into variables
set share=\\CFOS\prai_software$
set appdir=
ECHO Server software share connecting to is: %share%\%appdir%

REM detect the first free drive letter and set it to drvlet
for %%a in (c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z) do (
fsutil fsinfo drivetype %%a:|find "No such Root Directory">nul 2>&1&&call :check %%a:
)

ECHO Mapped network drive letter is: %drvlet%
ECHO Mapped application directory is: %Appdir%

REM Connect the softwareshare to drvlet
net use %drvlet% %share%

REM Write the app-path to the regsitry
REG ADD HKCU\SOFTWARE\WPI /v SWPATH /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%drvlet%" /f

REM Determine the WPI startup path.
set wpipath=%~dp0

REM Font installation - the smooth and customizable way.
start /wait %wpipath%\Tools\fonts\fontinstaller.exe

REM Force resolution to needed size for wpi interface.
REM start %wpipath%\Tools\VideoChanger.exe 1024x768x32@85 -q

REM Special registry tweak needed.
regedit /s "%wpipath%\common\wpi.reg"

REM Make WPI directory the current directory.
for /f "delims=: tokens=1" %%i in ("%wpipath%") do %%i:
cd "%wpipath%"

ECHO Successfully connected! 
ECHO Starting WPI please wait ...

REM Start WPI and wait for its end
start /wait WPI.hta

REM Display completed message
echo Display WPI completed message
notepad.exe "%drvlet%\WPI_4.3.5\Misc\WPI_Completed.txt"

REM Delete the Key from the registry
REG DELETE HKCU\Software\WPI /f

REM Disconnect the network drive
NET USE /DELETE %drvlet%

endlocal&goto :eof
:check
if not defined drvlet set drvlet=%1&goto :eof

As you can see ive commented out the video changer line.

[resolution is messed up]

hey,

yep its set to 800x600 but it always defaults to 1024x768.

So on a screen with 1024x768 resolution it doesnt run in a window mode.

If i use WPI on a screen that is 1280x1024 is changes it to 1024x768.

weird huh...

[resolution is messed up]

Is there any way for WPI to use the resolution that is currently being used by the computer ?

Ive taken out the videochanger line in the wpi.cmd but it still always defaults to 1024x768 even on computers that are 1280x1024. Annoying having to change the resolution back and organise all the icons properly.

[How does works the new user option "configlist"]

cheers dude.

I did a quick test with the new version and works all sweet.

Ill copy over thoes files and continue using the new version

One last question, i have modified generate.js, is it ok to also copy this over from my current WPI to the new WPI version?

Rather, have you made changes to that file so i would have to add my own changes to the new version.

edit: nevermind i just made the changes to the new generate.js

[How does works the new user option "configlist"]

mmm month or so ago ?

Which file do i need to replace/redownload?

[How does works the new user option "configlist"]

Hello,

I am having the same issue.

In options i have the following in List of configuration options:

AL,Test1,Test2

I then enter in Configurations for a software item the following:

AL

When i save and then select the AL item from the drop down list on the main page nothing gets selected.

Been at this for a couple of hours now trying to follow this thread without success

[How to install programs that require activation?]

Quick update to this thread -

Search for Office Resource Kit on the microsoft site. You can download the kit which will allow you to create an MST file based on an administrator msi you create. That way you dont have to enter any CD key and then the MST file contains all the options you selected.

Now if only all msi based packages had a resource kit to create an MST file

[Problems with installshield on wpi 4.3.5]

Ive also found that if i am using the -f1/-f2 switches i need to specify both when running from WPI.

If i run manually i can use just -f2 and it picks up the .iss file itself.

[Howto run WPI from a network share]

Question:

Since we are running WPI from a network share and the WPI files are stored on the server.

Can 2+ people be using the same WPI folder/files at the same time or will this cause problems.

[Installshield Silent install not installing]

Hello all,

Ok i have created a setup.iss file using -r switch.

