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I had to try

Even though I knew it wouldn't make a difference, I sent a bug report to onone software's tech support team via their lame web form.

Here's what I sent:

When installing GF Print Pro 5 remotely via Apple Remote Desktop et al, and the client computer is at the login window, the last lines of the postflight script:
" if ($reg_result =~ /yes/)
{
`open \"http://www.onOnesoftware.com/register.php\"`;
`osascript -e 'tell application "Installer"' -e "activate" -e 'end tell'`;
} "
open a root Finder session.

Actually, no, that's not the Finder problem code section. The Finder problem code section is:

open the Genuine Fractals window
if (-d "/Applications/$gf_name")
{
`osascript -e 'tell application "Finder"' -e 'make new Finder window to folder "Applications:$gf_name" of startup disk' -e 'end tell'`;
}

We now return you to our regularly scheduled rant

This is dangerous for many reasons, all obvious, and is entirely due to the script not checking to see if it is being installed as an interactive user or not. This needs to be fixed immediately.

Okay, so there, a reasonable bug report, right? Points out the error, the specific nature of the error, the specific lines in the specific script, and why that error is bad.

What's the reply? From their technical support email address:

Greetings,

Unfortunately we do not support remote deployment of our software. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Wow.

"We're going to stick our fingers in our ears and yell loudly until you go away. You want to install our software, you can just do it manually with a big fucking stack of CDs"

Yet people wonder why I am so reluctant to report installer bugs. Because even when they're taking an action that creates a whopping security hole, their answer is "We don't want to do that, so we don't care if it causes problems".

That's why. The entire exercise was a waste of time from start to finish. Tell me again about "oh, if you were only more reasonable, you'd get better results." Surrrrrre I would...and that's not urine, that's pretty, pretty lemonade rain.

Oh well. I wonder what they'll think if I can figure out a way to return it as defective.

Remember the name folks: onOne software: They make installing FUN.

Technorati Tags:
Bad Installers, Incompetence, Installers MATTER, TEH STOOPUD, Bad Tech Support, Stupid Company Policy

Categories: Mac Matters

Posted by John C. Welch at 20:20 | Permalink

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Even though I knew it wouldn't make a difference, I sent a bug report to onone software's tech support team via their lame web form.\n\nHere's what I sent:

When installing GF Print Pro 5 remotely via Apple Remote Desktop et al, and the client computer is at the login window, the last lines of the postflight script: \n\" \tif (\$reg_result =~ /yes/)\n \t{\n \t\t`open \\\"http://www.onOnesoftware.com/register.php\\\"`;\n \t\t`osascript -e 'tell application \"Installer\"' -e \"activate\" -e 'end tell'`;\n \t} \"\nopen a root Finder session.

\n\nActually, no, that's not the Finder problem code section. The Finder problem code section is:

\t open the Genuine Fractals window\n\tif (-d \"/Applications/\$gf_name\")\n\t{\n\t\t`osascript -e 'tell application \"Finder\"' -e 'make new Finder window to folder \"Applications:\$gf_name\" of startup disk' -e 'end tell'`;\n\t}

\n\nWe now return you to our regularly scheduled rant\n\n\n

This is dangerous for many reasons, all obvious, and is entirely due to the script not checking to see if it is being installed as an interactive user or not. This needs to be fixed immediately.

\n\nOkay, so there, a reasonable bug report, right? Points out the error, the specific nature of the error, the specific lines in the specific script, and why that error is bad.\n\nWhat's the reply? From their technical support email address:

Greetings,\n\nUnfortunately we do not support remote deployment of our software. We apologize for the inconvenience.

\n\nWow.\n\n\"We're going to stick our fingers in our ears and yell loudly until you go away. You want to install our software, you can just do it manually with a big fucking stack of CDs\"\n\nYet people wonder why I am so reluctant to report installer bugs. Because even when they're taking an action that creates a whopping security hole, their answer is \"We don't want to do that, so we don't care if it causes problems\".\n\nThat's why. The entire exercise was a waste of time from start to finish. Tell me again about \"oh, if you were only more reasonable, you'd get better results.\" Surrrrrre I would...and that's not urine, that's pretty, pretty lemonade rain.\n\nOh well. I wonder what they'll think if I can figure out a way to return it as defective.\n\nRemember the name folks: onOne software: They make installing FUN.\n\n\n\n

Technorati Tags:\nBad Installers, Incompetence, Installers MATTER, TEH STOOPUD, Bad Tech Support, Stupid Company Policy\n