Running Program from CD-ROM (REALbasic getting started Mailinglist archive)

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Scroll Static Text   -   Brian Heibert
  Running Program from CD-ROM   -   Barry Traver
   Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   Steve Garman
   RE: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   Joseph
    Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   Arnaud Nicolet
    Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   Charles Yeomans
    Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   Charles Yeomans
   Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   Emile Schwarz
    Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   Barry Traver
     Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   Steve Garman
     Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   joe strout.net
   Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   Arnaud Nicolet
    Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   Arnaud Nicolet
    Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   alpha ixl2.org
   Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   Norman Palardy
    Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   joe strout.net
     Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   Michael Rebar
      Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   joe strout.net
     Re: Running Program from CD-ROM   -   Norman Palardy

Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 02.05.06 15:39 (Tue, 02 May 2006 10:39:54 -0400)
From: Barry Traver
I may have asked this before, but if so, I haven't been able to track
down where the answer can be found.

I'd like to write an RB program that will run directly from a CD-ROM.
Here's my problem. The program involves writing temporary files, and by
definition a "CD-ROM" is "RO," i.e., "Read-Only," so the temporary
files will have to be written elsewhere. How do I tell the computer
(which could be a Mac, Windows, or Linux) to do that?

Thanks!

Barry Traver

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Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 02.05.06 16:01 (Tue, 2 May 2006 16:01:05 +0100)
From: Steve Garman
Take a look at the TemporaryFolder Function

RE: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 02.05.06 16:19 (Tue, 2 May 2006 10:19:53 -0500)
From: Joseph
If your intent is to never write to the computer hard drive at all then you
might consider an 'in memory' database. A while back Will wrote about this
and was wondering what applications there might be for such a thing... This
sounds close...

~joe

-----Original Message-----
From: <email address removed>
[mailto:<email address removed>] On Behalf Of Barry
Traver
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 9:40 AM
To: Getting Started
Subject: Running Program from CD-ROM

I may have asked this before, but if so, I haven't been able to track down
where the answer can be found.

I'd like to write an RB program that will run directly from a CD-ROM.
Here's my problem. The program involves writing temporary files, and by
definition a "CD-ROM" is "RO," i.e., "Read-Only," so the temporary files
will have to be written elsewhere. How do I tell the computer (which could
be a Mac, Windows, or Linux) to do that?

Thanks!

Barry Traver

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Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 02.05.06 15:53 (Tue, 2 May 2006 16:53:12 +0200)
From: Arnaud Nicolet

Le 2 mai 06 à 16:39 Soir, Barry Traver a écrit:

> I may have asked this before, but if so, I haven't been able to
> track down where the answer can be found.
>
> I'd like to write an RB program that will run directly from a CD-
> ROM. Here's my problem. The program involves writing temporary
> files, and by definition a "CD-ROM" is "RO," i.e., "Read-Only," so
> the temporary files will have to be written elsewhere. How do I
> tell the computer (which could be a Mac, Windows, or Linux) to do
> that?
>
> Thanks!

You can use:

dim f As folderItem

f=volume(0).TemporaryFolder

(which references the "TemporaryItems" on the volume(0)).

Since the startup volume is always writeable, it works._______________________________________________
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Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 02.05.06 15:54 (Tue, 2 May 2006 10:54:29 -0400)
From: Charles Yeomans

On May 2, 2006, at 10:39 AM, Barry Traver wrote:

> I may have asked this before, but if so, I haven't been able to
> track down where the answer can be found.
>
> I'd like to write an RB program that will run directly from a CD-
> ROM. Here's my problem. The program involves writing temporary
> files, and by definition a "CD-ROM" is "RO," i.e., "Read-Only," so
> the temporary files will have to be written elsewhere. How do I
> tell the computer (which could be a Mac, Windows, or Linux) to do
> that?

Good question. The first thing to check is whether
GetTemporaryFolderItem already does it for you. If not, you'll
probably need to write some code that handles this for each platform.

Charles Yeomans

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Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 02.05.06 16:07 (Tue, 2 May 2006 11:07:39 -0400)
From: Charles Yeomans

On May 2, 2006, at 10:53 AM, Arnaud Nicolet wrote:

>
> Le 2 mai 06 à 16:39 Soir, Barry Traver a écrit:
>
>> I may have asked this before, but if so, I haven't been able to
>> track down where the answer can be found.
>>
>> I'd like to write an RB program that will run directly from a CD-
>> ROM. Here's my problem. The program involves writing temporary
>> files, and by definition a "CD-ROM" is "RO," i.e., "Read-Only,"
>> so the temporary files will have to be written elsewhere. How do
>> I tell the computer (which could be a Mac, Windows, or Linux) to
>> do that?
>>
>> Thanks!
>
> You can use:
>
> dim f As folderItem
>
> f=volume(0).TemporaryFolder
>
> (which references the "TemporaryItems" on the volume(0)).
>
> Since the startup volume is always writeable, it works.

Unless you boot from the CD, and there are no other drives attached,
if this is possible.

Charles Yeomans_______________________________________________
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Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 03.05.06 07:26 (Wed, 03 May 2006 08:26:51 +0200)
From: Emile Schwarz
>
>Since the startup volume is always writeable, it works.
>
False; the start up volume can be either a CD-ROM (old OS), a DVD, a
Network volume, etc.

Depending on the original poster target, it can works assuming that the
boot volume is R/O...

Emile

PS: Burn a CD-RW (so you can re-use it later) and check by yourself what
happens...

<email address removed> wrote:

>Subject: Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
>From: Arnaud Nicolet <<email address removed>>
>Date: Tue, 2 May 2006 16:53:12 +0200
>
>Le 2 mai 06 à 16:39 Soir, Barry Traver a écrit:
>
>>> I may have asked this before, but if so, I haven't been able to
>>> track down where the answer can be found.
>>>
>>> I'd like to write an RB program that will run directly from a CD-
>>> ROM. Here's my problem. The program involves writing temporary
>>> files, and by definition a "CD-ROM" is "RO," i.e., "Read-Only," so >>
>>> the temporary files will have to be written elsewhere. How do I
>>> tell the computer (which could be a Mac, Windows, or Linux) to do
>>> that?
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>
>You can use:
>
>dim f As folderItem
>
>f=volume(0).TemporaryFolder
>
>(which references the "TemporaryItems" on the volume(0)).
>
>Since the startup volume is always writeable, it works.
>

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Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 03.05.06 12:53 (Wed, 03 May 2006 07:53:34 -0400)
From: Barry Traver
Emile,

>> Since the startup volume is always writeable, it works.
>
> False; the start up volume can be either a CD-ROM (old OS), a DVD, a
> Network volume, etc.

Do you have something to propose as a solution to the problem? (For
example, is there a way to get a list of hard drives, etc., and test
each one until one is found that doesn't give an error when the program
tries to write to it?)

Barry Traver

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Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 03.05.06 14:04 (Wed, 3 May 2006 14:04:58 +0100)
From: Steve Garman
In a message regarding Re: Running Program from CD-ROM dated Wed, 03 May
2006 07:53:34 -0400, Barry Traver said that ...

> Do you have something to propose as a solution to the problem? (For
> example, is there a way to get a list of hard drives, etc., and test
> each one until one is found that doesn't give an error when the program
> tries to write to it?)

This works for me on XP but I think on some platforms there may be a
problem if a drive has no media in it.

for i as Integer = 0 to VolumeCount -1
if Volume(i).IsWriteable then
MsgBox Volume(i).Name + " is writeable"
else
MsgBox Volume(i).Name + " is no help"
end if
next

Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 03.05.06 15:40 (Wed, 3 May 2006 08:40:05 -0600)
From: joe strout.net
On May 03, 2006, at 11:53 UTC, Barry Traver wrote:

> Do you have something to propose as a solution to the problem? (For
> example, is there a way to get a list of hard drives, etc., and test
> each one until one is found that doesn't give an error when the program
> tries to write to it?)

Sure, why not do exactly that? Just loop from 0 to VolumeCount-1, testing Volume(i).TemporaryFolder on each one.

Of course, this is assuming that the global TemporaryFolder method doesn't already do that sort of leg-work for you -- I'd test that first, if I were you.

HTH,
- Joe

Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 03.05.06 13:15 (Wed, 3 May 2006 14:15:20 +0200)
From: Arnaud Nicolet

Le 3 mai 06 à 08:26 Matin, Emile Schwarz a écrit :

>>
>> Since the startup volume is always writeable, it works.
>>
> False; the start up volume can be either a CD-ROM (old OS), a DVD,
> a Network volume, etc.

Yes, I know.

> Depending on the original poster target, it can works assuming that
> the boot volume is R/O...
>
> Emile
>
> PS: Burn a CD-RW (so you can re-use it later) and check by yourself
> what happens...

I already tried that, one year ago.
I've created a bootable CD with Mac OS 10.3.x.
When the desktop appeared, I saw some folders made especially for
writting (I don't have the CD here right now, I tell from memory). I
assume that these folders are stored in RAM, but I think I was able
to write a temp folderitem._______________________________________________
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Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 03.05.06 13:21 (Wed, 3 May 2006 14:21:04 +0200)
From: Arnaud Nicolet
Le 2 mai 06 à 17:07 Soir, Charles Yeomans a écrit:

>
> On May 2, 2006, at 10:53 AM, Arnaud Nicolet wrote:
>
>>
>> Le 2 mai 06 à 16:39 Soir, Barry Traver a écrit:
>>
>>> I may have asked this before, but if so, I haven't been able to
>>> track down where the answer can be found.
>>>
>>> I'd like to write an RB program that will run directly from a CD-
>>> ROM. Here's my problem. The program involves writing temporary
>>> files, and by definition a "CD-ROM" is "RO," i.e., "Read-Only,"
>>> so the temporary files will have to be written elsewhere. How do
>>> I tell the computer (which could be a Mac, Windows, or Linux) to
>>> do that?
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>
>> You can use:
>>
>> dim f As folderItem
>>
>> f=volume(0).TemporaryFolder
>>
>> (which references the "TemporaryItems" on the volume(0)).
>>
>> Since the startup volume is always writeable, it works.
>
> Unless you boot from the CD, and there are no other drives
> attached, if this is possible.

It's possible. On Mac OS X, you can make your own bootable CD, but,
in my experience, Mac OS X creates folders (or diskimages, I don't
recall) which simulate some folders which need to be writeable (the
temp folder was one of these). I tell from memory, it might be wrong.

For Mac OS classic, if the user starts from a CD and there are no
other drives attached, the I wonder how he could launch an RB
application.

But you're indeed right, there is certainly a way to have a problem._______________________________________________
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Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 03.05.06 13:47 (Wed, 3 May 2006 13:47:18 +0100 (BST))
From: alpha ixl2.org
Hi

I know this is slightly offtopic how ever this may be of intrest to you
form the bootable cd point of view :)

http://research.silmaril.ie/autoruncd/

Regards

Kai.

