C++ Installer

[Rob Reagan]

I need to write an installer bootstrap program for my
Visual Basic .NET application. This installer program
needs to compile to native code. I will use this
installer to check to see if the .NET framework, MDAC,
and an existing instance of my MSDE database is already
installed. If these components are not installed, I will
launch their MSI packages automatically. This program
needs a user interface.

What technologies should I use in order to write this
installer bootstrapper? Should I look to MFC? I just need
some direction for my reading because the VC++ body of
literature is so vast. Any books that anyone can
recommend would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Rob Reagan
rs**@duke.edu

[Michael Weiss]

MFC would be fine, it's what I'd suggest using if you're new to Windows GUI development in C++. There's tons of books and stuff online to get you started.

MFC-based applications will require either runtime DLL that need to be present for your app to run , OR you can complies these libraries into your app so you'll have (a lot) larger EXE. In either case this could be an issue for an "installer" type application, but this may not make a difference if you're including something like the .NET runtime in you applications distribution.

I've used this NULLSoft's (the WinAmp guys) open source install system (http://nsis.sourceforge.net/site/index.php) on some personal shareware-like applications. This may work for you, without the heavy-lifting of C++.


"Rob Reagan" <rs**@duke.edu> wrote in message news:0b****************************@phx.gbl...

I need to write an installer bootstrap program for my
Visual Basic .NET application. This installer program
needs to compile to native code. I will use this
installer to check to see if the .NET framework, MDAC,
and an existing instance of my MSDE database is already
installed. If these components are not installed, I will
launch their MSI packages automatically. This program
needs a user interface.

What technologies should I use in order to write this
installer bootstrapper? Should I look to MFC? I just need
some direction for my reading because the VC++ body of
literature is so vast. Any books that anyone can
recommend would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Rob Reagan
rs**@duke.edu