FormTool - Revision history

Woozle: extracted "deployment" notes to subpage; smw

2015-01-31T22:05:56Z

extracted "deployment" notes to subpage; smw

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Category:Techniques]]
+<hide>
-[[Techniques]]: Software: '''FormTool'''
+[[page type::article]]
-FormTool (by [http://www.imsisoft.com/ IMSI]) is a Windows application
+[[thing type::software]]
-for creating database-linked smart computer forms and reports, with a
+[[category:software]]
-focus on live forms filled out on the computer. These forms can be
+</hide>
-automated to some degree, and indeed at least one
+==About==
-niche-commercial-grade application ([[BookEm]]) has been developed with
+[[FormTool]], by [[IMSI]] ([http://www.imsisoft.com/ web]), is a [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] application for creating database-linked smart computer forms and reports, with a focus on live forms filled out on the computer. These forms can be automated to some degree, and indeed at least one niche-commercial-grade application ([[BookEm]]) has been developed with it. In that respect, FormTool may be usable as a replacement for more expensive development platforms such as [[Microsoft Access]].
 it. In that respect, FormTool may be usable as a replacement for more
-expensive development platforms such as [[Microsoft Access]].
+As of 2015-01-31, it does not appear to be available from IMSI anymore.
-Deployment appears to be an issue, however, as there does not appear to
+==As a platform==
-be any obvious support for automated installation of the form-filler
+Deployment appears to be an issue, however, as there does not appear to be any obvious support for automated installation of the form-filler executable (despite the fact that licenses for unlimited copying of the form-filler executable are available) so that the end-user can automatically install both (a) any developed applications requiring FormTool and (b) the FormTool form-filler required to run them.
 executable (despite the fact that licenses for unlimited copying of the
-form-filler executable are available) so that the end-user can
+''see [[/deployment]] for more''

Woozle at 19:41, 1 June 2005

2005-06-01T19:41:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:41, 1 June 2005
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	for creating database-linked smart computer forms and reports, with a		for creating database-linked smart computer forms and reports, with a
	focus on live forms filled out on the computer. These forms can be		focus on live forms filled out on the computer. These forms can be
	automated to some degree, and indeed one ~~person developed a complete~~		automated to some degree, and indeed at least one
	~~reservation system for hotels~~ (BookEm) ~~using only FormTool 5.0~~. In that		niche-commercial-grade application ([[BookEm]]) has been developed with
	respect, FormTool may be usable as a replacement for more expensive		it. In that respect, FormTool may be usable as a replacement for more
	development platforms such as [[Microsoft Access]].		expensive development platforms such as [[Microsoft Access]].
	Deployment appears to be an issue, however, as there does not appear to		Deployment appears to be an issue, however, as there does not appear to
	be any obvious support for automated installation of the form-filler		be any obvious support for automated installation of the form-filler

Woozle: /* Frontline */

2005-05-14T22:04:17Z

Frontline

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:04, 14 May 2005
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	found anywhere in any of the HTML files; it may be in a DLL which has		found anywhere in any of the HTML files; it may be in a DLL which has
	to be registered in order for VBScript to find it.		to be registered in order for VBScript to find it.
			Fortunately, FrontLine's functionality is minimal.

