From: ldo@waikato.ac.nz (Lawrence D'Oliveiro, Waikato University)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Installation gripes (again)
Date: 18 Dec 92 15:02:39 +1300
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

Is there such a thing as a GOOD installer? I know I've griped about this sort
of thing before, but I think it's time for another round...

I just installed FileMaker Pro 2.0 on my machine. It's a wonderful program,
popular among lots of my colleagues. But they *have* to use Apple's Installer
to install the thing.

The last time I complained about this, it was with MacDraw Pro 1.0. FileMaker's
a little better: at least I don't have to restart my machine after installing.
But it still insists on quitting all currently running applications before
doing the install. And of course you don't get the choice of where to put it.

I think Microsoft are also starting to use Apple's Installer; I recall
encountering it when installing Word 5. To their credit, they managed to
add a hack to the installation script to give you a choice of where to put
the application.

The other wonderful product that sticks in my mind is the Aldus installer.
This one presents you with a wonderful array of options, and generates an
installation log, and everything. Where it falls down is that it's unforgiveably
modal: I remember trying to install PageMaker 4.2 on a SyQuest cartridge,
and it was only *after* I'd chosen all the bits I wanted to install, and
entered the serial number and registration information, that it discovered
that it didn't have enough room to do the install, and I had to repeat the
*entire* procedure from the top after freeing up some room. *$%#$%!!!

Finally, a word on putting things in the System Folder: a *lot* of applications
are fond of doing this now. I can think of only two things that applications
(as opposed to INITs and the like) could legitimately put anywhere in the
System Folder: preferences files (to keep them from getting zapped when you
replace the application with a newer version), and read-only data or code
which is to be *shared* among more than one application.

In the latter category come things like the Claris Help System, XTND
filters and the like. Actually even with these, I would prefer a choice
of installing them either in the System Folder, or together with the
application: the latter makes uninstallation easier, particularly if you only
use one Claris application.

Windows users are suffering from a lot of this: trying to track down and delete
all the files which an application has put on a hard disk, and guessing at
which WIN.INI entries can safely be removed without stuffing the entire system.
I guess we have it slightly easier: with one notable exception (Word 5!),
we don't have to worry about modifications to system files: we only have to
track down leftover files and trash them. But that's not a good reason for
having to put up with it!

Lawrence D'Oliveiro                       fone: +64-7-856-2889
Computer Services Dept                     fax: +64-7-838-4066
University of Waikato            electric mail: ldo@waikato.ac.nz
Hamilton, New Zealand    37^ 47' 26" S, 175^ 19' 7" E, GMT+13:00
A deregulated market is its own reward.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer