Unknown Database error.

[David Whitmire]

I did:

1. Develop a database app in Delphi 3 with
one table (Samples.db) in Paradox format.

2. Use Database Explorer to define an alias
SAMPLES pointing to Samples.db

3. The app runs perfectly in the IDE.

4. Used Installshield Express (ISX) to prepare for
deployment:

a. under 'Select ISX Options for Delphi'
and then under 'General Options'

b. I checked: Borland Database Engine (BDE)
Standard VCL Packages
Database Component Packages

c. When BDE was highlighted I clicked 'Settings'

d. I selected 'Full BDE Installation, then clicked 'NEXT'

e. Created a New Alias: SAMPLES, clicked 'NEXT'

f. Declined to 'Save .CFG file for ...', clicked 'NEXT'

g. 'Alias Name: SAMPLES
'Path:' <INSTALLDIR>
'Type:' PARADOX, clicked 'NEXT'

h. Clicked 'FINISH'

i. Under 'Groups and Files' I found
Program Files
BDE/IDAPI Files
BDE/IDAPI Files
System Files - WinSysDir

Program Files already contained my executable, 'chewrite.exe'

k. I added, via drop and drag, my three database files:
Samples.db, Samples.mb, and Samples.val

l. Under 'Specify Folder and Icons', 'General' under
'Run Command' was [Program Files]\chewrite.exe

m. Under 'Specify Folder and Icons', 'Advanced' under
'Working Directory' was [Program Files]

n. I ran Disk Builder with no errors or warnings.

5. When I install and run on my machine all is perfect.

6. When I install and attempt to run on another machine,
I get the error:

Unknown Database
ALIAS: SAMPLES

This is my third day on the various permutations and
combinations and I am weary.

Q. What did I do wrong and how do I fix it.

Thanks.

David Whitmire

[Brion L. Webster]

I would add two more InstallShield Objects: the BDE Database Component
Packages and the BDE Control Panel File. After you deploy the installation
again, check the BDE configuration with the BDE Control Panel applet. When
you open the BDE Administrator, you should see your alias in the Databases
treeview. If it's there, then you know InstallShield worked, and you need
to identify the difference in either the alias options or the Configuration
treeview.

Under configuration, you can have changes in either the Drivers | Native |
Paradox settings or System | Init. If, for example, the default code page
is different, you may have to specify a code page for your alias in the
InstallShield BDE Alias options dialog.

-Brion

David Whitmire <dwhi...@tntech.edu> wrote in message
news:89ok3u$ps...@bornews.borland.com...

[David Whitmire]

Brion:

It seems there is nothing I can do to keep
my app from looking to the original ALIAS
I defined with Database Explorer. When I defined
the alias on my machine I gave a specific pathname
which is on my machine. I thought ISX would be
smart enough to 'translate' the alias for use
on the target machine, but so far the app
always looks for the Alias on my machine.

Q1. Is there some way to fix this?

Q2. Do I need to do something about the
alias in Database Explorer?

Thanks for the patience.

David

Brion L. Webster <brion....@nospam.ci.fresno.ca.us> wrote in message
news:89on9d$q3...@bornews.borland.com...

[Brion L. Webster]

David,

Can you send me your install and/or your .iwz project file? I can try to
look at it on my test machine & see what I come up with.

-Brion
David Whitmire <dwhi...@tntech.edu> wrote in message

news:89ot3o$q3...@bornews.borland.com...

[David Whitmire]

The files are zipped for download at
'ChE 221 Writing Samples' at the bottom of page:
http://www2.tntech.edu/che/whitmire/whitmire.htm

I tried to e-mail but my mail was rejected.

Thanks.

David

Brion L. Webster <brion....@nospam.ci.fresno.ca.us> wrote in message

news:89p4h0$qc...@bornews.borland.com...

[Brion L. Webster]

I'm grabbing the files now. Sorry about the e-mail, remove the "nospam."
from the header and it should go through.

-Brion
David Whitmire <dwhi...@tntech.edu> wrote in message

news:89p6no$qb...@bornews.borland.com...

[Brion L. Webster]

snippets of long e-mail sent to user:
I downloaded the files. The install created the following strange dllpath
registry key:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Borland
Shared\BDE;c:\Corel\Suite8\Shared\IDAPI

I've never seen a multivalued dllpath before. Does anyone know of any
defects with ISX for D3?

After manually adding the SAMPLES alias, the program ran, so I suggested
dynamically adding the alias with a TDatabase. The data is already forced
to install in the install directory anyway (paramstr(0)).