Software Deployment

This is how i do it...

Place the Shortcuts and the File you want to copy to each users profile in the same component ... Make the file <abc.set> a "KEY FILE" (Meaning if it's missing when the advertised shortcut is run, then the MSI will reinstall the file.) Switch the Properties on the shortcut to Advertised and select the component which contains it as the Target. - Make sure you do this for every shortcut.

That's it.

fyi - i wrote this from memory but this is essentially the idea. -- also check the property table for properties that may disable Advertising - NOADVERTISE, etc...

Good luck

Hi gmorgan

just came back from a vacation and i checked it out, it worked for a file <file.set> which specified as a key file in a component.
But my problem is that when a user login first time and click on the advertised shortcut pointing to a .exe file, it install it from .msi if it is missing, at the same time I want to install/put a <file.set> in the user profile "Application Data" folder i.e. "Document and Settings/<username>/Application data/<file.set>". any ideas..........

Thanks a lot for above solution

regards

Did you set the installation as Per-User instead of Per-Machine?

Sorry just saw your re-post...and i'm actually leaving for vacation today... but here is what i can offer

I use Installshield so i'll explain it through that ... Wise should be similar... If you don't have it .. you can download a trial if you need it ... I"m not sure how to explain it through ORCA..

Under the FIles Section
Activate the "USERPROFILE" Prefined Folder
this will be equal to Document and Settings/<username>
Add the folders you need under that .. so Add "Application Data"
then add your file to that folder.

Find what component it added the <file.set> to ... if it didn't create a new component create one and move your file there...

Set it as your key file...

If you are still having problems with the Advertised shortcuts -- try using STUBPATH

It's a registry key under HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\ActiveSetup\Installed Components\<GUID>
add a string value named stubpath and then give it a value of msiexec /fuo <guid> /qn

This will force the msi to repair Current user settings and old or missing files ...

Hopefully you can follow this ...

just a warning though ... look at your Directory table and make sure that the Parent is not TARGETDIR ... too often the TargetDir property is set to the Sourcedir property and the predefined folders fail...

good luck... i'll check for your repost when i get back in a week...

AngelD,

It is Per-machine intsallation

If it's Per-machine then the "Application Data" folder will be located under "All Users" (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data)

True, but i want to install/copy the file in all the user profile's "application data"

Then follow mr gmorgan618's ActiveSetup advice.