I have a project that uses clickonce to generate the setup.exe. During the run time my program create some extra files like "Log" and "Attachments" inside the User Folder. However, those folders are not removed when I perform an uninstall of the clickonce application from the ARP. These remaining files are interfering the next install.
I know that click once does not support for adding custom action to install or uninstall. I am wondering if is there is a way that I can remove those extra file programmingly after performing uninstall?
One way I have tried was to create a cleanup script and added it as a bootstrapper package to pre-requisite of the click once project. That worked in a way that every time before a new product was installed, the previous dirty data had been removed. However, this messed up the upgrade case.
Any ideas on how to remove the extra files that left by clickonce uninstallation?
Thank you
JS
There is no way to do anything when uninstalling a ClickOnce application other than uninstall the ClickOnce application.
Have you considered putting the files in the ApplicationDeployment.CurrentDeployment.DataDirectory ? Then they will be removed when the application is unisntalled.
If the files are part of the project, you can set the type to Data in the Application Files dialog, and it will automatically place them in the data directory when deploying.
This solution works on multiple re-installations (clean), however it doesn't remove the data on last uninstall or until the next installation takes place.
Stil there is no custom action place on uninstall to remove the files beyond clickonce scope.
Leave a file in to ApplicationDeployment.CurrentDeployment.DataDirectory.
On startup, see if the file exists on conditions network deployed, firstrun (which resets on upgarde too).. success case, it is a first installation or upgrade. Failure case, the application is been uninstalled and installing again .. now you have a chance to clean up the application data.
If the data is sensitive, you may want to use other solution to remove files on uninstall ( as of now I don't see that Microsoft is given us an option)
Related
I launched an appimage using appimagelauncher. Then, I modified some settings of that app.
I know that appimages are not installed, so it can't be uninstalled. So, I deleted the appimage file.
But, when I downlaoded the appimage again, I observed that the user's previously modified settings were still there.
Now, how can I completely remove those user modified settings and launch that software as if it were newly installed?
The AppImage format doesn't define an explicit place where the applications configuration should be installed. Which means that the application can write such file wherever they please (as a regular installed application does).
Applications usually write their configurations to "$HOME/.config", you can look there for a file or folder with the application name. You can also ask the application author or check the documentation.
I have an application, which is getting installed C:\ProgramFiles\RootFolder\InstallDir.
I have another application which is also getting installed in same root folder , eg:
C:\ProgramFiles\RootFolder\InstallDirofAnotherApp.
Here when I am trying to reinstall my application, it is deleting the entire Root Folder, It doesn't mind about the another installation of the other one.
So, it is deleting C:\ProgramFiles\RootFolder
Is there any setting to do like that? This is a legacy project and I am new to this. Unable to fine the cause
Thanks,
Nanda
What type of projects are these applications (basic MSI, or InstallScript)? Check [INSTALLDIR] (General Information -> INSTALLDIR) in both packages; if these properties are different, see if there is any custom action that perhaps delete some files/directories.
I'm quite new in the InstallShield stuff, I took this project from a leaving co-worker. However, here's my problem:
I was trying to update a MySQL Server with the setup from 5.7.17 to 5.7.19, which works great most of the times.
I got the feature "MySQL", splitted in "MySQL Data" (includes the performance_schema and mysql database), "MySQL Service" (Service batch files) and "MySQL Binaries" (the files).
For the update, I just changed the binaries by the new one and left the rest. All features are selected and my log tells me, that it installs all files which it hasn't installed by now, leaving the existing files untouched. As this is an update, it seems correct to me.
But sometimes, at the end of the setup process, it uninstalls almost anything of my MySQL Feature again; the databases, the batch files and almost any core file which wasn't changed by the setup before. But why is that and how can I stop my setup from do so?
Kind regards
I think what you're describing is that your file containing the data is not getting updated. Since this type of file cannot be versioned, that's what Windows installer uses to determine whether or not to upgrade the file, you will need to mark the component containing this file to Always Overwrite. Check out the MS docs for the Component table for how to do this with the Attributes field.
You may want to check the conditions on the components in question. Also, check the install sequence to see if it is calling uninstall out of sequence.
I have created a project of type InstallScript Project. It is a multi-instance installer and I can install multiple instances of same application.
At the time of uninstalling of any instance, I am preserving some configuration files. I have set the 'Shared=YES', 'Uninstall=NO' and 'Overwrite=Never' properties for components that I need to preserve. This works fine and at the time of uninstall the files that are marked as 'Uninstall=NO' are preserved and not deleted.
The problem happens when I try to install a new instance. The directory to install a new instance is same as the one having preserved configuration files. But the installation Overwrites those configuration files. The property 'Overwrite=Never' does not seems to have any effect. How can I prevent those files from getting overwritten.
I am using Installshield 2010. I made a basic MSI setup, and I am having a problem with uninstalling.
Uninstalling does not remove all folders.
After a complete install, I then uninstall only to find that there is still a path leftover.
For example, C:\ProgramFiles\CompanyName\Account\User_1234.xml
still remains, while everything else is gone.
The User_1234.xml file is generated by the application, and this file is not normally in the install process. So it makes sense why this file may have some problems getting rid of it (installer side).
At the same time, I would think that it would be removed due to the fact that it is within the CompanyName folder.
Is there any way to specify to get rid of everything inside and including the CompanyName folder?
Thanks for any ideas.
You have a couple problems and I'll address the obvious one first. Yes, Windows Installer default behavior is to not delete user data. This could be files not installed by the installer or files that were modified since the installer modified them. To get the installer to remove them, you must author the RemoveFiles table to teach it which files to remove.
Remove Files Table (Windows Installer)
Now I'll address the less obvious problem. You shouldn't expect your application to be able to write to ProgramFiles at runtime. I don't know what your software does but you should seriously consider this aspect of your application design.