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If we overlooked your question or we weren't clear with an answer, please send e-mail to DeNova's support email account.
How do I...
FAQ about customizing your installers and updaters
How do I ship a different version of the JRE than the one shipped with JExpress?
If you want to create a distributable JVM bundle for the OS that JExpress is currently operating on (except for Mac -- Apple doesn't allow distribution of their JVM), then start JExpress with the Advanced interface. Move to the JVM panel and click the Build JVM Bundle button.
If you want a JVM for a platform that JExpress is not currently operating, then
How do I make the download web pages look like my website?
JExpress creates 2 files whenever you build a new installer: index.html download.html. The index.html contains your image and details about the installers (i.e., file size, requirements, etc.).
If you prefer to use your own "look", then you can simply use a server side include and include the download.html that is in the build directory. Or, you can create your own page with frames that includes the download.html.
How do I display billboards, or marquees, while the installer is running?
There is an example class in the Samples directory called StartBillboards. You can simply copy the class file to the JExpressInstaller subdirectory, add a background image file named billboard-jexpress.jpg, and a series of text files named billboard?.txt, where the ? is replaced with a numeric number starting at 1 and continuing sequentially. Each text file will be displayed in order.
The example file starts the billboards as soon as the user enters the installation directory name and clicks Next. If you would like to change the delay between panels, name of the background file, etc. when the billboards start showing, then simply modify the source to StartBillboards.
The image file should be the same width as the width of the image that usually displays. Also, you must make sure that your text files (e.g., billboard1.txt) are no wider than the image file.
The first line of the billboard text files will be centered. If you don't want a centered line, then simply leave the first line blank.
How do I setup one installer for multiple programs?
You have a couple of ways that you can create an installer which installs multiple programs.
Scenario 1: You have
An example of this type of application is JExpress. It contains JExpress Installer and JExpress Updater, etc.. We want all the programs installed into one directory tree. But, we create multiple install subprojects so JExpress can find all the classes for each Java program. Then, we use a master project to create the installer which is distributed to our customers.
You can review the Subproject with Master Project tutorial to learn more about how to build interrelated projects.
Scenario 2: You have
An example might be that you want to distribute multiple products and let the end user decide which to install.
You can review the Multiple Components tutorial to learn more.
How do I reduce the size of an installer?
If you use the Advanced interface to build your installers, then you can make the installer 400K to 1 Meg smaller by selecting the Native or Metal look and feel on the Layout panel, instead of using a Custom Theme.
Also, if you require JRE 1.4 or later for your installers, then you can save approximately 2 Megs for native installers with the JVM. You can make sure your native installers require 1.4 or later, by clicking on the JVM panel and filling in 1.4 as the Required Valid JVM version or as the Min valid JVM version. Remember that you want to change all the platforms on the JVM panel so each native platform is smaller.
How do I get my installers to have a more modern look?
First, you must use the Advanced interface to create your installers. Next, you should select Custom look and feel on the Layout panel. Click the Browse button next to the Custom theme field, and select the modernthemepack.zip from the LFThemes subdirectory.
Be sure to test your installers thoroughly when you use any of the custom themes. We have had 1-2 reports about some platforms that have difficulty supporting these new looks.
How do I change the look and feel for JExpress?
If you are running JExpress on Windows, then load the .properties file from the JExpress subdirectory which matches the program you want to change its look and feel into a text editor. For example, if you want JExpress to use a different L&F, then load JExpress.properties into a text editor.
Change the args property to include a -pack switch at the end of this property with the full path following. For example, if you want to use the MacOS theme pack, then you'd change the args property to look like this:
args=-cp "." com.denova.JExpress.Builder.JExpress -pack LFThemes\\macosthemepack.zip
Of course, if the theme pack is in a different directory, then you'd use the correct directory. Remember to use 2 back slashes to separate subdirectories in the .properties field, but not if you are issuing the command from the command line.
