Newbie Looking for Advice.....

[NitLions]

I've been a DemoShield user for several years, but Macrovision has abandoned that software, so I'm looking for alternatives and I've been directed to AutoPlay Media Studio.

This might get a little wordy, but here is what our CD Browser currently does....

It has a Main Menu, System Requirements, Documentation, and Contact Us pages or scenes.

From the Main Menu, the System Requirements button will only be enabled conditionally on start up based on the presence or lack of some registry entries. If this button is enabled, we navigate to that page/scene from the click event. On this page, the same searches are basically conducted again and text is displayed conditionally based on lack of any of the system requirements. I would guess a property or something could be set with first search and used when actual Requirements page is displayed.

There are also two installation packages we call from buttons on the main menu. One is an .msi and the other is a Setup.exe with command line parameters. This was handled in DemoShield by calling LaunchAssociatedApplications (.msi) and LaunchApplication (Setup.exe) actions/functions/events.

We offer a Browse Contents button so the user can see the contents of the CD, download folder holding the browser and setup files, etc.

If the user chooses to click to the Documentation page, I would like to check for the presence of Adobe and enable a button to install if this application is lacking. Then, when they choose one of the available docs via button click from this page, it will be opened in the Reader.

The Contact Us page/scene simply displays address, phone, and fax as well as an email link and link to our website.

So, with that 'brief' summary, how much am I up against using AutoPlay? It's not a really complex Browser we distribute as we basically check some things for conditions, provide ability to install applications or requirements, and provide documentation.

I have downloaded the app for evaluation and plan on getting to work on gauging the changeover effort today.

Is there a Product Manual available for download?

Any HELP, points to info, etc. is GREATLY Appreciated!!

[Bruce]

AMS can handle your needs easily, that's just scratching the surface of what AMS can do for you.
Just post your questions and concerns here on the forum and you'll get a quick answer. Welcome aboard!

[TristanD]

elcome to AMS

[NitLions]

OK, if I want to check for the existence of a Registry Key when my main menu loads, should I add a Registry.DoesKeyExist action in On PreLoad or OnShow.

What does the return of this look like. I'm wondering how to code in AutoPlay so that if the key is not found, then enable the System Requirements button.

Once I get this, I can probably do all the registry searching this CD Browser will need.

Also, is there an easy way to search for Adobe on the target system. I'd like to condition a button to install this app based on the absence of it.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

I like what I see with AutoPlay so far.

[NitLions]

One other quick question....

When I install an application from a button, is there a way to initiate from the directory from which the AutoPlay.exe is calling files when distributed.

In DemoShield they had tokens like <CD> or <PATH>, where path basically resolved to the location from which the Browser was initiated.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

[Worm]

OK, if I want to check for the existence of a Registry Key when my main menu loads, should I add a Registry.DoesKeyExist action in On PreLoad or OnShow.

What does the return of this look like. I'm wondering how to code in AutoPlay so that if the key is not found, then enable the System Requirements button.

DoesKeyExist returns a true/false which is best used in if statement

if Registry.DoesKeyExist(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "Software\\Microsoft\\Windows") then
	--the key exists
	Dialog.Message("Registry Key", "Does Exist");
else
	-- the key doesn't exist
	Dialog.Message("Registry Key", "Does NOT Exist");
end

Once I get this, I can probably do all the registry searching this CD Browser will need.

Also, is there an easy way to search for Adobe on the target system. I'd like to condition a button to install this app based on the absence of it.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

I like what I see with AutoPlay so far.

Use the project's dependencies. On the menu bar, click Project, then dependencies. You can also search this forum where detecting Acrobat Reader has been hashed over many a time.

[Worm]

One other quick question....

When I install an application from a button, is there a way to initiate from the directory from which the AutoPlay.exe is calling files when distributed.

In DemoShield they had tokens like <CD> or <PATH>, where path basically resolved to the location from which the Browser was initiated.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

Look into the actions for

Folder.GetCurrent and Folder.SetCurrent

also look into the variable

_SourceFolder

_

[NitLions]

Next question....

Our install requires IIS installed. I can detect if it is installed or the required version is installed, and if not, I'd like to fire appwiz.cpl.

How can I do that from the demo via a button or other means? Would I use shell.execute?

I'm liking this stuff!

[Worm]

File.Run("control", "appwiz.cpl", "")

As for detecting IIS... I'm not sure, but I will see if I can come up with something.

[Worm]

Looks like you can use the registry for this

Here's the reference I found
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Check_II...ore_Installing

if Registry.DoesKeyExist(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "Software\\Microsoft\\InetStp") then
	--the key exists
	sMajorVersion = Registry.GetValue(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "Software\\Microsoft\\InetStp", "MajorVersion", false)
	sMinorVersion = Registry.GetValue(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "Software\\Microsoft\\InetStp", "MinorVersion", false)

	Dialog.Message("IIS Server", "The version of IIS installed is: " .. sMajorVersion.."."..sMinorVersion);
else
	-- the key doesn't exist
	Dialog.Message("IIS Required", "Please install the IIS Server.");
	File.Run("control", "appwiz.cpl", "");
end

[NitLions]

Yeah, I have the registry search for it, but I'm only using the MajorVersion value. It has to be 5 or 6.

I'll try the appwiz command you provided.

The help is QUICK and appreciated!!!

[NitLions]

[QUOTE=Worm;93714]

File.Run("control", "appwiz.cpl", "")

What does the "control" mean?

[Worm]

One thing to remember is that value returned will be a string. If you're going to compare the values you'll either need to compare to another string, or use String.ToNumber to compare as numerics.

[Worm]

If you do

File.Run("control", "", "")

It will open the Control Panel. Giving it paramaters will run the applet within the Control Panel.

[NitLions]

Do you know if I can open the Add/Remove Windows Components applet directly using this command?

Also, what would be the route to take in firing the installs I have. I want to wait until they complete before returning to broswer.

Is there any decent way to check a return value?

The reason I ask is because the first install should complete before enabling the button for the second install. What I thought about doing was maybe quickly checking for a file after the first completes. If there, I would then enable the second installation's button.

I thought this would take days to complete! I'm almost there already. I know its basic functionality, but I can always expand later when I have more time.