We have a web application that is based on Apache, MySQL and PHP. I want to make that available as a desktop application for windows also, installed via MSI. A small .NET application starts a modified xampp package that we deploy and then opens an embedded Chromium-based browser.
Questions:
How do I ensure that I am able to modify the Apache/MySQL/PHP config on run time? The files are stored in Program Files, and UAC of course does not allow me to change them without "Run as administrator". Is there a way to make these files editable during setup? Otherwise I would have to figure out how to start Apache/MySQL with custom config files from a temp directory.
How do I tell the installer to add Apache & MySQL to the firewall exception list, or how do I tell the firewall that applications that listen only locally are not a threat?
I realized I do not want a dirty hack here and tried to do it "right":
I modified the configuration of Apache and MySQL so that everything that changes lies in %APPDATA%. The configuration files are passed as command line arguments.
The current version of Advanced Installer allows Firewall rules to be set on installation.
Actually it wasn't that hard to change the config as I thought it would be and I learned some bits in the process...
I am unsure how this might be helpful, but take a look at inno setup it's free tool to deploy software, and it allow to make custom installation script using pascal, by putting some effort i hope , you can install wamp, add firewall restrictions etc.
Related
I am developing desktop database application. Using rdlc report and reportviewer. Everything was fine in developing process, reportviewer was showing all data smoothly. I deploy app with Inno Setup. But when I install the app, the reportviewer is not showing data. While data is correctly inserted in the tables.
For applications that work incorrectly or fail completely, when installed by Inno Setup to Program Files folder, the first thing to test, is to try to deploy the application manually to the same folder.
If the application fails even after a manual deployment, the most usual problem is that the application requires a user to have write permissions to application folder. As on modern versions of Windows a user typically does not have write permissions to the Program Files folder, the application does not work. So the problem usually has nothing to do with Inno Setup, but it's a problem of the application itself.
To solve the problem:
The best solution is to redesign the application so that it does not require write permissions to its folder. Windows applications should not require write permissions to their folder. That's against Windows guidelines. The application should write data to a user profile folder (C:\Users\username\AppData) or to a common data folder (C:\ProgramData).
A dirty workaround is have the installer grant a user(s) write permissions to the installation folder. Do that only, if you cannot get the application fixed (e.g. it's 3rd party application).
See Inno Setup - How to set permissions of installation folder.
Even more gross workaround is to configure the application to be executed with elevated (Administrator) privileges.
See Inno Setup desktop shortcut (link) which has "Run as administrator" advanced property set
or How to set 'Run as administrator' on a file using Inno Setup.
Another solution is enabling legacy compatibility mode that makes Windows redirect all application write attempts to a virtual store. See also Application installed with Inno Setup writes files to unknown location instead of its installation folder.
There are numerous other possible reasons, why the application might be failing when installed, including:
You omitted some dependency:
DLL library
.NET assembly
.NET Framework
Java Runtime Environment
other runtime
COM/ActiveX object, etc.
The application requires some configuration:
a file
a registry key [including COM/ActiveX object registration]
an environment variable, etc.
The application is not designed to be executed from a folder that has a space in its name (Program Files).
The application gets confused by Windows File virtualization (though it's unlikely). See Application installed with Inno Setup writes files to unknown location instead of its installation folder.
I am developing desktop database application. Using rdlc report and reportviewer. Everything was fine in developing process, reportviewer was showing all data smoothly. I deploy app with Inno Setup. But when I install the app, the reportviewer is not showing data. While data is correctly inserted in the tables.
For applications that work incorrectly or fail completely, when installed by Inno Setup to Program Files folder, the first thing to test, is to try to deploy the application manually to the same folder.
If the application fails even after a manual deployment, the most usual problem is that the application requires a user to have write permissions to application folder. As on modern versions of Windows a user typically does not have write permissions to the Program Files folder, the application does not work. So the problem usually has nothing to do with Inno Setup, but it's a problem of the application itself.
To solve the problem:
The best solution is to redesign the application so that it does not require write permissions to its folder. Windows applications should not require write permissions to their folder. That's against Windows guidelines. The application should write data to a user profile folder (C:\Users\username\AppData) or to a common data folder (C:\ProgramData).
A dirty workaround is have the installer grant a user(s) write permissions to the installation folder. Do that only, if you cannot get the application fixed (e.g. it's 3rd party application).
See Inno Setup - How to set permissions of installation folder.
Even more gross workaround is to configure the application to be executed with elevated (Administrator) privileges.
See Inno Setup desktop shortcut (link) which has "Run as administrator" advanced property set
or How to set 'Run as administrator' on a file using Inno Setup.
Another solution is enabling legacy compatibility mode that makes Windows redirect all application write attempts to a virtual store. See also Application installed with Inno Setup writes files to unknown location instead of its installation folder.
There are numerous other possible reasons, why the application might be failing when installed, including:
You omitted some dependency:
DLL library
.NET assembly
.NET Framework
Java Runtime Environment
other runtime
COM/ActiveX object, etc.
