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Jared Hess
Jared Hess
Legend
September 27, 2011
Question

Installing AIR Help through another Installer?

  • September 27, 2011
  • 2 replies
  • 4476 views

We're developing a WPF application and according to our devs, they'd like to install the AIR help through our own installer rather than use a separate setup process. Their concerns are:

1) It's a pain to have the user have to go through another setup process.

2) We'd like to be able to control through our installer where the help ends up as well as control the uninstalling

of the AIR help when the app is uninstalled.

So is there a way to package an AIR help install through our own setup process, and bypass Adobe's installer? If so, how?

It looks like back in 2009 another user was considering doing this in this post here: http://forums.adobe.com/message/2286578#2286578 and it didn't look like this was recommended or possible, but maybe things have changed in 2011?

My second question is if we must use Adobe's Installer, is there a way to run it silently in the background without any user interaction?

Thanks in advance.

Jared

RH 9, Local AIR Help.

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    2 replies

    Peter Grainge
    Community Expert
    Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 27, 2011

    So is there a way to package an AIR help install through our own setup process, and bypass Adobe's installer?

    If you are referring to the .AIR file, you have to use that to install the AIR help, assuming you want it to work.

    However, why is that a pain for the user? Your developers can build running that into their installation routine. Our developers built it into an MSI.

    Remember you have to check for the installation of the AIR runtime and install that as well if needed. To do that you have to get a distribution licence from Adobe.

    This is all covered on my site. See the RoboHelp 9 version of the AIR topics as well as it contains later information.

    I guess you can build in uninstalling as well but think twice about uninstalling the runtime. It is used for many other things as well, TweetDeck is a common example and no one will give you prizes for screwing up their AIR applications.

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

    @petergrainge

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    Jared Hess
    Jared HessAuthor
    Legend
    September 28, 2011

    Thanks for responding Peter.

    If you are referring to the .AIR file, you have to use that to install the AIR help, assuming you want it to work.

    We were originally wondering if there was a way of ending up with the final locally installed AIR help file without using the .AIR file (let our own installer package the needed components on a user's system) since we didn't want to run a second installer if we could at all help it. But that doesn't sound like it's possible currently. Too bad.

    However, why is that a pain for the user? Your developers can build running that into their installation routine. Our developers built it into an MSI.

    Unless it's done silently, it's a second set of redundant steps where users have to decide for a second time where to install something. Some will likely wonder, "I just chose C:\program files\ in the install wizard earlier, why do I have to do it again?" I agree it's not a huge deal, and I would personally consider it a minor annoyance. But our devs want our product installation to be as simple as possible. Hence the desire for handling the installation internally and if that doesn't work at least have a silent installer approach.

    I guess you can build in uninstalling as well but think twice about uninstalling the runtime. It is used for many other things as well, TweetDeck is a common example and no one will give you prizes for screwing up their AIR applications.

    Regarding uninstalling, it sounds like there's not a way to uninstall just the Help content but leave the AIR runtime intact?

    Peter Grainge
    Community Expert
    Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 28, 2011

    You do have to use the .AIR. I cannot say how silently though, that is something your installation developer should be able to experiment with. You wouldn't want the user changing the path if the help is context sensitive.

    Re uninstalling, surely your developers can uninstall the help as well as the software? I would leave the runtime.

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

    @petergrainge

    Use the menu (bottom right) to mark the Best Answer or Highlight particularly useful replies. Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here.
    Jeff_Coatsworth
    Community Expert
    Jeff_CoatsworthCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 27, 2011

    Yes, you can package the AIR installer along with your product and run it silently. You need to apply for a -free- license to redistribute the installer. Check out http://www.adobe.com/products/air/runtime_distribution_faq.html

    for info

    Jared Hess
    Jared HessAuthor
    Legend
    September 27, 2011

    Thanks Jeff. Would that let us uninstall the help too when our product is uninstalled?

    Jeff_Coatsworth
    Community Expert
    Jeff_CoatsworthCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 27, 2011

    Not sure; I've never tried it ;>)

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