Oooh, good points.
> * The second screen that tells the user which JDK will be used, or barks
> when there is no JDK. I have literally seen users cringe in pain when
> this screen pops up. It is way too much text, the text is poorly laid
> out, etc...
Ahh, this corresponds to (3) in my workflow. Are you suggesting that we remove
this (3a) pop up entirely (unless a JAVA isn't found?) I could be okay with
that.
> In my opinion this would much better be replaced with a screen "Choose
> Java" and basically is a text box and file chooser which allows one to
> choose the Java install they want. Basically the same way the screen
> that allows you choose the installation directory works.
This is what I had in mind for (3b).
> * The data directory screen could use some love to. Too much text on it.
> To me a windows installer should basically do everything for you, and
> give you the option to do an "Advanced..." install if you really want
> to. But first time users of GeoServer having to read though the details
> of how the data directory works (often when they do not even really know
> what a data directory is) is bad.
I hadn't thought of this, but you're right that a "Complete/Custom" radio
dialog is a great idea. (I don't know if this is possible with NSIS, but I'll
check.) As for text cleanup, I'm on it. :)
So the new workflow would be:
1. Splash screen
2. Welcome screen
3. Find %JAVA_HOME%
3a. If found, SAY NOTHING
3b. If not found, prompt for location, set in environment variable, add
%JAVA_HOME%\bin to path.
4. License screen
5. Program file destination screen
6. Complete/Custom install screen
6a. If Complete: look for data dir, if not found set to new installed data
dir; install service as automatic, set Start Menu group, jump to 11
6b. If Custom: Continue to 7
7. Components screen - Two check boxes: [GeoServer (mandatory), data directory
(optional)]
8. Find %GEOSERVER_DATA_DIR%
8a. If found, display window with dropdown [use this, change this]
7a1. If [change this] go to 9, otherwise go to 10
8b. If not found, go to 9
9. Select Data Dir - Type in a location (with validation?)
10. Install as service screen [automatic, manual]
11. Start Menu screen
12. Ready to install screen
13. Install stuff
14. Finished screen
Better?
Thanks,
Mike Pumphrey
OpenGeo - http://opengeo.org
Justin Deoliveira wrote:
> A couple of things:
>
> * The second screen that tells the user which JDK will be used, or barks
> when there is no JDK. I have literally seen users cringe in pain when
> this screen pops up. It is way too much text, the text is poorly laid
> out, etc...
>
> In my opinion this would much better be replaced with a screen "Choose
> Java" and basically is a text box and file chooser which allows one to
> choose the Java install they want. Basically the same way the screen
> that allows you choose the installation directory works.
>
> * The data directory screen could use some love to. Too much text on it.
> To me a windows installer should basically do everything for you, and
> give you the option to do an "Advanced..." install if you really want
> to. But first time users of GeoServer having to read though the details
> of how the data directory works (often when they do not even really know
> what a data directory is) is bad.
>
> -JD
>
>
> Mike Pumphrey wrote:
>> It's no secret that the current Windows GeoServer installer and
>> executable is a bit rough around the edges. It works, but it isn't as
>> slick as it could be. For one thing, GeoServer isn't installed as a
>> service, and the fact that the command prompt pops up and stays there
>> is definitely sub-optimal. :)
>>
>> GeoServer works with the Java Service Wrapper (albeit with a little
>> bit of tweaking) so it's very possible to use the BIN version of
>> GeoServer, add in some wrapper config, and a perfectly good service we
>> have.
>>
>> So, with all this in mind, I'd like to solicit opinions about what
>> people like and dislike in the Windows GeoServer experience, both with
>> the installer and with running GeoServer. (Just the EXE I'm curious
>> about here; I know some people use the BIN and WAR in Windows.)
>>
>> I'm also designing a new flowchart for the installer. Here's what I
>> have so far: (After making this list, I found that this is pretty
>> much screen-by-screen identical to what Tomcat does for its
>> installation process which is auspicious.)
>>
>> -----
>>
>> 1. Splash screen
>> 2. Welcome screen
>> 3. Find %JAVA_HOME%
>> 3a. If found, display window
>> 3b. If not found, prompt for location, set in environment variable,
>> add %JAVA_HOME%\bin to path.
>> 4. License screen
>> 5. Components screen - Two check boxes: [GeoServer (mandatory), data
>> directory (optional)]
>> 6. Program file destination screen
>> 7. Find %GEOSERVER_DATA_DIR%
>> 7a. If found, display window with dropdown [use this, change this]
>> 7a1. If [change this] go to Select Data Dir, otherwise skip
>> 7b. If not found, go to Select Data Dir
>> 8. Select Data Dir - Type in a location (with validation?)
>> 9. Install as service screen [automatic, manual]
>> 10. Start Menu screen
>> 11. Ready to install screen
>> 12. Install stuff
>> 13. Finished screen
>>
>> -----
>>
>> Things to note:
>> (3b) adds %JAVA_HOME%\bin to the path. This is what we want to do,
>> right?
>> (5) makes installing the built-in data dir optional. What do you
>> think of this?
>> (9) I would think the default should be automatic, right?
>> I'm not 100% sure that everything here is possible, but NSIS seems
>> pretty elastic, so I'm hopeful.
>>
>> Feedback is practically begged for.
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Mike Pumphrey
>> OpenGeo - http://opengeo.org
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
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>
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