Attached is a (virtually) blank Installaware project template for updating
installations without affecting registry settings, or the system attempting
to uninstall first. It will simply delete, copy, and over-write files as you
require.
It has been designed to update existing Installaware installations, but may
well update installations done with other packages. However this has not
been tested.
Unzip into a blank Installaware project folder.
Points to note:
Files to be updated are stored using the Creatives option under User
Interface. Adding a file places a *copy* in the Installaware project folder,
so if e.g. the main application exe is updated each time, you must remove it
first from the list, then add it again. i.e. it is not called dynamically
from your vpme folder. For this example I have assumed that I am updating
the ssysuaud report.
See project properties and Build Settings to set up as appropriate for your
application.
Click on MSICode and scroll to near the bottom and you will see how the
files are updated using the ssysuaud report example. There are two files,
both stored in the Reports sub-folder of the targetdir.
After the installation I am running notepad with update.txt (also stored via
Creatives) to advise users that menu items may have been added, and they
need to give themselves permission to see any new options.
Check and adapt what dialogs have been selected, and the text for the EULA
and Readme and adapt as appropriate (readme.rtf and license.rtf)
The joy of this system is that you can update, overwrite, add any files you
like without it getting upset over the registry, attempting to uninstall etc
etc.
Sincerely
Stephen Ibbs