Copyright: ® Rob Stevens


Help Contents
Contents

Introduction

Overview

Getting Started

 SVI3BLD Data File Builder

Operation

 SVI3 SVInstal

Running SVInstal

Distribution

Files to include

Files NOT to include

Shareware Registration

COMPRESS.EXE

Compressing Files

RunComp

 RunComp

What is RunComp

Running RunComp


Overview

The installation of a program is a critical time. The new user's first impression can do a lot to help or hinder how your program is accepted. A poor or amateur looking installation program can weaken a use's confidence in your program, a problematic installation may cause your program to not work at all. There are many good installation programs on the market today but when I went to purchase one I found most to be over kill (and over priced) for my application. I developed SVInstal to meet the requirement for a simple inexpensive way to get my program and data files from my distribution disk to the users hard drive and build a windows program group.

The objective is to have a program that you can include on your distribution disk that will read a data file also on the distribution. The program SVI3.EXE reads the data file SVINSTAL.SVI which tells it what to install. You include both SVI3.EXE and SVINSTAL.SVI on your distribution floppy. You run the program SVI3BLD.EXE to build the data file. The SVI3BLD program will contain the filenames to be copied, the name of the default directory to create, the windows program group name and your company name.

It is very simple to use and requires NO programming on your part.


Getting Started

The SVInstal system is made up of three files:

1. SVI3.EXE, this is the program does the installation onto the user's drive. You ship this file on your distribution disk. You can rename the file to INSTALL.EXE or whatever you like.

2. SVINSTAL.SVI, this is a small data file that tells SVI3.EXE what files to put where, what directories to build, etc.

3. SVI3BLD, this program is run by the developer to create the .SVI data file.

The basic operational flow is to:

1.	Create an .SVI data file with you company information and the list of files to be installed.

2.	Copy the required files to the distribution floppy (with sub directory structure if you are using subdirectories).

3.	Add SVI3.EXE (renamed to INSTALL.EXE or whatever you want.)

4.	Add the SVINSTAL.SVI data file built in step 1. (Must be named SVINSTAL.SVI)

5.	Test install your new distribution disk.

Related Topics:

Create a New .SVI data file

Edit an Existing .SVI data file


Create a New .SVI data file

Start up SVI3BLD.EXE and select New from the File menu.

This will clear out the data entry boxes and prepare for a new data file. When you have entered the header information and files to be installed, select Build/Save to create a new .SVI data file on disk.

See operation for details on the edit screen.


Edit an Existing .SVI data file

Start up SVI3BLD.EXE and select Open from the File menu.

You can then select the .SVI file that you wish to access.

This standard file selection dialog allows you to choose which SVI file to edit.

Remember: While you may have many .SVI files under different names, SVI3 only looks for SVINSTAL.SVI so you need name the final distribution version accordingly.

See operation for details on the edit screen.

When you have made you changes to the header information and/or files to be installed, select Build/Save to create a new .SVI data file on disk.


Operation

Main Screen

Options Screen

Syntax and Sub-directories

Icon description

Browse

ReDirect File(s) to Windows or System Directory

Command Line and Runtime Support


Main Screen

Data entry boxes

File Detail

Add a new file name

Edit an existing file name

Delete a file name

Browse

Up/Dwn


Data entry boxes

Developer's Company Name

Program Name

Default Load Directory

Windows Program Group Name

Files to be installed, there are 2 parts to this section.

1. The 'Files to be Installed' listbox  shows the filenames that the build program will place in the .SVI data file when it is built.

2. The 'File Detail' edit area. As you select an entry from the listbox, it is decoded and copied out to the edit area at the bottom of the screen. The edit area allows you to add, edit and delete entries from the listbox. Any file can be redirected to either the Windows directory or the System directory by checking the 'Redirect' box and selecting either '\Windows' or '\System'


File Detail

Selecting a filename from the 'Files to be installed' list brings it into this detail box. Make whatever changes you wish then use 'Add to List' to put it back.

