Installing ActiveX controls
Lately, I have needed to deploy and install more and more activeX controls. Most venders have a cab file that I extract the dlls, ocxs, ect. Then copy and register these files as needed. I have seen issues where system files are being replaced with the vendor package to the point where the device requires the OS CD to replace the changed files with original ones.
Is there a guideline or documentation on how to best package and deploy ActiveX controls using SMS?
Googling gets me a lot of info but no real "best practices".
Thanks
Jim
Is there a guideline or documentation on how to best package and deploy ActiveX controls using SMS?
Googling gets me a lot of info but no real "best practices".
Thanks
Jim
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Posted by:
AngelD
15 years ago
What I usually do is to repackage them to an MSI.
If there is file-replacement then verify the version and if this file is updated by a hotfix, sp or alike and if so maybe deploy that instead.
You should also be able to install the file in a different location and make the proper changes in the registry (for the COM component registration info) as they point to where the file is located. If the already existing system file is registered I would use some more time to investigate why this is done.
Can't say I've stumble upon much ActiveX controls that replaces system file if not from Microsoft, do you have any examples?
If there is file-replacement then verify the version and if this file is updated by a hotfix, sp or alike and if so maybe deploy that instead.
You should also be able to install the file in a different location and make the proper changes in the registry (for the COM component registration info) as they point to where the file is located. If the already existing system file is registered I would use some more time to investigate why this is done.
Can't say I've stumble upon much ActiveX controls that replaces system file if not from Microsoft, do you have any examples?
Posted by:
jbrunnqu
15 years ago
I wish we had inhouse expertise in packaging but we don't so I am working with Vendor supplied controls. A recent one wanted to replace comcat.dll with an older version, amoung others.
Posted by:
WayneB
15 years ago
G'day Kim,
Along the same lines, and I don't mean to hijack this thread.
But if you have a custom ocx installed to Downloaded Program Files, is it ok to relocate it to another folder and change the com entries in the registry to point to the new location? Should you have to do a snapshot if it is installed by a website portal or is a wisecomcapture enough to gather all the required information?
I've tried finding out about the Downloaded Program Files folder but haven't been able to find a definitive explaination of what type of folder it is except that it is a system folder. I can install files to it but the file doesn't appear in the explorer gui, only from the cmdline dir. and I'm not sure whether it has registered correctly.
Also can system searches be performed for files in this folder?
If anyone has further info on this, I would appreciate it.
Regards
Wayne
Along the same lines, and I don't mean to hijack this thread.
But if you have a custom ocx installed to Downloaded Program Files, is it ok to relocate it to another folder and change the com entries in the registry to point to the new location? Should you have to do a snapshot if it is installed by a website portal or is a wisecomcapture enough to gather all the required information?
I've tried finding out about the Downloaded Program Files folder but haven't been able to find a definitive explaination of what type of folder it is except that it is a system folder. I can install files to it but the file doesn't appear in the explorer gui, only from the cmdline dir. and I'm not sure whether it has registered correctly.
Also can system searches be performed for files in this folder?
If anyone has further info on this, I would appreciate it.
Regards
Wayne
Posted by:
AngelD
15 years ago
Hi Wayne,
There should be no problem "relocate" the files and change "the com entries in the registry".
"Should you have to do a snapshot if it is installed by a website portal or...?"
Yes, I would capture this as it adds some IE registry entries not given through wisecomcapture as it's IE that adds those.
Open the "C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\desktop.ini" file and add a ; character infront of the "CLSID={88C6C381-2E85-11d0-94DE-444553540000}" line.
Then go to the folder and you should be able to see the .inf files related to the installed ActiveX components.
This folder most often store the INF-files for ActiveX components installed through Internet Explorer.
I'm not sure about system search but don't think it should be a problem as it's only (I guess) hidden through Windows Explorer.
There should be no problem "relocate" the files and change "the com entries in the registry".
"Should you have to do a snapshot if it is installed by a website portal or...?"
Yes, I would capture this as it adds some IE registry entries not given through wisecomcapture as it's IE that adds those.
Open the "C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\desktop.ini" file and add a ; character infront of the "CLSID={88C6C381-2E85-11d0-94DE-444553540000}" line.
Then go to the folder and you should be able to see the .inf files related to the installed ActiveX components.
This folder most often store the INF-files for ActiveX components installed through Internet Explorer.
I'm not sure about system search but don't think it should be a problem as it's only (I guess) hidden through Windows Explorer.
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