The application requires some configuration:
a file
a registry key [including COM/ActiveX object registration]
an environment variable, etc.
The application is not designed to be executed from a folder that has a space in its name (Program Files).
The application gets confused by Windows File virtualization (though it's unlikely). See Application installed with Inno Setup writes files to unknown location instead of its installation folder.
I created a Visual Studio 2010 installer project and added the postgresql-9.2.401-windows.exe file to it. In the "Commit" custom action, I added that file, removed any arguments and set InstallerClass to False.
Now, when I run my application's installer, the PostgreSQL setup starts up, shows its splash screen and then jumps to 100% CPU usage and starts leaking memory for a long time (certainly longer than a few minutes), after which it bails out. Running the .exe on that computer works just fine.
How should I package PostgreSQL in my installer?
Personally I don't like programs that silently install the standard PostgreSQL for Windows. It's deeply annoying to get mailing list posts from people who're asking "What's this PostgreSQL thing and why is it using 88 bajillion megabytes of RAM, I didn't ask for it, remove it now!".
(Yes, I'm mostly talking about a certain annoying gambling card-counting program with the initials PT whose name I will not mention directly).
If you're going to bundle PostgreSQL it'd be great if you could use a non-default port and non-default data directory. If you install a service to auto-start it, don't use the default service name postgresql-[version] but something like myapp-database or myapp-postgres.
This is all done much more easily if you just bundle the PostgreSQL binaries in your installer then create the service yourself with your installer tools or via sc.exe. You may choose to simply pg_ctl start/stop the server from within your program, though this requires some thought about access permissions to the data directory.
The downside is that when there are PostgreSQL updates you need to update your installer. On the other hand, you probably don't want people upgrading PostgreSQL independently of your software updates.
I suggest using the .zip binaries from here and bundling them into your installer directly.
If you really must use the executable installer the documentation contains instructions on silent installation.
Is there way to run web application as standalone desktop application? Could be web application written using PHP, MySQL and Apache converted to standalone application which meets following requirements:
1. Application should be called as http://myapp.localhost.
2. Application should have desktop icon which directly opens browser with application's URL.
3. Source code of web application should be hidden from users.
4. Installation for end user must be as easy as possible.
Now I do steps 1-2 using xampp and manually creating shortcut. I was interested in some wrapper, installer which do above steps automatically. But I have no idea about 3rd step.
Regarding item 3, see Can you "compile" PHP code?. This would allow you to develop in PHP and deploy the application via an installer.
There are several installer packages which would allow you to automate these steps, depending on your development environment.
PHP and MySQL require to have a web server running. That means you will need to copy the code over to the client's machine and then run the web server locally still on the client's machine.
If that's what you want, look into the Microsoft IIS Express (here).
In short, IIS is a web server that can host and run a server side web application, written in ASP.NET or PHP.
Here are the steps you need to take:
Install IIS express on the client's machine (one-time process, and I think quite acceptable - treat this as a runtime installation).
Create a designated (hidden) folder for the source files of the web application that you want to deploy (one-time process).
Create a windows batch file (bat or cmd) that starts the IIS (as described here) and then opens the website's URL so that the default browser starts. This file will serve as a shortcut, so you can place it on the desktop or wherever appropriate (one-time process).
Deploy your web application to the hidden folder from step 2 above (repetitive process - deploy to the same folder when you want to upgrade the clients to a new version).
Please have in mind that I am basing my suggestion on your requirement to host and run the application locally (on localhost).
However, if there's an option to run the application on a separate machine (not a localhost), then you could simply place a desktop shortcut to the network or internet address URL that would open the default browser without problems.
i would suggest Pouchdb http://pouchdb.com/api.html and Adobe Air http://www.adobe.com/devnet/air/air-sdk-download.edu.html. This way you can code with html and javascript and package it with Adobe Air.
I'm afraid it's not that simple.
If you want to use this approach (and I highly discourage it), you will have to deploy a webserver of some sorts on the client. You should be able to run the Apache/IIS Express and MySQL/SQLite executable and start a simple webserver and database.
If you'd also like a icon, you can create an installer that creates this icon and points to the URL you wish.
I'm afraid that's not possible. PHP is and always will be a scripting language. You might be able to obfuscate it somehow, but anyone who can download your application will be able to de-obfuscate it.
Again, you can create an installer. Inno Setup is pretty good from what I've heard.
I'm totally new to windows 7 and have just installed Apache server. I want to change httpd file... But when opening file with notepad and saving it, I get a message that I have no rights... My user is a member of Administrators group. What else can I do?
Thanks
P.S. Could you suggest any nice tutorials on dealing with user administration and admin accounts?
You need to take ownership of the folder, which requires a registry hack. (You can search for takeown registry)
My advice is to install your Apache server outside of "Program Files". You should not have files requiring regular modifications in Program Files.
Maybe try a different editor, say NotePad++. Run in Administrator. Also make sure that Apache is not running and any related tasks are shut down. Try it in Safe Mode if you get desperate.