Please check my logic... <g> (multiple versions, w/ & w/out manifest)

[NewsArchive]

Since I seem to be making heavy weather of the XP/Vista mixed-mode installs,
could someone check my logic, please?

I've drawn on what I've learnt here, including Friedrich's suggestion in the
thread "Conditionally Exclude Script" re. the use of the Patch facility to
effectively include 2 different version of the same exe, one with manifest,
one without.. and minimise install size (via patch).

This is what I've set up (refer attached gifs):

* my app (StoreMgr.exe) compiles normally into C:\Clarion55\TCS\StoreMgr.5
folder.
* at the start of the installation, I copy it into the subfolder "VistaExe",
and embed a manifest into *this* version only (clip A.gif)
* at installer run-time, I conditionally install into the target pc; either
the 'normal' version, or (if Vista and above) the version from the VistaExe
sub-folder (clip B.gif)
* to minimise installer size, the Details of the 'normal' install have been
manipulated, in that it uses the VistaExe installed file as if it were a
'previous version' (clip C.gif), and thus just 'patches' from that.

Is this right?
If so, it's remarkably good, because the difference in size is considerable:
from 4.870Mb w/out patching the alternate version, to 4.422Mb - which is
only 16Kb more than a single-exe-version install!!

Steve

[NewsArchive]

I'm thinking that the second step (shown in clip B.gif) is wrong.

> * at installer run-time, I conditionally install into the target pc;
> either
> the 'normal' version, or (if Vista and above) the version from the
> VistaExe
> sub-folder (clip B.gif)

What I originally had was ' install this OR that, depending upon the Windows
version.
But, on reflection, for the patch to work, the 'vista' version must *always*
be installed.

Then, the conditional install is (pseudo-code):
If windows version < Vista then
install 'normal' version (as patch)

...which, as I understand it, 'undoes' the manifest addition from the vista
version by applying the patch.


Ok.. right *this* time? <g>

S.