Suggestions for future versions (September 30, 2009)

[NewsArchive]

Another frequently asked question is whether it's still possible to make
suggestions for future SetupBuilder versions.

YES, OF COURSE!

We always welcome your feedback. Tell us about features you'd like to see
added to SetupBuilder, or let us know about the problems you face. You can
post your requests, comments, or ideas here or send an email to our Support
email address.

Adding new functionality is a priority-driven processes. If we receive
multiple requests for the same feature then chances are that it might get a
higher development priority. For example, Larry Sand voted for the "LAN
Update" feature -- during the last nine hours we received 12 more votes for
"LAN Update". The more votes, the higher priority it'll get as a future
enhancement.

--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910

SetupBuilder is Windows installation -- "point. click. ship"

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

[NewsArchive]

Just don't count any votes submitted from Chicago.
They let the dead vote there <g>

Jane

[NewsArchive]

Early and often.

--
Russell B. Eggen
www.radfusion.com
Clarion developers: www.radfusion.com/devs.htm

[NewsArchive]

>Another frequently asked question is whether it's still possible to make
>suggestions for future SetupBuilder versions.
>
>YES, OF COURSE!

If you don't get many suggestions it's because many of us are
perfectly happy with SetupBuilder already. In my uses of SetupBuilder,
it has seemed "complete" since version 6.

Steve

--
Neural Planner Software Ltd www.NPSL1.com

[NewsArchive]

> Just don't count any votes submitted from Chicago.
> They let the dead vote there <g>

<BG> ;-)

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

> If you don't get many suggestions it's because many of us are
> perfectly happy with SetupBuilder already. In my uses of SetupBuilder,
> it has seemed "complete" since version 6.

Thanks so much for your kind words, Stephen!!

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Not that I am trying to get this done like tomorrow, but well over 500
people have asked me if support for installing to mobile devices can be
added. I would require WM5 and WM6 covered.

But seriously, I use an installer now which is not Vista compliant and a bit
scrappy. If SB could install to a mobile device that would be great.

What do you think Friedrich?

Thanks

John Fligg

[NewsArchive]

Hi John,

> Not that I am trying to get this done like tomorrow, but well over 500
> people have asked me if support for installing to mobile devices can be
> added. I would require WM5 and WM6 covered.
>
> But seriously, I use an installer now which is not Vista compliant and
> a bit scrappy. If SB could install to a mobile device that would be
> great.
>
> What do you think Friedrich?

Thank you for your vote!

We have internal SB7 release schedules for the next few months (until the
end of January 2010) and the "Mobile Support" feature is not on the release
list (yet). The more votes, the higher priority the feature will get as a
future enhancement.

By the way, we started development of the "SetupBuilder Mobile Device
Deployment (SBMDD)" feature for SB7 in mid-2007, but due to lack of interest
we did not integrate it into any alpha or beta release and (temporarily)
stopped working on it.

Friedrich

--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910

SetupBuilder is Windows installation -- "point. click. ship"

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

[NewsArchive]

I expect this need will grow in demand once Clarion.NET templates and code
generator is released to the public.

--
Russell B. Eggen
www.radfusion.com
Clarion developers: www.radfusion.com/devs.htm

[NewsArchive]

I agree 100%. If you look around, there is a serious lack of dedicated
installer software for the Mobile device. All I have seen rely heavily on
using zip files supplied by other manufacturers of SDK's and the like.

For instance, I use Satellite Forms for my mobile development. The installer
I use was the only half decent one I could find. Satellite Forms themselves
recommend sending the client a WinZip file of their SDK for the client to
install manually.

So there is I am sure a serious market opportunity here Friedrich not to
mention Russ's contribution.

I did buy SB6 originally because of the promise of Mobile support. It was
not my only reason so would be disappointed if this did not come to fruition
sooner than later. Even so I am so pleased I purchased it anyway <g>

HTH

John

[NewsArchive]

> I agree 100%. If you look around, there is a serious lack of dedicated
> installer software for the Mobile device. All I have seen rely heavily on
> using zip files supplied by other manufacturers of SDK's and the like.

