don't overwrite files on install

[GregFreeman]

I was wondering if there is a way to avoid overwriting files if they already exist when doing an install. For example, if I run an installer in order to upgrade an exe, I don't want the user's custom config files overwritten back to their defaults by the installer.

Edit: I should add, I don't know if it will actually overwrite them, I'm just assuming it will do a full install, putting the defaults back.

[Chris-G]

Hi Greg,

Unfortunately there is no quick and easy way to stop an installer from overwriting files within the LabVIEW application/installer builder (see this product suggestion). The reason why there isn't just a quick selection as to whether an installer will overwrite files is that the installer is developed to follow the Microsoft Windows Installer format. To edit the installer, you can modify the .msi installer file directly. The following links have information on the windows installer and how to modify it:

Orca Database Installer Editing

Microsoft Installer Information

Replacing Existing Files

Hopefully these will give you a little more insight on the installer information. Another way you can manually stop the installer from overwriting the files would be to just save a copy of the desired configuration files elsewhere on your computer. Then, after running the installer, replace the new configuration files with the old ones. This can be quite tedious and may not work in some cases due to deeper associations between the files. But it would certainly be worth a try. Hopefully this at least gives you some general information.

If anyone else has other suggestions that they have found to be easier and effective, please post.

Thanks!

Chris G