I don't think you understand. Even if I just move files around, I have already installed it and already have registry entries pointing to said installation. So to just "move it" means to leave those registry entries as erroneous entries. And even if I uninstall it, no offense, but there is no such thing as a Windows programmer who isn't lazy when it comes to writing the uninstall process. What I mean is, none of them... not one Windows programmer actually cleans up every registry entry that their program made in the registry when it installed, even though they have to know what will be created, since they write it into the code to create those registry entries. This is why, after every install and uninstall, the users are left with garbage entries in the registry, that programmers just don't seem to care about, even when advised that it has happened. "It won't hurt anything", we are told, which to me, is just another way of saying, "Too bad. I'm too lazy to do it right.". Not only that, but we are also almost always left with folders for the program (under the Documents folder, or wherever) that it put there and that the programmers didn't bother to write into the uninstall routine to remove. (:
Sorry, but this is how I feel about it and I think you'll find is how 99% of the rest of the people feel, whether they have the guts to say it directly to the programmers or not. Me, well, you know me. I'm direct.
Don't get me wrong, you know I got nuttin' but love for ya! But what I said is true about every Windows programmer. This sort of thing happened only rarely when I ran OS/2 and dealt with OS/2 programmers and I wish I still could run OS/2!
Now as for it being a bug, would it have hurt to let us know his up front, so that those of us who did it under Program Files, avoided doing that with a compact installation? Or did you not know about it? It seems that you did, since you said it was a bug and you knew you had to fix it.
And here's the thing, my brother... It wasn't me who put "Program Files" in there. Even the very first time I installed the program, that is what it *defaulted* to for the installation folder. And btw, that is what programs normally default to when you install them, so why would I have even thought that it was a problem?
And a question, please... why is it that I can just move the files anywhere and it will work, but I am not allowed to have them under the "Program Files" folder, when that's where all of my other programs are placed? Why do you consider it to be "a bug" when it puts the program there?
You see, what you must understand, is that the Compact mode makes it easy for me to back up my setup. I don't just back up the config file. Since every single Word file (including every single module) is under "C:\Program Files (x86)\The Word" (the modules are in sub-folders under that), what I do to back up my config, is to just go into that folder and Zip the whole thing up and that's it, I'm done!
I have the entire program backed up, modules, settings and all!
You see, this way, if I ever put it on a fresh system (like when I put it on my wife's laptop), all I have to do is install it again (I keep the install routine for the version I had at backup time) in Compact mode, uncheck every module and tell it to install. Then, instead of letting it run after installation, I exit the install routine and put the Zip file into the program's folder and unzip it right there, telling it "Yes to All" when it asks if I wish to overwrite the files and then if there's a later version out, I just update it (unchecking modules again) and run the program and that's it, I'm done and I am up and running identical to what I had already in a matter of minutes and don't have to go through any other setup, like installing modules, or running through the options, nor do I have to go through the long and tedious task of setting my menus the way I want (you saw a pic of how I do it, which is like the guy who runs that other site about your program)!
Pretty cool, huh?!
And I use the Compact install, because I simply don't want files placed all over the place into different folders. It is *annoying* to me when programs do that! I want everything in one folder and that's what I have now and I just don't understand why I can't continue to have that, where I have it. Why should I have to try to remember where I put the program, because you won't let me put it where every other program on my computer is? Again, I'm sorry, but I just don't understand how this is a bug, when it is normal for every other program. Can you explain this to me, please?
As for the link you gave me, that doesn't explain anything about what you're saying here. At least not on the page it landed on and with all due respect, I'm not going to spend time hunting around to see that I'm hosed as far as newer updates are concerned. What would be the point?
The fact is, I have an install on my system, that has many registry entries, I'm sure and I just redid my system and do not want to create a bunch of leftover, garbage entries and as I said, I simply do not understand why your install would care that I want to put it in the Program Files folder, when the whole concept of the Compact install, is to be able to do that and have everything under one folder.
And going back to the "why didn't you tell us this before" statement, you and I went over my setup, when I had some questions about it and where I could place my modules to keep it all together and you told me that I could just make folders for each type of module if I wanted to right underneath the program's folder, which I showed you was in the "Program Files" folder and I made it clear that I used the Compact install and why (for that purpose), so while believe it or not, I'm not trying to nail you to the cross here, I must ask a bit harshly, why didn't you tell me about this "bug" then, when I had it installed that way, which *was the program's default* for Compact mode (I did not put "Program Files (x86)\The Word" in the box during the install, the program did) and told you about it and asked for your help with it?! Hello?! (:
And before you respond, please, again, bear in mind that just "moving around the files" would still leave me with registry entries pointing to something that no longer exists there and if I run the uninstall first, I have done what I'm trying to avoid, since that would still leave erroneous junk in my registry. I just spent time over four days redoing this system from scratch and getting it just right and not putting in one thing that I knew I didn't absolutely need and would use all the time and now I find out about The Word not wanting to do what it always did and which would be normal for any program to do. (:
Sorry if this was harsh. I am. But you know that I'm not trying to be mean. Just direct.