I know all of you were concerned, but I have found and fixed my problem with InstallShield. As it turns out, there was a bug in the way I was searching for a registry value. Not a bug in the way I was doing it, but possibly a bug in either InstallShield itself or the M$ Windows Installer. Needless to say, I found away around it and now I am about as happy as you can get. So hopefully I won’t be unloading on you, my loyal readers, anymore for at least a couple of days. But then, of course, I’m not going to promise anything.

I am so frustrated right now, so I am going to vent. I think I’ve vented about this very topic not too long ago, but I am going to do it again. If you have never authored a “software installation” before, then you may just chalk this up as whining. But if you have any experience with InstallShield, you will know what I am talking about. I am so frustrated with all of the crap that goes along with this half-assed program. I rely on it to do my job, yet I am at it’s mercy when it comes to deadlines. I am supposed to have a functioning installation ready in a week and have been stuck on a single problem for about 5 weeks now. For the past week, I have been waiting on one of InstallShields “support engineers” (or whatever the snazzy title is these days) to look at my problem and give me a solution. I don’t want what his little “checklist” says to give me for an answer, I want the real solution that will solve my problem.

No Luck.

I heard back from the “support engineer” today and am not happy with the response. According to him, it works on his end and it must be something in my script. NO SHIT. I’m not paying money for obvious answers, I want someone to tell me where the error is in my project, whether it be MY code or THEIR product. I am not convinced either way right now. It very well may be my problem, if it is cool, just tell me where the problem is, that is the part I can’t figure out. I am leaning towards it being their problem only because the same code used to work in an earlier version of their product.

Anyway…. I am going to leave at that for now. I could go on and on and on, but it would just bore most of you to death. But I feel a little better bitching about it.

Do you ever have a “To Do” list that you can’t ever seem “to do”? I’ve been working on one for the past few (going on 4 I think) weeks and, just today, have managed to only cross two items off of the list. Of course in that same 4 weeks, I have added many more items. You may think, “Hey you lazy bastard, get off your ass and finish that list,” but it isn’t that simple. I’ve been non-stop working on the list and I have the stressed muscles to prove it. My back is so tight right now you would have trouble hammering a nail into it (not that I am going to let anyone try).

I need to vent a little and what better place to do it then on the Internet with my whole audience (I think 4.5 people now) listening or reading. Installshield is really pissing me off right now. Not necessarily the company itself, so don’t think I’m bashing them, but their program is really getting under my skin. One of the responsibilities of my job is to design the installation procedures, which, for the most part, has been going well. But, then I upgraded our installation software and it has been giving me nothing but trouble ever since. Scripts that used to work, don’t any more, which is the most frustrating part. Now, I am too deep into this project to cut ties and revert back to the old install and the deadline is approaching fast. I’ve been in contact with InstallShield technical support, but I am lucky to get more than one answer a day out of them. I fear that they have contracted their tech support over seas and there are time differences……

Looks like I just got another email from them, I guess I better quit bitching here and see if it is anything that will help. I’m sure I’ll be back for some more venting… till then, thanks for reading.

For all of you out there wondering what to get that geek of yours for Christmas. Scientific American has the answer. (If site takes a while to load, it is because of the phenomenon called the Slashdot effect. So please be patient.)

Scientific American: Top Sci/Tech Gifts 2003 — 25 great holiday gifts for science lovers of all ages

I browsed through here and found a couple I can’t live without, such as, this and this.

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!!

I’m not sure if I’m reverting back to my childhood or what but I am getting ready to order one of these from a co-worker of mine. I mean… who wouldn’t want a remote control helicopter? Last week I bought a Tyco Stunster which is a pretty cool little toy. Of course, my kids like it also. Here are some pics of my new found fun.

Geez, is it just me or does it seem to early for it to be Thanksgiving next week. The last few months have flown by. I don’t know if I am ready for the garbage that goes along with the holidays. I already had a taste of it on Sunday. My wife and I were trying to get out of a store’s parking lot, when this bastard decided to wait in the middle of the road for a parking spot. Now I am all for getting the closest spot possible, when it is available. But is it necessary to hold up 4-5 cars of traffic for one lousy parking spot. The spot wasn’t even that good. Even worse, the lady currently residing in the parking spot was not even in her car… in fact she was getting in and out. Who knows what she was actually doing.

So after a bit of waiting, my wife decided to honk her horn, most people waiting for that long would have done it, and I am positive this jackass would have honked as well had the roles been reversed. Anyway, this guy, after being honked at, opens his door and flips my wife the bird. It was at that moment I recognized that it was the Holiday Shopping Season. Well long story short….. (or is it already too long to call short?)….. I am no fan of this time of year when it comes to going out of my house. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy all the family and what not, but I would rather get a root canal then go out in this mad-shopping mess.

Anyway there is my rant for the day.

Good thing this guy didn’t listen to his wife and buy the smaller boat…

Going to see The Matrix Revolutions tonight…… I’m pretty excited. I almost went to the 6am showing this morning but decided not to. So instead I am going to the 7:20pm showing. Like any of you wanted to know that. But too bad. I said it anyway.

PS… here is a link to a review on slashdot. I haven’t read it yet cause I don’t want to spoil anything.

Woohoo!!!! My spa is finally fixed…. well I hope it is anyway. I’ll let you know after I fill it up for the next hour or so and then spend 12 hours after that heating it. I’m pretty dang excited though. Of course, my excitement is subdued a little by the fact that I had to write out a check for $600 to get said spa fixed. But we were expecting that when we bought the place so we were sure to keep some aside for it.

Some of you may say, “Holy crap! You dropped that kind of money for a stinkin’ spa.” But I say, “Hell Yeah!!!”. It will totally be worth it. Just getting a chance to relax and ease my muscles whenever I want. Damn, I would’ve paid twice that amount. Anyway, the spa dude gave me a good idea too. If anyone ever wants to come and use the spa, I’ll just charge them 5 bucks. I can just say that it will go towards future repairs, if any are needed. Then if I ever have to spend money again on it, it won’t be so tragic.

So looks like I have my weekend planned now. My own little, private spa party.