If you run JExpress on a Unix machine, then load the launch script (e.g., jexpress) and add the -pack switch to the end of the command line. Don't forget to use a single forward slash to separate the subdirectories. For example,
java -cp . com.denova.JExpress.Builder.JExpress -pack LFThemes/macosthemepack.zip
Note: If JExpress no longer starts up, then you'll need to remove the changes. We've had 1-2 reports of platforms that don't support the more modern look. Please send us e-mail with details about your platform if you are unable to use a custom theme.
Also, you cannot use the -pack switch if you are using the unattended build. Of course, what the user interface looks like when it's invisible isn't too important so this shouldn't cramp anyone's style. :)
How do I install a JVM without searching the user's system for an existing one?
Use the Advanced interface and click on the JVM panel. Adjust the search pattern for each desired platform. To learn more about how JExpress searches, click here.
How do I set the default installation directory?
You can specify the default installation directory for your application on the Install panel.
How do I set the directory where the JVM is installed?
Use the Advanced interface and click on the JVM panel. Adjust the JVM install directory.
How do I set the classpath on my customer's machine?
The easiest way is to let JExpress automatically set the runtime classpath. On the Install panel, set the radio button to Automatically. Of course, if you prefer to manually configure the runtime classpath, then you can do that as well. The runtime classpath should always be relative to the installation directory. You should not include absolute pathnames in the runtime classpath.
How do I test the installer from my IDE?
If you want to test custom classes that run before the license, readme, or distribution files are installed, then you can
How do I sign EXEs created by JExpress for my application's menus?
If you would like to sign the EXEs that JExpress creates for your java apps with your Windows certificate, then we're releasing a beta version of the EXEs that can be signed. In the winapp subdirectory of your JExpress installation directory, you'll find 2 files named JavaAppSigned.exe and JavaAdminAppSigned.exe. You should sign both files with your certificate. Then copy the signed copy of JavaAppSigned.exe to JavaApp.exe and the signed copy of JavaAdminAppSigned.exe to JavaAdminApp.exe in the JExpressInstaller subdirectory.
We'd appreciate hearing whether this works for you if you try it.
How do I name the Windows folder where my menus are added?
Enter the name of the folder in the Submenu field on the Menus panel. JExpress adds a folder under Start | Programs with your submenu. All menu items are added to this folder. If you don't want a folder, then leave the Submenu field blank.
How do I pass extra parameters on the command line?
Simply add a -p followed by a space and then the extra parameters on the Cross Platform installer's command line. For example, if you want to pass a URL on the command line and the JRE's home directory was /bin/jre, then the command would look like this:
/bin/jre/bin/jre -cp .:[product.name-platform-version].jar com.denova.JExpress.JExpressInstaller -p http://denova.com
All parameters following -p are in the extraParameters AV property. You must write a custom panel to extract, parse, and use these parameters.
Currently JExpress only supports passing extra parameters on the command line with Cross Platform and Java Web Start installers. If you'd like the ability to support passing extra parameters with native installers, please send e-mail to DeNova's support email account.
How do I create an installer which automatically starts on the web?
Use the Advanced interface when you start JExpress. Go to the JVM panel and click the Java Web Start tab. Enter the distribution URL and set the JVM requirements. Then fill in the rest of the panels for your installer and select Java Web Start on the Build panel.
How do I run an installer or JExpress on a headless computer?
You can run JExpress and its installers, and uninstaller on a headless machine if it has a virtual framework. There's an example of a unix script in the "config" subdirectory of your JExpress installation directory called run.jexpress.headless that you can adapt to your environment.
How do I create an installer which auto-runs or auto-executes when the CD is inserted into a Windows machine?
Every time JExpress builds a native Windows installer, with or without the JVM, the AUTORUN.INF will be included in the build directory. When you create your CD, make sure the Windows installer and AUTORUN.INF files are copied to the CD's root directory.
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