Uninstaller Errors

Recently after changing the product name of one of the Merge modules in my suite I started getting errors while uninstallation.

When the uninstaller was called it threw a java exception saying target invocation exception stating



ZeroGu5: c:\program files\OpenSource\InstallFrameWork\Uninstaller\resource\iawin32.dll not found

at ZeroGa2.b(DashoA10*..)

at ZeroGa2.b(DashoA10*..)

at com.zerog.ia.installer.LifeCycleManager.b(DashoA10*..)

at com.zerog.ia.installer.LifeCycleManager.a(DashoA10*..)

at com.zerog.ia.installer.Main.main(DashoA10*..)

at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)

at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)

at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)

at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)

at com.zerog.lax.LAX.launch(DashoA10*..)

at com.zerog.lax.LAX.main(DashoA10*..)

Upon inspection I found that the resource folder that contains platform specific dll's under the uninstall folder. Even the global registry file that contains the file/folder installation was also found to be missing, so practically the uninstaller cannot work without this file.

Scratching my head for hours I build the installer with high debug enabled (jvm parameters -Dlax.debug.level=3 -Dlax.debug.all=true) with stderr and stdout directed to a file, but could not trace out any specific problem.

The installer archive contained all the resources that are required inside the uninstall folder, so there was no question that its a build issue.

Then I started the the dry run of the program my normalizing the payload to zero, modifying the project information properties and found that the product name had a trailing space at the end

Once the trailing space was removed the installation and uninstallation started working properly.

Although a is a kind of cosmetic defect but took hell lot of time to dig it out. Probably the Install Anywhere team forgot to check the product name property for any trailing spaces that can disrupt their XML transformation logic.

Avinash Anand

An accomplished software engineer looking for a challenging opportunity with a globally respected organization that provides ample opportunities to showcase my expertise, enhance my knowledge and allows me to contribute as a positive factor in the progress of the company. Active contributor in open source world, currently working in Google appengine and Java based open source cross platform installer framework.


Professional Summary

* Over 42 months of Development experience in Java/J2EE (Core Java, JSP, Servlet, JDBC, XML).
* Responsible for System Analysis, Design, Coding, and Qualitative experience in managing project modules independently.
* Extensive exposure to: Waterfall and Agile Development approaches.
* Development processes like Analysis, Design, Coding, Testing and Maintenance.
* Client-Server Architecture and MVC Architecture.
* Object Oriented Analysis and Design (OOAD).
* Worked with protocols such as SNMP, TCP/IP, UDP, SIP, H.323.
* Well exposed to both Client/Server and Web environment.
* Experience in doing unit testing using JUnit. Created test plan for unit testing.
* Used Rational Purify Plus for analyzing code coverage, code optimization and memory management.
* Interactive team player and proactive personality.
* Experience in installation, configuration and maintenance of Operating Systems, Web Servers, Database Systems and Mail Servers.


Product Software Components :

Operating Systems : Windows 2000/2003, Sun Solaris, IBM AIX
Databases : SQL Server 2000, Oracle, DB2
Web Server : Microsoft Internet Information Server, Sun ONE Web Server, IBM HTTP Server, Tomcat
Application Server : IBM WebSphere Application Server

Work Profile includes :

* Involved in creating multi Installer for the product using ISMP 5.0 and InstallAnywhere over various platforms such as Windows AIX and Solaris.
* Worked in installer migration from ISMP to InstallAnywhere 2009.
* Written blog over InstallAnywhere http://installanywhere.blogspot.com
* Involved in writing Java Beans for integration with Install Shield, custom code and plugin development for InstallAnywhere
* Worked with Accresso support team bug reporting and getting timely fixes.
Integration of various modules created under the project.
* Addressed various bugs filled against the installer.
* Documented all the defects to be addressed against the product in concern with the current minor release
* Created Installer framework for the current service pack release over ISMP 5.0 for all the platforms supported by the product Windows, AIX and Solaris
* Worked on cumulative service project. Designed completely new architecture for the service pack layout.
* Preparing/Attending the Interim/Internal Audits.
* Project Status Reporting and other related Escalations to the Development Manager.



