Software Deployment

Here are the notes I took when I created the .mst:

QuickTime 7.60.92.0 - 04/01/09
--Edited .msi with Orca and added "0" tothe extra languages in .msi per appdeploy.com hints on Vista GPO installs.
--QuickTime.qtp file placed in the AllUsers directory on install.
--HKLM\Software\Apple Computer, Inc.\QuickTime\SystemPreferences\ written to on install.
--QTPlayersession.xml file placed in [LocalAppDataFolder] on profile fix.
--HKCU\Software\Apple Computer, Inc.\QuickTime\LocalUserPreferences\ written to on profile fix.

---------------------------------------------------------

So to be specific you need to define the .qtp path in those two reg keys(although you may be able to get away with just the HKLM key, i didn't test since i was already doing a profile fix up for the .xml).

Here's an example of what the HKCU would look like:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Apple Computer, Inc.\QuickTime\LocalUserPreferences]
"FolderPath"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Application Data\\Apple Computer\\QuickTime\\"


Be warned, no matter what you do that the Path will need to be absolute. It cannot use variables.

Notes for Vista: .qtp wants to install to LocalLow, and I over came that with the AllUsers and those regkeys. This makes my msi/mst compatible with both Vista and XP(hopefully Win7 also). We don't care about any settings that are stored in the .qtp that the user cannot change. They just need to be able to use quicktime...usually from browser and for iTunes purposes.

This cut out all the hacks for a custom action of some sort to get the .qtp file into the LocalLow for Vista. Or whatever solutions may be out there for Vista.

...except your MSI will fail validation, as it's using a user profile-targeted file as a key path whereas it ought to use a registry value in HKCU. Create a dummy registry entry for it and set that as the key path. All this stuff is exhaustively detailed in the Package KB and many times over in other posts.

What is it you're having problem doing and what have you done?
There are a lot of posts regarding adding file(s) to QT all over the forum.

Angel,

You're right. There are a lot of posts, and I'm having trouble trying to figure out which one will yield the results I'm looking for. Here is what I've done:

1. Downloaded 7.6 from Apple and extracted the installation files
2. Copied Quicktime.msi and QuicktimeInstallerAdmin.exe to a folder.
3. Using a batch script (found on here) to set up installation:
start /wait msiexec /i QuickTime.msi ALLUSERS=1 QTINFO.BISQTPRO=1 REGSRCH_INSTALL_ASU=0 DESKTOP_SHORTCUTS=0 /qn

reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run /v "QuickTime Task" /f
mkdir "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Apple Computer"
mkdir "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Apple Computer\QuickTime"
copy QuickTime.qtp "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Apple Computer\QuickTime"

4. This is where I need help. I want Quicktime to run the QTP settings stored in All Users, not in the logged on user's profile. Looking through the MSI I found Set_CurrentUserFolder and tried messing around with that but either that's the wrong spot entirely or I'm not doing it right. Both are likely.

Mike,

Thank you! Okay, now I have to admit that I have no idea how to implement what you've written to do.

How exactly would I create this transform in orca? I am completely new to this type of thing, so I understand what I need to do but I'm not sure how to actually do it. I will also use the QTPlayerSession.xml piece you have, I had forgotten about that piece of the quicktime settings puzzle.

Jro,

How I handled the .QTP issue was to:

1. Create MST
2. On Installation Expert, add your Quicktime.qtp under QuickTimeEssentials Feature to "Windows\Profiles\Local Settings\Application Data\Apple Computer\Quicktime\"
3. Click on Setup Editor and Components, check to see if Quicktime.qtp was added to its own component and it's set as the Key Path.
4. If not, create a new component and shift the qtp file to it and set it as key path.
5. You're done.

This worked for me well...hope it helps you out. Best of luck!

Thx VB...completely missed that :)

VB,

I'm really not trying to come across as demanding or stupid, but I'm not sure how else to communicate what I feel like I've said a couple of times now:
I've read a TON of other posts, and they've been helpful, but I'm just not sure how to take the next steps.

I definitely recognize that I need to create a pair of registry keys for the package to use, but I honestly have no idea how one goes about doing that. I don't really know anything about creating transforms and every time I try to make one it seems like it doesn't work.

I don't mind being linked to a post that shows me step by step what to do and then you can call me a complete failure at life and totally worthless scumbag, but I'm just not getting it on my own.

Unfortunately, you picked one of the more challenging products for your baptism. I honestly don't think anyone here would have the time to produce a step-by-step guide for you.

Would anyone have a reasonably generic transform - even one for an older v7 release - that they could upload to senduit.com (or similar)?

