Offline KI

[diafero]

Sounds like a cool idea
I currently see one problem though: The SDL changes I did don't always add the SDL var at the end but rather where it fits regarding the context (like the Yeesha Pages, they are all in one place). If your script now does it differently, we would have incompatible sets of SDL files. The installer should also offer a way to provide the full STATEDESC block of one or more new SDL versions which is then simply attached to the current file. This would make sure the SDL files are the same as in the current Offline KI.

What we'll also have to think about is an update path. The installer has to be able to patch from a clean install to the current Offline KI (or whatever is deployed) as well as from a previous to the current version.

EDIT: Oh, and which language do you write that script in? Will it also be usable on non-Windows systems (which I think it should)?

[Chacal]

I currently see one problem though: The SDL changes I did don't always add the SDL var at the end but rather where it fits regarding the context (like the Yeesha Pages, they are all in one place). If your script now does it differently, we would have incompatible sets of SDL files.

That's not a problem. The installer looks for the presence of the vars anywhere in the last STATEDESC, deletes them if present, then adds all changes at the end. They are no longer grouped according to context, they are grouped by distribution, which makes more sense anyways. You can add a comment such as "These are changes from distro #1234567"
I'll post an example soon because I finished testing this part of the installer last night.

The installer should also offer a way to provide the full STATEDESC block of one or more new SDL versions which is then simply attached to the current file. This would make sure the SDL files are the same as in the current Offline KI.

Not sure I understand. Aren't previous versions irrelevant? The last block must have all variables.
Anyway, the patcher lets you do that with the xml file.

What we'll also have to think about is an update path. The installer has to be able to patch from a clean install to the current Offline KI (or whatever is deployed) as well as from a previous to the current version.

Maybe. My main goal was to be able to add to the user's existing installation without needing a clean install.

EDIT: Oh, and which language do you write that script in? Will it also be usable on non-Windows systems (which I think it should)?

VBScript
Well I didn't start with an installer project, I just needed a few DOS batch files for automating my work. Batch commands are too limited so I switched to VBScript. Then it kinda mutated into an installer. Then it hit me that I should have done that in Python and learn the language at the same time.
Maybe for the next version.

[diafero]

That's not a problem. The installer looks for the presence of the vars anywhere in the last STATEDESC, deletes them if present, then adds all changes at the end. They are no longer grouped according to context, they are grouped by distribution, which makes more sense anyways. You can add a comment such as "These are changes from distro #1234567"

For precisely that reason, it *is* a problem. If we want to make an Offline KI package for your installer, for the SDL files it has to give exactly the same files as the ones we currently have as otherwise, Offline KI with your installer and Offline KI with the zip file would be incompatible. And I must say that grouping by context is much more intuitive if you actually use the SDL files or want to look up some variable names, so I wouldn't really like to loose that.

VBScript

I guess I have to hope that it works on wine then

[Tsar Hoikas]

Well I didn't start with an installer project, I just needed a few DOS batch files for automating my work. Batch commands are too limited so I switched to VBScript. Then it kinda mutated into an installer. Then it hit me that I should have done that in Python and learn the language at the same time.
Maybe for the next version.

I'd like to throw in that I stopped writing bash and batch stuff completely in favor of writing python scripts. Python is a great language and lets me do MORE, faster. I think you'll find the experience great.

[Chacal]

Old dog, new tricks, etc.

[Frits]

I have trouble downloading the file, it says it is 59,1 MB, but it downloads in less then a second and leves a file of only 71 kB on my HD wich can't be opened.
Whats going wrong?

[ddb174]

It's possible that bplaced.net was having temporary trouble, because it's working for me right now. You could also check to see if you have run out of disk space.

[Szark]

Frits are you using 7- Zip? If so open up 7 Zip go to the top menu bar click on View, then Folder History or Alt + F12 and delete the entry for the last OfflineKI. Then you should be able to download the new one ok.

[Frits]

@ddb174, plenty of diskspace, about 333GB.
@Szark, there is no file 'offlineki' in the Folder History, only the downloadfolder itself.
So the problem still exists like I wrote, 59,1 MB download in less then a second and leaves a file of 70 kB on the HD that can't be opened by 7 Zip (or any other unzipper).

[Jojon]

I had the same problem and finally worked around it by putting a boot to internet exploder's backside and downloading it to me trusty olde miggy. I don't know what happens, but it seems I am served a small portion of the file, followed by a short pause, before the download continues -- I'm guessing this makes IE go: "Huh? Well, I suppose that's all, then. *terminating download*"...

...so the best I can suggest is trying a different browser, if you have one handy, or something like wget. :7