Packaging FreepdfXP
Hi,
I'm a part-time sys admin for a small non-profit. I've successfully used Wininstall LE to create a couple of msi files for distribution within our network but I've got stuck and I'm hoping someone out there can help.
I want to package FreepdfXP. A freeware pdf writer that uses Ghostscript and Redmon and a PS print driver to create a virtual printer that outputs pdf. There's a couple of similar packages out there, cutepdf and pdf995, but this is the one that I like best. Freepdf is at http://freepdfxp.de/fpxp.htm (going via google translate service gives a decent english version)
I've used Wininstall 2003 LE to create an msi ( I removed all the program and registry exclusions), but the printer install is missed. Adding the printer manually and some of the Redmon port entries to the registry gets the program working. I've also found that manually adding the registry entries after running the image to add the printer gets it running. Where I've got stuck is getting those registry entries into the msi. Just adding them to the msi reg file doesn't do it ( Didn't think it would, but had to try :-). Editing the msi file with Wininstall LE seems to only allow one reg edit at a time, but there's just too many to add individually. Can anyone suggest where I could go from here? I can invest a bit more time on the project but my abilities are limited. If anyone thinks I'm close to getting it running then I'm willing to work on it some more. If not then is there anyone willing to take the project on? I've spoke to the developer at freepdfxp and he's willing to post the msi file and (I'm sure) provide appropriate credit.
Thanks for any help,
Steve
I'm a part-time sys admin for a small non-profit. I've successfully used Wininstall LE to create a couple of msi files for distribution within our network but I've got stuck and I'm hoping someone out there can help.
I want to package FreepdfXP. A freeware pdf writer that uses Ghostscript and Redmon and a PS print driver to create a virtual printer that outputs pdf. There's a couple of similar packages out there, cutepdf and pdf995, but this is the one that I like best. Freepdf is at http://freepdfxp.de/fpxp.htm (going via google translate service gives a decent english version)
I've used Wininstall 2003 LE to create an msi ( I removed all the program and registry exclusions), but the printer install is missed. Adding the printer manually and some of the Redmon port entries to the registry gets the program working. I've also found that manually adding the registry entries after running the image to add the printer gets it running. Where I've got stuck is getting those registry entries into the msi. Just adding them to the msi reg file doesn't do it ( Didn't think it would, but had to try :-). Editing the msi file with Wininstall LE seems to only allow one reg edit at a time, but there's just too many to add individually. Can anyone suggest where I could go from here? I can invest a bit more time on the project but my abilities are limited. If anyone thinks I'm close to getting it running then I'm willing to work on it some more. If not then is there anyone willing to take the project on? I've spoke to the developer at freepdfxp and he's willing to post the msi file and (I'm sure) provide appropriate credit.
Thanks for any help,
Steve
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Answers (6)
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Posted by:
dm1
20 years ago
One of the more common packaging tasks when packaging pdf applications is having to stop and start the printer spooler.
i know when you package adobe or similar you need to include this in your msi.
Get the name of the service: normally "spooler" and create a stop/start action for it on install/uninstall.
Hopefully this should work.
i know when you package adobe or similar you need to include this in your msi.
Get the name of the service: normally "spooler" and create a stop/start action for it on install/uninstall.
Hopefully this should work.
Posted by:
Steve Young
20 years ago
Hi Dm1,
Thanks for your response.
Can you give me a bit more details on where I would insert a script to stop the spooler? I'd read previously that this was a possibility but couldn't figure out where I could add it to the package. I'm using Wininstall LE 2003.
Steve
Thanks for your response.
Can you give me a bit more details on where I would insert a script to stop the spooler? I'd read previously that this was a possibility but couldn't figure out where I could add it to the package. I'm using Wininstall LE 2003.
Steve
Posted by:
dm1
20 years ago
Steve,
I cant say Ive used Wininstall LE, but I started and stopped the spooler before using installshield AdminStudio 5.5.
No Matter, you should still be able to do without having to write any script. Its less complicated than you think. (once you know how!!)
