7 replies to this topic

[Hiob]

Hello,

i am working with InstallShield 12 Premier and have the following problem:

I want to adjust the size of the dialogs bevore the first dialog is starting.
So i need to modify the Windows Installer Tables of my Installation at run-time.

To change dialog-Pictures seems to be no problem. But modifying the tables is still a problem. My Information-status now is, that modifying records in Installer Tables at run-time is not possible. You can add records but cant change or delete existing (rec's).

At the moment i am trying to get the View.Modify Method (requires Msi.dll)
working via custom action.
This hint comes from http://community.acr...p?t-161144.html .

Thank you very much in advance
Carsten

[Stefan Krueger]

Just curious why you need to resize the dialogs on the fly?

[Zweitze]

You can update records during an install, if I remember correctly:

- Create a select query retrieving that record.
- Call MsiViewFetch to fetch the record being deleted.
- Call MsiViewUpdate, pass that record to delete it.
- Update that record with the new values, do not touch column 0.
- Call MsiViewUpdate, pass that record to insert it temporarily.

[Hiob]

A happy new year and thanks for your help

For understanding my problem:

I make installations for different products. Each product is localized in different languages. The number of Languages can vary.
The strings of the Install-dialogs are different in length depending on the language.

All the Installdialogs shall appear in the same size.
If the reserved "string-container" on the dialog-form is to small for the string, there is sometimes the need for customizing it. When there's not enough space on the dialog-form left you have to resize the dialog-form-size. Depending on the layout this customizing have to be applied on all of the other dialog-form-elements too.

So i thought it would be nice to do it via InstallScript.
First time it will be some work to collect the layout-data for the dialogs.
"But then i will change just two constant in the script to resize all dialogs of the Installation".
For the other Dialog-Form-Elements it is just the same.

new feedback is coming soon...

thank you for you interest

[VBScab]

I think it'd be easier to use language transforms, wouldn't it?

[Stefan Krueger]

This sounds like something you want to do at desgin time/build time, not a run time. As VBScab mentioned, language transforms are typically used for this purpose.

[Hiob]

You are right and wrong

I'm just an Installer-Beginner so i really don't know what to do with language-transforms.

I searched for some info about it but i did not find anything helpful concerning my problem.

As explained i make installations for some products of my company beeing distributed in different languages.

The source of the problem is simple - the chairman and his wishes.

He want's the dialog-forms appear in corporate design (all the same size).

Now i had the first case, when increasing the space of the Information-Container on the Dialog-Form would not solve my problem. Because the area of the dialog-form doesn't contain any more space which could be used.
So I have to increase the size of the dialog to get the space. When i do this, the layout-relations of the rest of the elements are "broken". I have to adjust their positions. And because all the Dialogs shall appear in the same size i have to adjust the other dialogs and their elements too.
This is quit a lot of monotone and boring work. And the really bad thing is, it is more then possible that it will be happen in future again.

So i thought i collect the layout data from the Installer Tables and think about a concept to adjust the dialogforms via Installscript.
If the basic-size of the forms is changed (the graphic solution is the only constant -
640*480 = 1,3:1) their elements shall be adjusted automatically by the script.

So it is a Problem which must be solved at Buildtime but the solution gets not active before runtime. (Multi-language-Installation --> depending on the install-language the dialogforms will be prepared)

I hope i havent made a mosquito to an elephant.

Thanks for ideas

[VBScab]