Woozle at 22:03, 14 May 2005

2005-05-14T22:03:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:03, 14 May 2005
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	automatically install both (a) any developed applications requiring		automatically install both (a) any developed applications requiring
	FormTool and (b) the FormTool form-filler required to run them.		FormTool and (b) the FormTool form-filler required to run them.
	=~~Notes~~=		==Automated Deployment==
	==[[User:Woozle\|Woozle]] 15:37, 1 May 2005 (CDT)==		(Documentation of this technique is still in progress, as I have not
	~~We are in the process of contacting IMSI~~ to ~~see if they can provide~~ any		yet achieved a working deployment this way. --[[User:Woozle\|Woozle]]
	support for deployment~~. In~~ the ~~meantime~~, I'~~m making some progress~~		17:03, 14 May 2005 (CDT))
	~~replicating the install process by hand; the main~~ application ~~seems~~		FormTool does have a form-filler-only application (Filler) which either
	~~only~~ to ~~need~~ a ~~set of DLLs in order to run~~, ~~though it may turn out that~~		may be licensed for unlimited redistribution or else comes that way
	~~proper setup~~ of the ~~registry is needed for things~~ to ~~work right~~.		(not sure). However, there does not seem to be any support for
			automated deployment of Filler along with the form data/application --
			that is, one has to install Filler separately from one's FormTool-based
			application.
			However, it appears to be relatively simple to make a working,
			single-application deployment of Filler by simply copying the right
			files to a common folder.
			===The Install CD===
	Looking at the FormTool 5.0 install CD, you see some setup-related		Looking at the FormTool 5.0 install CD, you see some setup-related
	executables (autorun.exe, instmsia.exe, instmsiw.exe, setup.exe,		executables (autorun.exe, instmsia.exe, instmsiw.exe, setup.exe,
Line 26:		Line 33:
	(FormTool v5.msi), and an archive file (Data.Cab) which is readable by		(FormTool v5.msi), and an archive file (Data.Cab) which is readable by
	WinZip 9.0 SR-1. This last file appears to contain the actual files		WinZip 9.0 SR-1. This last file appears to contain the actual files
	needed to make FormTool run.		needed to make FormTool run. Each file in Data.Cab is prefixed by a
	Each file in Data.Cab is prefixed by a 5-digit code plus a hyphen; I		5-digit code plus a hyphen; I don't know what the code means.
	don't know what the code means. By attempting to run		===Files Needed to Run===
	~~F3063-~~FormTool.exe, I was able to determine that copying the following		By attempting to run FormTool.exe and Filler.exe (after removing the
	files (shown ~~as renamed~~) to a separate folder ~~and removing the first 6~~		filename prefix for each), I was able to determine that copying and
	~~characters from their names~~ will allow ~~FormTool~~.exe to load:		renaming the following files (also shown after renaming) to a separate
	FormTool.exe CodeBar.dll CTOCRC32.DLL FTFrm.dll GrPropts.dll		folder will allow each .exe to load:
			{\| border="0" cellspacing="2" style="font-size:12pt;"
			\|- bgcolor="#dddddd"
			\| '''Designer'''
			\| '''Filler'''
			\|- bgcolor="#eeeeee" valign=top \
			\| ''FormTool.exe'' CodeBar.dll CTOCRC32.DLL FTFrm.dll GrPropts.dll
	IMSIctrl.dll Inspector.dll Password.dll Rotr.dll Utils.dll		IMSIctrl.dll Inspector.dll Password.dll Rotr.dll Utils.dll
	XControls.dll zlib.dll		XControls.dll zlib.dll
	The ~~next steps are: (1) Find the "form~~-~~filler" executable and run~~ the		\| ''Filler.exe'' CodeBar.dll FTFrm.dll GrPropts.dll Password.dll
	~~same test,~~ to ~~see what~~ files ~~are needed~~ to ~~make~~ it ~~load~~; ~~(2) Attempt to~~		Rotr.dll Utils.dll XControls.dll zlib.dll
	~~actually load~~ the ~~application~~ which ~~uses the form-filler,~~ to ~~see if~~		\|}
	~~anything further is needed~~.		===Frontline===
			The FrontLine.exe executable appears to be one of those ever-popular
			Flash-like front-ends for people who don't know where the Start menu
			is. It uses MSIE through ActiveX to load the HTML files in the
			Program\Pages folder, which execute VBScript to load the various other
			programs. I haven't gotten as far as getting it to work without a
			proper install; the VBScript function calls at least one procedure not
			found anywhere in any of the HTML files; it may be in a DLL which has
			to be registered in order for VBScript to find it.