As far as I can remember, you go to the services table and insert the name of the service you want to control, in this case "Spooler". i dont have tables open in front of me but I think there's columns to control Actions.
It might look something like this:
SERVICES TABLE:
Service OnInstall OnUninstall
"Spooler" "Start" "Stop"
Let me know if this helps you.
I cant say Ive used Wininstall LE, but I started and stopped the spooler before using installshield AdminStudio 5.5.
No Matter, you should still be able to do without having to write any script. Its less complicated than you think. (once you know how!!)
As far as I can remember, you go to the services table and insert the name of the service you want to control, in this case "Spooler". i dont have tables open in front of me but I think there's columns to control Actions.
It might look something like this:
SERVICES TABLE:
Service OnInstall OnUninstall
"Spooler" "Start" "Stop"
Let me know if this helps you.
Posted by:
TheAlb
19 years ago
Hi,
installing both GhostScript and FreePDF XP isn't the worst problem - uninstalling Ghostscript is worse. I thumbed through everything I could find on the net and nowhere a solution can be found.
Anyway, try the following cmd file:
@echo off
:: TheAlb
:: 13:01 16.09.2005
:: Installation of Ghostscript and FreePDF XP 3.04
if exist c:\program files\gs8.51\uninstal.txt goto :oldversion
::Ghostscript
c:
cd\
cd TOOLS\SOURCES\FreePD_GS\Sources\gssetup\
start /wait /min setupgs.exe C:\Programme
::FreePDF XP
set fpdebug=1
cd..
cd fp
start /wait /min fpsetup.exe /q
if %errorlevel%==0 goto success
if not %errorlevel%==0 goto failed
:Oldversion
echo Package already installed > c:\temp\FP_GS.log
:: I did this because I install both sw's at the same time which means
:: both would be installed. Therefore the installation has to be cancelled.
goto end
:failed
echo Installation failed > c:\temp\FP_GS.log
:success
echo Installation successful > c:\temp\FP_GS.log
goto end
:end
if exist %userprofile%\desktop\fpsetup.log del %userprofile%\desktop\fpsetup.log
exit
*******
Both GS and FP installation files must be unpacked and copied to the appropriate folders.
FP: the installation EXE can be unpacked.
GS: Start the installation, click to start the installation, then leave the window open and go to %temp%. Search for setupgs.exe and copy the files and folders to the installation folder mentioned in the cmd file.
Works perfectly for me if it wasn't for the uninstall part ...
Anyone out there who knows how to get rid of GS in a silent way?
cu
Uwe
installing both GhostScript and FreePDF XP isn't the worst problem - uninstalling Ghostscript is worse. I thumbed through everything I could find on the net and nowhere a solution can be found.
Anyway, try the following cmd file:
@echo off
:: TheAlb
:: 13:01 16.09.2005
:: Installation of Ghostscript and FreePDF XP 3.04
if exist c:\program files\gs8.51\uninstal.txt goto :oldversion
::Ghostscript
c:
cd\
cd TOOLS\SOURCES\FreePD_GS\Sources\gssetup\
start /wait /min setupgs.exe C:\Programme
::FreePDF XP
set fpdebug=1
cd..
cd fp
start /wait /min fpsetup.exe /q
if %errorlevel%==0 goto success
if not %errorlevel%==0 goto failed
:Oldversion
echo Package already installed > c:\temp\FP_GS.log
:: I did this because I install both sw's at the same time which means
:: both would be installed. Therefore the installation has to be cancelled.
goto end
:failed
echo Installation failed > c:\temp\FP_GS.log
:success
echo Installation successful > c:\temp\FP_GS.log
goto end
:end
if exist %userprofile%\desktop\fpsetup.log del %userprofile%\desktop\fpsetup.log
exit
*******
Both GS and FP installation files must be unpacked and copied to the appropriate folders.
FP: the installation EXE can be unpacked.