Thing is, most mobile installs happen by placing files into a specific
folder (my device, that sort of thing) and the install occurs during the
next mobile device sync.

SB7 can do that stuff today.
--

Mark Riffey
http://www.rescuemarketing.com/blog/
If Guy Kawasaki and the staff of the Wall Street Journal,
Fast Company & Business Week read it, maybe you should too.

Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MarkRiffey
Friend me on Facebook at http://facebook.com/MarkRiffey

[NewsArchive]

Erm yes - but you have to get that folder onto the clients machine surely.

John

[NewsArchive]

> Erm yes - but you have to get that folder onto the clients machine surely.

Installing the mobile driver/sync software from the mobile vendor does
that. You just need to find it and put stuff in it.
--

Mark Riffey
http://www.rescuemarketing.com/blog/
If Guy Kawasaki and the staff of the Wall Street Journal,
Fast Company & Business Week read it, maybe you should too.

Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MarkRiffey
Friend me on Facebook at http://facebook.com/MarkRiffey

[NewsArchive]

> I expect this need will grow in demand once Clarion.NET templates and code
> generator is released to the public.

I think we'll continue to work on the SetupBuilder Mobile Device Deployment
(SBMDD) feature soon. BTW, when we (temporarily) stopped development of
SBMDD, there was already some cool functionality included. It lets you
install Windows Mobile applications from the desktop through ActiveSync. It
can even install the NET CF on the device before it installs the mobile
device application.

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Thanks Friedrich.

John Fligg

[NewsArchive]

John,

>
> Thanks Friedrich.
>

If possible, it would be great if you could test the SBMDD feature when
available. And please let me know what functionality you need to make your
Mobile deployments as painless as possible. We can then check what we
already have, what is on the drawing board and what is still missing.

Thanks,
Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

I sure will Friedrich. But please bear in mind that not all my clients, as
with Russ, do not use Active Sync.

Even though I use Outlook I do not use Active Sync as I do not use my mobile
device for anything other than testing.

So I would prefer a solution that can install without Active Sync?

Anyway will try it all out and get back to you.

Thanks

John

[NewsArchive]

Hi John,

> I sure will Friedrich. But please bear in mind that not all my clients, as
> with Russ, do not use Active Sync.
>
> Even though I use Outlook I do not use Active Sync as I do not use my
> mobile device for anything other than testing.
>
> So I would prefer a solution that can install without Active Sync?
>
> Anyway will try it all out and get back to you.

I forgot to mention this. Of course, the SetupBuilder Mobile Device
Deployment (SBMDD) feature supports standard "over the air" installers
(OTA). Such an OTA (a CAB file) is always created if you build a Windows
Mobile Package.

When you deploy on the desktop, you're wrapping the OTA file in a
SetupBuilder .exe installer, which passes the CAB to ActiveSync and
ActiveSync then passes the CAB to the device. The advantage of such a
Mobile-aware SetupBuilder .exe installer is that it can communicate with the
Mobile trough ActiveSync or Windows Mobile Device Center (e.g. to check if
the NET CF is already there and if not, install it).

Friedrich

--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910

SetupBuilder is Windows installation -- "point. click. ship"

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

[NewsArchive]

BTW, a Mobile Package that is installed through ActiveSync or Windows Mobile
Device Center is called "Desktop Setup File" in the SetupBuilder Mobile
Device Deployment (SBMDD) feature and a Mobile Package that can be
downloaded onto Pocket PC directly (e.g. WiFi) or is deployed via SD Cards
is called an "Over The Air Setup File" in SBMDD.

--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910

SetupBuilder is Windows installation -- "point. click. ship"

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

[NewsArchive]

Thanks Friedrich

I also forgot that I would require a "Over The Air Setup File" as I use that
now. I offer the client the 2 options.

Sounds like SB will have what is required then.

Can't wait to have it released to test!

Thanks

John

[NewsArchive]

That's cool. I've got a Windows Mobile phone (6.0 currently). One of the
frustrating things about it, I know there are updates for Windows Mobile
(6.5?) yet, I can't download and install them. I did read somewhere this
would reset all my data. And since I don't use Outlook, ActiveSync is not
much of an option.

