Installer

Papillon · x-man Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 1060 Location: Germany

One of the ideas for NWNX4 is to have an installation program, that makes setting up NWNX very easy for new users.

The original thread already contained some very good input and ideas. The main points are:

* Easy setup
* Easy to package when new versions are released
* Installer should fetch plugins directly from the website (and maybe compare the most recent version to what's currently installed)
_________________
Papillon

Via Con Diablos · Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 55

I was thinking, most of what we want to do with the installer will be version transparent. Should I start on an installer for the current version? Changing it over for NWNX4 would be a quite simple change of a couple lines of NSIScript.

I'll try and get something out over this weekend if possible. What's a good list of plugins to config off the start? I'll set it up to download off my personal server for the time being and if we want to release it for nwnx2 I can change it for an official server.

Papillon · x-man Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 1060 Location: Germany

This would definitely be a good idea. NWNX4 will be made up of more files, and will not live in the main nwn folder, but other than that...

While you work on it, this might also be something to consider: WebUpdate. I haven't looked at it closely, but it might be a good addition to the main installation program. Alternatively, everything done with NSIS would be nicer, of course.
_________________
Papillon

Via Con Diablos · Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 55

In case you missed my msn Wink

Installer is basically finished, I just need to work a few things out with you in regards to the nwnx.ini format (if it's changed etc) and what files will be where on the webserver.

Gloirin · Joined: 26 Sep 2006 Posts: 2

If you are building with .Net, you might consider :
- MSI (standard deployment project of VS 2005)
- MSI with Wix for a richer interface / possibility
- ClickOnce if you have a huge server and bandwith .. things you normally don't have

Via Con Diablos · Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 55

I may yet consider that for a future version, but currently I'm building with the Nullsoft installer. It's definitely got some limitations, but at current it's still useable.

mostal · Joined: 29 Apr 2005 Posts: 60

do you know when you post public version of NWNX 4 ?

thanks

Papillon · x-man Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 1060 Location: Germany

@Via Con Diablos: Great to hear back from you ! I think it would be best to base your work on the upcoming prototype version. What I have right now is still a bit rough and may change on a daily basis.

Could you send a short description on what needs to be set up on nwnx.org for the update mechanism to work ?
_________________
Papillon

Morpheus · Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Posts: 39

Will the prototype of NWNX4 be available publicly? And will it allow us to use our existing ODBC nwn datasource regardless of the backend database? I am using PostgreSQL behind my ODBC.

thanks,
Morpheus

Papillon · x-man Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 1060 Location: Germany

Yes, the prototype will be public, but it will not contain an ODBC plugin. That will have to be done in the near future, either by me or someone else.
_________________
Papillon

Morpheus · Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Posts: 39

So it will be hard coded to use MySQL only?

Papillon · x-man Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 1060 Location: Germany

No. There will be a distinct plugin for each database type.
_________________
Papillon

Morpheus · Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Posts: 39

Pardon me if this is ignorant statement, but wouldn't it be easier to just do one plugin for ODBC, and let the windows datasource control panel decide the database driver? It requires they set up their ODBC connection in windows, so maybe that is an extra step you want to avoid?

Cheers! Can't wait for this product though. Our entire PW depends on it!

Morpheus

Papillon · x-man Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 1060 Location: Germany

This thread is about the installer, btw... Wink

ODBC does not support everything a native interface might do. It is also slightly less efficient. And NWNX is about choice, so people can use the interface they prefer. Sometimes, ODBC is just overcomplicated as well, e.g. the (native) SQLite plugin requires no configuration!

You are welcome to discuss this topic further, but please open a new thread then.
_________________
Papillon

Via Con Diablos · Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 55

Papillion: The only thing we need to setup on the website is an ini file somewhere that has the urls to the newest NWNX4 and plugins.
Format would be something like this:

File location could be www.nwnx.org/current.ini

The NWNX Community Forum