Compressing

[Michael Vilhelmsen]

Hi

I need a program, that can compress som files into a self extracting archive!
Something like WinZIP.

The special thing is, that the self extractor should be able to extract WITHOUT any user input....

Michael

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Michael Vilhelmsen
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[REM]

"Michael Vilhelmsen"

I need a program, that can compress som files into a self extracting archive!
Something like WinZIP.

The special thing is, that the self extractor should be able to extract WITHOUT any user input....

Zip Genius has a "no user input" option and several other features,
such as create and uncompress into a subdir and run a file after
extraction. Very nice!

 

[rm]

Le Thu, 09 Jun 2005 13:24:10 +0200, Michael Vilhelmsen a écrit :

Hi
Hi,


I need a program, that can compress som files into a self extracting archive!
Something like WinZIP.

The special thing is, that the self extractor should be able to extract WITHOUT any user input....

7Zip have a -y switch for SFX installer module to specifies quiet mode for
extracting. see SFX topic in 7-zip help file...

you can also have a look at inno-setup http://www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php
or autoit scripts http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/index.php
(FileInstall command can include files into a compiled and UPXed AutoIt
script) to make such package...

@+

 

[Duddits]

Hi

I need a program, that can compress som files into a self extracting archive!
Something like WinZIP.

The special thing is, that the self extractor should be able to extract WITHOUT any user input....

Michael

If you already have a zip program then use Free Extractor.
http://www.disoriented.com/
Highly configurable, smallest self extracting files.

regards

Dud

 

[David]

Hi

I need a program, that can compress som files into a self extracting archive!
Something like WinZIP.

The special thing is, that the self extractor should be able to extract WITHOUT any user input....

Michael

Please don't send one of your files to me. I refuse to let programs
install to my C: drive unless it is absolutely necessary. I want to be
able to control everything that happens on my computer.

.... Does that make me a control freak?

 

[Michael Vilhelmsen]

Please don't send one of your files to me. I refuse to let programs
install to my C: drive unless it is absolutely necessary. I want to be
able to control everything that happens on my computer.

... Does that make me a control freak?

No ;-)

I have it the exact same way.
But some of our customers doesn't have ANY what so ever knowledge about computers, Windows, Database and alike.
Therefore it shoud be done this way.

But me myself - no way - Let me know whats happening....


Michael

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[David]

No ;-)

I have it the exact same way.
But some of our customers doesn't have ANY what so ever knowledge about computers, Windows, Database and alike.
Therefore it shoud be done this way.

Since you do not know, ahead of time, the level of your customers'
knowledge and/or expertise you should always allow the choice. I have
no objection if you insert a default answer, which is what most
software does. For unzipping your self-extractor should read the TEMP
variable and specify a subdirectory off there but it should still give
the choice. After confirmation and unzipping automatic start of the
setup program is permissible. Make sure that the setup program removes
the temporary install files when it is finished please.

 

[Michael Vilhelmsen]

Since you do not know, ahead of time, the level of your customers'
knowledge and/or expertise you should always allow the choice.

hmm - I partly agree with you.
But we have in our company taken this aproach.....
Since the use in our program has to call a specific funktion in our program, he (or she) only does this KNOWING whats he his doing.
He is given some warnings, and if he continue, there is no going back.

So the user has a choise. But after saying Yes, I will, he has no more to do.....

And every time I do an update, I take 1 copy, of the old files and this copy is always saved in the same spot, so there will never be more than one copy.
And we talk about aprox. 30 Mb.

Michael

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[David]

hmm - I partly agree with you.
But we have in our company taken this aproach.....
Since the use in our program has to call a specific funktion in our program, he (or she) only does this KNOWING whats he his doing.
He is given some warnings, and if he continue, there is no going back.

So the user has a choise. But after saying Yes, I will, he has no more to do.....

And every time I do an update, I take 1 copy, of the old files and this copy is always saved in the same spot, so there will never be more than one copy.
And we talk about aprox. 30 Mb.