Use the following to run the install:

Setup.exe -s -f1"C:\setup.iss" -f2"C:\setup-hraccess.log"

The setup log gives the following:

[installShield Silent]

Version=v3.00.000

File=Log File

[ResponseResult]

ResultCode=0

The result code means its successfull right although the program does not get installed

Any ideas/tips as i thought it would be a very straigt forward process with an application using Installshield.

[I've lost everything.]

Ive had this work before. Try wrapping it in Paper towel, put in ziplock baggie (unclosed to let moisture out) then pop it in freezer for about 3-4 hours. Take out of freezer and plug in to computer frozen. Some times when a HDD gets too hot it will fuse the heads to the disks. What this does, if the drive still powers up but wont spin, is makes the disks srink a little and beaks the heads free. Like i said, it worked for me before.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

rofl that sounds so dodgy id try it for a laugh

Sorry to hear your loss though, first rule of WPI is backup, the second rule of WPI is backup !!

[Howto run WPI from a network share]

Nice solution.

As i said im still new to this and Doc's guide was the only real guide in how to get WPI to work from a network share.

I am still not sure how you are kicking of WPI?

Do you do a start->run to where WPI is located and run it from there ?

[Howto run WPI from a network share]

Thanks for updating the psot Doc.

Maybe edit the title to remove 3.6 as you have stated in the post it has been tested on 3.6 and 4.3.5

People might not look at it as 3.6 is an older WPI version.

I will try the new code out tonight and report back on my success

Love your work !

[Howto run WPI from a network share]

Can you explain your method of connecting to/installing from a network share as i am new to WPI and this was the only clear explanation of running WPI from a network share.

The benefits of this i see are:

a) You map to a network path where wpi is located. It does not necessarily have to be the same server or directory as your software installs are located. This is good if you want to restrict who has access to wpi and software install folders.

B) WPI handles the connection to the software installer share.

c) WPI does not have a hardcoded mapped drive location. You use the variable %SWPATH%

If your method does all of the above i apolgise as my knowledge is still small on these topics but ive learnt alot from my research on the net and from these forums!

A guide for noobies explaining the different network share installation methods would be great i think!

[Howto run WPI from a network share]

hiya,

I blame it on 4hrs of sleep and 15hr days !!!

Ive been running wpi.cmd and wpi.hta like it was the same thing.

It just clicked that wpi.cmd is calling wpi.hta and not vice versa.

No wonder ive had so many problems !!!

It may have been worth it as i think its important to add to the original post that you need to map any drive to where WPI is located and run the wpi.cmd from there.

If you use start->run to connect to the shared drive it will give you errors.

Now your seperation of WPI and appplication storage makes much more sense !!

Thanks for all your patience in this thread. You will now be seeing alot of posts from me regarding full software automation/unattended installs

[How to install programs that require activation?]

hello again,

I used the /a switch and was able to create a package that doesnt need a serial key entered.

Now the next question is how to create an unattended package that allows you to have a typical install version so package a1 and then a second package which is not a typical install.

eg. when you create the package it remembers what options you chose to create it and then creates the unattended package.

Hope that makes sense !

[Howto run WPI from a network share]

Can you tell me the code which is assigning a drive letter to the variable %drvlet%

ta.

[Howto run WPI from a network share]

Hey again,

I am using Windows XP english version.

If i change:

fsutil fsinfo drivetype %%a:|find "No such Root Directory">nul

to

fsutil fsinfo drivetype %%a:|find "No such Root Directory">null

(notice the extra l on null)

If i dont include the extra l the file doesnt get produced. Should a file named 'null' and 'call' be produced when you run the command?

---

I still dont understand what this part of the command is doing:

2>&1&&call :check %%a:

Is that even right with all the ampersands in there? (&1&&)

---

I get this for the fsutil command:

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>fsutil fsinfo drivetype x:

x: - No such Root Directory

---

Hey doc, still havent received your wpi.cmd via email yet. Did you send ?

