Skywind Installer [WIP: v0.0.99 28.03]

a good installer would make me so happy because i am happy i got skywind working but i couldnt get the map working

Nice !

The file that will see the most distribution is the Skywind.esm

I'm not sure what its size will be once we have most of the game information in there, but lets say it 150mb.

It would be nice to have patch updates, to avoid full downloading of file, but this is not a requirement if would prove too difficult.

The version of the master file (skywind.esm) is contained in the file header, and maybe with Zilav help using code from his TES5Edit (written in Delphi I think) could be used to find out which version person has.

Manually downloading of the updates could be put up onto the website so that they can get each update in sequence.

We have a webpage that has each update:

Skywind update 0.6.1

Skywind update 0.6.2

Skywind update 0.6.3

Rather than every time we make a small update, and have to re-compile the installer to include the new master, that we instead include each of these "updates" instead.

I'm not sure if there is some binary difference program that can be used so that we just include the "differences" between both files and then this can be injected into the master file by the installer.

Anyway this is not necessary, just a nice to have. Downloading a 100mb zip is not exactly the end of the world stuff, so its just if this of thing is in the basket of easy to implement.

Looks very good.  :)

One comment though: "No-asset distribution"  would be extremely hard I'd think.  It would be good for sound files, but the textures are already replaced, and I think meshes might be far too hard.

 Can you make an option so that we can extract the files somewhere else (not in skyrim data files)? I like to see the content of a mod before overwriting anything (especially if by "no assets distribution" you mean using the outdated morrowind meshes and textures, but I don't think the team will agree)

That sounds like it could be a pretty good idea.

Oh, and long time no see Anthelius. :)

Yes I'm a bit busy ATM^^ I'll try to make more landscaping if I have time ( ascadian isles or west gash)

You'll probably be happy to know that Ravanna is working on some more landscape textures.

Yeah it would be very useful if the installer did more then just install stuff.

1. Install
2. Update
3. Backup
4. Remove

anthelius

 Can you make an option so that we can extract the files somewhere else (not in skyrim data files)?

+1. I use Wrye Smash to install my mods, so I want to be able to install, uninstall Skywind files easily (and check conflicts)

I have just downloaded and tested the v0.0.1 of the installer.

Here are my findings:

1. Please update the used logo’s.
2. Please include installer version number in installer window.
3. Please turn entire installer into 1 .EXE file
4. The uninstall button is not functional.

I was unable to install Skywind!
Where to place all the installation files?

I have a habit of repacking and renaming downloaded files.
Especially the downloaded Skywind files, there a mess.

Feel free to use these new ICONS !

Don't take this wrong, I am only trying to help.

The installer you are creating looks a bit strange / complicated. All installers I have seen are 1 file .EXE files. Are you not making things look more complicated then it should be?

The purpose of the installer is to prevent manual installation of the full package. The installer has to make sure the user is owner of the original content before installing the full package. Its to protect the downloadable content.

If the installer does not protect the content then it is pointless.

Yes, the full 2GB need to be in the main pack and updating need to be possible.

I am working on it on this side as well. Hopefully I get something working soon.

I still need to get your installation launch conditions included (hard for me to do as I am no programmer).
If it works I will send you the setup.

The only content that needs to be protected is the Skyrim.esm. All other content can be downloaded. In theory we shouldn't really be distributing the meshes, but the textures are fine, these are almost all modder resources.

So we really need a way to pack and protect the master. Without the master they cannot play the game.

We should aim for an installation folder. The installer can copy files from the folder into the selected Skyrim (skywind) folders. This means if a user downloads an update manually, that they can put it into the installation folder, and hopefully we get a smart master list of files so that checks can be made and then copied. Well that would be nice to have :-P Small steps first...

Let just get the installation folder copying files and folders without any checks, just direct copies.

I have just downloaded the v0.0.3 of the Skyrim Installer.
So far it is looking good to me; it seams to do its thing.
Awaiting response from the rest of the team.

I will test this week-end ;)

if I understand, you have to download all the packages listed in the install page and you select this folder as your "distributive" folder in the installer ?

Supposing this is correct, are all the rar/zip files uncompressed or does currentVersion.yml contain the list of files and their checksum (meaning that when we have a new release we have to update this file with the new packages) ?

nice ;)

 also saying nice gone try it out when skywind v0.6 is gone be out (any 1 knowe what the progress is on that/ ore the planning?)

you should put this on skywind installation instructions think many new guy's would like that

also a installer like this isnt it something for morroblivion and later on skyblivion

Nice work, its coming together really great :)

Have you tested on a variety of operating systems yet? Its in its early stages, but i just want to make sure that the premise for installer is one that can handle a number of different set ups.