Display Icon in program group

This checkbox indicates that the file is to have an icon placed into the program group that SVI3 creates.

File Name:

Enter the filename to be added to the 'Files to be installed' list. Subdirectory information is entered here as described in Syntax and Subdirectories.

Description:

Enter the text to be placed below the icon. If this is left blank, Windows will use the filename.

Command Line:

If you wish a special command line to be executed when the user clicks on the icon, enter it here.

Icon file:

Windows normally gets the icon from the executable but you can specify a different one if you want to supply a '.ICO' icon file. This would be used if you are shipping an application that uses a runtime engine and you want an icon displayed for the file that the runtime engine will run.

Change Disk:

If your application is spread across two or more disks you must tell SVI3 when to prompt the user to change disks. To do this enter the disk number into the Change Disk edit box. Use numbers 1-9 or single letters A,B etc. When SVI3 sees a file that needs a disk change it will prompt the user to enter the next disk. You need only enter a disk number for the first file on the disk. When you need to change again enter a new number.

eg:

File Name	Disk Change

abc.exe	nothing needed for primary disk

def.dat

xyz.dbf	        2	prompt user to insert disk '2'

xxx.dbf

ght.exe	        3	prompt user to insert disk '3'

hdgj.bat

Redirect:

You can have SVI3 send some files to either the user's Windows directory or the System directory. The checkbox indicates that you wish to redirect this file, the radio buttons indicate where to redirect to.

Buttons

Clear - clears the File Detail edit boxes.

Add to List - inserts the File Detail file into the 'Files to be installed' list. If there is already an entry for the filename, you are prompted to delete the old value.

Remove - removed the selected file from the 'Files to be installed' list.


Add a new file name

Click the Clear button to clear out the edit area.

If you wish this file to have an icon in the program group, select the 'Display Icon in Program group' checkbox.

Enter the file name you want added, and optionally the description text for the icon (see Icon description, Icon files (.ico) command line (see Command Line parameters or Runtime Support) and icon file name. Click the Add to List button to take the information from the edit area and add it to the list. Use a ' \ ' to indicate subdirectories, ie: DATA\filename will put filename in the DATA sub directory. The source files must be in subdirectories of the same name on the floppy diskette, ie: for the above example; the source should be A:\DATA\filename.

Or, use Browse to select one or more filenames to be entered into the 'Files to be installed' list. Then select them one at a time to fill in the rest of the information.


Edit an existing file name

 Select it from the 'Files to be installed' list to bring it into the edit area. When edits are complete, click Add to List to put it back.

Note: The Add to List function will not replace any exiting list entries, it will warn you if you are adding one that is already in the list. You can respond yes to remove the old entry.


Delete a file name

Select it from the 'File to be installed' list and then click Remove.


SVI3BLD Data File Builder - Main Screen - Browse
Browse

The Browse button brings up a standard multi-select file list, select the filename you want. Once the filenames are in the 'File to be installed' list, you can then select them one at a time and add description, command line, etc.


Up/Dwn

Moves a file within the listbox, select it then click on either the 'Up' button or the 'Dwn' button.


Options Screen

There are three optional setup parameters under the "Options" button.

Related Topics:

Disk Space Required

Screen Bitmap

AfterFile


Disk Space Required

If you wish to specify a minimum amount of free disk space that your user must have before installation, check the "check for minimum space of" checkbox and enter a value in KB. This will show up on the user's installation screen. SVInstal will check that there is enough space available before beginning to copy files.


Screen Bitmap

If and How to display a bitmap.

The SVI3.EXE screen is plain blue. If you wish, you can supply a bitmap that SVI3 will place on the screen. This is most often used to display your company logo and/or application title. SVI3 can handle the bitmap in three different ways:

1. Display actual size in the upper left corner of the screen. The bitmap can be as large as you like, even filling the entire screen. Caution: In this mode the bitmap is not resized to fit different screen resolutions, if you make a bitmap for 640x480 and the user is running 1024x768 your bitmap will probably be too small. Also, full screen bitmaps will take up lots of space on your distribution disk.

