Radical way to package Adobe Reader 9
What is wrong with this one if at all?
I installed acrobat reader 9 on a PC which is not the same as my MSI creating PC.
I removed the setup folder from adobe reader 9. This saved 200 MB (which is like windows XP english installation files)
The I started the initial snapshot
after that I copied and pasted this folder to c:\program files
and from my desktop copied the shortcut to all users start menu
then I found a .pdf file in adobe subfolders, right clicked it, chose to open with acroreader32.exe etc and gave a descriptipn called PDF document.
Then I selected ACCEPT on the first usage of the reader.
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf
chose open when asked open/save
clicked no thank you to help improve this software
then I re edited the MSI to make the installation machine default and not user default.
then I created a compressed msi
Ended up with 44mb.
How does the size compare with your msi files?
Browser integration is not enabled which is what many people do.
installation took 55 seconds
I will be uploading that msi somewhere so if people want to try that on a test pc then they can
I installed acrobat reader 9 on a PC which is not the same as my MSI creating PC.
I removed the setup folder from adobe reader 9. This saved 200 MB (which is like windows XP english installation files)
The I started the initial snapshot
after that I copied and pasted this folder to c:\program files
and from my desktop copied the shortcut to all users start menu
then I found a .pdf file in adobe subfolders, right clicked it, chose to open with acroreader32.exe etc and gave a descriptipn called PDF document.
Then I selected ACCEPT on the first usage of the reader.
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf
chose open when asked open/save
clicked no thank you to help improve this software
then I re edited the MSI to make the installation machine default and not user default.
then I created a compressed msi
Ended up with 44mb.
How does the size compare with your msi files?
Browser integration is not enabled which is what many people do.
installation took 55 seconds
I will be uploading that msi somewhere so if people want to try that on a test pc then they can
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Posted by:
dvdzonenz
15 years ago
The link for brave people is http://rapidshare.com/files/205594154/acronew.msi.html
Though all you need to do is
Just copy the adobe folder from an installed PC to a new PC and it will work if you use the shortcut or open with method. There is nothing much to capture in this program.
Though all you need to do is
Just copy the adobe folder from an installed PC to a new PC and it will work if you use the shortcut or open with method. There is nothing much to capture in this program.
Posted by:
anonymous_9363
15 years ago
There is nothing much to capture in this program.Yes, you're right. No class IDs, no PDF association, no need to bother with the 20-odd other entries in HKCR, no browser integration, no requirement to be able to patch the installation with patches from the vendor. Yeh, it's a breeze.
I guess you must have an income-generating helpline phone number, in which case you can look forward to a substantially elevated income stream from those calls.
Posted by:
dvdzonenz
15 years ago
As for browser integration. I got the idea from your post. I thought if it is OK by you then it should be OK for most of us.
_____________________
I think most people turn off the wretched browser integration, don't they?
< Message edited by VBScab -- 10/1/2008 8:47:08 AM >
http://itninja.com/question/gnu,-freeware-and-shareware-programs-to-cloning0101
_______________________
I am not sure what you mean by this. I created the pdf ascociation manually and it even gives you a bright red icon for files automatically.
Rest all works here on different XP machines. I have tested it on Admin and non admin accounts. You may try copying the adobe folder to a new machine and doing what I did.
Reading, searching, printing, various other settings are working. Some settings I changed from the Edit>Preferences . That must have gone in the right registry place.
I used to use this method on earlier version of Acrobat reader. I stopped using that last year but downloaded the new reader just to try it out.
Did you even try it before dishing it out to me?
_____________________
I think most people turn off the wretched browser integration, don't they?
http://itninja.com/question/gnu,-freeware-and-shareware-programs-to-cloning0101
_______________________
I am not sure what you mean by this. I created the pdf ascociation manually and it even gives you a bright red icon for files automatically.
Rest all works here on different XP machines. I have tested it on Admin and non admin accounts. You may try copying the adobe folder to a new machine and doing what I did.
Reading, searching, printing, various other settings are working. Some settings I changed from the Edit>Preferences . That must have gone in the right registry place.
