At first glance, it might appear that Web deployment would be limited to applications
that actually run as Internet applications (such as DHTML applications or ActiveX
components embedded in a Web page).
It is possible, however, to distribute just about any VB application over the
Web. You just need to package the application’s CABs with an HTML page that
points to the CAB files, and then place that page on the Web server. When users
point their browsers to the page, they will download the application’s setup
files and the setup will run automatically on their machines.
Because you can deploy almost any application to the Web, Web distribution
becomes an attractive choice. It offers several advantages over older forms of
application deployment:
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The logistics of application distribution become simpler. You do not have to
concern yourself with getting disks or CDs out to every user.
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Management of new software updates is more automatic. Users can get a new version
of an application just by pointing their browsers to the setup’s Web page.
To deploy a setup package via the Web, follow Step by Step 21.3.
STEP BY STEP
21.3 Deploying on the Web
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Create an Internet or standard installation package as discussed in the first
part of this chapter, and make sure that you have saved the packaging script.
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From within the project, run Package and Deployment Wizard, choosing the Deployment
icon (the middle icon) on the opening screen.
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Choose Web Publishing as the deployment method (see Figure 21.28).
FIGURE 21.28 Choosing Web deployment.
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The Items to Deploy screen enables you to indicate files to put on the Web
deployment site (see Figure 21.29).
FIGURE 21.29 The Items to Deploy dialog box.
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The Additional Items to Deploy screen enables you to specify more items to
deploy (see Figure 21.30).
FIGURE 21.30 The Additional Items to Deploy dialog box.
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On the Web Publishing Site screen (see Figure 21.31), specify the site to which
you will deploy the installation.
FIGURE 21.31. Specifying a Web publishing site.
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When you click the Next button, the wizard may prompt you to save the publishing
site information to the Windows Registry (see Figure 21.32).
FIGURE 21.32 Option to save publishing site information to the Windows Registry.
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On the Finished screen, assign a name to the deployment script, as in Figure
21.33.
FIGURE 21.33. Assigning a name to the Web deployment script.
