Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

DarkBASIC Professional Discussion / Building an installer for a game written in DBPro

Author
Message
CSL
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 22nd Mar 2009
Location: USA
Posted: 5th Nov 2010 16:15 Edited at: 5th Nov 2010 16:16
I want to send a game (the .exe, not the source) to a friend who doesn't own DBpro. I want him to give a final test before I distribute it to more people. I want to provide him an easy way to install the game using an installer. It should be painless and dumbproof like the installers you see all the time.

I've searched through the forums and found some interesting suggestions to create an installer and distribute a game. But I still have a few unanswered questions.

Here are the requirements:

- An installer that creates a Setup.exe containing the game .exe, and all other necessary files (media, DirectX, dlls, etc.) to run it on a different computer.
- The installer shall create all folders, install all files and dependencies, and create a shortcut for the game on the desktop or taskbar, or at the least, a program folder inside the Start menu.
- The installer shall detect if the currently installed directx on the computer meets the direct x 9.0c game requirements, if not, then install the direct 9.0c redist.
- If possible everything shall be done using one installer.

It is acceptable to install directx separately, but I would like to know if there's a way to detect if you already have the correct version (from within the program or otherwise).

Also, I've noticed that when I try to run an .exe on another computer, it pops up the Data Execution Prevention DEP message. I want to know how to avoid this without having to disable DEP or without having to instruct the user to manually check or disable anything. I mean, my installed programs such as Word, adobe are .exe files and I didnt have to do anything to avoid getting a DEP.

I'm planning to use Inno Setup Compiler. I also have the directx redist file. Is that what I need to accomplish all of the above? Thanks in advance

CSL
BatVink
Moderator
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Apr 2003
Location: Gods own County, UK
Posted: 5th Nov 2010 16:38
Look at the October Newsletter, Lee Bamber's video blog. It relates to AppUp, but you can follow the tutorial and ignore the AppUp specific stuff.

CSL
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 22nd Mar 2009
Location: USA
Posted: 5th Nov 2010 17:21
Quote: "Look at the October Newsletter, Lee Bamber's video blog."

Who would've thunk it, and I read the newsletter every month.

I'll take a look when I get home. Thanks!!

CSL
baxslash
Valued Member
Bronze Codemaster
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Dec 2006
Location: Duffield
Posted: 5th Nov 2010 17:52
War Setup 3 and Wix as shown in Lee's blog works very well for this. You can make a very professional looking and fully working 'msi' using this.

...and it's FREE!!

Just in case you decide to use it and get an error about not having VS2008 installed (or something similar) during installation just ignore it and continue the installation and it works fine...

Neco
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 13th Jul 2008
Location: Waterloo, Wisconsin USA
Posted: 7th Nov 2010 01:56 Edited at: 7th Nov 2010 01:58
If your program is setting off DEP on other computers, I would be trying to find out why that is before worrying about your installer.

I know there was a somewhat similar thread a while ago, about DB compiled EXE's triggering Norton AV with false positives (and the EXE's being deleted).


It could potentially be something you are doing in your code, that DEP feels is either accidentally or intentionally malicious, or in light of the other thread, dare I say maybe the way the program is compiling? Either way I hope it's just a simple code issue that you can fix easily.

BatVink
Moderator
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Apr 2003
Location: Gods own County, UK
Posted: 7th Nov 2010 02:17
Extends triggers false positives, that may be your issue if you use this plugin.

Mistrel
Retired Moderator
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Nov 2005
Location:
Posted: 7th Nov 2010 03:39
Try Bytessence InstallMaker.

http://www.bytessence.com/bim.html

mrniceguy
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Oct 2005
Location:
Posted: 7th Nov 2010 08:59
Or take a look at Smart Packer Pro.

http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=172007&b=1

There is a free plugin available whichs checks for DirectX 9c.

Smart Packer Pro - Distribute games and applications
3DRad V-Packer - Compress 3DRad files into one executable
Flash Packer - Pack your Flash movies
CSL
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 22nd Mar 2009
Location: USA
Posted: 9th Nov 2010 04:20 Edited at: 9th Nov 2010 04:26
Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.

The default Application.exe built after compiling any program always causes the DEP to trigger. It happens even with a "Hello World" program.

When I double click any Dbpro-generated .exe on any of my two computers (Vista and Win 7) the DEP is triggered.

I know it's Windows behavior when running .exe's, but I'm not sure how to avoid triggering this security message with my .exe's.

EDIT: ok, ok, ok, I figured it out. You should be ok as long as you don't click the .exe file directly. Running the program using a shortcut doesn't trigger the DEP, go figure

CSL

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2024-03-29 09:17:04
Your offset time is: 2024-03-29 09:17:04