I used to use this method on earlier version of Acrobat reader. I stopped using that last year but downloaded the new reader just to try it out.
Did you even try it before dishing it out to me?
Posted by:
anonymous_9363
15 years ago
I thought if it is OK by you then it should be OK for most of us.I like to shoot small animals at random, too. Perhaps we should all take that up. [Joking, BTW, but making a point]
Did you even try it before dishing it out to me?No. 44Mb versus 108Mb (MSI + CAB) isn't a significant enough saving for me to bother screwing with a core application. It seems an utterly pointless exercise to have undertaken for so little gain and potentially a world of pain.
Posted by:
dvdzonenz
15 years ago
Update. Tested on windows 2000. SP4.
Moved c:\program files\Adobe from adober reader 9 to usb key.
copied the adobe folder to c:\ on a windows 2000 machine
renamed the folder to doggone. right clicked a .pdf file and linked it with
C:\doggone\Reader 9.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe.
clicked on EULA accepting it.
created a new user. removed him from power user and admins
logged as new user. double clicked on the .pdf file. works as expected.
At least on this occasion, registry settings are not terribly important. As for the patches I feel that they can just be copied over. Of course I will test it.
Moved c:\program files\Adobe from adober reader 9 to usb key.
copied the adobe folder to c:\ on a windows 2000 machine
renamed the folder to doggone. right clicked a .pdf file and linked it with
C:\doggone\Reader 9.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe.
clicked on EULA accepting it.
created a new user. removed him from power user and admins
logged as new user. double clicked on the .pdf file. works as expected.
At least on this occasion, registry settings are not terribly important. As for the patches I feel that they can just be copied over. Of course I will test it.
Posted by:
anonymous_9363
15 years ago
At least on this occasion, registry settings are not terribly important.I don't think I need add anything to that. Ends.
Posted by:
dvdzonenz
15 years ago
I don't know about your hobbies but as for your work I take it that you know a lot. But on the other hand I also know something.
I am not here to follow your gun or other hobbies. I got the message clearly though.
As for the key apps. The free apps/readers go in the windows image.
I am not here to follow your gun or other hobbies. I got the message clearly though.
As for the key apps. The free apps/readers go in the windows image.
Posted by:
AngelD
15 years ago
Adobe Reader 9 is already an MSI so don't make it hard for your self.
The Package KB should include the info you need: http://itninja.com/link/adobe-reader-9.x
The Package KB should include the info you need: http://itninja.com/link/adobe-reader-9.x
Posted by:
MSIPackager
15 years ago
I'm pertty sure this will come back and haunt you.. I'd recommend you take the advice you've been given, but good luck if you don't :)
Posted by:
MSIPackager
15 years ago
There really are some classic statements in this thread. Great fun :-)
Posted by:
anonymous_9363
15 years ago
There really are some classic statements in this thread....not the least of which is the one which asserts that "The free apps/readers go in the windows image." If that's the case, why bother re-packaging it?!? Surely you'd just install it on your image base machine using Adobe's MSI plus your transform(s) and.....ummmmm....that's it!
Posted by:
nheim
15 years ago
Hi nagendra,
don't know what you are trying to achieve with this work...
Looks like you get one small advantage and a lot of drawbacks....
The MSI's of Adobe Reader are that big, because the Cab files are uncompressed.
This gives the embracing NOSSO installer a better compression rate.
If you really want to get a small MSI, do the following:
Create an admin installation of the MSI.
And then use WiMakCab.vbs to create an MSI with an embedded Cab.
cscript WiMakCab.vbs AcroRead.msi Data1 /L /C /U /E
If you want to get the most out of it, you even can add the options (around line 172 or so)
".Set CompressionLevel=7"
".Set CompressionMemory=21"
to "WiMakCab.vbs", which then are written to the resulting DDF file.
And: This gives you an MSI size for the english only version of less 39,5 MB.
And the german or french one would be around 45 MB.
Much lesser work. The MSI would still be the original one and you would have learned something...
;-)
Nick
don't know what you are trying to achieve with this work...