2. Display your bitmap in the top left of the screen and stretch it horizontally to fit whatever the screen width is set to.

3. Display your bitmap in the top left of the screen and stretch it both horizontally and vertically to fit whatever the screen size is set to.

To use a bitmap: Enter the name of the bitmap file into the 'Bitmap File Name' box and choose how you wish it displayed. Remember to put the bitmap file on the distribution disk. It does not need to go into the 'Files to be installed' list unless you also wish it copied to the user's hard drive.


AfterFile

You can specify a program to be run upon completion of the installation. SVInstal will run this program at the end of the installation. This can be used for various purposes:

- data initialization

- setting up Windows associations (see supplied example assoc.c)

- change one or more files to be 'Hidden'

- etc.

SVI3 will pass the following to the Aftefile via command line parameters:

- drive user installed to

- directory user installed to

The AfterFile can be an executable (.EXE) or a  batch (.BAT)  file. A batch would allow you to run several .exe files if necessary, just create an AfterFile that calls the exe's.

The program to be run must have been installed as part of the installation. Soft Ventures supplies an example, in C, that sets a Windows association for '.SVI' files. If you would like Soft Ventures to write a custom AfterFile just call (403) 278-1681 for a quote.


Syntax and Sub-directories

Sub-directories and multi-volume source situations are handled by SVInstal. The syntax used when entering files into the filename list tells SVInstal when to build directories and when to ask for disks. The syntax is : (the [ ] items are optional)

[subdir\]filename

Examples showing how to enter filenames into the list:

TEST.EXE

- will install into the root install directory from the first diskette. The root install directory is the directory you name in the 'Directory' field of the SVI3BLD screen.

DATA\TEST.DAT

- will install the file test.dat into the \DATA sub directory under the root install directory.

DATA\SAMPLE\TEST.DAT

- will install test.dat into the 'SAMPLE' sub directory under the 'DATA' sub directory. NOTE: The same sub directory structure must exist on the source disk also. ie: in this example the distribution would need to be A:\DATA\SAMPLE\TEST.DAT

Files in the list should be entered in order of directory creation and grouped by disk. Not grouping by disk will still work but your user will be swapping disks in and out and might get annoyed.


Icon description

When you have SVInstal install an executable program (a ".EXE") Windows will get the icon from the application program and put it into the program group. By default it uses the name of the .EXE as the description for the icon. That means if I have SVPH.EXE in my list of files to be installed, the icon for  SVPaperHanger will be installed with the Svph under it.

Sometimes that is fine, but you want a more descriptive name - SVInstal can do it. Just specify icon description text in the edit box labeled 'Description'.

For example, put SV Paper Hanger into the 'Description' box to get:


SVI3BLD Data File Builder - Operation - Browse
Browse

To assist those of you who are installing applications with LOTS of files, SVInstal offers a Browse facility. This loads multiple filenames into the files to be installed listbox. Clicking on the "Browse" button brings up a standard file dialog box. Select filename(s) from the multiple selection list box. Click on OK to place the selected filenames into the files to be installed listbox.


ReDirect File(s) to Windows or System Directory

You can have SVInstal put most of your files to the default directory, but redirect specific files to the Windows directory.

For example you may wish to install a program that changes a user's screen saver (SVSC.EXE) into a directory called \SV, but have SVInstal send your screen saver files to the Windows directory so Windows will find them.

This is accomplished by simply clicking in the 'Redirect' check box then select either the 'Windows' or the 'System' radio button.

