Preparing Centrafuse Plugin

[David]

We want to add all plugins to the download page. The authors will receive free full development copies of Centrafuse.

We want to add a generic installer to the SDK to help simplify the install process. We are looking for the best free solution for an installer that everyone can use. The installer will need to do the following.

1. Search for the install path for Centrafuse with the following registry key in LocalMachine.

"SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Uni nstall\\{582046E5-CCAD-4BEF-B8F2-F905FA0328D0}"

The value "InstallLocation" will contain the location to install the plugin. This way the user will not have the option to change the install path.

2. Add the new plugin to the button action after installation. Use the install path above and open "System\buttonactions.xml". Search through the "/BUTTONACTIONS/MAIN1" through "/BUTTONACTIONS/MAIN24" for the first empty location. Then update with the name of the new plugin and resave the buttonactions.xml file.

3. Have it contain a good generic EULA, we can work to create this to add to the installer.

Once this installer is created we will add it to the SDK and all plugins will have the same installer and the same experience for users to download and install.

We would like to have all the plugins translated into the following languages.

Danish
Dutch
English
Finnish
French
German
Greek
Hebrew
Italian
Norwegian
Portuguese
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish

You can find help with translations here on the forums, if you have any trouble with a certain translation email support and we will get it for you.

So looking for suggestions on what program users will like to use for the installer. We use InstallShield, but we need one of the free or opensource install programs so all developers can use the project that is created.

After each plugin gets the installer working, the translations, and is verified and compiled with the latest release. Email support with your Name, Email, and the installer and we will get it added to the download page and give you full credit for the plugin, as well as a full XLE copy for development purposes.

david

[wolfgang928]

Hi all,

first I would ask, how many developers are NOT using VS 2003 .Net 1.1 ?

If the majority is using VS2003 the first step could be to offer a sample installation project for VS2003.

A second step could be to use a tool like WIX - which i have seen as a wonderfull tool, but i for myself might be to stupid to use it.

Are there other more intuitive tools on the free market with nearly the same
features?

Bye Wolfgang928

[AL9001]

Obviously I offer my help for Italian translations.

Just send me English XML file or other and I'll translate for you in Italian.

It could be intresting, for a better look, to find all text that is 'standard' for all plugin and decide a standard translation. For example, SAVE SETTINGS is more or less used in all plugin setup, but it is not translated everytime at the same way.

Bye,
AL

[David]

a VS2003 could be used and we could auto build a custom action DLL to do the post work of editing the buttonactions.xml file...

can you make a VS2003 setup deployment project read the install location from the registry? It has been awhile since I used them...

david

[osvikvi]

Contact me for Dutch translations.

[wolfgang928]

Hello,

i just have made test's with the open source setup program "NSIS"
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Download
which looks good, can read and write registry values and can modify existing text or xml files.

The only point is, that they use a kind of script language to define the setup
process and that this setup tool is not part of VS2003 like WIX2

There is a tool named HM NIS Edit, which is an editor with a wizard setup procedure, so you can make a setup file (*.exe)
very fast.

I will try to make a test with one of my plugins and give the results.

Bye Wolfgang928

[David]

any luck on helping me pick up the best community install program?

I want to include thins in the 1.50 new SDK installer that will include all kinds of improvements...

We have a WiFi manager finished in a couple and wanted to Beta test with the new installer to track down any issues users found...

mainly interested in wolf's opinion since he has the most plugins to update to the new installer...

The goal is when users download a plugin from the Centrafuse page, whether from Flux or any 3rd party they get the exact same experience...

Thanks for the input!!!

david

[wolfgang928]

Hello David, hello all,

I think i have found the best open source installer with NSIS.

I have made a template project and all required functionalities are included.

1.) New Wizard Icons adapted to CF (how you like my theme interpretation?)

2.) Optional components could be selected like (only update, full version
including source, ....

3.) I have developed a separate CFButtonXML.exe which is used for setting
buttonactions.xml data entries and modify any config.xml with xml path
settings like "/APPCONFIG/DATABASE" with the string entry
"C:\Programmi\CF\plugin\drivebook\drivebook.md b"

Enclosed you find a few preview pictures of my working setup package


This is an optional splash screen, which will be displayed 1.5 seconds

Then a language select dialog comes up to select the setup program language


Welcome page


Optional license page


optional components page


Destination path selection, which is prefilled with the centrafuse path + \plugins\pluginname

What do you think about that ?

Bye Wolfgang928

[wolfgang928]

The last finish screen



Then a drivebook.nsi file (zipped)
drivebook_nsi.zip

And last but not least the zipped CONTRIB path extension for a standard
NSIS 2.33 installation.

Contrib.zip

Have a look at the ready to use setup tool under

http://www.inselserver.com/download/...ook0.6.2.5.exe

The only remaining point is to make the CFButtonXMl.exe to a non visible console application (currently a short comming up of an empty console screen is not so beautiful)

I am waiting for any resonance and further tips.

Bye Wolfgang928

[David]

looks great!

So it supports multiple languages? Does it read this from the system? If so I would like to add the extra code of getting that language and updating the config.xml also with the language so Centrafuse starts in that set language...

Then make the buttonactions.xml get an update, and I believe this will be perfect...

I also would like for the plugin to set itself automatically to Plugins\<pluginname> and you do not even give the user the chance to change it... It just detects Centrafuse and knows where to install so no mistake can be made...

great work!!

david