> Le 2 mai 06 à 17:07 Soir, Charles Yeomans a écrit:
>
>>
>> On May 2, 2006, at 10:53 AM, Arnaud Nicolet wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Le 2 mai 06 à 16:39 Soir, Barry Traver a écrit:
>>>
>>>> I may have asked this before, but if so, I haven't been able to
>>>> track down where the answer can be found.
>>>>
>>>> I'd like to write an RB program that will run directly from a CD-
>>>> ROM. Here's my problem. The program involves writing temporary
>>>> files, and by definition a "CD-ROM" is "RO," i.e., "Read-Only,"
>>>> so the temporary files will have to be written elsewhere. How do
>>>> I tell the computer (which could be a Mac, Windows, or Linux) to
>>>> do that?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> You can use:
>>>
>>> dim f As folderItem
>>>
>>> folume(0).TemporaryFolder
>>>
>>> (which references the "TemporaryItems" on the volume(0)).
>>>
>>> Since the startup volume is always writeable, it works.
>>
>> Unless you boot from the CD, and there are no other drives
>> attached, if this is possible.
>
> It's possible. On Mac OS X, you can make your own bootable CD, but,
> in my experience, Mac OS X creates folders (or diskimages, I don't
> recall) which simulate some folders which need to be writeable (the
> temp folder was one of these). I tell from memory, it might be wrong.
>
> For Mac OS classic, if the user starts from a CD and there are no
> other drives attached, the I wonder how he could launch an RB
> application.
>
> But you're indeed right, there is certainly a way to have a
> problem._______________________________________________
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Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 03.05.06 17:03 (Wed, 3 May 2006 10:03:17 -0600)
From: Norman Palardy

On May 03, 2006, at 5:53 AM, Barry Traver wrote:

> Emile,
>
>>> Since the startup volume is always writeable, it works.
>>
>> False; the start up volume can be either a CD-ROM (old OS), a DVD,
>> a Network volume, etc.
>
> Do you have something to propose as a solution to the problem?
> (For example, is there a way to get a list of hard drives, etc.,
> and test each one until one is found that doesn't give an error
> when the program tries to write to it?)

You may run into problems just launching IF the boot volume is not
writable.
RB itself embeds a number of plugins into your application and these
need to be written out at the start of the application.
That may pose a problem just getting started.

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Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 03.05.06 17:11 (Wed, 3 May 2006 10:11:52 -0600)
From: joe strout.net
On May 03, 2006, at 16:03 UTC, Norman Palardy wrote:

> You may run into problems just launching IF the boot volume is not
> writable.
> RB itself embeds a number of plugins into your application and these
> need to be written out at the start of the application.

That used to be true on Windows, but hasn't been so for a while. It was never true on the Mac. I doubt this is an issue any more (but then, I'm not sure how plugins work on Linux.)

Best,
- Joe

Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 04.05.06 15:30 (Thu, 04 May 2006 07:30:51 -0700)
From: Michael Rebar
On 5/3/06 9:11 AM, "<email address removed>" <<email address removed>> wrote:

>> RB itself embeds a number of plugins into your application and these
>> need to be written out at the start of the application.
>
> That used to be true on Windows, but hasn't been so for a while. It was never
> true on the Mac. I doubt this is an issue any more (but then, I'm not sure
> how plugins work on Linux.)
>
> Best,
> - Joe

Thanks, Joe. That's helpful info that I'd missed.

So, is it true that an RB app need not write out * any * files at first
launch on Windows?

Michael

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Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 04.05.06 17:15 (Thu, 4 May 2006 10:15:28 -0600)
From: joe strout.net
On May 04, 2006, at 14:30 UTC, Michael Rebar wrote:

> So, is it true that an RB app need not write out * any * files at first
> launch on Windows?

I think that is true, but I'm not really the authority on Windows apps -- hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Best,
- Joe

Re: Running Program from CD-ROM
Date: 04.05.06 19:31 (Thu, 4 May 2006 12:31:09 -0600)
From: Norman Palardy

On May 03, 2006, at 10:11 AM, <email address removed> wrote:

> On May 03, 2006, at 16:03 UTC, Norman Palardy wrote:
>
>> You may run into problems just launching IF the boot volume is not
>> writable.
>> RB itself embeds a number of plugins into your application and these
>> need to be written out at the start of the application.
>
> That used to be true on Windows, but hasn't been so for a while.
> It was never true on the Mac. I doubt this is an issue any more
> (but then, I'm not sure how plugins work on Linux.)

I'm still working with some things in 5.5.5, as I know many others
are, and that still seems to be the case for Windows.

Didn't this change for 2005 ?

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