Determine installed version

[Jim Barrett]

I'm using VS.NET to create an installer for a company template. Some users
have FrontPage 2002 and some will be upgrading to 2003 soon. Since the
template will need to go in a different directory depending on the version
of FP installed, I'm trying to figure out how to determine the installed
version and then install the template in the correct folder. Anyone know how
to do this?

 

[Jim Cheshire]

Dual install is perfectly fine. It's up to developers to not rely on the
COM server version that is indicated by the GUID.

--
Jim Cheshire
Jimco Add-ins
http://www.jimcoaddins.com
===================================
Co-author of Special Edition
Using Microsoft FrontPage 2003

 

[MD WebsUnlimited.com]

If it is then please answer the question: "If the developer does not know
that a system is dual installed which application will they instantiate
using CreateObject("FrontPage.Application")

It could be the wrong one.

 

[MD WebsUnlimited.com]

Yes that is extremely simple but that was *not* the question. Read the
problem statement again and answer it.
I'll save you the trouble of finding it:

"If the developer does not know that a system is dual installed which
application will they instantiate using
CreateObject("FrontPage.Application")

If you can't than at least admit it.

 

[Jim Cheshire]

That was not the original question. I won't entertain you with a comment
concerning the rest of your post. It's a waste of my time.

--
Jim Cheshire
Jimco Add-ins
http://www.jimcoaddins.com
===================================
Co-author of Special Edition
Using Microsoft FrontPage 2003

 

[MD WebsUnlimited.com]

You won't answer my question because you know I'm right or you just plain
don't know the answer. For the rest of the folks that would like the answer:

It will be the last version of FP installed because there is only one
FrontPage.Application ProgID.

If you install FP 2002 the ProgID will point to the FP 2002 COM object and
instantiate it , (start the application). If you then install FP 2000 in a
dual install, when you use FrontPage.Application it will instantiate
FrontPage 2000. If you install FrontPage 2003, yes Virginia you can install
more than two different versions, you will then start FP 2003.

This information is only important if you need to locate where FrontPage is
installed and what is believed to be the current installed version or you're
using VBA in another application that uses features in another version of
FP. That VBA application could tell you that that version is not installed
when it is.

What Jim has eluded to and understands, because he only write add-ins, is
that if you install an add-in via the Tools | Add-in Add command the add-in
can query the already running application for it's version number, e.g.,
FrontPage.Application.version. Using that information you can determine the
install path by walking the registry via the FrontPage.Application.x where x
is the version number returned by FrontPage.Application.version.

NOTE: When you uninstall a dual installed version of FP you remove registry
entries that may be being used by your add-ins, so always follow it up by
opening the other installed version of FP and doing a Help | Detect & Repair
to replace the registry entries for that version.

Additional information:

There are application specific ProgIDs installed for each version of FP,
e.g., FrontPage.Application.3 or FrontPage.Application.5. The problem is
that if you wish for your application to work in new version that havn't
even came out yet you will not know the version number so you would never
know it exist. That is why there is a FrontPage.Application\CurVer entry in
the registry. But it will get overlayed in a dual install ;>)

Happy programming.

Have fun, challenge yourself.

OTB,

 

[Jim Cheshire]

As I stated originally, it is up to the developer to know what version of
FrontPage they have instantiated. This has nothing to do with add-ins. It
has everything to do with COM.

My point was made because you implied that it was a headache to you that
Microsoft tells people that a parallel install of multiple versions is okay.
If this causes you a problem, it is because of your code, not because of
Microsoft or your customers doing a parallel install.

I prefer to take the route of working around what my customers are doing and
making sure that the product works as designed whether they have a parallel
install or not. Getting the version number is a cinch as you know. That
was my point and you fully understood it. However, you took the opportunity
for another cheap shot at Jimco Add-ins.

I think these cheap shots you have been taking at me for about 5 years (both
publicly and your private attempts to have my Web site removed) are going to
end up ricocheting and hitting you where you live.

--
Jim Cheshire
Jimco Add-ins
http://www.jimcoaddins.com
===================================
Co-author of Special Edition
Using Microsoft FrontPage 2003

 

[MD WebsUnlimited.com]

Jim, you just don't get it. Finding out which version has been instantiated
is a cinch as we both agree. What is not a cinch, is the question you
continue to avoid, is how do you know which versions are installed and wish
one should be instantiated to begin with.