Here's my .mst as vbscab suggested:

http://sharebee.com/866eb0b8

Hope it helps. Not necc. the best way to ago about it, but again it makes the package a lot easier to deal with on XP and Vista.

In here you'll see how to properly do profile fix ups...although you may want to change spot in the registry where I do the profile fixups to something thats a little more across the board and standard for all of your packages. Honestly I should'ave created a special key to stick all of my future profile fixes I do here at my job. But the package is out the door now... ;)

I'm still learning this stuff also.

Next time.

edit:
Sent a personal msg to jrobeano with the whole 9 yards link. Taking a look at a proper self healing profile fix up in a msi/mst can be instrumental in a learning process for this. Thats how I learned, I read some REALLY good posts on here, but once I saw an msi/mst a coworker did, I really grasped it. jrobeano sounds like he may be new to this. He's about to learn. lol

Mike,

Thank you very much for doing that. I haven't gone any further than just looking through it, and maybe it did more damage than good in my level of understanding.... Can I ask just a few more questions that I think will answer a great bit of what I'm still having trouble grasping

1. Did you use a program to help you build this transform or are you all superheros that have the knowledge to type it out?

2. I noticed in the Media table that Data1.cab is referenced 4 times, and there is a Data2.cab referenced. Why is there a Data2.cab? How does the installer know to use Data1.cab, I found no other reference to it other than the media table.

3. As I am reading through the changes the transform makes I am now fully aware that I am insanely over my head with, where should I get started learning about this stuff? Is there a "Welcome to your new misery" visitors guide?

3.

Well, welcome to packaging! :). There are quite a few tools you can use to create MSI, MSTs, MSP, scripts, cakes, ice creams...you get the point :). The 2 big boys in this world are InstallShield and Wise Package Studio. You should be able to download the evaluation for each one and start playing around, although if you're serious about delving deeper into it, you should probably consider some formal training, books, etc.

Good luck!

ORIGINAL: jrobeano
1. Did you use a program to help you build this transform or are you all superheros that have the knowledge to type it out?

2. I noticed in the Media table that Data1.cab is referenced 4 times, and there is a Data2.cab referenced. Why is there a Data2.cab? How does the installer know to use Data1.cab, I found no other reference to it other than the media table.

3. As I am reading through the changes the transform makes I am now fully aware that I am insanely over my head with, where should I get started learning about this stuff? Is there a "Welcome to your new misery" visitors guide?


1. AdminStudio 8.5 (InstallShield 2008). I can do it via ORCA now, but its much less painful via InstallShield. I'm no superhero with packaging, in fact its a pretty small part of my job. But I have become nearly fearless with it.

2. data2.cab is garbage!! Can't believe I left that in there. You can probably remove the extra entries. Sorry, I was fighting with this package for a lil bit. I had to change settings in the xml/qtp a couple times, due to requests etc etc.

3. Although learning how to do it via ORCA is probably the longest path with the most reward at the end....I would suggest something more robust like AdminStudio or Wise. Other than that: http://www.appdeploy.com/video/, http://www.appdeploy.com/techhomes/windowsinstaller.asp and http://www.appdeploy.com/packages/

This following post helped me greatly in understanding self healing packages w/advertised shortcuts:
http://www.appdeploy.com/messageboards/fb.asp?m=7766

One user on here by the name of joedown(thanks joe!) sent me an .mst for Quicktime....and I looked at a coworkers solution and it all came together. Even though I did go a different route in my package due to Vista concerns and not wanting to create a CA.

Everyone in the forum will be willing to help with specific questions, but they likely won't have time to walk you through the beginning stages of your learning curve in packaging, since like me they have jobs and such. They will expect you to have a passing knowledge and understanding of how it all works. Once you acquire that, you will know what questions to ask, which will help greatly. [;)]

Edit:
There are no adverse affects of leaving #2 alone. Well unless someone can think of one...

I solved the problem with the help of ActiveSetup and DuplicateFile. I don't change the LocalUserPreferences path. In this way, the user can change his personal settings for QuickTime. Maybe an advantage, maybe a disavantage.

My MST file: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NSJNMKKJ

Copy your QTP file to the same directory as the MSI file.

ORIGINAL: fenPackager

I solved the problem with the help of ActiveSetup and DuplicateFile. I don't change the LocalUserPreferences path. In this way, the user can change his personal settings for QuickTime. Maybe an advantage, maybe a disavantage.

My MST file: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NSJNMKKJ

Copy your QTP file to the same directory as the MSI file.


Thanks for your MST !

I just tuned it for seven... but I have a problem: it works only for the first user. For other users, the quicktime preferences use the systemprofile folder?

Any idea?