Software Deployment

ORIGINAL: dandirk
Sorry if this is a fairly beginer question about the AdminStudio products...
Is there a way to add my own predefined folder paths used in the Files and Folders section of InstallShield apps?
I would like to start moving user specific config files for all my packaged apps to a network location so reinstallations/reimages will not require a complex backup proceedure.
Seems making a predefined folder could be an easy way to move user specific files to the network through the repackaging process.


Dan, hello and welcome.
In a word, no. That is, there is nothing built-in to the MSI to copy or backup files to the network. Windows Installer is built to install files on the local PC. You could definitely do a local file backup using the DuplicateFile table from within the MSI. Then handle the network backup separately.

That said, it is theoritically possible to accomplish a network backup with a custom action (VBSCRIPT?) of some sort, but tricky. I"ve used it to actually copy date FROM the network but not backup files to it. If I can dig up the code I might post it.

However, I'd tend to use the DuplicateFile table and then handle the backup separately.

Thanks for the reply... Too bad.

I wasn't intending on making back ups of the data, quite the opposite. I was plaining on maniplulating my packages/MSTs to create any user specific files/directories onto a network drive so back up of the data would NOT be needed but rather preempted as it were. Also these files would then follow the user if they were to use another workstation or if a reimage was needed the tech wouldn't have to find all the data to back up

Example would be Palm Desktop, I am trying to figure out a way to make my MST create the user profiles on a network drive instead of the default location in root of the installdir.

From your response though we will have to manipulate regkeys/storage locations after the install through Zenworks. This is workable but more complex factoring auto-repair etc. We just would rather try and do it in the package if at all possible.

So I assume that there is no way for an msi to manipulate an MSI to create files/folders on a network resource?

Keep reading and reading and hoping something sinks in... I have a hard head but once somethings in there it doesn't get out lol...

Could I possibly force installation of files to a network location by using custom items in the properties table?

I do not want to install the whole app on the network just reroute say a datastorage (e.g. Palm Desktop user folders and dat file) folder...

Create a property in the property table called "COMPANYXDATA" and set it for the network drive in my case H:\donotdelete

Then could I change parent directory setting to "COMANYXDATA" to which ever table that creates the default data folder by the app?

Am I waaaay of base here?

The set-up you want will almost inevitably depend on the applications. Some will let you define a user-specific path (and then ignore it in some cases...LOL) whereas others resolutely refuse to consider that any sane person would want their data anywhere other than on a local hard drive.

There's no real reason why you couldn't set a property in your project templates with its value set to the network location and then tailor each app to use that property as appropriate.

Another solution might be redirected folders. See here http://www.windowsdevcenter.com/pub/a/windows/2004/08/24/folder_redirect.html and here http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Profile-Folder-Redirection-Windows-Server-2003.html

Thanks VB I will try the property approach... I am a noob so guessing there will be some bumps along the way.

Thanks for the links, we are a Novell shop though, both a blessing and a curse.

The two apps I currently am having trouble with are Palm Desktop 4.1.4 and pcAnywhere 12.1, we have been previously able to just edit registry/config files but these 2 apps create the needed data store reg keys/files after first run of the application so they are not "easily" manipulated through StudioAdmin's Files and Folders or registry section. Thought I could do the changes in the tables...

We can manipulate the folders/reg keys with Zenworks after install and first use but I am just trying to figure out how to pre-edit the needed keys so the packager creates the ones we want right at first use of the app...

And here I was thinking... oh I just need to find x key and change it in the package. Elusive buggers lol

The two apps I currently am having trouble with are Palm Desktop 4.1.4 and pcAnywhere 12.1
For "Palm Desktop" maybe my notes on the below thread can help on the way.
http://www.appdeploy.com/messageboards/fb.asp?m=28126

Hope it helps

/Kim

Reading VB's followup I have to back up a little. Sure, you could design an installation that puts files on the network (indeed, SourceDir, a standard property, is commonly a network location) and admin installs commonly will install files to the network. That said, standard client installations provide no standard way that I know of to Install files to the network.

VB mentioned redirectiion, which is a good idea. No reason you can't set up a property with a network locaion, \\server\%username%\folder, then have that created in a shortcut.... that would be the user data folder.