I have been trying to create an installer for my app, but even though I have all the drivers loaded on my laptop, the builder keeps asking for the DVDs. I don't want to have to carry them around with me all the time (I do a lot of my programming while at home). Is there a way to create an installer without needing the DVDs? Will I have to copy each DVD to a folder on my laptop (wasting a lot of disk space)?

Thanks!

Todd Munsell
WGP&W Industrial Turbine Services

I'm not sure. But you can just build the executable without needing to build the installer every time.

Once the code is installed, all you need to do is replace the executable. If building just the exe it won't keep bugging you about the DVD's.

Neville.

I'm sorry, maybe I wasn't explaining the problem clearly. This is a first time installation of the app for the target PC.

I want to build the app so it will run with just the run-time engine installed on the target PC, without having to install the entire LabVIEW program. But, for the build to work, it needs certain programs such as MAX and the NI-Serial drivers. It's when I select these to be added to the installer that it keeps asking for the DVDs. I'm out of town now, so I don't have access to the DVDs. I want to create the installer and email it to my workplace.

Thanks.

Todd

Maybe you can download what you need from ni.com? Or get others to download & install required components separately from ni.com, while you send them a simpler build without the addtional components.

Or get a local NI rep to drive you the CD's you need.

I know, its a pain, whenever I visit a customer-site, I carry along all 15-20 CD's and DVD's of the last two versions of LabVIEW + toolkits, just in case.

Neville.

Thanks. I'll see if they can download the files needed. The nearest rep is about 200 miles away from the test cell. I'll also be making backup copies of the DVDs that I can keep in the laptop case when I travel, just in case I need them.

Thanks again.

Todd

Hello Todd,

I've never used this feature, but with LabVIEW 8.2 and greater you should be able to cache the device drivers and components you need the first time you create an install.

From LabVIEW 8.2 Help:
"... Caching installer components—If you build an installer more than once and the installer contains additional installers or components, caching eliminates the need to specify a location for the additional components each time you build the installer.

The first time you build the installer, the Locate Distribution dialog box prompts you to locate the distribution that contains the additional components. Place a checkmark in the Cache component from this distribution checkbox to copy files from the distribution into a permanent location on the local system. The next time you build an installer that includes these components, the Application Builder automatically copies the components from the local system instead of prompting you for a distribution CD. "

Hope this helps,

Dan DeFriese

This is a very useful feature indeed. Don't need those DVDs anymore because of this feature! Just a small disclaimer though. This feature will simply copy the DVD's installation files to your harddrive. Basically, building your exe will be easier but you will have to have enough disk space to store the driver installation files to your hard drive.

Yvan

That used to work great up to LabVIEW 8.5, but I don't think it's available in 8.6. At least I haven't found how to make it cache the components yet. I'd really like to know how to get that feature back.

George

I finally got LabVIEW 8.6 to cache the distributions. NI gave this advice and it worked.

In order to get the Locate Distribution dialog box to appear that has the
Cache component from this distribution checkbox, you must attempt a
build where LabVIEW cannot find the source files needed for the
distribution. To do this do not insert the DVD that has the files
needed or point to a location that you know does not have the needed
distribution files. Then this dialog box will appear asking you to
redirect the computer to the correct location of these files. When
this Locate Distribution dialog box appears it will include the
needed checkbox.

George