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bible-app/INSTALLER_GUIDE.md
christianandClaude Opus 5 0db5e9b07d Bible App 1.4.34 — full source
First commit on the local Gitea server, made after moving the tree off the
Windows machine. Build outputs, node_modules and the AI models stay out
(see .gitignore); everything the installer build needs is tracked.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-09-24 13:05:20 -04:00

3.6 KiB

Bible App Installer Guide

Building the Installer

Watch for changes and auto-build:

watch-and-build.bat

or

npm run watch

This will:

  • Watch your files for changes
  • Automatically run build-installer.bat when you save changes
  • Increment the version and build the installer automatically
  • Wait 3 seconds after your last change before building (debounced)

Perfect for development - just save your files and the installer builds automatically!

Option 2: Manual Build

Build once:

build-installer.bat

or

npm run build:installer

The script will automatically:

  • Increment the version number in package.json (e.g., 1.0.6 → 1.0.7)
  • Build the installer with the new version
  • Create the installer file in dist-installer folder

Finding Your Installer

Find your installer in the dist-installer folder:

  • File name: Bible App Setup X.X.X.exe (where X.X.X is the automatically incremented version number)

Note: The version number is automatically incremented each time you build. You don't need to manually update it!

Installing the App

  1. Double-click Bible App Setup X.X.X.exe
  2. Follow the installation wizard
  3. Choose installation directory (default: C:\Program Files\Bible App)
  4. The installer will automatically uninstall any previous versions before installing the new one

Uninstalling the App

  1. Go to Windows Settings → Apps → Installed apps
  2. Find "Bible App" in the list
  3. Click the three dots (⋮) and select "Uninstall"
  4. Follow the uninstall wizard

Alternatively:

  • Go to Control Panel → Programs and Features
  • Find "Bible App" and click "Uninstall"

Version Management

  • Upgrading: Simply run the new installer. It will automatically uninstall the old version first.
  • Downgrading: Run an older installer. It will replace the newer version.
  • Version Number: The version is automatically incremented each time you run build-installer.bat. The patch version (third number) increases by 1 each build (e.g., 1.0.6 → 1.0.7 → 1.0.8).

Important Notes

  • The installer creates a proper Windows application entry
  • User data (Notes, Graphics, Announcements) is stored in the installation directory
  • The app can be installed on any Windows machine without requiring Node.js or other dependencies
  • Each version is tracked by Windows, allowing easy upgrades and downgrades

Troubleshooting

Build fails with "electron-builder not found":

  • Run npm install to install dependencies

Build fails with "Cannot create symbolic link" errors: This is a Windows permission issue. You have two options:

Option 1: Enable Developer Mode (Recommended)

  1. Open Windows Settings (Win + I)
  2. Go to Privacy & Security → For developers
  3. Enable Developer Mode
  4. Restart the build script

Option 2: Run as Administrator

  1. Right-click build-installer.bat
  2. Select Run as administrator
  3. Click Yes when prompted

The symlink errors are related to macOS files in the code signing tools, which aren't needed for Windows builds. Enabling Developer Mode or running as admin will allow Windows to create these symlinks.

Installer doesn't uninstall old version:

  • Make sure you're using the same appId in package.json (should be com.bibleapp.desktop)
  • Manually uninstall the old version from Windows Settings first

App doesn't start after installation:

  • Check Windows Defender or antivirus isn't blocking it
  • Try running as administrator