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View Full Version : Manifest and CapeSoft Makeover problem - really big problem



NewsArchive
03-13-2007, 05:59 AM
You folks are going to ban me before I am able to get this mess straight.
But seeing you haven't as of yet I have a good one and I know it has to do
with the manifest and Makeover.

SetupBuilder 6 with the Vista manifest and program code signing. The
applications we sell are all compiled in Clarion 55. I also have the code
signing for the installation. There are eight (8) different applications
and the same number of installation files.

I tested the installs on 3 of the 6 computers I have access to at this time.
1 XP Home SP2,
1 XP Media SP2, This is my workstation,
1 Vista Home Premium Upgrade.

Every installation worked properly on all the above workstations. After
some struggles and a lot of guidance I uploaded all of the new installs to
my site. I received an email from on of my loyal customers thanking me for
the bug fix but he was concerned that the checkboxes were just 'black
rectangles'.

I had not seen the problem so I tried the two computers I had not used for
the tests. Please take a look at the attached GIF file. I then downloaded
all of the new installations and ran them. Every program had the same
problem except one.

After a lot of frustration looking at the checkbox properties I could not
see a difference in the problem programs and the one that was fine. So I
looked at the install. I had used a template for all but had not changed
the file path for the manifest file. So with the program that did not have
the 'black rectangles' the Vista manifest was not pointing to the correct
file.

That is the only difference. I have never experienced a problem with video
cards and/or monitors since the days of DOS. I do have Capesoft's Makeover.

I remarked the Vista manifest and the program code signing line and
recompiled the install. But that did not make any difference.

I then disabled Makeover. That made a difference.

So I then experimented. The results I found is:
1. Makeover must be disabled, and
2. The Vista manifest must not be included.

Either one of these will result in the check box displaying as "black
rectangles".

Then there are certain combinations of video and monitor that do work fine
regardless of the manifest or presence of Makeover.

I can not believe no one else has seen this. Is it a 55 problem that will
disappear when the move to 6 is complete? I like Makeover because I can
highlight required fields using a different color. I do not want to make
any changes to the 55 apps but move to 6.

I have uploaded all of my installations built with version 4 of
SetupBuilder. I installed over one problem installation and I do not have a
problem. Other than the fact I can't use the better installation created
with SetupBuilder 6 and the certificates.

The program code signing doesn't make a difference one of or the other. Can
it be included without the Vista manifest?

Any ideas?

Is this a Clarion 55 problem that will clear up when I move to 6.X?

Bob

NewsArchive
03-13-2007, 05:59 AM
Bob,

See my reply to Skip (Vista Manifest Problem).

It has nothing to do with the SB6 installer.

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

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 6
Create Windows Vista ready installations in minutes

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

NewsArchive
03-13-2007, 05:59 AM
Bob,

For info : under c6 and without makeover but with other templates IF I add
the Vista manifest I have the same pb!

So I did not add the Vista manifest but left the Clarion one and all is fine
under Vista ...

Try that maybe

JP

--

Thank you

Jean-Pierre GUTSATZ

Best Regards

NewsArchive
03-13-2007, 05:59 AM
As far as I know, C55 does not have the XP manifest option.

But this "black checkbox" problem is very old (I think goes back to 2002; I
nearly forgot about it) and is not only a Clarion problem. You can see it
in all development languages. I even get it in Visual Studio 2005 - there
are a ton of messages if you Google.

Here are two of my favorite links:

http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.clarion/browse_frm/thread/7badb0e30730f484/0bdd8ed438916e48?lnk=st&q=%22Transparent%22%2B%22radio%22%2B%22manifest%22 %2B%22black%22&rnum=5&hl=en#0bdd8ed438916e48

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.platformsdk.ui/browse_frm/thread/8043ca74687fff51/1eab384bd1cbe71b?lnk=st&q=%22Transparent%22%2B%22radio%22%2B%22manifest%22 %2B%22black%22&rnum=7&hl=en#1eab384bd1cbe71b

And of course, ArnĂ³r has an interesting article at:
http://www.icetips.com/newsletter.php?ShowNewsLetter=1&NewsLetterID=5

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

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 6
Create Windows Vista ready installations in minutes

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

NewsArchive
03-13-2007, 05:59 AM
After reading Arnor's article I do not see an advantage to adding a
manifest. Though Makeover has some features that require I keep it in the
55 programs until I can get everything ported to 6.

My users really like the required fields having a different color. And I am
sure they will like to 6.X feature showing the focus.

At least I am not lossing my mind.

Well, at least in regards to this instance.

Bob

NewsArchive
03-13-2007, 05:59 AM
Bob,

The manifest files SB6 embeds contain both the Vista instructions and
instructions to tell the app to run with the XP look.
I don't know about using 5.5 to embed a manifest directly (no problem with
6.3).
But see if it works. Try adding the attached manifest file to the 'Library,
object, and resource files' section of your project. It's a Vista-only
manifest, that doesn't tell the app to try to run with XP look.
Then comment out the lines in SB6 to insert a manifest for your apps. Just
have SB6 sign them.

Jane

NewsArchive
03-13-2007, 06:04 AM
Bob,

The advantage of a manifest file is that it can enable XP/Vista theme
support on XP/Vista machines.

Under Vista, a manifest is the only possible way to request execution level
from your application.

Friedrich

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

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 6
Create Windows Vista ready installations in minutes

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

NewsArchive
03-13-2007, 10:23 AM
Friedrich,

So what you are saying is that, even though Clarion 5.5 does not take
advantage of the XP theme, and has problems with the black checkbox if the
vista manifest is included, the vista manifest is necessary for the 5.5 app
to execute properly under vista?

Skip

NewsArchive
03-13-2007, 10:23 AM
Skip,

Yes, to increase the chance your app works properly under Vista, you need a
Vista-aware manifest.

The Vista "virtualization" feature is there only to help old applications
("legacy application") work. On Windows Vista, any 32-bit application that
does not contain a requested execution level in its manifest is considered a
legacy application. Microsoft intends to remove virtualization from future
versions of the Windows operating system as more applications are migrated
to Windows Vista. It's already disabled by default on Vista x64.
Operations subjected to virtualization in 32-bit applications will just fail
in 64-bit. Developers should not rely on Virtualization.

Friedrich

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

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 6
Create Windows Vista ready installations in minutes

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

NewsArchive
03-13-2007, 10:23 AM
Friedrich,
What if I had a Vista install and a none Vista install?

It would be a real pain. The problem is I only have one Vista workstation
so I can not be sure everyone will appear right.

Bob

NewsArchive
03-13-2007, 10:23 AM
Bob,

No problem - but you only need *one* install to handle both. SetupBuilder 6
can handle this for you. Add one app.exe for Vista and another app.exe for
non-Vista machines.

The upcoming SetupBuilder 6.1 makes it even easier to handle this. The new
"Releases" feature can create different installations from the same script
with a single mouse click.

Friedrich

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

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 6
Create Windows Vista ready installations in minutes

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

NewsArchive
03-13-2007, 11:42 AM
Where in you extensive help will I find how to do this.

Bob

NewsArchive
03-13-2007, 11:42 AM
Bob,

Let us assume, you have the following two files:

c:\development\church.exe (Vista specific)
c:\development\church.exe (all other OS)

Just add the above two files to your script (Files and Folders Visualizer)

Open the file properties for the first file and go to the Conditions tab.
Check only "Vista".

Open the file properties for the second file and go to the Conditions tab.
Check all OS, except Vista.

Friedrich

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

"point. click. ship" - that's SetupBuilder 6
Create Windows Vista ready installations in minutes

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

NewsArchive
03-14-2007, 11:34 AM
Hi Jane,
Thank you very much for the manifest. I was able to include it in an app I
converted to C6.

I was able to keep Makeover too. The program appeared correctly, no "black
rectangles", on all of my test machines. And not problems installing on XP
Home, XP Pro or Vista Permium.

I am not sure about the program code signing because I do not know what to
look for on the Vista computer.

Again thanks very much. Now I have to get my programs from C55 to C6...

Bob