Multiple branches on Start Menu CVI 6.0

[Alastair]

Is it possible to use multiple branches on the Sub Menu. We are developing a suite of applications which need to be collected together under a branch of the start menu.

For example
Start -> Programs -> Program Suite -> Prog A -> Prog A items
&
Start -> Programs -> Program Suite -> Prog B -> Prog B items

Just like CVI creates when it installs

[Chris Matthews]

You didn't say what version of CVI you are using, or if you are installing these two programs with separate installers or a single installer. First of all, if you are trying to do this with one big installer, you can't do this with just the CVI distribution kit settings. If you are trying to do this with separate installers for Program A and Program B, it can be done. Let me know which way you are wanting it and what version of CVI you are using and I will let you know your options.

Best Regards,

Chris Matthews
National Instruments

[Alastair]

Thanks for the quick reply. I am using CVI 6.0.

Each program is being developed independantly and will have an installer of it's own. We would just like them all under the same branch (Progam suite)

[Chris Matthews]

Well, that's good news then. I can tell you how it can be done. Right now it's a workaround, but in an upcoming release we will be fixing it to work in the dist kit dialog.

OK, so what you want to change is the sub folder of the Start menu icons to be "Suite Name"\"Program Name". This is set under the Advanced... settings and is called Start Menu Sub-folder.

1) Go to the Advanced settings and uncheck Use Default for Start Menu Sub Folder.
2) Now, unfortunately, this dialog will not let you type in characters like "\" (this is what we are fixing), so you have to work around it. Type in REPLACEME in the sub-folder name.
3) Now Close the Dist Kit dialog and close the project.
4) Open the PRJ file in an editor like Notepad.
Search for your "REPLACEME" string and replace it with your subfolder name "Suite Name"\"Program Name".
5) Save the PRJ file and go back to CVI and build the distribution kit.

That should installer should put the program icons under Start->Programs->"Suite Name"->"Program Name".

Let me know if you have problems,

Chris Matthews
National Instruments

[Alastair]

Chris

I tried this and it failed. The builder added the program executable and then failed with "Create Distribution Kit Error -14119: An MSI Operation failed."

Any ideas? I tried building with a single branch name and it worked OK.

The .prj file now contains "Suite Name\"\"Program Name", note the extra \

Alastair French
Racal Instruments Ltd

[Chris Matthews]

Sorry, you must have misunderstood my naming "Suite Name" = Your suite name, and "Program Name" = Your program name. For example, let's say your suite name is TestPrograms and your program name is ProgramA, then your string in the PRJ file should be:

Program Group Name = "TestPrograms\\ProgramA"

The extra "" are most likely what is messing you up.

This worked fine for me.

Chris Matthews
National Instruments

[Alastair]

Chris

Thanks a lot for that, it all works now.

When will a patch be available for CVI, so we don't have to do this for each project?

Alastair

[Chris Matthews]

There should be a patch some time later this quarter (Q1 2002).

Chris