BUG: Visual FoxPro/Mac Setup Wizard Cannot Copy Source Files

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, version 3.0b

SYMPTOMS

After you click the Finish button in the Visual FoxPro for Macintosh Setup Wizard, a WAIT WINDOW appears with the message "Copying the source code files . . ." followed by the following error message:

   The Setup Wizard was unable to make a copy of your source files.
   Setup terminated.

CAUSE

This is known to happen if there are too many files in the source folder and subfolders (called the Distribution Tree Folder in Step 1 of the Setup Wizard). This problem is usually encountered when there is about 300 files in the source folder or subfolders. The exact number has not been determined. This problem has been seen when there were as few as 125 files in the source folder. It appears that it is a combination of the number and size of the files.

RESOLUTION

There can be a number of solutions to this problem, depending on the needs of the application and the developer. Some possible solutions follow:

1. Reduce the number of files that the application uses.

   Sometimes developers distribute empty tables or report files as separate files. These can be marked as included files in the project and built into the executable file. If the table structure is needed, it can be copied out of the executable with the COPY TO command. The same is true with reports. The .frx file can be USEd (it is just a table) and the COPY TO command used to copy it out to a report file that is external to the executable so it can be modified. The implementation of this and the interface in the application is left to the developer.

2. Create two sets of installation disks. One set would have the executable and other supporting files included by selecting the various check boxes in Step #2 of the Setup Wizard. The other set of distribution disks would contain the numerous supporting files the developer needs for the application. They would be compressed by running the Setup Wizard but not choosing a platform nor any of the other options in Step #2 of the Setup Wizard. Both sets of distribution disks would be installed into the same folder.

3. Use one of the other commercially available setup programs. Two that Microsoft is aware of are InstallerMaker from Aladdin Systems Inc. and Installer VISE from Mind Vision Software. There should be others also. The Web site addresses for each are below:

         http://www.aladdinsys.com
   
         http://www.mindvision.com
   

   Aladdin Systems, Inc. and MindVision Software are vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding their products' performance or reliability.

4. Make sure that neither of the Visual FoxPro Support Library files are in the Distribution Tree folder (the source folder). They are automatically included when the platform is specified in step #2 of the Setup Wizard. Including one or both of those files has been known to cause this problem.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

If this error message is received but the copy of the source folder is not created, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q155890
   TITLE     : PRB: FoxPro for Mac's Setup Wizard Can't Copy Source Files

Steps to Reproduce Behavior