Skill Matrix

Languages : Java, C, C++, Junit, Python
Operating System : Windows, Linux, AIX, Solaris.
Database/RDBMS : Oracle, DB2, MS SQL Server 2000.
Application Server : IBM WebSphere Application Server, Tomcat
Web Server : Microsoft Internet Information Server, IBM HTTP Server
Scripting : JavaScript, XML
Knowledge of : VMware, LPAR and TDD



Contact me

avinash.anand007(at)gmail.com

Location : Pune, India

InstallAnywhere global registry

Unlike InstallShield InstallAnywhere maintains its product information in a xml file (.com.zerog.registry.xml) as compared to the vpd.properties file created by Install Shield.

Some times it becomes tough for the end user or project author to get rid of a corrupt installation or uninstallation.

.com.zerog.regostry.xml file contains product name, version, UUID and description apart from the components and DIM registration information. This is typically useful if you have to identify a IA installation from a different framework say Install Shield.

This file is stored in /var directory or user on the UNIX machine if the installation is done by the root user else the file is stored in the home folder of the user.

In case of windows the file gets created under windows home drive (c: or d:)

A case study and its remedy

Q My installer/uninstaller did not run successfully! Can not proceed with a fresh installation

Ans- Remove/rename the global registry file and try running the installer/uninstaller

Q Needs to identify the components installed by the installer or need to find which components were removed by the uninstaller

Ans- Check the xml file it will contain the component information, the file in itself is self explanatory in nature.

Q. By mistake I have removed the global registry file but installation is intact, will by uninstallation work properly?

Ans- Yes absolutely, if the uninstaller does not find the global registry file it will look for the file at $USER_INSTALL_DIR$/Uninstall_$PRODUCT_NAME$/.com.zerog.registry.xml file it contains all the information about that individual installation.

So conclude with the global registry file can help the user to manipulate the installation or uninstallation in a desired manner and is sometimes very helpful in recovering the product instance after a corrupt installation

Developer Installation Manifest

Developers of the InstallAnywhere community would be very much familiar with the terminology "Developer Installation Manifest" commonly refereed as DIM.

InstallAnywhere provides the installation developer add addition pay load to their projects without adding any rework or hassle. The use of DIM proves to be of great importance if the application is developed by a large team across multiple sites. The process of packaging and requirement gathering proves to be very tedious and error prone. Due to lack of communication or insufficient knowledge many a times small bugs are introduced to the application package in the form of extra files/files missing/non registration of OCX etc.

Now imagine if theres a way the application developers who are writing the actual software do not require to communicate the list of file to be shipped in the required directory structure :) , imagine if the developer can test his standalone package while debugging or testing his application in stand alone mode. That to the developer does not require to this into an xml with any common text editor, all he/she has to do is to use his frequently used dev IDE eclipse or .NET editor! Seems cool ..... But how????

InstallAnyewhere allows to install plugins to commonly used development IDE's currently Eclipse and .NET IDE, these plugins allow the application software engineer to author to create DIM's which contain source and target locations of the file needed to run his component . All he needs to do is to identify the files and folder source location and needs to provide the target location on the end machine where it is going to be installed. This DIM can be plugged into the main project owned by the installation author or the Build/Release engineer. This gives the development team the sense of ownership of the application files owned by them and reduces the cost of maintenance and authoring to a large extent.

If will be asked to rate features and benefits of DIM over the traditional benefit of adding the files and folder into the main project I would give it a 10 on 10.

I am listing down some of the key benefits of the DIM below

1. DIM's allows the flexibility to be updated and owned by individual developers
2. It creates sufficient data encapsulation to the rest of members of the project
3. Developers can add files and folders inside the DIM
4. They will have option to register the ocx and dll if required wihin the DIM
5. Environment variables can be created inside the DIM
6. Group functions can be assigned inside the DIM
7. DIM's can be build and tested in a stand alone mode there by reducing the build time and ease for the developer to test his/her application

Above all features are definitely a great boon for the developer and build engineers of distributed and gigantic applications

I have also observers some of the major issues with InstallAnyhwere collaboration plugin in Eclipse. They are big issues but still can be lived with, here are some of them.

