YS-INSTALLER

ysflight.com

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When I released YS FLIGHT SIMULATION SYSTEM 2000 without installer, my mailbox was flooded with messages asking "I get error message telling that it cannot read aim9.srf. What should I do?" So, I made an installer with Install Shield bundled with Visual C++ 6.0. However, I've been feeling it's an overkill to create a big fat installation project just for copying files and creating icons. I needed to go
through a similar process every time I prepare a new release package.  That was too much. And, I ended up with creating my own installer program.  I tried to keep the installer-making process as simple as possible.  For example, the following will be used for the next version YSFLIGHT.  All you need to write for making your own installer is something like this.
APPNAME YS FLIGHT SIMULATION SYSTEM 2000
REM FIXINSTDIR
DEFINSTDIR *PROGRAM_FILES*\YSFLIGHT.COM\YSFLIGHT
DEFGROUPDIR *COMMON_PROGRAMS*\YS FLIGHT SIMULATION SYSTEM 2000
ALTGROUPDIR *PROGRAMS*\YS FLIGHT SIMULATION SYSTEM 2000
ICONNAME YSFLIGHT2000 (OpenGL)
ICONEXEC fsmaino.exe
ICONNAME YSFLIGHT2000(Non-OpenGL)
ICONEXEC fsmain.exe
ICONNAME HELP(JAPANESE)
ICONEXEC help\japanese.html
ICONNAME HELP(English)
ICONEXEC help\english.html
ICONNAME YSFLIGHT2000-RESET SETTINGS
ICONEXEC fsmain.exe
ICONPARM -setdefaultconfig -setdefaultnetconfig -setdefaultkeyassign -setdefaultoption -autoexit
DTOPICON YSFLIGHT2000 (OpenGL)
ICONEXEC fsmaino.exe
DTOPICON YSFLIGHT2000(Non-OpenGL)
ICONEXEC fsmain.exe

I suppose some of you have the same problem. So, I decided to make it open to everyone. If you have your own software product and need an installer, you can use this program for free. You can use this program for making an installer for an open source program, proprietary program, free software, or commercial software. In any case, you donft need to ask me for permission to use this program. However, please use this program on your own risks. I do not take any responsibility for the consequence caused by this program. If you cannot agree with this disclaimer, do not use this program.

This installer does not include compression and archiving function.   If you want to make the installation package a single file, you need
to use this program with an appropriate archive program. Ifm using WinZip Self-Extractor, by the way.

This installer has only basic functionalities. But, you can install the files, and add icons to Start Menu and/or Desktop. Also the installed program can be uninstalled from gAdd/Remove Programsh in Control Panel.

The source code of this program is included in the archive. Please feel free to modify the code and make your own. I donft obligate you to open your source code if you make and open to public your own installer by modifying this installer as long as you understand that I will not take responsibility on any consequence of modifying and using the program. Please modify and use this program on your own risks.

By the way, YSFLIGHT project is chronically running short of budget.  If you are willing to help YSFLIGHT and related projects, please visit:

http://supportysflight.en.ysflight.com

If you double-click ysinstaller.exe after you extract the files, example installation definition file will be used, and the program will be added to Start Menu -> Programs.

This installer has been tested with several PCs that I have access.  However, it is far from well-tested. Especially, virtually none of the PCs around me is running Windows 98/Me. So, I couldnft test it with Windows 98. If you find problems (especially in Windows 98/Me) please let me know.

I'd like to emphasize that this program is just a first version, and need more tests to become stable.  Thank you for your help.

[DOWNLOAD] ysinstaller.zip

[Update Information]

2005/05/07
Added "ICONJPNS" keyword for creating an Japanese name icon in Japanese version Windows.

2005/05/04
English mode uninstallation dialog's font was set to MS Gothic, which is not installed in English Windows.  It is corrected to Arial.  Added a sample file.  Split the source code into two files.

2005/05/02
Corrected the program so that it runs under Windows 98 SE.  The problem was in SHGetSpecialFolderPath function, which was supposed to give the directory for start menu.  In Windows 98 SE, the function was not returning an error code, but did not returning the directory either.  MSDN suggests to use SHGetFolderPath instead, but it requires to redistribute SHFolder.dll with the installer.  My decision is to retrieve such directory information from the registry when SHGetSpecialFolderPath fails.

2005/04/29
The first version.
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