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Jack DeLand
Inspiring
September 1, 2009
Question

AIR Help Install

  • 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

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    2 replies

    A
    Anonymous
    September 2, 2009

    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?

    Peter Grainge
    Community Expert
    Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 2, 2009

    For the locally installed version of the help, then to the best of my knowledge, yes you just run the exe to open the help.

    For the web version, you are not working with the same thing. The web version does not get installed. It is essentially webhelp with the look and feel of .AIR help but you call it in the same way as webhelp.

    In the layout wizard you will see an option to generate both in one go. You will end up with two versions of the help, one for local installation and one for the webserver.

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

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    A
    Anonymous
    October 1, 2009

    Peter, one slight addition to your post.  While it's true that the AIR browser-based Help is basically the same as FlashHelp/WebHelp, there is an option to launch the AIR application (.air file) from a web application.  It's the most complicated of the AIR deployments, but it can be done by using a Flash file called badge.swf.  Please see this Flex article for the instructions http://livedocs.adobe.com/flex/3/html/help.html?content=distributing_apps_3.html#1035834.

    Peter Grainge
    Community Expert
    Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 1, 2009

    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

    Use the menu (bottom right) to mark the Best Answer or Highlight particularly useful replies. Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here.
    J
    Jack DeLandAuthor
    Inspiring
    September 1, 2009

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

    Peter Grainge
    Community Expert
    Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 1, 2009

    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

    Use the menu (bottom right) to mark the Best Answer or Highlight particularly useful replies. Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here.
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