The problem now also belong to the person that originally asked this
question how does he know where to install his add-ins templates etc? That
is the question it has nothing to do with once you have instantiated one of
the version. It is in the knowing which will be instantiated. The clear line
to answer that question is the global ProgID FrontPage.Application. But if
you're dual installed it may not truly contain the last version of the
software.

Let us take an example of VBA in Excel which wants to instantuate FP for
some support stuff. The company that wrote this VBA routine just sold it to
you and does not know that you have both FP 2003 followed by FP 2000
installed on the system. They take the normal ProgID to instandiate the
program "FrontPage.Application" thinking that they would start up FP 2003
and almost immediatly the application abends for unknow object becauce it
tried to reference an object and unknown object in FP 2003.

Jim the way your addins are done is different from the way webbot components
are done.

We also try to make it as easy on our customers and that is why we continue
to complain to MS that doing dual installs causes problems for ISV that
have to locate the proper version of FP and the installation paths.

On the more pointed personal attacks you made:

I have not taken shots at you for five years, I haven't even know you for
five years. What I see at this time is just plain harassment upon you part.
I see that you have not been in the NG since 8/29 yet the first 6 posts you
make are to segregate and demean myself and our company. It is obvious that
the search facility was used to locate my posts. I've also grown very wary
of your attacks and harassment and I'm starting to take step with in the
Microsoft Group and other legal action as deemed appropriate.

You've made it very clear that your goal is to hurt this company and put it
out of business. Why you have this personal vendetta only you can explain.
The one explanation that I can come up with is that you hate to be wrong.
I've never heard you admit you were wrong in any thing. You have an ego ten
miles long and as fat a head to go along with it.

I remember when you first started your web site, you had a noble goal of
educating people how to write Add-in and use the VBA. You had samples of
code an little utility things. Today you've stop educating people to one of
come see what I've done for you.

I have a lot of individuals within MS that I deal with on a weekly or daily
basis and you're the only one that harassed and demeans MS customers and
myself. I'm a MS customer Jim and I've supported it created , in someway
help direct it. An yes it does support me. But I'm at the end of my straw
with you. I've tried all means to settle things down with you but you just
continue with you rude and judgmental statements.

I attempted to reach you by phone this afternoon but the line was constantly
busy and you've blocked Emil avenues to communicate. In any case I will be
starting actions against you for libel, harassment, loss revenue, etc. etc.
Just so you know that I'm serious I took the time today to contact
Microsoft and spoke with Jamie Sloan (April Dales stand in while she's on
vacation) I was told he needed to speak with someone else as I've asked to
speak with your superior. Next week I'll be contacting our Attorenties and
lining up resources in Texas if I need to pursue this issue there.

I have no problem competing with the add-in that you produce. I have no
problem competing with the new features that will be in FP 2003 and over lap
I-bots But I will not tolerate you harassing myself the individual I'm
attempting help or supplying information to. To day it was obvious that you
sought out (Find) my posts just so you could degrade or dereference them
with rubbish.

..I'll see you in court if need be.


Mike
President Webs Unlimited, Inc.

 

[MD WebsUnlimited.com]

I was not my intent to bring all these personal issues into this fine forum.
However Jim has made it impossible to communicate with him in a private
manner. His choice.

But at this time we can no longer tolerate Jim behavior toward our company
an myself. We have served the FrontPage Community with top quality add-in
for FrontPage since 1997. The addins we recreated were at the request of
user from this NG and others. We have direct quotes from FrontPage Product
Manager about the quality and support levels that we offer. We have been
review, with praise in such publications as PC Magazine, Advanced FrontPage,
we've been written up in numerous web review articles. We are the number 4
top download from the MS FP Add-in site -- the only ones that beat us are
create by MS and are "FREE". We are the only FrontPage Add-in product that
was available on your store shelve under FP 2000 as we teamed with Macmillan
Press Numerous authors have written about us in there FrontPage JavaScript
help pages In short, Jim has a personal vendetta that we are taking actions
to stem as soon as possible. It is too bad that his actions also reflect
poorly upon the FrontPage MVPs, Microsoft, and myself.

I have no idea as to what Jims problems are. I've tried on numerous occasion
to speak with him but instead he has continued to attack our fine company
every chance he gets. His web site is full of innuendo that refers to Webs
Unlimited even if not by name. His post do the same and more recently are
more blatant in there remarks.

Have a good evening and have fun!

Mike
President, Webs Unlimited,Inc.
J-Bots Plus 2002 End of Summer Sale You Save $20.00
http://www.websunlimited.com
FrontPage Add-ins Since '97 2003 / 2002 / 2000 Compatible