Methinks this is a whole area I need to clear some confusions at it can't be
THAT silly! <g>.

--
Russell B. Eggen
www.radfusion.com
Clarion developers: www.radfusion.com/devs.htm

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich
I would love to see a feature where the developer could choose the level of
security required for the maintenance plan key (similar to Armadillo which
will allow for anything from about 16 characters upwards).
I still have many users that don't have internet access and thus need to key
in the maintenance plan key manually, which makes it unusable. These people
(farmers) are unlikely to crack it <g>!
Cheers!
Dave Beggs

[NewsArchive]

Hi Dave,

> I would love to see a feature where the developer could choose the level
> of security required for the maintenance plan key (similar to Armadillo
> which will allow for anything from about 16 characters upwards).
> I still have many users that don't have internet access and thus need to
> key in the maintenance plan key manually, which makes it unusable. These
> people (farmers) are unlikely to crack it <g>!

The problem is that the "subscription key" holds specific information about
your own license (in strong encrypted form). This makes sure that only you
can generate a key that can be used in your installs. This "security
overhead" alone is more that 16 characters.

But what about sending a "subscription.txt" or "sub.lic" or whatever named
file instead of a long maintenance key. Your installer starts and asks for
the maintenance key -- the customer can continue to copy the key from your
email -or- he can use a "Browse..." button to locate the license file and
select it. The installer will then read the subscription from the file.

If this is not an option, I'll add it to the "wishlist" and we'll check if
it is possible to add another subscription verification algorithm that would
allow to generate a smaller (but less secure) key.

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich
Thanks for your prompt reply as always!
My problem is that I distribute software by CD with the registration codes
printed on an accompanying sheet of paper. Not to worry - I can continue
changing the password every 6 months which is messy, but does work ...
Maybe these people will get the internet one day and my problem will go away
....
Cheers!
Dave

[NewsArchive]

To reiterate a suggestion I've made previously -

the ability to compile an SB project as a DLL.

This would be a lot more functional than an EXE when one wants an SB "helper
app" to add some functionality to one's software, whether for validating a
maintenance plan or to use any of the other wide range of SB magic powers.

I realize not trivial... but surely you need something to entertain that
brain through the long German winter <g>

Jane

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich

SBMDD gets my vote as I'm having to install stuff on PPC's at the moment
manually which is a bit of nuisance when the customer is a miles away.
Fortunately they dont let their scanners run flat by leaving them around the
warehouse that often maybe once or twice a year!<vbg>

An autoupdate facility for PPC's would be good as well like we can include
in our existing desktop apps at the moment.

Dont know if this is already implemented in SB7 but think this is the MSI
format where in Small Business Server I can select a file on the server
which is then installed on workstations. That would be handy for those
companies who need to install a program to all their workstations in one hit
and have something like SBS with this facility built in.

Maybe also some sort of facility to auto install a serial/licence number as
well to each and every workstation during the same process?


--
--
Cheers
Richard

[NewsArchive]

Another suggestion would be the ability to resize the pane that contains the
variables when debugging the scripts.

--
--
Cheers
Richard

[NewsArchive]

> Another suggestion would be the ability to resize the pane that contains
> the variables when debugging the scripts.

It's not a trivial task to add this. We already have an experimental
"splitter
control" for SB7 available. This will be included in a later SB7.x build

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Hi Richard,

> SBMDD gets my vote as I'm having to install stuff on PPC's at the moment
> manually which is a bit of nuisance when the customer is a miles away.
> Fortunately they dont let their scanners run flat by leaving them around
> the warehouse that often maybe once or twice a year!<vbg>
>
> An autoupdate facility for PPC's would be good as well like we can include
> in our existing desktop apps at the moment.

Good idea! The problem is that "over-the-air" (CAB) installers are nothing
more than "dumb" file containers. CAB updates are going to require
wholesale updates of everything. This may not be what you want in the end
(e.g. if you only want to update a single file, assembly or whatever).

