Patent ID: 8918780
Filing Date: 2014-12-23
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of managing a software installer, the method comprising the steps of: a computer recording information representative of a first view of an operating system of the computer; the computer executing the software installer to create installed components in an installation of a software application; subsequent to the step of executing the software installer to create the installed components in the installation, the computer recording information representative of a second view of the operating system; the computer determining and recording a change between the first view and the second view, and based on the change, the computer recording information about the installed components; the computer performing checks on the installation; based on the checks on the installation, the computer making a determination that the installation was successful; responsive to the determination that the installation was successful, the computer removing selected installed components; the computer executing the software installer to perform a reinstallation of the selected installed components that had been removed; the computer performing checks on the reinstallation; subsequent to the step of executing the software installer to perform the reinstallation, the computer recording information representative of a third view of the operating system; the computer executing an uninstaller to perform an uninstallation of the software application; subsequent to the step of executing the uninstaller, the computer recording information representative of a fourth view of the operating system; the computer performing checks on the uninstallation; the computer generating a report using the recorded information representative of the first, second, third and fourth views of the operating system; responsive to the step of making the determination that the installation was successful, the computer determining a location for an installed shortcut for the software application; using the location, the computer extracting executable and command line information inside the shortcut; based on the extracted executable and command line information, the computer executing the software application to perform a test of the software application; while the software application is executing, the computer sending a close signal to a window of the software application; responsive to the step of sending the close signal, the computer reading an exit code from the software application; the computer determining whether the exit code matches a standard exit code indicating the test of the software application was successful; responsive to a determination the exit code matches the standard exit code indicating the test of the software application was successful, the computer documenting in the report that the test of the software application is successful; or responsive to a determination the exit code does not match the standard exit code, the computer documenting in the report that the test of the software application was unsuccessful; and for any other installed shortcut, the computer repeating the steps of determining the location, extracting the executable and command line information, executing the software application; sending the close signal, reading the exit code, determining whether the exit code matches the standard exit code indicating the test was successful, and documenting that the test of the software application was successful or unsuccessful.