Create time limited install

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich,

Is it possible to create a time limited install, i.e. an install file that
will not work after March 1, 2010 for example? I'm about do to some beta
releases and I don't want the install to work after a certain date. Or do I
just get the date and check for it in the script? I seem to recall that I
saw a function or option to just set a date for the install to expire on...

Best regards,

--
Arnór Baldvinsson - Icetips Alta LLC
Port Angeles, Washington
www.icetips.com - www.buildautomator.com - www.altawebworks.com

Icetips product subscriptions at http://www.icetips.com/subscribe.php

[NewsArchive]

I don't know whether there's a function to do that directly, Arnór.

For several projects that I don't want usable after a certain calendar date,
I create an INI file with the expiration date:

[$JEXPIRES$]
Value=20100215

Then use "Preprocessor Set Constant" to read it, set a runtime variable to
it, compare that to Get System Info at runtime, and display a message and
Exit Installation if it's past time.

The INI file approach would probably be easy to use with BA.

jf

[NewsArchive]

Hi Jane,

> I don't know whether there's a function to do that directly, Arnór.

I seem to recall that there was an option for this, but that may have been
back in SB4 - been a LONG time since I wanted to do something like this<g>

In this case I just put a check for the system date into the install. It is
only for a warning during a beta for a product to remind people that this is
a BETA install and download the final build after the public release. This
is what I came up with:

http://www.icetips.com/blog/index.php/2010/01/25/setupbuilder-time-limited-install

Best regards,

--
Arnór Baldvinsson - Icetips Alta LLC
Port Angeles, Washington
www.icetips.com - www.buildautomator.com - www.altawebworks.com

Icetips product subscriptions at http://www.icetips.com/subscribe.php

[NewsArchive]

P.S.

I can send you the source for the DLL if you want to use it to adapt to
your situation

Dan

--
Dan Scott
C55 C6.3 C7.1 LEGACY
www.garagepartner.com

[NewsArchive]

Hi Arnor

Just a few weeks ago I looked for this same function in SB7. I think it did exist
when I was back in W#se.

The solution I came up with was the same as yours. Works great.

John Griffiths

[NewsArchive]

Hi John,

> Just a few weeks ago I looked for this same function in SB7. I think it did exist
> when I was back in W#se.
>
> The solution I came up with was the same as yours. Works great.

I _think_ this may have been in SB4, before Friedrich added the script
language in SB5.

Best regards,

--
Arnór Baldvinsson - Icetips Alta LLC
Port Angeles, Washington
www.icetips.com - www.buildautomator.com - www.altawebworks.com

Icetips product subscriptions at http://www.icetips.com/subscribe.php

[NewsArchive]

Arnor

I haven't tried this, but can it be done in the script editor?

The reason I haven't tried it is because I call a DLL that checks a hard
coded date against today() and then returns the code to SB7 and if the
code is 2, it pops a message and exits the install

Dan

--
Dan Scott
C55 C6.3 C7.1 LEGACY
www.garagepartner.com

[NewsArchive]

Hi Dan,

> I haven't tried this, but can it be done in the script editor?

Absolutely - see my blog entry. I just thought I had remembered seeing this
as an option in SB, but that was probably quite a few versions back;)

Best regards,


--
Arnór Baldvinsson - Icetips Alta LLC
Port Angeles, Washington
www.icetips.com - www.buildautomator.com - www.altawebworks.com

Icetips product subscriptions at http://www.icetips.com/subscribe.php

[NewsArchive]

Hi Arnór,

> Is it possible to create a time limited install, i.e. an install file that
> will not work after March 1, 2010 for example? I'm about do to some beta
> releases and I don't want the install to work after a certain date. Or do
> I
> just get the date and check for it in the script? I seem to recall that I
> saw a function or option to just set a date for the install to expire
> on...

The Examples Package is your best friend <g>

See "Expiration Date Checking.sb7" demo project. In this simple example,
the installer stops working 14 days after the compilation date. You can
also set a fix expiration date.

Of course, the user can manipulate his system clock (e.g. set the date a few
days back) to overcome the expiration date. You can use the "Get Atomic
Clock Time" function (if the Internet connection is active) to retrieve the
"real" date. In this case, it does not help to set back the clock.

Friedrich

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

SetupBuilder is Windows 7 installation -- "point. click. ship"

-- Official Comodo Code Signing and SSL Certificate Partner

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich,

> The Examples Package is your best friend <g>
>
> See "Expiration Date Checking.sb7" demo project. In this simple example,
> the installer stops working 14 days after the compilation date. You can
> also set a fix expiration date.

Thanks:) I see that I never installed the SB7 examples, which is why I
didn't find it<g>

Best regards,

--
Arnór Baldvinsson - Icetips Alta LLC
Port Angeles, Washington
www.icetips.com - www.buildautomator.com - www.altawebworks.com

Icetips product subscriptions at http://www.icetips.com/subscribe.php