GS: Start the installation, click to start the installation, then leave the window open and go to %temp%. Search for setupgs.exe and copy the files and folders to the installation folder mentioned in the cmd file.
Works perfectly for me if it wasn't for the uninstall part ...
Anyone out there who knows how to get rid of GS in a silent way?
cu
Uwe
Posted by:
MSIMaker
19 years ago
Your problem may be with the MultiSZ keys that your printer driver needs in order to run correctly.
Perhaps WinInstall is not putting them into the msi properly. You may need a small script in order to get them in.
I don't use Wininstall for packaging so I'm not sure how it handles these keys but I do know it doesn't capture them well.
Perhaps WinInstall is not putting them into the msi properly. You may need a small script in order to get them in.
I don't use Wininstall for packaging so I'm not sure how it handles these keys but I do know it doesn't capture them well.
Posted by:
TheAlb
19 years ago
A friend of mine had a wonderful idea - dirty but wonderful:
I used the uninstgs.exe from the GSVIEW installation instead of the original one and the silent installation was successful!
This means:
Delete the original uninstgs.exe from the Ghostscript package.
Get the uninstgs.exe from the GSVIW package (same way as for Ghostscript).
Place it into the Ghostscript installation path (still talking about my script).
Use the following script to uninstall both FreePDF XP and Ghostscript:
@echo off
:: TheAlb
:: 13:01 16.09.2005
:: Uninstall of Ghostscript and FreePDF XP 3.04
if not exist "c:\TOOLS\SOURCES\FreePD_GS\." goto error
::FreePDF XP
c:
cd\
cd "TOOLS\SOURCES\FreePD_GS\Sources\fp\"
if exist "c:\program files\freepdf_xp" start /wait /min fpsetup.exe /q /r
::Ghostscript
cd..
cd gssetup
start /wait /min uninstgs.exe "c:\program files\gs8.51\uninstal.txt" -q
if exist c:\program files\gs8.51 rd /s/q c:\program files\gs8.51
if exist c:\program files\freepdf_xp rd /s/q c:\program files\freepdf_xp
if exist c:\program files\uninstgs.exe del c:\program files\uninstgs.exe
if exist "%allusersprofile%\startm~1\Progra~1\Ghosts~1" rd /s /q "%allusersprofile%\startm~1\Progra~1\Ghosts~1"
goto end
:error
echo Sources couldn't be found at c:\TOOLS\SOURCES\FreePD_GS
:end
exit
Thanks, Bernhard!
Uwe
I used the uninstgs.exe from the GSVIEW installation instead of the original one and the silent installation was successful!
This means:
Delete the original uninstgs.exe from the Ghostscript package.
Get the uninstgs.exe from the GSVIW package (same way as for Ghostscript).
Place it into the Ghostscript installation path (still talking about my script).
Use the following script to uninstall both FreePDF XP and Ghostscript:
@echo off
:: TheAlb
:: 13:01 16.09.2005
:: Uninstall of Ghostscript and FreePDF XP 3.04
if not exist "c:\TOOLS\SOURCES\FreePD_GS\." goto error
::FreePDF XP
c:
cd\
cd "TOOLS\SOURCES\FreePD_GS\Sources\fp\"
if exist "c:\program files\freepdf_xp" start /wait /min fpsetup.exe /q /r
::Ghostscript
cd..
cd gssetup
start /wait /min uninstgs.exe "c:\program files\gs8.51\uninstal.txt" -q
if exist c:\program files\gs8.51 rd /s/q c:\program files\gs8.51
if exist c:\program files\freepdf_xp rd /s/q c:\program files\freepdf_xp
if exist c:\program files\uninstgs.exe del c:\program files\uninstgs.exe
if exist "%allusersprofile%\startm~1\Progra~1\Ghosts~1" rd /s /q "%allusersprofile%\startm~1\Progra~1\Ghosts~1"
goto end
:error
echo Sources couldn't be found at c:\TOOLS\SOURCES\FreePD_GS
:end
exit
Thanks, Bernhard!
Uwe
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