[THIN] Re: scripted installs - including activex components?

I do.
I have a number of activeX plugins that I package in MSI files although I 
haven't tried webex yet.

This is what I do although some activex components are not always this straight 
forward. Most seem to be though .
I grab a clean VM and point my web browser to the site that has the activex 
component(s).
I then download and install them as a user would do on an unrestricted pc (our 
users complain like hell about the fact they are not allowed to do this )

Look in the downloaded program files directory. Right click on the downloaded 
component and check to see the codebase URL.
I then download the package from the url. Typically it is a cab file that 
includes an inf file along with the required dlls / ocx files etc etc.
The inf file basically says what to do with the files, where to put them and a 
classid.The inf file also lays out the order thats the files should be 
installed / copied / regsitered in.
Some dlls require registering some do not.

Once i have got the files i exxtract them to a folder and i use a little 
utility called wisecomcpature.
Wisecomcapture creates a reg file containing entries that result after 
registering the component.

Once i have got my registry entries and files i create a basic msi file. I used 
to use the selfregister option when creating an msi but i found that i had to 
keepm creating custom actions to unregister. 
By working out the registry entries and importing them into an msi file i 
pretty much guarantee that uninstalling the msi will remove everything rather 
than leaving oprhaned entries which can cause ie to crash.


Looking at an MS file from my downloaded program files folder
Download dir = 
http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1190318736117

Inspecting the inf file within the cab

;
; Inf file for Windows Update WUWeb.dll ActiveX control
;

[version]
Signature=$Windows NT$

[Add.Code]
wuweb.dll=wuweb.dll

[wuweb.dll]
file=thiscab
RegisterServer=yes
clsid={6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C}
; DestDir is system32
DestDir=11
FileVersion=7,0,6000,381

The wuweb.dll obviously requires registering and copying to the system 32 folder



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Roger Riggins 
  To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 4:53 PM
  Subject: [THIN] scripted installs - including activex components?


  Hey all- 



  Have any of you (Rick?) been able to include activex components in your 
scripted installs? For example: crystal reports viewer, trackit web components, 
and webex. I tried packaging the install into a MSI but the files show up 
damaged in c:\windows\downloaded program files. I don't know any other way to 
do it.



  Thanks!

  Roger Riggins   
  Network Administrator 
  Lutheran Services in Iowa 
  w: 319.859.3543 
  c: 319.290.5687 
  http://www.lsiowa.org 



  Lutheran Services in Iowa Confidentiality Notice:
  The information contained in this communication may be confidential, is 
intended only for the use of the recipient(s) named above, and may be legally 
privileged. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you 
are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this 
communication, or any of its contents, is strictly prohibited. If you have 
received this communication in error, please return it to the sender 
immediately and delete the original message and any copy of it from your 
computer system. If you have any questions concerning this message, please 
contact the sender.

Other related posts: