msm files not showing in gallery

[Randy Bosma]

Hello ISXperts,

As I was building my first VFP7 application deploymnet in ISX VFP LE, I came to the step called Specify Application Data - Objects / Merge Modules (Figure 13 in Whil Hentzen's Jan.2002 article). On my system, the top-center pane/window (titled InstallShield Objects/Merge Modules) is blank. As a result, there is nothing to select, and the VFP runtimes are not included in the distribution package.

I've looked in Help, and found:

>The merge modules you see in the Merge Module Gallery come from the following folder, which contains the modules that InstallShield distributes:

>C:\Program Files\InstallShield\InstallShield Express Visual FoxPro Limited Edition\System\;C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Modules\i386

>To add a module to the gallery, copy the .msm file to this folder.

So I've done a Find Files/Folders, located the dozen or so .msm files for VFP7, and _copied_ them into _both_ subdirectories mentioned. However, they are still missing when I go into (restart) ISX.

Help, please. I'm on a WindowsNT4 system, networked (so the sysadmin people do all the installs).
Thanks in advance,

[Chandima]

I'm afraid that the version of Express distributed with VFP is a "limited" one. We did not include any merge modules or objects with it. That's why it is empty. You can download most of the Microsoft merge modules from the web. Try doing a search in Microsoft for "Visual Studio Service Packs". You might also be able to find a few on the Installshield website.

[Randy Bosma]

Chandima:

You wrote:
>I'm afraid that the version of Express distributed with
>VFP is a "limited" one.

Yes, I was aware of that from the moment I requested the software.

>We did not include any merge modules or objects
>with it. That's why it is empty.

However, none of the other VFP users I've had the pleasure of discussing this situation with have ever experienced this problem. They seem to have ended up with all the required files in the right place without having to download or copy anything.

>You can download most of the Microsoft merge modules ....

I believe I have all the .msm files I need - they were shipped with and installed with VFP7. Please notice that in my original post I said:

>I've looked in Help, and found this statement:
>>The merge modules you see in the Merge Module Gallery come from the following folder, which contains the modules that InstallShield distributes:
>>C:\Program Files\InstallShield\InstallShield Express Visual FoxPro Limited Edition\System\;C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Modules\i386
>>To add a module to the gallery, copy the .msm file to this folder.
>So I've done a Find Files/Folders, located the dozen or so .msm files for VFP7, and _copied_ them into _both_ subdirectories mentioned. However, they are still missing when I go into (restart) ISX.

So here I am still unable to build a VFP application even after following all the instructions at installation and in the help.

Have I missed something??

[Randy Bosma]

Is it true that the VFP limited edition of ISX is supposed to locate and link to the VFP7 merge modules automatically, so reinstalling ISX LE might be a good idea to attempt to solve my problem (that was described in an earlier post)?

[Chandima]

I'm sorry if I gave any misinformation. I looked at VFP Express over a year ago and (as you mentioned) I think we did give Merge Modules but DIDN'T distribute any Objects (like Access97 and Access2000). Really sorry about that!

1. Launch Express. Go to Tools->Options->File Locations. Hit the browse button next to the "Merge Modules" field and browse to the folder containing the merge modules. Close Express, Open again and see if the modules are there.

2. If that does not work try doing a "Repair" on Express from the Add/Remove Programs.

3. If that fails too try re-installing Express.

Once again I apologize for the mis-information.