Overview
The install-on-demand feature has been conceived in order to help client
companies manage the rollout of complex application suites including
multiple illustration systems, calculators, marketing materials, etc. The
purpose of this feature is to allow the end user to install only the
components that he needs, keep track of updated or newly releaseD modules
and shift the burden of version management from the user to the web
installer software.
System Requirements
- Windows 98 or Windows 98 SE and above
- Windows NT 4.0 SP3 with Internet Explorer 4.0 and above
- An active internet connection.
How It Works
The web installer will require a rewrite of the installation package from a
large monolithic distributable to a series of independent modules that can
the user can select from in order to download what he needs. The modules
must be compliant with the Windows Installer framework version 1.2 and
above. The modules will be hosted either by the client company or by
Novinsoft, (at extra cost), on the web along with a parameter file which
will populate the module selection box (an example is given at the end of
the document). The web installer has three operation modes:
- Download and install the latest components from the web
This is the default option. In this mode the modules selected by the user
will be downloaded and installed from the web, updating any previous
version found on the user’s machine. Each component will be verified after
download, the install will proceed only if all components are safely
downloaded. The user will not be permitted to select modules which are
already up to date on his machine, cutting down transfer time
significantly.
- Install previously downloaded components
The user is not forced to install the modules immediately after the
download is finished, he can do so at the time of his choosing. If there
are downloaded modules on the users PC this option becomes the default and
will allow the user to add and remove modules as needed without having to
download everything again.
- Remove the currently installed version(s) of the software
This mode of operation exists to help the user remove previous versions of
the application in one step rather than having to go through the
Add/Remove panel and remove each component separately.
Screenshots
When the installer is run the 1st time it will download the parameter
file and present a list of available options to the user. The selected
modules will be downloaded on the user’s machine.
Modules already on the user’s machine will be available for installation at
any time, reducing the need for a live internet connection.
 |
Install-on-Demand