[References]Installing Multiple CAB Files

http://channel9.msdn.com/wiki/default.aspx/MobileDeveloper.InstallingMultipleCABFiles

Installing Multiple CAB Files

Summary: Installing multiple CAB files from a single CAB file

Often a mobile device application may require that other software be installed onto the device in addition to the actual application; for example a managed application requires the .NET Compact Framework and might also require SQL Server Everywhere Edition. Each piece of software is normally contained in a separate Click to read this topic

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CABfile meaning that the user will have to manually copy each Click to read this topic

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CABfile to the device and install them separatly.

 

Rather then make the user install each Click to read this topic

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CABfile individually, it's preferable to package all of the unique Click to read this topic

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CABfile into a single master Click to read this topic

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CABfile and have the master Click to read this topic

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CABfile handle the details of installing the other Click to read this topic

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CABfile instances. Another consideration is that the application installation should only install a Click to read this topic

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CABfile if the CAB file's software hasn't already been installed.

 

You can easily create a master Click to read this topic

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CABfile that contains multiple CAB files by simply using the Visual Studio 2005 Smart Device CAB project. This Smart Device CAB project acts as the master Click to read this topic

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CABfile, so you just add all of the desired CAB files to the project. When the master Click to read this topic

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CABfile is deployed to the device, it will automatically place each individual Click to read this topic

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CABfile on the device.

 

To install each individual Click to read this topic

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CABfile requires 2 separate executables

 

1. A program that loops through the list of all of the CAB files and uses ShellExecute to install each one individually
2. A DLL that gets associated with the master Click to read this topic
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   CABfile. All CAB files can optionally have a DLL associated with them. The DLL must expose 4 entry points: Install_Init, Install_Exit, Uninstall_Init, and Uninstall_Exit. In this case the DLL associated with the master Click to read this topic
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   CABfile simply executes the above program from the Install_Exit entry point

Once the master Click to read this topic

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CABfile, Program and DLL are complete, the install process goes like this:

 

1. The master Click to read this topic
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   CABfile is copied to the device
2. The user initiates the Click to read this topic
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   CABFile install process by using the File Explorer (or similar) to navigate to and tap on the master Click to read this topic
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   CABfile.
3. The device installs the master Click to read this topic
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   CABfile just as any other Click to read this topic
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   CABFile by extracting the individual CAB Files and placing them on the device in the location specified in the Visual Studio Smart Device CAB project.
4. Once all of the individual CAB files are placed on the device, the DLL's Install_Exit entry point (a.k.a. function) is called
5. The Install_Exit function then launches the program
6. The program then loops through each Click to read this topic
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   CABfile and installs them

Note that the first 2 steps that the user manually performs can be automatically performed as part of a desktop MSI as discussed in Click to read this topic

9/29/2006 10:31:50 AM - hedgehogjim

InstallApplication

 

Like pretty much anything else in programming, the best way to understand the multiple Click to read this topic

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CABfile install process is with a sample.

 

• Download Multiple CAB file Install Sample

If you would like information about how to install a Click to read this topic

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CABfile to a device from a desktop MSI file...

 

• Checkout the Click to read this topic
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  InstallApplication entry