SMSINST: Custom Dialogs May Contain Blank Controls (201397)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Systems Management Server Installer 1.0

This article was previously published under Q201397

SYMPTOMS

When a Systems Management Server Installer custom dialog is displayed to the screen as part of a compiled script, one or more controls on the dialog may appear blank.

CAUSE

A change was made to the Installer after version 1.00.04 which can affect the display of dialog controls. If a dialog contains one or more controls which contain Installer variables that have not been previously initialized within the script, the controls listed in the Tab Order after the use of an un-initialized variable will be displayed with blank text.

WORKAROUND

The symptoms can be prevented using the following methods:
  • Within the SMS Installer Script Editor, review the names of the variables used within Custom Dialogs which are affected by the problem. At a convenient point prior to the Custom Dialog item, define the variables using the Set Variable script item. If the variables will be initially blank simply use the Set Variable script action to initialize the variable to nothing.
  • Within Custom Dialog Editor the Layout, Set Tab Order menu item can be used to set the precedence of each control within the Custom Dialog. If there are only a few controls containing un-initialized variables within the Custom Dialog, they can be left as the last controls within the Tab Order. This method is also known to prevent the display of blank controls.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server Installer version 1.0.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/14/2005
Keywords:kbBug KB201397