How to reduce distributing file size?

[FerroK]

I was using CVI5.5 and eval the ver.7. After compiled and make the distruibution files. The ver.7 had the file size that is several times larger than the ver5.5. The only functions that I used related to hardware is RS232. I do not use any of the NI hardware (like ADC...). What files can I eliminate from the distribution files (DiskFile.cab, myfile.msi, instmsi.exe, instmsiw.exe, setup.exe, setup.ini)?

Or what options should I set during the made distrubtion file process? Thanks.

Brian

[Ian.W]

Brian,

You may find this page useful.

Briefly, setup.exe first determines if the target has the Windows Installer program present. It is present as part of Windows 2000 & XP, but may not be present if the target machine is ME, 98 or NT. The instmsi.exe and instmsiw.exe install the Windows installer program, if needed, onto 98/ME and NT machines respectively. Then your package can begin to be installed. So if you are only installing onto 2000/XP you can drop instmsi.exe and instmsiw.exe from the kit.

With good knowledge of and control over your target machines, you may also be able to create a smaller kit that assumes that the CVI run-time engine is installed, but watch out for other components (e.g DataSocket, ActiveX container support, etc.) that might be needed. The link above should give you good some clues for that.

My practice has been to live with either the full kit if it might be installed anywhere, and reduce it by 3MB by dropping instmsi and instmsiw, when I know that all imagineable target machines are 2000/XP.  Beyond that the low cost of bandwidth and storage has not warranted further tweaking for me.

Hope this helps.

[Ian.W]

I meant to mention that you have good control over what goes into the distribution kit in the "Create Distribution Kit" panel (Build>Create Dist Kit).  There you can opt to not include the Run-Time Engine (RTE) -- an option if you are always installing on the same machines. The RTE is downloadable separately - here is the one for 7.1 (Hey - version 8 is out now!)