[How to install programs that require activation?]

Look here http://www.appdeploy.com/packages/browse.asp?cat=all

Looks like most of them can be deployed by creating admin installs.

Create a Admin-Setup:

setup.exe /a

Fill out all informations (Company, CD-Key)

After this installation you can use the created folder

for a silent installation:

msiexec.exe /i "drive:\path\visio.msi" /qn

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks dude i will try it out tonight !

Any help/tips with the other thread ?

[How to install programs that require activation?]

We really can't help at all without the names of apps you are trying to install.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry i didnt know if there was an easy way to do it with .msi installation method.

The programs in question are MS applications, specifically:

MS Access 2002

Visio 2002

Visio 2003

Project 2002

Project 2003

We use a site license for these applications so if the serial key entering part of the install could be included in the unattended installation of the application would save alot of time. Rather than having to open the program after installation and enter the key in.

[Howto run WPI from a network share]

The function FindSWPath() reads your softwarepath out of the following regkey: HKCU\Software\WPI\SWPath. So in your WPI.cmd you have to ensure, that you write the SWpath to the registry, which is done in my example with the following line

REG ADD HKCU\SOFTWARE\WPI /v SWPATH /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%drvlet%\%Appdir%" /f

Hope this helps, if not, don't hesitate to ask again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hi doc,

I changed your line to:

REG ADD HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\WPI /v SWPATH /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%drvlet%\%Appdir%" /f

I can now see the reg key appear in the registry location as expected although WPI still seems to do nothing when i click begin install.

Any other ideas?

Could you send me a copy/post on here your WPI files?

edit:

I ran the following in its own .cmd file:

REM put the sharename and the application directory into variables
set share=\\IBM-99TWCXV\software$
set appdir=

REM detect the first free drive letter and set it to drvlet
for %%a in (c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z) do (
fsutil fsinfo drivetype %%a:|find "No such Root Directory">nul 2>&1&&call :check %%a:
)

REM Connect the softwareshare to drvlet
net use %drvlet% %share%

REM Write the app-path to the regsitry
REG ADD HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\WPI /v SWPATH /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%drvlet%\%Appdir%" /f

ECHO done

It populates the registry key SWPATH with the contents following:

" /f

That aint right ?!

edit 2:

I guess the question is, what should be the correct contents of the SWPATH key in registry as it seems the automatic assigning of a drive letter isnt working in my situation. A workaround is to hard code it but id rather use your l337 method of dynamic drive assignment

edit 3:

sorry for so many edits but im sure this is the final thing that is stopping it from working. When running the above code for each iteration of the loop i receive:

The system cannot find the batch label specified - check

[Howto run WPI from a network share]

Hi there,

I'm sorry, but I missed one line:

In the generate.js in the function replpath(u) you've got to insert the following line:

swdir = FindSWPath();

With this it should work.

Thanks for the hint. I edited my first post.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hiya,

Thanks for the reply.

I thought that was it but i cannot get it to work that way either using that function.

If i specify a static drive like so:

swdir = "W:";

WPI will install the application correctly.

If i use:

swdir = FindSWPath();

doesnt work ...

Any ideas, something in my wpi.cmd ?

Cheers,

Krim.

[How to install programs that require activation?]

Sorry to dig up an old thread but i am facing the same issue as the OP.

I have made an unattended installation using msiexec. The application installs successfully but it needs a serial key entered.

Is the best practice to use something like AutoIt to then enter the serial key after the application is installed or is there a way to make the entering of the serial key part of the unattended install.

I havent found anything regarding serial key entering or setting different options for an msi package such as MS access 2002. Is there a way to provide a type of answers file like InstallShield?

At the moment my understanding is that you use a combination of autoit and a /qb switch for the basic interface of the unattended install to choose options.

Can anyone help out with these questions?