Note: /System is a subdirectory of Windows, if you redirect a file to 'System' the source file follows the normal SVInstal subdirectory rules and must be located in a subdirectory on the source disk.

ie: To set up ABC.DLL in the System directoty the source disk must have A:\SYSTEM\ABC.DLL


Command Line and Runtime Support

SVInstal gives you the ability to specify the command line parameter for any icon you install. This can be used for starting up runtime environments.

Example 1:

If you are making a TOOLBOOK application you can put in the command line:

%D TBOOK.EXE  %F /x

SVInstal will create a command line by substituting the destination information (drive:\dir..) for the %D, appending TBOOK.EXE then substitute your file name for the %F finally adding command line parameter '/x' . The resultant command line might look like:

C:\MYAPP\TBOOK.EXEMYFILE.TBK /x

This would mean when the icon is clicked on, Windows would startup TBOOK.EXE and pass it MYFILE.TBK /x as parameters.

Example 2:

If you are making a TOOLBOOK application you can put in the command line:

%W TBOOK.EXE  %D%F /x

SVInstal will create a command line by substituting the current Windows directory for the %W, the destination information (drive:\dir..) for the %D and substitute your file name for the %F finally adding command line parameter '/x' . The resultant command line might look like:

C:\WINDOWS\TBOOK.EXED:\MYAPP\MYFILE.TBK /x

This would mean when the icon is clicked on, Windows would startup TBOOK.EXE and pass it MYFILE.TBK /x as parameters.

In the above scenario you would need to install TBOOK with the 'Redirect' to Windows.


Running SVInstal

When your user runs SVInstal the above dialog will appear on a blue full screen window. The source drive defaults to the drive that SVInstal was started from. The destination drive defaults to "C:". The user can change either dive. The only other thing the user can change is the default directory. This screen also shows the required disk space for your application and the available disk space for the currently selected destination drive.

The user selects 'OK' to proceed with the installation. The startup dialog is then replaced with a progress dialog showing the % done for the current file copy and the total installation.


Files to include

SVI3.EXE

SVINSTAL.SVI

You are allowed to include the program SVI3.EXE, with your software, at no charge. You can rename SVI3.EXE to INSTALL.EXE if you want, but the data file included with your program files MUST be named SVINSTAL.SVI (in order for SVINSTAL to find and use it).

The program SVI3BLD.EXE is NOT to be included on your distribution disks.

Note: the file SVIHELP.HLP is the help file for SVI3BLD.EXE and is not required for your customer.


Files NOT to include

SVI3BLD.EXE

The program SVI3BLD.EXE is NOT to be included on your distribution disks.

Note: the file SVIHELP.HLP is the help file for SVI3BLD.EXE and is not required for your customer.


Shareware Registration

Soft Ventures retains all rights to SVInstal. SVInstal is being marketed as shareware, NOT free software. The shareware concept is simple: try before you buy. If you like SVInstal and wish to continue using it, you are required to register with Soft Ventures. Upon receipt of your $39.95 registration fee, Soft Ventures will send you the latest copy of SVInstal and a printed user's guide. Plus, new with version 3, the full Visual C++ source code is included FREE. The registered copy removes the shareware notice from SVInstal.

Shareware registration $39.95 US + $2.00 shipping

(Canadian customers $49.95 + 2.00 s&h + $3.64 GST)

To Order:

Send cheque or money order to payable to Rob Stevens (address below).

SVInstal can also be registered via CompuServe.  GO SWREG, program ID =  692

SVInstal is an evolving product, if you find you have a requirement that SVInstal does not handle - Drop me a line, that's how a lot of enhancements are added.

Rob Stevens

Soft Ventures

113 Parkwood Place S.E.

Calgary, Alberta Canada

T2J 3X1

CompuServe 71441,734

AOL SOFTV1988


Compressing Files

Soft Ventures SVInstal supports files compressed with Microsoft's DOS based file compression utility, COMPRESS.EXE. This allows you to compress your files and save space on your distribution disk. The procedure for using file compression is simple:

1. Construct your list of files as described in the Files to be installed section.

2. Use COMPRESS.EXE to compress large files. Type COMPRESS ? for instructions. Hint: You can put all the files you want to compress into one directory, then issue a single COMPRESS command to compress them all at one. (or SEE RunComp below..)

