zopeoncd

Zope / Plone runs from a CD-ROM as a Windows Application, but the starting process takes some time and an ugly DOS-Window will appear. Later you have to shut down the DOS-Window to stop the Zopeserver. A solution to accelerate the process is to copy all files to the local hard disc, but what about the DOS-Window and the Zopeserver?

It is much nicer to have an installer that handles (and hides) all the process like any other windows programs do. And what about the option to choose whether to install the application as a "windows program" to your hard disc or to start it from CD-ROM?

This tool gives the user these options and controls (while hiding) the start process. (Obvious: For an installation you will need the windows administrations rights.)

The tool is also an uninstaller and is highly customisable: You can change the icon and all the text dialogues and the buttons. This means you can change the English text to any language and put your
name and icon on it!

There is an XML file that contains all the data which can be customised with any text-editor.

Getting started

RUN ZOPEONCD FROM CD IN READONLY MODE

Step 1: Make your Zope-Installation read-only:

- open Data\etc\zope.conf in your text-editor

- change the zconfig defines to:

  %define INSTANCE \unpacked\Data

  %define ZOPE \unpacked\Zope

  %define PRODUCTS \unpacked\Data\Products

- uncomment zserver-read-only-mode on

- uncomment read-only-database on

- comment eventlog and logger sections

- edit the zodb_db main section:

  <zodb_db main>

      # Main FileStorage database

      <filestorage>

          path $INSTANCE/var/Data.fs

          read-only on

      </filestorage>

      mount-point /

  </zodb_db>

Step 2:

- create a folder "ZopeOnCD_Image" on your HD

- copy the files from the root-level of this CD to the "ZopeOnCD_Image" folder

- copy the "resource" folder from this CD to the "ZopeOnCD_Image" folder

- create a folder "unpacked" inside the "ZopeOnCD_Image" folder

- copy your Zope-Installation to the "unpacked" folder

This should do the trick. You can now create an ISO-File from the contents of the "ZopeOnCD_Image" folder an test its functionality with DAEMON-Tools or something.

Doubleclick zocd.exe to start the Zope-server. Note that zocd.exe executes "start.bat" behind the scenes

PREPARE YOUR PRODUCT FOR INSTALLATION BY ZOPEONCD

Step 1:

- open your Data\etc\zope.conf in your text-editor

- change the zconfig defines to:

######INSTANCE##

######ZOPE##

######PRODUCTS##

these lines are substitutions for the original ZConfig defines. They will be replaced while setup to ensure correct path information.

Step 2:

- create a folder "ZopeOnCD_Image" on your HD

- copy the files from the root-level of this CD to the "ZopeOnCD_Image" folder

- copy the "resource" folder from this CD to the "ZopeOnCD_Image" folder

- create a folder "archive" inside the "ZopeOnCD_Image" folder

- copy your Zope-Installation to the "unpacked" folder

Step 3:

- create a ZIP-File "data.zip" in the "archive"-folder

- add your Zope-Installation to the ZIP-File

- add the "resource" folder to the ZIP-File

ABOUT CUSTOMISATION

contents of the "resource" folder:

- layout.xml

the language file in XML-format for the installer an the loader. You can freely edit the texts for your product.

-setup_image.dat

large logo in jpg or gif format

-setup_image_small.dat

small logo in jpg or gif format

-zocd.ico

an icon-resource. Symbol for the CD and the shortcut to the loader

-zope.conf

this is a specially treated version of the original zope.conf. Please include the following lines in your zope.conf:

######INSTANCE##

######ZOPE##

######PRODUCTS##

these lines are substitutions for the original ZConfig defines. They will be replaced while setup to ensure correct path information.

- "frontend"-folder

contains localized versions of the layout.xml. The number of the filename corresponds with <languages>-section in the layout.xml.

c also: http://members.plone.org/documentation/how-to/run-plone-off-cd-rom

for older ZOPE versions c http://www.zope.org/Members/jens/docs/Document.2004-09-12.3725