TITLE: "Cannot create output file..." Terminates Installation PRODUCT: Ami Pro 2.0 DATE: 01-Oct-1991 PROBLEM: The message "Cannot create output file..." or "Unexpected end of compression file" appears and the Ami Pro installation is terminated. SOLUTION: During the Ami Pro installation, files are copied to and updated in the Windows program directory. The Ami Pro installation program makes a request to Windows to obtain the location of the Windows program directory. If the location reported by Windows does not contain a complete path (with a drive identifier), the Ami Pro installation program will not be able to locate the Windows program directory and the installation cannot proceed. This problem can generally be corrected by making sure the DOS Path statement properly lists the location of the Windows program directory. Follow these steps to see if the location of the Windows directory is in the DOS Path: 1. Exit Windows completely to the DOS prompt. 2. At the DOS prompt type PATH and press ENTER. 3. The contents of the current path displays on the screen. Make sure the complete path to the Windows program directory is listed first in the path statement. This path should contain a drive identifier, a colon, and appropriate backslashes (\). For example, C:\WINDOWS is a correct path, \WINDOWS is NOT a correct path. IMPORTANT: If Windows is loaded with a batch file rather than with WIN.COM, check the batch file for a path statement. If the path is being reset with a batch file that loads Windows, the path statement in the batch file should correctly list the complete path to the Windows directory. If the path is being reset by any program after Windows is loaded, the path set by the program should list a correct path for the Windows program directory. 4. If the path that is active while Windows is loaded does not correctly list the Windows directory, make the necessary change. This will involve editing the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, the batch file that loads Windows, or the path in any program that alters the path after Windows is loaded. DOS batch files can be edited with Windows Notepad and the Windows System Configuration Editor (SYSEDIT.EXE) programs. 5. After correcting the path, reboot the computer. 6. After rebooting, load Windows. Run the DOS prompt icon from within Windows to access the DOS prompt. Type SET and press ENTER. Look for a variable named WINDIR=. The path listed after the equal sign (=) following WINDIR is the recognized path for the Windows program directory. If this directory name appears without a drive identifier (\WINDOWS, for example), or is incorrect in any other way, it will be necessary to correct the path. 7. Type EXIT and press ENTER to return to the Windows Program Manager. 8. If the path still needs to be corrected, repeat Steps 4-7 until the Windows program directory is properly listed in the DOS Path statement. 9. When a correct path to the Windows program directory is established, reinstall Ami Pro. If the Ami Pro installation program still does not proceed properly, determine if the subdirectories DRAWSYM, STYLES, DOCS, and MACROS beneath the Ami Pro program directory have been created by the installation program. Follow these steps: 1. Run the Windows File Manager. 2. Access the Ami Pro program directory (this is usually C:\AMIPRO). 3. Look for the subdirectories DRAWSYM, DOCS, STYLES, and MACROS. Subdirectories are listed at the beginning of the file list. 4. If all of these subdirectories exist, exit the File Manager by pressing ALT + F4, then choose OK. Skip Steps 5-10 and read the next section. Otherwise, go to Step 5. below. 5. Choose File / Create Directory. 6. Type the name of one of the subdirectories which does not exist. 7. Choose OK. 8. Repeat Steps 5-7 for each subdirectory that does not exist. 9. Close the File Manager by pressing ALT + F4, then choose OK. 10. Reinstall Ami Pro. If the Ami Pro installation program still does not proceed properly and the Windows program directory is a name other than WINDOWS, it may be necessary to rename it to WINDOWS. Renaming a directory is not possible through DOS commands. Certain utility programs (such as Norton Utilities and PC Tools) can rename directories. If no means of renaming a directory is available and there is sufficient disk space to hold the Windows program files in a second location, manually create the WINDOWS and SYSTEM directories and copy the existing Windows files to these directories. Follow these steps to manually create new Windows directories and copy existing Windows program files into the new directories: 1. Access the drive where the new Windows directory will be created by typing the letter of the drive followed by a colon (:). For example, if the new Windows directory will be created on drive C, type: C: and press ENTER. 2. At a DOS prompt type: MD \WINDOWS and press ENTER. MD \WINDOWS\SYSTEM and press ENTER. 3. At a DOS prompt type: COPY X:\CURDIR\*.* C:\WINDOWS and press ENTER (X:\CURDIR should be the full path to the existing Windows directory. If the new Windows directory is on a drive other than C, substitute the other drive letter for C). 4. At the DOS prompt type: COPY X:\CURDIR\SYSTEM\*.* C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM and press ENTER (X:\CURDIR should be the full path to the existing Windows directory. If the new Windows directory is on a drive other than C, substitute the other drive letter for C). After the existing Windows files are copied to the new directory, make sure the DOS path lists the new directory name. Remove the listing of the original Windows directory name from the DOS Path. If there are references to the original Windows directory in any batch files or the Windows WIN.INI file, update the files to the new Windows directory name. When a correct path is established (if the AUTOEXEC.BAT file issues the path, reboot the computer), load the Windows program that is located in the directory named Windows (not the original Windows program) and reinstall Ami Pro. If Ami Pro successfully installs, the Windows files in the original directories can be deleted. If the Ami Pro installation still does not proceed to install Ami Pro, call the Technical Support Department of Lotus Development Corporation's Word Processing Division at 404-256-2272.