Woozle at 20:40, 1 May 2005

2005-05-01T20:40:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:40, 1 May 2005
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	reservation system for hotels (BookEm) using only FormTool 5.0. In that		reservation system for hotels (BookEm) using only FormTool 5.0. In that
	respect, FormTool may be usable as a replacement for more expensive		respect, FormTool may be usable as a replacement for more expensive
	development platforms such as Microsoft Access.		development platforms such as [[Microsoft Access]].
	Deployment appears to be an issue, however, as there does not appear to		Deployment appears to be an issue, however, as there does not appear to
	be any obvious support for automated installation of the form-filler		be any obvious support for automated installation of the form-filler

Woozle at 20:38, 1 May 2005

2005-05-01T20:38:28Z

← Older revision	Revision as of 20:38, 1 May 2005
(No difference)

Woozle at 20:38, 1 May 2005

2005-05-01T20:38:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:38, 1 May 2005
Line 1:		Line 1:
	FormTool		[[Category:Techniques]]
	(by [http://www.imsisoft.com/ IMSI]) is a Windows application for		[[Techniques]]: Software: '''FormTool'''
	creating database-linked smart computer forms and reports, with a focus		FormTool (by [http://www.imsisoft.com/ IMSI]) is a Windows application
	on live forms filled out on the computer. These forms can be automated		for creating database-linked smart computer forms and reports, with a
	to some degree, and indeed one person developed a complete reservation		focus on live forms filled out on the computer. These forms can be
	system for hotels (BookEm) using only FormTool 5.0. In that respect,		automated to some degree, and indeed one person developed a complete
	FormTool may be usable as a replacement for more expensive development		reservation system for hotels (BookEm) using only FormTool 5.0. In that
	platforms such as Microsoft Access.		respect, FormTool may be usable as a replacement for more expensive
			development platforms such as Microsoft Access.
	Deployment appears to be an issue, however, as there does not appear to		Deployment appears to be an issue, however, as there does not appear to
	be any obvious support for automated installation of the form-filler		be any obvious support for automated installation of the form-filler

Woozle at 20:37, 1 May 2005

2005-05-01T20:37:27Z

New page

FormTool
(by [http://www.imsisoft.com/ IMSI]) is a Windows application for
creating database-linked smart computer forms and reports, with a focus
on live forms filled out on the computer. These forms can be automated
to some degree, and indeed one person developed a complete reservation
system for hotels (BookEm) using only FormTool 5.0. In that respect,
FormTool may be usable as a replacement for more expensive development
platforms such as Microsoft Access.
Deployment appears to be an issue, however, as there does not appear to
be any obvious support for automated installation of the form-filler
executable (despite the fact that licenses for unlimited copying of the
form-filler executable are available) so that the end-user can
automatically install both (a) any developed applications requiring
FormTool and (b) the FormTool form-filler required to run them.
=Notes=
==[[User:Woozle|Woozle]] 15:37, 1 May 2005 (CDT)==
We are in the process of contacting IMSI to see if they can provide any
support for deployment. In the meantime, I'm making some progress
replicating the install process by hand; the main application seems
only to need a set of DLLs in order to run, though it may turn out that
proper setup of the registry is needed for things to work right.
Looking at the FormTool 5.0 install CD, you see some setup-related
executables (autorun.exe, instmsia.exe, instmsiw.exe, setup.exe,
setup.ini), what may be an encoded install script of some kind
(FormTool v5.msi), and an archive file (Data.Cab) which is readable by
WinZip 9.0 SR-1. This last file appears to contain the actual files
needed to make FormTool run.
Each file in Data.Cab is prefixed by a 5-digit code plus a hyphen; I
don't know what the code means. By attempting to run
F3063-FormTool.exe, I was able to determine that copying the following
files (shown as renamed) to a separate folder and removing the first 6
characters from their names will allow FormTool.exe to load:
FormTool.exe CodeBar.dll CTOCRC32.DLL FTFrm.dll GrPropts.dll
IMSIctrl.dll Inspector.dll Password.dll Rotr.dll Utils.dll
XControls.dll zlib.dll
The next steps are: (1) Find the "form-filler" executable and run the
same test, to see what files are needed to make it load; (2) Attempt to
actually load the application which uses the form-filler, to see if
anything further is needed.