MyInstall / AutoInstall 1.20

[pruss]

Copies all the .prc and .pdb files from /MyInstall directories on all VFS cards (MS, CF, SD, internal drives) to RAM. This lets you install software without hotsyncing on devices that have a Drive Mode or MS Import mode or if you have a card reader. Just copy software to a card in the /MyInstall directory, and run MyInstall.

Also includes AutoInstall which quickly scans the /MyInstall directory and install what it finds there each time a card is inserted.

This utility and its source code (included) are hereby released into the Public Domain by Alexander R. Pruss.

http://palmgear.com/?xyz=107808

[DoctorBri]

New & Improved! :D

Thanks Pruss, since finding v1.11 last week, I think I use it just about everyday (no joke). Thanks for another useful, yet free app.

Tip: AutoInstall must be located in memory, not on the card, for automatic function to work.

[wid4008]

Will programs installed by this application work with uninstaller software like destaller and Uninstall Manager?

i.e. Will uninstaller programs be able to completely remove programs installed by MyInstall?

[Afaebe]

Will programs installed by this application work with uninstaller software like destaller and Uninstall Manager?

i.e. Will uninstaller programs be able to completely remove programs installed by MyInstall?Give it shot. Backup with NV backup in the happenstance you need to hard reset.

[pruss]

Will programs installed by this application work with uninstaller software like destaller and Uninstall Manager?

i.e. Will uninstaller programs be able to completely remove programs installed by MyInstall?

I do not recommend using uninstaller programs, period. :-)

[minimalposter]

I do not recommend using uninstaller programs, period. :-)

Any reason why?

[pruss]

Any reason why?

I've had a report of UninstallMgr apparently behaving badly in conjunction with the official PalmSource installer. In general, I think it's a risky business to delete files automatically, sandbox them, etc.

[yitzle]

I like the AutoInstall idea ;) Sorta automates the whole thing.
Can you go into more detail about the Uninstallers?
I'm not sure how the PalmSource installers even work....

[KenSong]

I've had a report of UninstallMgr apparently behaving badly in conjunction with the official PalmSource installer. In general, I think it's a risky business to delete files automatically, sandbox them, etc.

That is why I do not use UninstallMgr. I use InstallWatch instead. I like control of what gets deleted. All it does is scan Palm state before install and report back changes after install and running the apps once. It group any Saved/Unsaved prefs, db, apps and associated data under the app name and you can choose to uninstall all or some. You can use the Palm's built in Application to delete a program and use InstallWatch to see if it miss anything.

Have been using this since Palm IIIc days :)

[vyrenee]

I am having difficulty making this work. Does it create a myinstall directory? When I try it is says nothing in the myinstall directory (I see no such directory on the card). Thanks for any help.

[FerdFerd]

I've been using earlier versions of MyInstall for long enough that I cannot remember for certain, but I am reasonably sure I created the MyInstall directory on my SD card myself, probably using FileZ. You could do it in the card reader on your PC just as easily.

[vyrenee]

Thanks FerdFerd. Excuse the probably dumb question, but where exactly would you create this directory (Filez would not let me create /MyInstall on the card saying the slash mark was an illegal character).

[FerdFerd]

Just go to the FileZ menu and select "Create Folder..." When the next screen comes up, it will show Internal and whatever your card is called. Highlight the card (the arrow turns black) and then in the line at the top of the screen that says Name: enter MyInstall and tap OK. Done. The directory will be in the root directory of the card.

Or put your card in your card reader, bring the card up in Windows Explorer, in the File menu click New, select Folder, and name the new folder MyInstall, also in the root directory. This gets you the same outcome. It might be easier to do it in the card reader, which you must have if this is of any use anyway.

I do not know what you do with a Mac to create a new folder.

[yitzle]

You are supposed to create a MyInstall folder on the card with your PC and put files into the folder on the PC. Them you can stick the card into your Palm, run MyInstall and have the files installed.
/MyInstall means a directory called "MyInstall" located in the root folder ("/") opposed to being inside, eg the Palm directory.

[vyrenee]

FerdFerd & Yitzle-thanks for the education!

[FerdFerd]

Perhaps this is obvious to others, but it took me a couple of tries to learn that the new AutoInstall version must be in your UnCache list. That is, if you are an UnCache user.

[potter]

Dr. Pruss,

A feature that you might want to add to the documentation:
Put MyInstall.prc onto an SD card in the \Palm directory (not the default \Palm\Launcher directory), however rename it Start.prc.
Put whatever application or data one wishes to auto install into \MyInstall.
Now whenever that SD card is inserted into a Palm OS device the MyInstall is automatically run, installing whatever is in \MyInstall.
If one write-protects the SD card, one could use this to auto-install the same applications and data onto many devices.
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A possible improvement to make to MyInstall for the use of this feature:

Add code to:
On sysAppLaunchCmdCardLaunch launch code:
Check for the MyInstall work to be done.
If there is nothing to do, set the sysAppLaunchStartFlagNoUISwitch bit in the start flags.
This will cause the application to not receive the normal sysAppLaunchCmdNormalLaunch launch code, unless there is actual work to be done or it is directly launched. Thus one will not see the "Nothing to do" dialog each time one inserts the SD.
__________________

Hmm, reading further I see in the documentation a statement that:The start.prc application remains in system memory until the volume from which it was copied is removed.
So that would say it is still consuming memory. However, using PalmInternals I do not see it.

Reference:http://www.access-company.com/developers/documents/docs/palmos/PalmOSCompanion/ExpAndVFSConcepts.html#1031946

[potter]

So that would say it is still consuming memory. However, using PalmInternals I do not see it.Ack, I was thinking to deeply. If I delete MyInstall from my device and then insert the test SD card, I then see MyInstall appear in the application launcher, not on the SD card but in the Unfiled category. Therefore it is consuming memory, but not Heap.

[potter]

Question: Is there any reason what MyInstall is not a part of the SourceForge Handy Palm Stuff project (http://handypalmstuff.sourceforge.net/)?