Fundamental error in installer?

[David Barnes]

Installer filename: WordRMR.exe
Version: 5.0.2920
System: XP Pro SP2 latest HFX (ms update is empty) IE6 (NOT IE7)
Office 2003 SP2 + all MS Update's HFX..

As far as I can tell this is the latest version (just downloaded from MS
reader site.)


PROBLEM SUMMARY:
==================
The installer appears to have a fundamental Logic error.
Can't install with only "user" permissions, & when installed as
'administrator' it is not available for the user.


REPRODUCING THE ISSUE:
=====================
Logon as a USER
download latest version of WordRMR.exe (v5.0.2920?)
Disable Anti-Virus
Run WordRMR.exe
- this errors with "The read in Microsoft Reader Add-in for Microsoft Word
requires Word 2000 or Word XP in order to run."
Logoff user
Login as administrator
download latest version of WordRMR.exe (v5.0.2920?)
Disable Anti-Virus
Run WordRMR.exe, and follow prompts through to completion.
Run WinWord, check "File, Read" is present..
Logoff
Logon as a "USER"
Run WinWord. "File, Read" is NOT present..


ADDITIONAL NOTES & OBSERVATIONS
================================
The COM add-in has been installed to: "c:\documents and
settings\administrator\application data\addins\WordRMRComAddin.dll" and (of
course) the "USER" has no permission to this folder set.
To top it off this is a HIDDEN folder set (Application Data).
If you copy this to 'all users' and manually add the add-in in word (not a
straight-forward task) the add-in fails to load with the error: "Not loaded.
A runtime error occurred during the loading of the COM Add-in."
## MS install notes DO say that this add-in will only appear for the user
who installed it.


POTENTIAL FIX (BUT FLAWED)
=========================
If you grant the local group USERS read access to the folder "c:\documents
and settings\administrator\application data\addins" the add-in suddenly
starts working in word...
OR
Extract the installer files (wordrmr.exe /c) and then double click the .MSI
file.. this seems to 'run home to mamma' and install the add-in to
"C:\Program Files\Read in Microsoft Reader Add-in for Microsoft Word"..



Can anyone confirm my observations, or provide a better work-arround.
The big question here is SECURITY. if a user was to follow all the advice
and only run with 'limited' rights (as against full admin) how on earth are
they supposed to install the add-in?

Thanks
David Barnes

[Shane Nokes]

That's not an error in logic.
The version that you downloaded states it's for Word 2000 or XP
You're running Word 2003. Wrong version is all it is.

Try the download from here. It's version 1.1.3 published last year and is
fully compatible with Word 2003.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=F1F5A2A4-B30C-4F2B-BE85-BC9443E1BC61&displaylang=en

"David Barnes" <david at bitsolve dot com .nospam.ignore.net> wrote in

Post by David Barnes
Installer filename: WordRMR.exe
Version: 5.0.2920
System: XP Pro SP2 latest HFX (ms update is empty) IE6 (NOT IE7)
Office 2003 SP2 + all MS Update's HFX..
As far as I can tell this is the latest version (just downloaded from MS
reader site.)
==================
The installer appears to have a fundamental Logic error.
Can't install with only "user" permissions, & when installed as
'administrator' it is not available for the user.
=====================
Logon as a USER
download latest version of WordRMR.exe (v5.0.2920?)
Disable Anti-Virus
Run WordRMR.exe
- this errors with "The read in Microsoft Reader Add-in for Microsoft Word
requires Word 2000 or Word XP in order to run."
Logoff user
Login as administrator
download latest version of WordRMR.exe (v5.0.2920?)
Disable Anti-Virus
Run WordRMR.exe, and follow prompts through to completion.
Run WinWord, check "File, Read" is present..
Logoff
Logon as a "USER"
Run WinWord. "File, Read" is NOT present..
ADDITIONAL NOTES & OBSERVATIONS
================================
The COM add-in has been installed to: "c:\documents and
settings\administrator\application data\addins\WordRMRComAddin.dll" and
(of course) the "USER" has no permission to this folder set.
To top it off this is a HIDDEN folder set (Application Data).
If you copy this to 'all users' and manually add the add-in in word (not a
straight-forward task) the add-in fails to load with the error: "Not
loaded. A runtime error occurred during the loading of the COM Add-in."
## MS install notes DO say that this add-in will only appear for the user
who installed it.
POTENTIAL FIX (BUT FLAWED)
=========================
If you grant the local group USERS read access to the folder "c:\documents
and settings\administrator\application data\addins" the add-in suddenly
starts working in word...
OR
Extract the installer files (wordrmr.exe /c) and then double click the
.MSI file.. this seems to 'run home to mamma' and install the add-in to
"C:\Program Files\Read in Microsoft Reader Add-in for Microsoft Word"..
Can anyone confirm my observations, or provide a better work-arround.
The big question here is SECURITY. if a user was to follow all the advice
and only run with 'limited' rights (as against full admin) how on earth
are they supposed to install the add-in?
Thanks
David Barnes

[David Barnes]

That download (Word 2000/XP/2003 Add-In: Read in Microsoft Reader 1.1.3) is
wordrmr.exe which is version 5.0.2920.
the verisign signature is dated 27 February 2004 03:52:52
I downloaded it and did a binary compare to the install I used... Identical.

My guess is that the file was never updated for 2003 and when it errors out
it says word 2000/XP only..

If you look at my original; post, you will see that I found a work-round.
What I'm looking for is feedback on:
1/ my logic [how do you install this for a user who does not have
administrator rights]
2/ the extract/MSI install route, which seems to do a system-wide install
contrary to Microsofts install notes for this app.
What do my peers in the comunity think of this route?
Has anyone reproduced this?

BTW.. has anyone got any news on an office 2007 version/method?

David

Post by Shane Nokes
That's not an error in logic.
The version that you downloaded states it's for Word 2000 or XP
You're running Word 2003. Wrong version is all it is.
Try the download from here. It's version 1.1.3 published last year and is
fully compatible with Word 2003.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=F1F5A2A4-B30C-4F2B-BE85-BC9443E1BC61&displaylang=en