3. When copying your files out to your distribution floppy, use the compressed versions. SVI3.EXE will see the compressed version and de-compress it to the users destination drive.

Remember: put the normal file name in the SVI3BLD list of files, but put the compressed file on your distribution disk. eg: enter MYFILE.EXE into the list of files and put the compressed version MYFILE.EX$ on the distribution floppy.


RunComp

Soft Ventures supplies a Windows front end utility for running Compress. RunComp allows you to select multiple files to be compressed at one time. Entire directories if you wish. The compressed files can optionally be directed to a single output directory. All without having to go out to DOS.


What is RunComp

Microsoft's COMPRESS.EXE is a DOS only program. RunComp is a Windows front end for COMPRESS.EXE.

RunComp allows you to create a list of files from various directories and then have COMPRESS.EXE compress them. You can compress the files in their own directories or have them all directed to a single output directory.

RunComp is part of Soft Ventures' developer's installation utility SVInstal. A shareware evaluation copy of SVInstal can be downloaded from CIS, DBA forum, as SVINST.ZIP.

Rob Stevens

Soft Ventures

113 Parkwood Place S.E.

Calgary Alberta Canada

T2J 3X1

CIS 71441,734   AOL SoftV1988


Running RunComp

The object of the game here is to make a list of the file you wish to have compressed. Then click on 'Compress' and RunComp will batch up a COMPRESS.EXE run to do the work.

Related Topics:

Browse

Remove

Select

Compress


RunComp - Running RunComp - Browse
Browse

The Browse button opens a standard file selection dialog box. The Browse dialog is a multi-selection listbox which allows you to select one or many files from a directory. The selected files are placed into RunComp's list of files to be compressed. The browse feature can be used again to select files from a different directory.


Remove

If you accidentally get files into the list that you do not want compressed, select them then click on 'remove' to zap them out of the list.


Select

RunComp allows you to compress files in their directories OR compress them all to a single output directory. If you leave the output directory box empty, the files will be compressed in their current directories. Click on 'Select' if you wish to choose an output directory. The directory must already exist.


Compress

The 'Compress' button initiates the actual compression run. Because COMPRESS.EXE does not support a file list as a source argument, Runcomp builds a batch file that calls compress. A DOS window will display the progress of the compression run.


Glossary of Terms

Default Load Directory

Developer's Company Name

Icon files

Program Name

Windows Program Group Name


Default Load Directory

Enter the name of the directory you wish SVINSTAL to create and load your programs into. DO NOT enter drive or subdirectory information. See section Sub-directories and multiple source disks for syntax on subdirectory use. You are limited to 8 character directory names by DOS.


Developer's Company Name

This information will appear in the top left of the SVInstal setup dialog box. You can put a company name or your own name, limited to 40 characters. If you choose to use a bitmap for your company name, this field can be left blank or used for some other text, ie: '"Thank you for ordering from ...".


Icon files

For executable files, the Program Manager extracts the icon from the .EXE file. For non executable files (actually for executable files also), SVInstal allows you to specify an icon file, a bitmap to be used as the icon.

To have SVInstal ask the Program Manager to use an icon file, simply enter the icon file name, eg:"ABC.ICO", into the 'Icon file' box.


Program Name

This will appear with the company name in the top left of the SVInstal setup dialog box. If you choose to use a bitmap for your program name, this field can be left blank or used for some other text, ie: '"Thank you for ordering from ...".


Windows Program Group Name

Enter the name you wish to have SVINSTAL use when creating the Windows Program Group.

You can use more than 8 characters here but remember too long a name can clutter your user's screen and be annoying. Upper and lower case are acceptable as are spaces.