Custom Servoy installers?

[david]

Wondering if it would be possible to build our own installer or customize Servoy's installer to make the delivery of our own Servoy applications smoother. One step install vs install Servoy, create database connections, add in plugins, and import solution. We probably would even remove some things out of Servoy that aren't needed.

It would also allow us to "lock on" to a particular release of Servoy until new releases have been tested out.

[ROCLASI]

Hi David,

Knowing that we can't even distribute the installer that Servoy creates themselves (legal-wise) I highly doubt that you can distribute the binary with your own installer without any formal agreement between you and Servoy.
I suggest you contact [email protected] to discuss options.

[sbutler]

Yes, this is possible to do, both with the App Server, or with a Runtime. Some people build them with commercial tools like InstallShield. I've also used PackageMaker with XCode on the mac for mac only. However I suggest using the same installer Servoy uses: http://izpack.org/ . I also use a GUI tool called PackJacket to build the config for IzPack: http://packjacket.sourceforge.net/ .

[david]

Yes, this is possible to do, both with the App Server, or with a Runtime. Some people build them with commercial tools like InstallShield. I've also used PackageMaker with XCode on the mac for mac only. However I suggest using the same installer Servoy uses: http://izpack.org/ . I also use a GUI tool called PackJacket to build the config for IzPack: http://packjacket.sourceforge.net/ .

But not possible for Servoy Developer?

[OTERO]

Thanks goldcourgar

This tool "PackJacket" will save me all the work to create the xml by hand.

Thank you very much.

[sbutler]

But not possible for Servoy Developer?

Well, its possible, but its a lot of work. Your essentially rebuilding Servoy's installer. So you have to handle OS and architecture (32 vs 64 bit) differences. Also, with the AGPL license, I doubt you can actually package it all together unless your stuff is open-source as well.

Two Other Options:
1. Build an installer like Marcel or Patrick that just gets installed over Servoy to add in all of your stuff.
2. Could potentially build a multi-part installer. Where your installer includes the Servoy installer bundled, and first part runs standard Servoy installer, then runs your custom stuff.

Thanks goldcourgar

This tool "PackJacket" will save me all the work to create the xml by hand.

Thank you very much.

You are welcome. Its a great tool. I use it for my runtime installers.

[david]

Also, with the AGPL license, I doubt you can actually package it all together unless your stuff is open-source as well.

Two Other Options:
1. Build an installer like Marcel or Patrick that just gets installed over Servoy to add in all of your stuff.
2. Could potentially build a multi-part installer. Where your installer includes the Servoy installer bundled, and first part runs standard Servoy installer, then runs your custom stuff.

Great, just the perspective I needed. It is for an open source project -- will give it a shot. Thanks!

[ptalbot]

PackJacket is great for simple installers, it has a GUI that is easy to use, but as soon as you get into more advanced stuff it is not complete enough and you will have to learn about the xml structure of IzPack.
So basically, you can use it to create the bare bones of your installer, but you will soon hit a wall as soon as you start customizing (and each edit you do directly in the xml will be lost if you edit again in PackJacket).

[rogel]

PackJacket is great for simple installers, it has a GUI that is easy to use, but as soon as you get into more advanced stuff it is not complete enough and you will have to learn about the xml structure of IzPack.
So basically, you can use it to create the bare bones of your installer, but you will soon hit a wall as soon as you start customizing (and each edit you do directly in the xml will be lost if you edit again in PackJacket).

Hi Patrick,

I have a question on the izpack installer.

Are the files different if installed in windows and in unix? and if 32bit or 64bit? I am hoping to create an installer(izpack) that will contain the installed application_server folder but afraid if it will run only on the same OS and architecture.

[ptalbot]

IzPack can do OS and architecture specific installation, in your <pack> nodes you can define <os family> and also launch java jars that will target specific architecture. That's the way I use it for the BrowserSuite installer.

[rogel]

IzPack can do OS and architecture specific installation, in your <pack> nodes you can define <os family> and also launch java jars that will target specific architecture. That's the way I use it for the BrowserSuite installer.

Thanks!
Only the BrowserSuite has OS and Architecture dependency? What I mean is does the application server directory in the servoy installer differ in the "installed" files when installed in windows and unix? I do not have a machine using unix at the moment for test.

[ptalbot]

Developer has some part which is OS specific, mainly SWT libs which are OS/Architecture related.

But what's in application_server is not supposed to be OS specific, apart from the PostgreSQL DB if you choose to install it.
The rest is straight Java, mainly a Tomcat installation, java jars and properties, it is the same on all platform.

[rogel]

Developer has some part which is OS specific, mainly SWT libs which are OS/Architecture related.

But what's in application_server is not supposed to be OS specific, apart from the PostgreSQL DB if you choose to install it.
The rest is straight Java, mainly a Tomcat installation, java jars and properties, it is the same on all platform.

Thanks! I will try to install on windows and linux. Though I guess linux does not recognize .bat files?

[rogel]

Developer has some part which is OS specific, mainly SWT libs which are OS/Architecture related.

But what's in application_server is not supposed to be OS specific, apart from the PostgreSQL DB if you choose to install it.
The rest is straight Java, mainly a Tomcat installation, java jars and properties, it is the same on all platform.

Hi Patrick,

I am building a custom installer in IzPack for our application so the user will not go to servoy-admin import solution screen. This is the requirement since the user is not technical and might break stuff.

Thanks!

[pogie.nocedo]

I created an installer with izpack. Its in .jar file. I want to make it in .exe file. How can I do it in an easy way?