Looks like you get one small advantage and a lot of drawbacks....
The MSI's of Adobe Reader are that big, because the Cab files are uncompressed.
This gives the embracing NOSSO installer a better compression rate.
If you really want to get a small MSI, do the following:
Create an admin installation of the MSI.
And then use WiMakCab.vbs to create an MSI with an embedded Cab.
cscript WiMakCab.vbs AcroRead.msi Data1 /L /C /U /E
If you want to get the most out of it, you even can add the options (around line 172 or so)
".Set CompressionLevel=7"
".Set CompressionMemory=21"
to "WiMakCab.vbs", which then are written to the resulting DDF file.
And: This gives you an MSI size for the english only version of less 39,5 MB.
And the german or french one would be around 45 MB.
Much lesser work. The MSI would still be the original one and you would have learned something...
;-)
Nick
Posted by:
pgiesbergen
15 years ago
Even better compression will be achieved if you add /change
".Set CompressionType = LZX"
".Set CompressionType = LZX"
Posted by:
nheim
15 years ago
Hi Patrick,
LZX is already used by setting the /L option on WiMakCab.vbs
Regards, Nick
LZX is already used by setting the /L option on WiMakCab.vbs
Regards, Nick
Posted by:
joedown
15 years ago
ORIGINAL: nheim
Create an admin installation of the MSI.
And then use WiMakCab.vbs to create an MSI with an embedded Cab.
cscript WiMakCab.vbs AcroRead.msi Data1 /L /C /U /E
If you want to get the most out of it, you even can add the options (around line 172 or so)
".Set CompressionLevel=7"
".Set CompressionMemory=21"
to "WiMakCab.vbs", which then are written to the resulting DDF file.
As usual Nick always provides very useful information. Very
appreciated. I just wish I would have known about this sooner. It
would have helped with an issue I had when deploying Acrocrap.
Posted by:
FunWithApps
15 years ago
What I have to know, is why? I seem to remember you posting for cheap packaging software, so I thought maybe that was it.
But, Adobe pusblishes their own customizer, which is free, disables all that extra adobe.com crap, and accepts the EULA, enabling silent install.
I see a part where you do not browser integration enabled.
But, in another part, you click open (after the IRS link), which is "open in the browser" (which is browser integration). Which you don't want? (just as an aside, my users had huge issues with turning that off, may want to make sure that your users know that you are turning that off).
It is smaller, but like VBScab stated, not that much smaller. If you are running stuff over dial-up or a really slow connection, could be a help, but most people aren't.
So, back to, what started this exercise, which is kinda cool from a "can it be done?" standpoint, but not so cool from a "let me get this package off my 112 item task list".
Also, did you find a nice snapshot app? If so, let us know what it is and how you liked it, since I still have some legacy apps that I could sure use that for :-)
But, Adobe pusblishes their own customizer, which is free, disables all that extra adobe.com crap, and accepts the EULA, enabling silent install.
I see a part where you do not browser integration enabled.
But, in another part, you click open (after the IRS link), which is "open in the browser" (which is browser integration). Which you don't want? (just as an aside, my users had huge issues with turning that off, may want to make sure that your users know that you are turning that off).
It is smaller, but like VBScab stated, not that much smaller. If you are running stuff over dial-up or a really slow connection, could be a help, but most people aren't.
So, back to, what started this exercise, which is kinda cool from a "can it be done?" standpoint, but not so cool from a "let me get this package off my 112 item task list".
Also, did you find a nice snapshot app? If so, let us know what it is and how you liked it, since I still have some legacy apps that I could sure use that for :-)
Posted by:
reds4eva
15 years ago
So what happens when your app that isnt really installed needs to have a critical security patch applied ?
Or any upgrades ?
FAIL.
Or any upgrades ?
FAIL.
Posted by:
anonymous_9363
15 years ago
Dean, You'll find engaging your head with the nearest wall to be more productive than continuing the discussion. Yer man has that covered - see post # 6. This stuff is too easy. Apparently.
Rating comments in this legacy AppDeploy message board thread won't reorder them,so that the conversation will remain readable.