45 replies to this topic

[mbonwick]

Hi all,

If someone could provide me with a list of updates for Office 2003 since the last release (Nov 08), and a bit of help on how to write scrpits for the modules, I'd be willing to have a go at updating it.

I should have the time to update it to the most current month - Oct 09 - but after that I can't promise that I'll be able to do every month.



Any thoughts?

Regards,

[_def_x_]

@mbonwick

That is a very generous offer indeed, but know that the Office releases are far more complicated to update due to the
many aspects of Office, the detection and dependencies and the fact Office 2003 is 11 Patch Tuesdays behind, it
is possible but a big task. I do think updating Office 2003 to date would be a nice step forward.

Erik Ramey was the release maintainer for Office and was very good at updating but even he admitted it was difficult to
do. Domenico (dkdk_it) takes care of a few Office releases so maybe (and it is a very weak maybe) he could offer a bit
of insight but he offers his help already so more work may not be possible for him.

You do have a legit Office 2003 yes, otherwise the AutoPatcher Team may have to pass on the offer.

...A Few things to Know / Do
.All updates post SP3 - service pack 3 is the level supported

.Have you made a list of missing updates against WU/MU

.Have you looked at the last Office 2003 release - open the .apm files in notepad and look at the needed info

.Have a look at the script and notice how it works - you can copy out the script from the temp_bin folder when you
run apup.exe and select the Office script, temp_bin is in the main AutoPatcher / APUP folder, the folder gets deleted
when you close APUP

.You will need to get direct links to all updates (they will need to remain good at least until the update changes)

Here is the MS Security Bulletin Summary, have a look at November 2008 and notice what updates were added / removed
by comparing the bulletin and the last script for Office 2003 (it is easier than it may sound)

Cristiano will probably post a link to the AutoPatcher / APUP documentation

This is a start

[mbonwick]

@Mike

I do have a legit Office 2003, unfortunately it's on the machine I don't use much, but it is up to date (Oct 09 updates from MS) so I guess I'll just have to do it through MS bulletins.

I shall go and look at how the .apm files and script work.

Many Thanks,

Michael

[mbonwick]

Sorry for the double post.

I've made a list of the updates since November 2008 - I've got 16 on the list, does this number sound about right?

[_def_x_]

@mbonwick

I noticed you had inquired about Office 2007 Here! - did you get some idea of how to update a release and create modules?

BTW, Here's A Link! to documentation though somewhat outdated.

[_def_x_]

mbonwick said:

I've made a list of the updates since November 2008 - I've got 16 on the list, does this number sound about right?

To me this seems very low for nearly a year behind but maybe MS isn't offering much for Office 2003 - it will need to be confirmed for sure.

I just did a bulletin search for the last year and it only shows 11 - bulletins not updates - so there may only be 16 updates but I would expect more.

Edited by gUiTaR_mIkE, 17 October 2009 - 08:42 PM.

[mbonwick]

Mike,

Yes I got that Office 2007 SP2 Module working, I deleted it when the offical release started supporting SP2.

Using "Windows Updates Downloader", a similar program to Autopatcher (but less versatile), I get 20 results post SP3. I discounted 3 of these (Office 07 Compatability Pack and service Pack, and SP3 itself) and the other update is pre-November.

So I ahve the right number. I think.

Thanks for the documentation, I'll keep experimenting.

[_def_x_]

I was just looking at my Office 2003 release folder and I noticed there are a number of updates that have 2 modules (.apm files)
associated with it ie: 1 executable (in 1 folder) / 2 modules (.apm files) - and it looks as if the only info about the updates
except for the install switches (found at the download page) comes from actually installing the update - just FYI.

Anyway, I will leave it up to you for now, I'm sure Cristiano will chime in as soon as he's done with XP SP3

[DesertJerry]

If you go to: http://siginetsoftware.com/forum/ you will find a subforum that comments on the Office Integrator. As the name implies the OI allows the user to slipstream Office hotfixes/patches/etc into the original and the burn a 'new' updated CD. The .CHM file for the program is updated periodically as updates come out for Office XP, 2003, and 2007 so the user can have up-to-date files for slipstreaming.

Use this .CHM file as your source for all Office 2003 updates and you should have all the info you need.

[Cristiano]

well, i never did any office module, o i'm basically like yours in this matter. erik was the man in the office releases and we are missing him a lot...

[]s

[mbonwick]

 gUiTaR_mIkE, on 17 October 2009 - 09:03 PM, said:

I was just looking at my Office 2003 release folder and I noticed there are a number of updates that have 2 modules (.apm files)
associated with it ie: 1 executable (in 1 folder) / 2 modules (.apm files)

If you're refering to one which have _view on the end, eg. KB953404_enu.apm and KB953404_view_enu.apm, then that's because the update applies to the main Office Suite and also Office Viewers. They point to the same file, it's just so the update can appear in the correct category.

[mbonwick]

Well, today has been a rather interesting day. I thought I'd start with something easy and do the update script, leaving the apm files for my holidays next week.

So far I've added 5 updates which replace older ones (I'm leaving the brand new ones till later), and I think I'm getting the hang of things. No doubt more explanation on the APM files will be required later, but we'll worry about that when we need to.

Thanks,
Michael

[Cristiano]

good to know that

thanks for your help

[]s

[mbonwick]

Unfortunately I have made absolutely no progress this week due to work commitments, however as it's my holiday next week I should be able to sort it.

[Cristiano]

no problem, my friend

[]s

[mbonwick]

Yesterday/this morning, I managed to finish doing the download script, so now I'm on to .apm files.

They seem fairly self explanatory, but is there anyway to find out registry values without installing the patches? It's just that I can't really reinstall Office and the copy I do have is fully patched.

[Cristiano]

> out registry values without installing the patches?
yes, extracting the content of the files and looking into the .inf file. but you already has an bypass to this issue. your office is fully patched, isn't? if the updates are the same, then the detection also is the same. so, there's no an real need for reinstall everything, you just need take the detections from the updates that you already have installed

[]s

[_def_x_]

@mbonwick

I just wanted to say thank you for your efforts - it is much appreciated for sure

[Cristiano]

oh, yes, i've forgot. we may help on tests too, if you wish

[]s

[mbonwick]

Sorry for the delay in replying, I've been away.

I'm still no further forward with figuring out Registry Entries - OUTLFLTR.msp (Junk e-mail filter) appears 7 or 8 times!
If I extract the update file, I get:
ohotfix.exe
ohotfixr.dll
ohotfix.ini
[UPDATE].msp ([Update] changes depending on the product)

None of these contain any Windows Installer info - do I need to extract the .msp as well?


Regards,