Exe's in Folder Reference appear in Start menu

[Dan Ullman]

We are currently using SF 6.0 but I am evaling 7.0 (7.0.3.0). I have a question:

I have a folder that has a number of *.exe's. All of these programs are programs used either in support or to add new features to the software. These programs are in the %AppFolder%/Utilities.

I used Add Folder Reference to add this folder to the installation. When I ran the installation, all of these exe's appeared in the Start --> Programs --> MyPROGRAM menu. Is there anyway to keep this from happening?

dsu

[csd214]

Go to your file list; notice the column ‘Shortcut”. Double-click a file with location ‘%AppFolder%/Utilities’. Select the Shortcut tab. You have 7 options for the shortcut location. Uncheck all of them.

That was the Single File Property dialog. Try the Multiple File Property dialog. SUF70 obeys your orders.

HTH

[Dan Ullman]

Using "Folder Reference" there is no short cut reference tab. Tabs are limited to General, advanced, conditions, package and notes. If I specificly add an exe to the list that shortcut tab is beside General.


-dan

[csd214]

Sorry, have I misunderstood your question?

[Dan Ullman]

Sorry, have I misunderstood your question?

1) In the FilesTask box, click on "Add Folder Reference"
2) In the Browse for Folder, select a folder that has at least one program.exe (better yet, a folder that has more then one).
3) Double click on the line that has the Folder Reference you just added. Folder Reference Properties does not have a short-cut tab.

If you were to run this installation, all the programs in that folder reference will appear in the start --> program --> Myprogram listing

-dan

[csd214]

I see; if you use the ‘Add Folder Reference’ the property dialog has no ‘Shortcut’ tab. What about selecting File mask 'Files that do not match *.exe'?

Then select 'Add files', select Executable Files (.exe; .dll;.ocx) and highlight your exe's. You are now able to remove the automatically created shortcuts.

(I have never used the 'Add folder reference', sorry.)

[Dan Ullman]

I see; if you use the ‘Add Folder Reference’ the property dialog has no ‘Shortcut’ tab. What about selecting File mask 'Files that do not match *.exe'?

Then select 'Add files', select Executable Files (.exe; .dll;.ocx) and highlight your exe's. You are now able to remove the automatically created shortcuts.

(I have never used the 'Add folder reference', sorry.)

At which point is it easier to just add the files using add all files and folder.

This certainly isn't expected behaviour. I am not a real fan of all programs in an installation being put into Start menu to by default but if that is going to happen you should always be able to prevent it.

Thanks for your time.

-dan

[Brett]

Dan,

We will look into that for a future release. What happens if you go to Edit > Preferences and then to the Document | Adding Files section and delete the text in the "Create shortcuts for files with extensions" field? Does it still add the automatic shortcuts then? Hopefully that will solve the problem for now. The only downside is that you will have to go in and manually turn on shortcuts for files that should have them. Keep in mind that once you change the preference, it only applies to new files that are added to the project from that point forward although it should apply to folder references since they are not expanded until build time.

REF: 10925

[csd214]

The ‘Add folder reference’ is a new feature in SUF70, I think. As far as I can recall the feature was discussed in the Beta forum. To be honest I have never used this option. Maybe I’m a control freak, but I like to check that the number of files in the file list agree with the number of files in my source folders (AFD (Application Files Directory), SysLibs and so on). With the sorting (and filter) options within the file list, the calculations are very easy to perform. The shortcut column and the file version column are additional features to ensure the quality of the project.

With ‘Add folder reference’ you lose all of this and there is a disadvantage as Dan has pointed out. To add the files to the archive is the easiest part of the project work (if you have a reasonable folder structure created during the development).

The folder option was intended to secure the project; “if you forgot to add some files” (?), but how could I, with my reconcilement?

Personally I don’t want to modify the Document | Adding Files section settings even though I sometimes have to create the shortcuts with use of actions (e.g. OS dependency). (Yes, I know there is a condition tab in the file property dialog, but “I do it my way”….)

[Dan Ullman]

Add folder reference is an extemely handy feature for us. Two of our directories are unique for each installation. This was a pain in the butt in 6.0.
That said, /utilities is static enough not to be that big of a deal.
However, I would suggest that default for exe's in the Start menu be limited to %appfolder% in any case. I could easily see a situation where someone mistakenly places a program in a lower folder and does not notice it until testing. I cannot see many situations where automaticly adding things from below %appfolder% would be enough of a time saver to overcome the possibility of mistakes.
-dan

[Darryl]

Hi Dan,

I tried to replicate this problem today, however could not seem to. Just to confirm, could you try this again in a new blank project with just a folder reference to see if it still happens for you?

One possible cause is that you have those particular executable files already added to your project in which case those individual file settings will override the ones in the folder reference.

If you can still replicate it in a new project, let me know and I'll try to pin point what I was missing in my tests in order to track it down.

Thanks

Darryl