Installer question: Read-only files

[Michael A. Covington]

I want to deploy a project in which the user is provided with a set of
READ-ONLY files to use as templates. They will be in a directory to which
the user can add files of his own.

It's important to keep the user from deleting any of the pre-supplied files,
because if this is done, the Windows Installer apparently wants to "repair"
the application. I didn't realize it kept track of such things, but it's
doing so.

How can I make the files install as read-only files?

Making them read-only in the source directory isn't enough.

If this is a Custom Action, how can I determine the directory (under Program
Files) in which they are installed? For example, suppose the Custom Action
were just a .BAT file. Could it use environment variables to find out where
the user has installed the application?


Thanks!


--
Michael Covington, Ph.D.
Consultant

https://www.covingtoninnovations.com

[Ayende Rahien]

Re: Installer question: Read-only files

Just use CACLS to deny him the right to delete the files.

"Michael A. Covington" <look@www.covin gtoninnovations .com.for.addres s> wrote
in message news:u9JBSljpDH A.2612@TK2MSFTN GP10.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> I want to deploy a project in which the user is provided with a set of
> READ-ONLY files to use as templates. They will be in a directory to which
> the user can add files of his own.
>
> It's important to keep the user from deleting any of the pre-supplied[/color]
files,[color=blue]
> because if this is done, the Windows Installer apparently wants to[/color]
"repair"[color=blue]
> the application. I didn't realize it kept track of such things, but it's
> doing so.
>
> How can I make the files install as read-only files?
>
> Making them read-only in the source directory isn't enough.
>
> If this is a Custom Action, how can I determine the directory (under[/color]
Program[color=blue]
> Files) in which they are installed? For example, suppose the Custom[/color]
Action[color=blue]
> were just a .BAT file. Could it use environment variables to find out[/color]
where[color=blue]
> the user has installed the application?
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
> --
> Michael Covington, Ph.D.
> Consultant
> www.covingtoninnovations.com
>
>[/color]

[Michael A. Covington]

Re: Installer question: Read-only files


"Ayende Rahien" <Ayende@no.spam > wrote in message
news:%23jwekCop DHA.2732@TK2MSF TNGP11.phx.gbl. ..[color=blue]
> Just use CACLS to deny him the right to delete the files.[/color]

How? When? How do I build this into a deployment project? How would CACLS
know where the user chose to install the application?

In any case, I found that all I have to do is View File System (in the
deployment project) and mark the files read-only there.