#45477 - 2003-09-17 09:55 PM
Run Windows Updates which Require Replies?
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Mike Frumer
Fresh Scripter
Registered: 2003-09-17
Posts: 12
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I am new to KiXtart and am looking at it as a way to automatically install Microsoft's updates to Windows and IE.
When you run such an update, you may get message boxes requiring replies. You cannot predict the exact order of appearance of the windows. With KiXtart, can you wait for a window to appear, check to see what its title or text is, and send it a button click?
I have been doing this sort of thing with a product called WinBatch. My manager has been reading about KiXtart and wants to convert to using it instead.
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#45481 - 2003-09-18 03:58 PM
Re: Run Windows Updates which Require Replies?
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Mike Frumer
Fresh Scripter
Registered: 2003-09-17
Posts: 12
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Thanks. I have followed the leads and done the searches suggested, but it is not clear that there is a straightforward way to run updates which require responses at semi-unpredictable times.
I found one forum entry which included code that said:
messagebox("Please wait while your version of Outlook Express is updated. Answer 'Yes' and then 'Ok' to the following prompts when they appear. Once the update has been successfully installed, your computer will need to be rebooted.", "Outlook Express Update", 0)
That is what we want to avoid - requiring the user to interact AT ALL during the running of the update. The posts regarding silent running make it sound as if I MAY be able to make updates run silently, and I MAY NOT. But even if I can, I may not be able to avoid having the user respond to the "Reboot your system now?" prompt at the end of the update.
Another user suggested the Microsoft Software Update Services (SUS) Server. That sounds like a very good suggestion for systems later than Windows 9x, and I will look into it.
So I am back to my original question: Can I, with KiXtart, wait for the appearance of windows with specific titles or content and manipulate them? There was a suggestion to look into autoitx.dll. I did that and found only a few posts with sketchy information.
Thanks again for all of your help.
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#45482 - 2003-09-18 04:13 PM
Re: Run Windows Updates which Require Replies?
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Radimus
Moderator
Registered: 2000-01-06
Posts: 5187
Loc: Tampa, FL
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yes you can, but Kixtart's setfocus() and sendkeys() functionality is pretty limited... AutoIt is much more robust, and can be managed with Kix.
The thing that you are missing is, that virtually ALL M$ updates are (or can be) silent... they will not display any question to the users.
Therefore, I'd spend less time researching sendkeys, and more time looking for the command line switches
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#45483 - 2003-09-18 04:55 PM
Re: Run Windows Updates which Require Replies?
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Mike Frumer
Fresh Scripter
Registered: 2003-09-17
Posts: 12
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Thanks Radimus.
To summarize then, it appears that if I am running an application (be it a Microsoft update or some other arbitrary program), and that program can run to completion without popping up windows which require attention, then I can do the job with KiXtart. If the program may require interaction, I should be able to get the job done with a combination of KiXtart and AutoIt.
Correct?
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#45484 - 2003-09-18 05:06 PM
Re: Run Windows Updates which Require Replies?
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Radimus
Moderator
Registered: 2000-01-06
Posts: 5187
Loc: Tampa, FL
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pretty much...
Kix can do it... sometime, but you'll probably get a high failure rate. Especially if you have users that like clicking around
If you do a search for silent or switches, you will find lots of hits... I deploy everything silent and if it doesn't have a silent switch I use WinInstall LE to make MSI files that are silent.
Avoid Sendkeys or AutoIt sendkeys like the plague... that is way on the bottom of the list of options
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#45485 - 2003-09-18 05:22 PM
Re: Run Windows Updates which Require Replies?
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Mike Frumer
Fresh Scripter
Registered: 2003-09-17
Posts: 12
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Thanks again. One other thing.
Currently, if we try to do an install and find out (either by looking in the Registry or by getting an error message) that the user's system is not at the proper software level to accept the install, we send a message to our support group telling them about the situation. Can I do that with KiXtart?
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#45486 - 2003-09-18 07:23 PM
Re: Run Windows Updates which Require Replies?
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Radimus
Moderator
Registered: 2000-01-06
Posts: 5187
Loc: Tampa, FL
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yep...
code:
if not Readvalue("HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{377483c2-e4b4-4ee8-b577-9aed264c8735}","ComponentID")='Q822925'
$=sendmessage($ITDept,"installing IEQ822925 on @wksta")
shell '$setup\IEQ822925\q822925.exe /q /r:n'
endif
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#45488 - 2003-09-18 07:53 PM
Re: Run Windows Updates which Require Replies?
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Radimus
Moderator
Registered: 2000-01-06
Posts: 5187
Loc: Tampa, FL
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I use the UpdateApps() UDF wrapper for installs.
Updates happen before drives are mapped... to be honest about it, I don't care if the users get pissed by having to wait.
Corp policy is if an update needs to be done, then they need to be done... if it requires a reboot, then that is what needs to happen.
If a computer goes unpatched, it has the potential of damaging productivity... an update that causes a reboot occosionally, is a small price to pay.
However, the UpdateApp() udf is there for basic notifications...
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#45489 - 2003-09-18 08:31 PM
Re: Run Windows Updates which Require Replies?
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Mike Frumer
Fresh Scripter
Registered: 2003-09-17
Posts: 12
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Sorry, I did not correctly state my message sending requirement.
I need to send an email message not an immediate message. Can I do that?
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#45490 - 2003-09-18 08:34 PM
Re: Run Windows Updates which Require Replies?
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Kdyer
KiX Supporter
Registered: 2001-01-03
Posts: 6241
Loc: Tigard, OR
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There is a FAQ to send e-mail via SMTP.. Using BLAT, POSTIE, COM, Outlook.
How do I send e-mail from KiXtart- (SMTP)
Kent
[ 18. September 2003, 20:38: Message edited by: kdyer ]
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