Changing the working directory for a process remotely - vb.net

I've got an application that has a bug right now, but we're unable to update the end-user to get the fix out. What a possible workaround would be is to change the working directory to the application's install directory, but from what I can tell, there's no way to do that outside of the program itself. Is there some sort of Windows API call that can change other processes' working directories, or is that not available due to security issues? I figure it's not possible.

You can change the directory that it initially starts in with a shortcut. If that is not enough, I don't believe what you want is possible without injecting a custom dll into the process after the fact.

Why do you want to change the working directory? Maybe you could modify the PATH environment variable in some way to change the order of directories your app searches for files.

Related

What is wlConcatenatedUserHead0.js?

I am facing this issue in mfp 7. See the attached image for better clarification.
"wlconcatenatedbody0.js" gets created when you chose to concatenate your JS files. This is a choice you make as part of your build process. The configuration to do this, is enabled via build-settings.xml. Concatenation of JS files is not on by default in Desktop browser environment.
Refer to the steps and details here.
This does not cause runtime issues, but if there is a problem, troubleshooting becomes hard. If you do not wish to have concatenation on, you should modify the settings accordingly.

Adding software setup to installer

I'm writing an installer for an application. Most of the installer is done and working, but I have on more step outstanding. I need some way to add a setup window to the installer, that will take user input like server address and port, etc. and write these to the relevant files for system start-up. This preferably done through a GUI of sorts inside the installer.
I've tried creating an executable file that runs after installation, but this does not always execute on different systems.
Is there a way to add a GUI to the installer itself that executes after the directory structures and files have been put into place?
Thanks in advance.
In general you should seriously consider doing this as a standalone app that runs when the app first runs and needs configuring. Then it's a program that runs in a user context and can be tested and debugged in the normal way. At least consider what the user is going to do if they want to change the server address or the port - will they need to uninstall your app and reinstall it just to change the server details or the port?
The GUI may not run correctly when started from the install for a number of reasons. It may be initiated with the system account if it's a deferred CA. It wasn't started from the interactive user shell, so it probably won't have any idea of a working directory. It's being run from an msiexec.exe process running in the system directory and maybe with a system account - that's not really the place to be doing your GUI configuration.
I assume you're using WiX, it doesn't say so in your question but it's tagged with WiX.
I would have a read of http://wix.tramontana.co.hu/tutorial/user-interface-revisited (or http://www.dizzymonkeydesign.com/blog/misc/adding-and-customizing-dlgs-in-wix-3/ has a relatively easy to read example), you can add or edit any of the dialogue boxes in the installer, you'll need to download the source to get at the built in dialog, and it does require some "play" to get everything quite right but worth it to get a professional looking installer.

Powerbuilder run

I'm using Powerbuilder to call an external function from a DLL created in C#
If I generate an executable it works fine, it call the web service perfectly well, but when I'm trying to run it in "development" mode it don't use the "application_name.exe.config" file.
I tried to set "app.config" file hard coded in the DLL, but I was unsuccessful
Clues to resolve this issue?
I think you described it yourself: you're looking for it to use something used by the EXE when you're running from development mode. When you run from development mode, there is no EXE generated or used, so Windows won't be leveraging functionality linked to the EXE. (PB starts your application so quickly because it is only loading the application to the virtual machine and running its Open event.) If you need this, it sounds like you'll have to include Deploying of the EXE and running it as part of your testing cycle.
Good luck,
Terry.
When you compile and run from the exe you're using your exe. But when you run from the dev environment you're actually using pbxxx.exe (pb115.exe, pb110.exe etc.). You may be able to copy the "application_name.exe.config" into your pb directory and rename it something like pbxxx.exe.config. At least that's the way it works with manifest files -- I had two, one called appname.exe.manifest and one called pb115.exe.manifest.
Just curious but how many libraries/objects are in your application?
I have some very large applications and the longest any of them takes to do a full build is about 30 minutes. Something odd about your aapplication for it to take 2 hours to do a full build.
DLL's dont have config files. Only EXE's.

Cocoa - How to copy files to /usr/share?

I'm developing an "installation" like cocoa application wich needs to take care of some http request, some file system reading, copying files to /usr/share, set up cron (not launchd) and ask some information to user.
I discarded PackageMaker since I need more flexibility.
Currently everything is going well, but on my last installation step, I need to:
Delete my previously installed application folder (if exists). It's always the same path: /usr/share/MY_APP
Create again the application folder at: /usr/share/MY_APP
Copy application files to /usr/share/MY_APP
Update a cron job
It's very important that /usr/share/MY_APP keeps protected with administrative privileges, so a regular shouldn't delete it.
What would be the best approach to implement those steps?
BTW, I'm using Xcode 3.2.
Thanks a lot!
Carlos.
Between the preflight script, the postflight script, and perhaps an Installer plug-in for the custom UI, I see no reason why you can't do all of this in PackageMaker.
Note: “Installer plug-in” is a little misleading. The user does not have to install the plug-in somewhere as a separate step; you include the plug-in inside your package, and Installer will use it from there.
The relevant document is a ReadMe file in a sample code project. There's also an Installer plug-in project template in Xcode since 2.0.
Also, an Installer plug-in won't get used if the user does a command-line installation. Of course, they can't install from the command line at all (which includes remote installation onto an office or lab full of machines) if you write your own custom installer.
By the way: Why /usr/share? What are you putting there? There may be a better way to do what you're really trying to accomplish.

ClickOnce Application Not Opening

I have a VB.NET ClickOnce application that I am trying to install on my computer. Previously, I was able to install and run these apps without issue. Now when I install the application, I can see the flash of a window opening, and then nothing. (There are also no processes left hanging or anything when viewed with the task manager.)
After some digging around I noticed that there are files in my Temporary Internet Files with names like "FusionBindError" and then my application name and different DLL names.
I have done everything I can find on the net to do, reinstall applications, reinstalled the .NET Framework, deleted my Local Settings folder and relogged in.
Does anyone out there have any other ideas for me to try?
I tried the Mage.exe suggestion, but it failed to help. Same with the other installation location suggestion. The application flashes at the bottom of the screen but does not open. I have tried using FUSLOGVW to check the bindings and nothing shows up in there. (Good or bad, there are no binding entries.)
Have you tried using mage.exe? This is a command-line tool that comes with .NET framework. Start up a VS command prompt, and try mage -cc. This will clear your applicaiton cache and will force a new click-once download. This is the first thing I do when my click-once applications fail and it works 99% of the time.
A couple of suggestions:
FusLogVW isn't working for you because you have to enable assembly binding failure logging inside the registry. This MSDN article describes how to do this.
Another thing that comes to mind is, perhaps the ClickOnce app install, or perhaps the whole ClickOnce store is corrupted. Try deleting the ClickOnce app store then reinstalling the application.
It's possible that new prerequisites were added that you don't have on hand. If the URL you are using points directly to "my.application" or whatever your equivalent is, prerequisites won't be processed.
So try pointing to the setup.exe that is created in the same directory as the .application file.
Other than that, it sounds like you're doing all the right stuff...
Also, it could be useful to run the fuslogvw utility on a machine where the application actually works. Or reflector.
And then see if indeed any of its dependencies being loaded surprise you.
Also, for these types of errors, be sure to check if disabling the antivirus resident protection helps. Sometimes it causes problems accessing assemblies' manifests and such.
I uninstalled my Kensington Mouse software, and that resolved my installation errors.
Who knew that mouse software that I never used could cause so much trouble??
Sometimes if your machine is working for days this problem will show up. Try to restart your machine. The same problem happened to me and it disappeared when I restarted my machine.