Michael

30MB here, 30MB there, before you know it you have 300MB or 3000MB
cluttering up your C: drive. Sheesh! I remember when my machine only
had two 360KB floppies. My first hard drive was a whopping 5MB.

Since the C: drive is the main drive used, and often the only drive in
most systems, programmers have developed the bad habit, in my opinion,
of dropping everything onto that drive and don't care that it may be
the smallest drive in the system or, at least, not the only drive. By
ignoring the desires of the user your software can be found less
desirable and so sales suffer.

If some one foisted such a program on me it would, likely, not remain
on my system for very long. I track every installation and check both
files and registry entries. If I find too much going onto the C:
drive, without my OK, then I am probably not going to bother with that
program again.

 

[Michael Vilhelmsen]

David wrote :

30MB here, 30MB there, before you know it you have 300MB or 3000MB
cluttering up your C: drive. Sheesh! I remember when my machine only
had two 360KB floppies. My first hard drive was a whopping 5MB.

It will always only be 30Mb.
Next update will overwrite the prior backup.
So never more than 30 Mb.

Since the C: drive is the main drive used, and often the only drive in
most systems, programmers have developed the bad habit, in my opinion,
of dropping everything onto that drive and don't care that it may be
the smallest drive in the system or, at least, not the only drive. By
ignoring the desires of the user your software can be found less
desirable and so sales suffer.

True.
But the main part of our users are not very good at using Windows (and that putting it mildly!).
Its not unlikely, that when I talk to the user, I tell them to press the START button.
They do not not what I'm talking about.

So I'm stuck between given the user as much freedom as preferable, and still have users with little knowlegde being able to use the system.

The reason to making a backup at all, is that we actually have had customers who manage to delete, alter or other things the main files of our program.
And it is easyer to restore files, when a backup is available !
And also - some of our users don't even have an internet connection. Not even a dial up !
So give them an update can only be done by sending a CD.

Hence the backup.

If some one foisted such a program on me it would, likely, not remain
on my system for very long. I track every installation and check both
files and registry entries. If I find too much going onto the C:
drive, without my OK, then I am probably not going to bother with that
program again.

Here - personally - I'm of the same opinion.
But the fact is, that the main part of the users really don't care.
The program should just work.
And if it dosn't we shall just fix it. Preferable yesterday!

So as I see it, its a very fine walk between letting the user having a choise, or making my life as developer and supporter easier.
That said, I agree with you, that a program, should not fill up any drive with just temp. filer, backup files or any other things without cleaning up. At least every once in a while....

Michael

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[David]

David wrote :

It will always only be 30Mb.
Next update will overwrite the prior backup.
So never more than 30 Mb.

But THAT is what EVERY program wants.

 

[Michael Vilhelmsen]

But THAT is what EVERY program wants.

Yes - But I don't mind.
I actually like the idea of backups of files.

I have had the need to use a few times.

Michael

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Best Regards / Venlig hilsen
Michael Vilhelmsen
==========
Best Regards / Venlig hilsen

Michael Vilhelmsen

 

[David]

Yes - But I don't mind.
I actually like the idea of backups of files.

I have had the need to use a few times.

Michael

I'm not complaining about backups. I'm complaining that every program
wants to put its little bit on the C: drive without letting me choose.
Every program does not know how I have my drive(s) organised.

 

[Michael Vilhelmsen]

David explained on 15-06-2005 :

I'm not complaining about backups. I'm complaining that every program
wants to put its little bit on the C: drive without letting me choose.
Every program does not know how I have my drive(s) organised.

True.
I have actually seen programs that will only be installed on drive C.
I had a labtop at one point, which had XP installed on drive E (since drive C was a cardreader).
Pretty annoing ....
Michael

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Best Regards / Venlig hilsen
Michael Vilhelmsen
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Best Regards / Venlig hilsen

Michael Vilhelmsen