Inspiring

Question

AIR Help Install

Forum|Forum|16 years ago
September 1, 2009
2 replies
4052 views

I am able to generate and install AIR Help for my context-sensitive app no problem. Also, I can use the installed files without running the installer, i.e., I can take the already installed files, copy them "under" my application on another machine, and they will run, apparently without incident. Because this seems to work, I now have a programmer who does NOT want to run the installer to distribute our AIR Help files; he wants to just copy them in.

This doesn't sound kosher to me. I would think the installer modifies the registry, and don't know what else it does. However, I need solid reasons why we should not use this method. What is the official Adobe position on using this method?

TIA

This topic has been closed for replies.

A

Anonymous

This post relates somewhat to my post to this forum a couple of weeks ago about running AIR Help from an application (which no one seems to have any input on).

So if our application is currently calling help by opening a CHM file (we don't have context sensitive help), what will the app call if we want to move our help to the AIR platform? Is the basic approach that when the app is installed we will need to install the AIR help (the .air file), but to display the help the application calls the AIR help executable that has been installed on the client workstation?

We also have some apps that run on web servers. For those we provide help via WebHelp, For these sorts of apps, is the process basically the same? That is, the AIR Help is installed, then the application, instead of calling the WebHelp start page, calls the AIR Help executable?

Captiv8r

Legend

Hi there

StephenD1957 wrote:
This post relates somewhat to my post to this forum a couple of weeks ago about running AIR Help from an application (which no one seems to have any input on).

You seem surprised about that. You have to understand that virtually everyone is a newbee with respect to AIR help. Sure, Adobe hopes it will catch on, but the sad truth is that very few will adopt to a new help technology. Presently there are a very select few individuals with any real experience to offer. Everything is is pure speculation, trial and error.

Cheers... Rick

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Peter Grainge

Community Expert

Where is your sense of fun?

You let the developer go ahead and wait until the calls start coming in. Try to keep the smirk on your face to reasonable levels at that point.

AIR help is an application that needs to be installed in Program Files. The .AIR file is the installer and works in the same way as the exe your developer uses to install the application. The .AIR file installs the exe that opens the help and writes to the registry.

If you want an official Adobe answer, this is not the place to ask. This is a user to user forum.

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

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J

Jack DeLandAuthor

Inspiring

Sense of fun long gone. I'll try Ankur.

Peter Grainge

Community Expert

I wasn't serious about that. I was making the point that as you surmise, it has to be installed. I'm pretty sure Ankur will confirm that just copying the files will not work.

Would your developer settle for setting up Installshield, or whatever you use, to install both?

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

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