Distribution Kit Size

[Ken-This-is-my-stinking-a]

I am using Lab Windows CVI version 9.0.1 (375),

when I create a Distribution, I would create a ZIP file amd it was less that 5 MB (OK for emailing),

now with version 9 I am getting a ZIP file that is just under 10 MB (which is our email max limit).

I looked through the files created in the distribution kit to see what is so big:

in the subfolder

  \bin\dp\

there is the file:

  Distfile.cab    size = 4,477,550

When I double click on that it opens, and I open that there are a lot of files with really long filenames, several are just under 1MB, and one is over 4MB:

cvitre4.rsc.AEE0121B_9196_4E7A_8C0F_7C1B926D07FF

Any ideas what it file is, and the rest of the files in Distfile.cab?

Is there a way to reduce this size?

[msaxon]

Not much you can do about this; with the introduction of new features, the run-time support for CVI just gets bigger and bigger. In CVI version 3.0.1 you could get a complete distribution onto a single 1.44MB floppy.

When creating the installer, make sure that, in the Drivers & Components tab, only the run-time components you actually need are checked.

Alternatively, if it works for you, you might like to distribute the CVI runtime package separately from your application.

[Ken-This-is-my-stinking-a]

Yes, I have the essential parts selected. I think I need to keep the runtime engine included, since I don't know exactly who all is using this utility, and won't be able to easily help get the right parts installed.

Is the Distfile.cab the runtime engine?

[Tanya_V]

Hi Ken,

Distfile.cab contains all of the files to be distributed in a compressed format. You will definitely want to include this.

Here's document that discussed installers for LabWindows/CVI:

Customizing Create Distribution Kit Installers in LabWindows/CVI [link removed]

I hope this helps!

[Tanya_V]

Hi Ken,

You may actually want to look at this tutorial instead for your version of LabWindows/CVI.

Distributing Applications with the LabWindows/CVI 8.x Distribution Kit [link removed; article no longer available]

However, for the original problem, it doesn't look like you will be able to reduce the size of your distribution.

[wally_666]

The CVI run time has not grown all that much from version 5 to 8, its the MSI installers that get more and more bloated at each "update".

Once you have the run time and any needed device drivers installed on your target systems, all you really need to update/distribute are the *.uir files, the exe file that is your program and any other application specific bits you need (wave file or jpegs most often for me).

On my development system I have CVI 5.5, 8.01, and 8.5.1 installed.  I still use CVI 5.5 whenever possible specifically so I can get installers small enough to Email (less than two floppies in size). As I understand it, only one runtime can exist on a system, so my 5.5 apps appear to be distributing the 8.5.1 runtime as far as I can tell and usually (unless my app includes wav fiels etc.) things fit in an under 3MB zip file which I can Email.

When I use 8.5.1 I'm doing good to get an installer under 11 MB.