Only being able to unpack rar is not really a problem, because that is probably all we will use, unless some need for another compression tool, which is unlikely.

You will need to have the browse to buttons and show the path of the folder like you did with the previous 0.0.2 version. A person needs to be able to choose what folder they want to install to. Currently it will pick up if a Skyrim folder exists on the C drive, and in my case my Skywind installation is on another harddrive, and I have no way of changing it.

Tiny request, is it possible to put the "MSVCP90.dll", "currentVersion.yml", "unrar.exe", and even the "skywind.log" and put them into one folder, maybe "bin". Also put the "icons" and "contrib" files into the "bin" directory. You can see this being done with other install packages, it keeps things cleaner for users, less confusion.

Have you got an idea of how to encrypt the Skyrim.esm yet? I'm guessing it can be added to the "Skywind.exe" in some way or actually use a encryption that is available for python. Don't post what algorithm you might end up using :-P

Yes, we need to make sure the installer works for people using Solaris, Android, Linux, etc! 

I think, i can encrypt it with any algorithm and add it to exe like objective #4. But, imho, will be better (and easier for updating) to have one installer and change only distributive and currentVersion.yml

Yes agreed, better to have the installer separate. Just need an encryption method for distributing the file.

Sorry for being a noob source trying to test it early, brain went bye bye for half an hour there.

Right I think we can get it down to one screen installer if that wouldn't be too much work?

We can have the Skywind install directory the same as the checker. We will be using the installer just as much as an updater so, checking for the existence of the Skywind.esm will be better served to tell them what version they have, then show what version (the encrypted one in the distribution folder) is so that its clear they are doing an update.

If user has the games installed, then the components window when then show. Then they can "Add Components". This will be better because people might be doing this routine every two weeks once we get a better process doing releases.

An uninstall button can be shown at the bottom maybe.

A download button behind the missing packages would be a nice thing to have. Better would be a download button to refresh the list, to keep up with future updates and package changes, incl. movement of download locations.

1. Unfortunately, i cant directly embed wizard into main window. I think i can reimplement it, but it needs time. If i understood correctly, u want hub-like interface, e.g. like nexus mod manager. 

Yes we would want it like hub-like interface. If its too much work and time at the moment then the pop up window is fine. I thought it might be easy to just shift it to one screen. But it would be nice to have that down the line sometime.

3. Distributive folder always equal installer folder. Its right?

Lets make a default folder called "Data Files" in the installer root directory, just so there are not as many files to look through before they see the "Skywind.exe".

I can't believe how fast you work!! I see the nice html page you got embedded. I will work on some wording for the installer guide.

We are going to wait patiently until the installer is finished, then we will release the it with 0.6.0 master.

I sent you a PM with details about changing the "description" field. Can you change this to 0.6.0 using an editor for your testing? We will upload a new master to have this as the convention for naming.

I would upload a new one with the changes, but internet upload/downloads cost me lots of money.

Looking good. Can you make a folder named "config" and put the folder and files into it : currentVersion.yml, header.tmp, uninstall.yml, contrib, icons.

The "Data Files" will purely be used for Skyrim related files, its a name that has been synonymous with Elder Scrolls plugins, models, and scripts since Morrowind.

Can you tell us what type we should put in the currentVersion.yml for types zip or just a normal file?

version: '0.5.8'
desc: http://morroblivion.com/forums/skyrim/skywind-mod-releases/3323
components:
  "Data Files":
    type: folder
    dest: 'Data'
  "Skywind.cmf":
    type: encrypted
    dest: Data/Skywind.esm
    hash: fef3ea521151af9adfe5c4f777c082b8a40ea8a59465eea0442740983015194f
    original_hash: 456a88fd382952e66f8f731a9ea8d6f40d2161adf1e2ba6947cd2b7de944234c
  "Skywind LOD Meshes.rar":
    type: WHAT TYPE IS THIS?
    dest: Data/
    hash: f690e65ccaf94b84eaae36ad5257c6fc348218c701d0463b17d9abef74f4873e

"SkywindWeather.esp":
    type: WHAT TYPE IS THIS?
    dest: Data/
    hash: f690e65ccaf94b84eaae36ad5257c6fc348218c701d0463b17d9abef74f4873e

So what's the deal with it saying "retail" after the version number?

Hey, I'm not sure if you've realized this, but we've switched over to a single large archive in anticipation for v0.6.

http://morroblivion.com/forums/skyrim/skywind-mod-releases/3323

We will also hopefully have multiple smaller archives for a mirror not too far in the future.  Would it be too hard to switch to this kind of format?

Anyway, thanks A TON!  This is really helpful.

Here is a Oblivion and Skyblivion logo to use.
The Skyblivion is made up by me, just replace it if you find a official one.