But it's on the wishlist now, thank you.

> Dont know if this is already implemented in SB7 but think this is the MSI
> format where in Small Business Server I can select a file on the server
> which is then installed on workstations. That would be handy for those
> companies who need to install a program to all their workstations in one
> hit and have something like SBS with this facility built in.
>
> Maybe also some sort of facility to auto install a serial/licence number
> as well to each and every workstation during the same process?

Do you mean the "Active Directory" technology?

--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910

SetupBuilder is Windows installation -- "point. click. ship"

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

[NewsArchive]

How about a pop up tool tip that can show the entire line when the mouse
hovers over a line in the debug variable list? It would be quicker than
using the horizontal scroll and maybe set it up so the tool tip stays
visible until the mouse moves away? Same end result of being able to see the
variable contents in the end and should be trivial?<vbg>

--
--
Cheers
Richard

[NewsArchive]

> How about a pop up tool tip that can show the entire line when the mouse
> hovers over a line in the debug variable list? It would be quicker than
> using the horizontal scroll and maybe set it up so the tool tip stays
> visible until the mouse moves away? Same end result of being able to see
> the variable contents in the end and should be trivial?<vbg>

VERY GOOD IDEA!!! :) I'll see what I can do.

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich

> Do you mean the "Active Directory" technology?


I'll dial into one of the servers later today to find out exactly what its
called (I havent done hardware support for over a year now as it was too
much of a nuisance dealing with hardware support), I know its not AD though
<g>

--
--
Cheers
Richard

[NewsArchive]

> How about a pop up tool tip that can show the entire line when the mouse
> hovers over a line in the debug variable list? It would be quicker than
> using the horizontal scroll and maybe set it up so the tool tip stays
> visible until the mouse moves away? Same end result of being able to see
> the > variable contents in the end and should be trivial?<vbg>

Added (see attached screenshot). Very cool idea. Thanks again for your
suggestion.

--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910

SetupBuilder is Windows installation -- "point. click. ship"

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

[NewsArchive]

Cool thanks Friedrich!<vbg>

Another thing I noticed when using the debugger is I have to keep clicking
on the Step button when debugging. Would it be possible to link a key into
this so that we can press the key instead of clicking on the button, much
like what we have in the Clarion Debugger?

Its just when I debug in Win7 its a bit slow having to mouse click between
install file and SB7 thats all. Its nothing major more a bit of icing on the
cake.<vbg>
--
--
Cheers
Richard

[NewsArchive]

Hi Richard,

> Cool thanks Friedrich!<vbg>
>
> Another thing I noticed when using the debugger is I have to keep clicking
> on the Step button when debugging. Would it be possible to link a key into
> this so that we can press the key instead of clicking on the button, much
> like what we have in the Clarion Debugger?
>
> Its just when I debug in Win7 its a bit slow having to mouse click between
> install file and SB7 thats all. Its nothing major more a bit of icing on
> the cake.<vbg>

I agree :) I'll see what I can do.

Thank you!

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

> Would it be possible to link a key into this so that we can press
> the key instead of clicking on the button, much like what we have
> in the Clarion Debugger?

Silly me! Already supported. Press F8 <g>

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich

I dont know what your plans are regarding the run SQL scripts features, but
if you are hitting problems with getting it working as you like, how about a
wizard that could be used to import a SQL script file and then takes each
line from the SQL Script and converts it into a Run Program OSQL -E -S
Localhost\Instance -Q "Line from SQL Script"

Obviously some sort of processing and clean up would be needed to handle the
Go and the Use DB so OSQL knows what its refering to but how about somthing
that could turn this:
Use Master
Go

IF NOT Exists (Select name from sys.databases where name = 'MyDB')
Create database MyDB
GO

Use MyDB
GO

Create Login MyLogin With Password = 'MyPW',
Default_Database = MyDb
Go

Create User MyUser
FOR Login MyLoginm

Exec sp_addrolemember 'db_datawriter', 'MyUser'
Exec sp_addrolemember 'db_datareader', 'MyUser'
Go

Into this:

