Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!spool.mu.edu!munnari.oz.au!metro!extro!norton From: norton@extro.ucc.su.OZ.AU (Norton Chia) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc Subject: Re: hacking installer scripts Message-ID: Date: 10 Jun 91 10:04:27 GMT Article-I.D.: extro.norton.676548267 References: <1991Jun5.233110.1753@cs.sfu.ca> <18187@venera.isi.edu> <1991Jun9.233220.474@massey.ac.nz> Sender: news@metro.ucc.su.OZ.AU Organization: Sydney University Computing Service, Sydney, NSW, Australia Lines: 68 Nntp-Posting-Host: extro.ucc.su.oz.au kiran@copper.ucs.indiana.edu (Kiran Wagle) writes: >What exactly does customized mean? It means specific to the machine in >question. Why do they bother to have a custon install if it is not >really customized to the machine it claims to be customized for. >Why not simply allow the user to select an 'expert custom' which would >allow specific files, fonts, &c. to be excluded? And how long do you think that list will be? Now, I would like just the point 10 and 12 of all fonts that has TrueType equivalents, but keep also the point 24 of those that don't... Well, I'll make an exception to Geneva 9 point Italic. >It is easier to throw things away if (a) you know that they are there and >(b) you know what they are. I absolutely agree!! I originally thought the Startup Folder was where the INITs were meant to be!! On the other hand, I must say of the people I've come across via campus wide support, it would be a lot easier for overkill than undercooked. As far as support problems go, it's much easier over the phone to ask someone to re-install their drive and the extra stuff won't hurt them too much. Some of these extra bits don't take up too much memory, and if people don't even know they have over a hundred copies of Word temp files, I can't see their complaints for a few extra bits of useless junk! :) I was trying to install a copy of Z-7.0 the other day where the installer originated with 800K disks. The first disk, Install 1, had three files: Installer, System and Installer Script, make it an alias of the Installer Script! They were pushing it a bit trying to include the script on the same 800K disk. The actual file was located on Install 3... While I certainly appreciate the ability for Installers for "expert" install, I certainly can live with the compromise of the current setup -> if you don't know enough to care, it's there anyway. If you're smart enough to know, trash the things you don't want yourself. I just think by the time I've specified all the stuff I don't want installed, I might as well just throw them out later on when I have a look around into different folders. Once you've done this, the next time round will be a breeze. You haven't tried installing PageMaker BTW, have you? You can certainly choose what not to install, but going back to your argument (b), how would you know what you don't need in the first place?? >This thread started when someone found an extension by accident. >Shouldn't a customized install work to prevent things like this? I think I've been agreeing with a compromise situation that Apple's Installers have taken. But I also believe in keeping things simple: should you decide to have what you didn't think you would've when you first installed, eg the Monitors cdev on an SE, it would take more time to locate where it is than if it were on the "internal" drive in the first place. Despite all I've said, I still agree with what is being said. Remember the good old days when Macs were meant to be simple? In this day and age of Personal File Share and Excel that's about 1.3 megabytes, the Mac is becoming more and more complicated. Why not leave the Installer simple, and let the inquisitive throw out what's not needed as far as they're concerned? We're all Mac users, aren't we? Have a bit of spirit and experiment and explore!! Now, where was I? I've got to throw away Portable, Battery, Brightness, DAL, EtherTalk Phase 2.... -- // Norton Chia || I can be reached via e-mail --> norton@extro.ucc.su.OZ.AU / / Micro Support || Yes, this is Australia calling. ////// AppleLink: AUST0240 / / Uni of Sydney || No, I haven't got anything to say but "Thanks", if I forgot //// When I'm talking half way around the world, my employers can't hear me ///