Where should I deploy my files?

(originally posted 5/1/07)
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From: SD-Jim Sawyer
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 12:43 PM
To: Everyone-NS; Everyone-SD
Subject: Where should I install my projects on the customer's machine?

Hey all --

Amy just brought up a good reminder for all of us: Let's try to be consistent in our deployment of our projects to customers.

Ideally, our customers would have a similar user experience when executing any TranSystems model or software application, regardless of which person, team, or office wrote the project. This helps provide our models and applications with a common "branding" across our user base -- one small way our "simulators and animators" can chip in to support TranSystems' overall corporate branding initiative. It was a big motivation for creating the Modeling Studio in the first place!

It starts with the small stuff -- where does the user find the project on his or her computer?

If we're installing projects onto a customer's computer, the preferred installation folder should be:

C:\Program Files\TranSystems\ProjectName

For example, our clients at OCD have multiple models they work with:

C:\Program Files\TranSystems\AutoVue Modeling Studio
C:\Program Files\TranSystems\4,3 Modeling Studio
C:\Program Files\TranSystems\Valuator Modeling Studio

Or, for those projects that prefer the Excel UI:

C:\Program Files\TranSystems\My Old-School Simulation

This means that the shortcuts off of the Start Menu look like:
Start >> Programs >> TranSystems >> AutoVue Modeling Studio

Thank goodness we no longer have to worry about the "Program Files\AAI" vs. "Program Files\Automation Associates" vs. "Program Files\Automation Associates, Inc."… See how much simpler our lives have become as part of TranSystems!

It's open for debate whether or not the icon that starts the application should be in the TranSystems folder, or within a subfolder specific to the project. Microsoft has contradicting examples of this. Their published guidelines on "Designed for Windows XP" don't call this out specifically. I personally use subfolders…. But I won't be mad if you don't. :-)

Amy and Geoff are working on a .WSI file (Wise Installation template) to share with us as a starting point. We'll upload it into the Modeling Studio folder on SourceSafe when it's complete.

Thank you Amy, for bringing this to our attention! It's worth a refresher every now and then.

-- Jim

P.s. to developers only -- your kind-of sort-of regularly scheduled blog will return soon

James T. Sawyer
Senior Analyst
TranSystems | Automation Associates, Inc.