Run Program OSQL -E -S Localhost\Instance -Q "Use Master IF NOT Exists
(Select name from sys.databases where name = 'MyDB') Create database MyDB"

Run Program OSQL -E -S Localhost\Instance -Q "Use MyDB Create Login MyLogin
With Password = 'MyPW', Default_Database = MyDb"

Run Program OSQL -E -S Localhost\Instance -Q "Use MyDB Create User MyUser
FOR Login MyLogin Exec sp_addrolemember 'db_datawriter', 'MyUser' Exec
sp_addrolemember 'db_datareader', 'MyUser"


Plus is there a maximum number of characters we can put into the Run Program
function? I havent hit a limit yet as I've broken them down into fairly
small lines but just curious in case I might hit that limit in the future
thats all.

JAT<g>


--
--
Cheers
Richard

[NewsArchive]

Hi Richard,

> I dont know what your plans are regarding the run SQL scripts features,
> but if you are hitting problems with getting it working as you like, how
> about a wizard that could be used to import a SQL script file and then
> takes each line from the SQL Script and converts it into a Run Program
> OSQL -E -S Localhost\Instance -Q "Line from SQL Script"

The original goal is to use MSSQL OLE DB. You can excecute a SQL query,
execute a SQL script, retrieve a row of data from the SQL server, etc.

> Plus is there a maximum number of characters we can put into the Run
> Program function? I havent hit a limit yet as I've broken them down into
> fairly small lines but just curious in case I might hit that limit in the
> future thats all.

Yes, there is a limit, but it depends on the operating system. And if you
are using CreateProcess() to execute the command, then there is a limit of
1,023 bytes in the installer. ShellExecuteEx can handle more than 1,023
bytes.

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Maybe I should RTM a little bit more!<g>


--
--
Cheers
Richard

[NewsArchive]

>
> Maybe I should RTM a little bit more!<g>
>

<BG>

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich

Another suggestion would be the ability to add Tooltips to controls in
various dialog windows because I like to give as much feedback and help to
the user where appropriate and some custom dialog windows would look
cluttered with lots of text but the tooltips would get around that problem.
Besides I think more and more users come to rely on tooltips for that little
extra help or info.<g>


--
--
Cheers
Richard

[NewsArchive]

Hi Richard,

> Another suggestion would be the ability to add Tooltips to controls in
> various dialog windows because I like to give as much feedback and help
> to the user where appropriate and some custom dialog windows would look
> cluttered with lots of text but the tooltips would get around that
> problem. Besides I think more and more users come to rely on tooltips
> for that little extra help or info.<g>

Good idea! It's nearly impossible to add this to the standard (built-in)
dialogs. But it should be possible to add tooltip support to the Custom
Dialogs.

Thank you for your suggestion.

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich,

Is there a chance you might consider doing a bit of redesign on assigning
icons to shortcuts?

The spin control works nicely but can be somewhat time consuming when a
large number of icons are present in the icon resource file. Perhaps using
some sort of a thumbnail approach would work.

Something similar to the control used by Microsoft (see attached) when
changing the icon on the desktop would work.

Thanks for the opportunity to chime in.

--
Regards,

Lee
http://www.cya2day.com

[NewsArchive]

Hi Lee,

> Is there a chance you might consider doing a bit of redesign on assigning
> icons to shortcuts?

Good idea. Redesigned (see attached screenshot). This will be available in
the next maintenance build.

Thank you for your suggestion!

Friedrich

--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910

SetupBuilder is Windows installation -- "point. click. ship"

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

[NewsArchive]

Also supported in the General Properties now.

--
Friedrich Linder
Lindersoft
www.lindersoft.com
+1.954.252.3910

SetupBuilder is Windows installation -- "point. click. ship"

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

[NewsArchive]

> Hi Lee,
>
>> Is there a chance you might consider doing a bit of redesign on assigning
>> icons to shortcuts?
>
> Good idea. Redesigned (see attached screenshot). This will be available
> in the next maintenance build.
>

Awesome...... That will be a real time saver.

--
Regards,

Lee
http://www.cya2day.com