CyberInstaller Studio - 10. Step 8: "External Applications"

 

In this step you can specify a list of applications outside the package that will run before or after the actual installation process. You can choose whether to run an application directly from the target system, or if it stays in the package.


The inscription at the top right shows the total number of applications and enter the weight in bytes for the current packet (thus obviously only possible applications incorporated in the package).

The ability to run applications outside the installation process is of paramount importance, since it gives the possibility to start first of all external executable which could act as third-party installer specially made to distribute the software components (eg.: DirectX, MDAC, etc..). Moreover, this feature is typically used to run the software once installed on your system.


It's possible choose to run the external application directly from the user's system (where, eg., We should start the software after installation), or if it stays in the package (for example, to run installer third-party installation packages or secondary).


This step comes in two parts: an upper for the applications you want to be executed before the actual installation process, and one less for the applications to run later.

Both lists work the same way. They are divided into 7 columns:

 

Description: The title that you want to identify it, which will be displayed to the user during the installation process

 

Path Local: CyberInstaller Studio needs to know the name of the executable to start and possibly also the full path to be able to incorporate in the package

 

Boot path: that is, from where start the executable specified in the local path, for example if the Windows folder, or the package itself (if the executable has been incorporated), or the destination folder selected by the user

 

HOW: synchronous or asynchronous to the process of installation (if synchronous installation will not continue until the application ends, if asynchronous installation will continue without waiting for the end of the application started)

 

Conditions: if checked will/will not (depending on the condition chosen) starting the application (may be a file, folder, registry key, or the type of operating system).

 

Parameters: command line parameters to pass to the application.

 

Confirm: request for the user. Lets first start the application if the user being prompted, or run away.

 

For more information about these parameters see: Adding an external application.

Note: It's possible use this step to start package installation always achieved through secondary CyberInstaller Studio. This trick will allow, for example, to verify the existence of certain files (thanks to the parameter "Status") for installation of certain file only if those files do not exist. Or (again thanks to the parameter "Status") to perform the execution of sub-packages (ie you install certain files) according to the operating system installed.
These are only examples, thanks to the possibility offered by CyberInstaller to run external applications, indeed, you can dramatically increase the versatility of their installation packages.

 

It's possible to work on lists of external applications to run before / after acting on their buttons:

 

Wizard: launches the wizard that will allow you to add an external application in a fully attended.

Add [button]

Opens the "Add Application Pool" that allows you to specify all of the external application.

 

Edit [button]

After selecting an application previously added to the list, you can use this button to change the values.
This same result is obtained by double-clicking the item you want.

 

Delete [Button]

Deletes the list item selected. Asks for confirmation.

 

Clear [button]

Delete all elements of the list.

 

Note: Instead of the buttons Add, Edit, Delete and Clear, you can use the context menu (pop-up) on the list. This menu is activated by a click with right mouse button on the list. This has the advantage that, in editing and elimination, there is a greater certainty that you have selected the item you want and operate exactly the item you want.
Present in all lists CyberInstaller Studio have a context menu activated by right mouse button, which allows to achieve common tasks permitted for the corresponding list.


 

 CyberInstaller Studio - 7.1. Activities current step

 

Wizard: launches the wizard that will allow you to add an external application in a fully attended.

Move up: Move the application included a place higher up than other applications (if any) included in the same list.

Move Down: Move the application included a place lower than the other applications (if any) included in the same list.

Move to list "first"/"after": Move the application inside the other list (eg if the application is inserted between the applications to perform "before", this activity will move to be included among those "after" ).

Start: Execute the selected application.


 See also ...

 

 Package creation steps

 CyberInstaller - Script Installation

 Adding an external application