1. If the folder addition feature in the DIM is given some filters to add the contents of the DIM, it cannot be build and gives some weired exception. The possible workaround for this issue is to add the folder as a speed folder inside the main project and then give constraints or filters
2. Files need to be physically present at the source location if you are trying it to add in the DIM. The possible work around for this issue is to create a dummy file at the specified source location using touch utility or its equivalent on any OS
3. The installer output of the DIM can not be used in a stand alone mode for the customer purpose as it shows a warning message that "This installer has been built using a collaboration tool and hence should not be used to production"
4. The most big issue is that all the plugins that are installed and used has to be compulsorily have a valid license for its use(i.e if you have a team of 100 people who will be writing DIM's for their small software piece you need to actually have 100 licenses). The only available workaround for this problem is to install IA collaboration tool on a common machine where all the developers are going to have access and each of them will be authoring their individual DIM at different point of time :(

All of the above pros and cons have taken me to the conclusion that DIM's are of great use if used efficiently and with proper planning.

Adding image to Add/Remove program

You might have noticed that when your installer is created using InstallAnywhere, the default icon is shown (probably ZeroG icon). To customize your product according to the look and feel of your comany its very important to add a customized icon of your company that is product specific.
This task is very easy to achieve, you just need to 'Set Windows Registry Entry' action to do it.
In your uninstaller registry key (eg: \\HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\uninstall\MyProduct) create an entry named "DisplayIcon" with the value set to the full path to the icon you want to use. This means you'll need to install the icon file with your application.
There's also a host of other keys that IA doesn't automatically generate that you can manually create.
If you need any more detail pertaining to the issue browse through MSDN site for more details.

Pushing Install Updates to Customers

Dear readers all of you who has been involved in authoring installation projects must know the pain of IT companies in maintaining their product at the customer end. When a product goes through a release cycle the most important aspect of the company is to market the product, the most sell able aspects of the great products in the market is their ease of deployment and keeping it updated.
Companies spend millions of $$ in maintaining in release cycle and some more millions to support it, so that they are ahead of their competitors in the market. Releasing fixes, providing updates in a timely manner is their top priority so that they can win the confidence of their customers and keep the market growing for then.
But you all must realize that it requires huge investments for the IT companies for creating a dedicated support network for their customers to keep them updated with the latest fixes. Imagine a software which can update itself without any manual intervention, a system where the Administrator need not worry about reading the documentation before installing the updated manually, a huge enterprise system without going down for a single second updates itself !!
I think you must not have got surprised from the above statements, you might have already seen this "Windows Updates", "Java Updates" and millions of similar updates notification that might have gone un noticed!
These features are a must have for installers and frankly speaking they are very easy to achieve, just a few clicks during installation and here you are. All your customers will be using your latest version of the software and you can end up saving thousands of $$ on support calls.
You can add this feature in your installation product by using FLEXnet Connect from Macrovision.
All you need to do is add an update manager in your installation product, then list updates that will be pushed to the customers and you are done.
Some of the key benefits of using the FLEXnet Connect are listed below

Cut Costs with Electronic Software Delivery
Cut support costs by keeping users on your most current version
Cut product fulfillment, upgrade delivery, and renewal costs
Increase customer satisfaction by proactively delivering updates
Improve Customer Communication with In-Product Messaging
Deliver marketing messages to customers and evaluators as they use your software
Target users based on their product version, location, entitlement status, and more
Reach all of your customers directly, even if they purchased through a reseller
Improve Marketing and Development with Customer Data
Better understand your user base with data on total customer size, versions in use, and upgrade patterns
Learn how customers value your software by seeing which features are most popular
Use real customer data to create better marketing campaigns and more competitive products

For more details over the product visit Macrovision site

ASCII update problem with shell scripts in IA

InstallAnywhere supports ASCII update of files as its predecessor ISMP. But the interesting feature with InstallAnywhere is it substitutes everything between "$" sign. The reason behind this being IA resolves its variable which are in between two $ sign like $USER_INSTALL_DIR$ or $PRODUCT_NAME$

 

Here is the most interesting part which is going to attract your attention

 

A Shell script resolves its variable the same way IA does i.e the string starting with $ sign is considered to be a shell variable. Now here's the tweak if your shell script has multiple $ sign in a single line and if you are trying to update this file using IA ASCII update you will end up corrupting your file.

 

A very weired solution to this problem is to replace all the $ sign with "DOLLAR" 

Although tough to belief the Advanced designer has the feature where you can mention do not substitute IA variables but it actually does not respect your input.

 

So if you are trying to update a file that contains multiple $ sign in a file file use DOLLAR, once the IDE update the file as per your instruction it will automatically replace the DOLLAR with $

 

:) Keep reading many more to come....