REQ: Remove version info from installer script

[JimWilliamson]

Jeroen,

A request to remove the version numbering referenced in the installer script - both for the installation folder and for the Start Menu folder.

I find the info redundant and needlessly "in the way" (ala Start Menu display). I install your app onto many client systems and like a clean install - and remove those items at each install. This sequence is a common one, encountered in the install: "end, backspace seven times, enter, enter, end, backspace seven times, enter..."

In my work, I can think of only one other program that adds versioning to the installation folder and/or Start Menu folder - AOL Desktop.

Is it a big deal - certainly not, rather it's a finishing touch.

ps: Though, yes, please, keep the version number as you have it listed on your download link. I do that exact layout for most every downloaded file. That I certainly do appreciate it entered.

Regards,
Jim
www.ColoradoComputerLab.com

[BloodySword]

Please use the search function of this board. It was discussed two or even three times. The version number in the install directory name won't be removed for some reasons.
Remove it yourself by select & delete. What's the problem with it? Is wasting 2 seconds of your life for it so much?

[jonib]

I install your app onto many client systems and like a clean install - and remove those items at each install. This sequence is a common one, encountered in the install: "end, backspace seven times, enter, enter, end, backspace seven times, enter..."

You can use the /DIR="x:\dirname" command line parameter to specify the install path, info here.
I made a file association in my file manager (FAR manager) so when i start the MyDefrag installer it automatically specifies the path I want, maybe you can make a bat file or someting that does the same thing.

jonib

[Falcon4]

Hey. If it's been "discussed" that much on this board (rather, more like "requested and denied"), then isn't it obvious that people want it? I think a good number of sore points people have with MyDefrag are involving the installer - the installer being the first impression a program makes on someone. Why give a needlessly bad first impression when it's so easy to fix the problem people are complaining about?

IMO the version number (as well as the company name) should never be part of the program's directory. Even if the developer has a fundamentally different view of the way things "should be", the fact remains that the norm is NOT to put unnecessary info in the program's folder name. And in the case of MyDefrag there's really no reason to have two versions installed at once. The scripts get updated with a new install, and if someone (such as myself) writes their own scripts, having them broken with the new version only means they need to be updated with the new grammar. There's really no reason to have two versions along side each other. I wish it were as easy to update MyDefrag as simply installing a new version. Actually, I wish it were as easy as just extracting a ZIP to the MyDefrag share on the server, but that may need to wait til the next version

[BloodySword]

The version number is there to avoid overwriting the scripts. Script grammar may change between versions and the behavior of the FileAction commands may also change so that old script won't do the same as in the previous versions. That's one of the reasons why there is a version number appended to the program directory name.

[jeroen]

The version number is there out of necessity. For more information see How to upgrade?

[JimWilliamson]

Thanks for the info regarding the issue with script compatibility via upgrades.

To reinforce from my initial comment - this is not a big issue (to have the version info removed). It is a time consuming thing for me as I'm often operating over an Internet based remote control link. There are screen update lags where removing the text, while desired for a clean install, takes more time than via a local connection.

Something to consider - perhaps a middle road where both needs could be fulfilled: version number the scripts folder/directory but not the main program and start menu directories?

The current scripts folder could be called scripts as it is now but under an upgrade the existing scripts folder would be renamed to the version number of the prior version.

Scripts > Scripts from 4.2.5
Scripts > Scripts Old

Again, no big deal, just offering thoughts for improvement. Thank you for the fine program.

[BloodySword]

I would like to do it such as:

Scripts
  \Current Version
  \4.2.8
  \4.2.7

...

[jeroen]

It is a time consuming thing for me as I'm often operating over an Internet based remote control link.

Perhaps the installer commandline options are useful you, they make it possible to write a little script that automates installation. See the "Installer commandline parameters" on the Download and install page.

version number the scripts folder/directory but not the main program and start menu directories?

MyDefrag scripts and settings are not upward (and downward) compatible. The executable and the scripts are a unit, the have to stay together, the executable of one version will not execute scripts from another version. So using versions numbers for only half of that will cause big problems.

If you really want a versionless folder then the best thing to do is to make a link to the "c:\Program Files\MyDefrag v4.2.9\" folder, called for example "c:\Program Files\MyDefrag\". Use this linked folder for your scheduled tasks and whatever. When a new MyDefrag version comes out you can quickly change the link to point to the new MyDefrag folder. This way you don't have to change any scheduled tasks, you can experiment with the new version before taking it into production, and you can quickly revert back to the old version when needed. For a tool to create such a link see the free Junction tool from Windows Sysinternals.