MySQL Bugs: #38627: Installer opens browser window in middle of install

Bug #38627	Installer opens browser window in middle of install
Submitted:	7 Aug 2008 11:56	Modified:	9 Jan 2009 17:54
Reporter:	Jon Stephens	Email Updates:
Status:	Closed	Impact on me:	None
Category:	MySQL Server: Config Wizard	Severity:	S3 (Non-critical)
Version:	6.0.6-alpha	OS:	Windows (XP/x64, any)
Assigned to:	Iggy Galarza	CPU Architecture:	Any

Description:
The Configuration Wizard opens a Web browser, sets focus on the browser window (hiding the configuration dialogue in the process), and loads a registration page *with no prior warning to the user*. This is EXTREMELY annoying (and rude!); it also breaks the continuity of the wizard's UI.

Note: This did not happen with 6.0.5 or most recent 5.1.

How to repeat:
Install MySQL 6.0.6-alpha using either the Setup.exe or windows-essentials-*.msi installer; use the Configuration Wizard.

Suggested fix:
DO NOT HIJACK THE USER'S WEB BROWSER! Modify the wizard dialogue to offer the user an opportunity to register, and inform the user that a registration Web page will be opened in the default browser if the user chooses to do so.

Thank you for the report.

Verified as described.

Patch approved with notes:

These are suggestions, so feel free to ignore them as you see fit.

1)  Add some text to describe what the registration entails:  "This option will open a browser window, etc, etc"
2)  The timing of opening the browser window varies even on the same machine.  As noted in other comments, there are times when I am able to get fairly deep into the configuration process before the Registration browser window opens (possibly tied to whether or not a browser is currently open, etc). 

In the event we can't enforce more consistent timing (block configuration until registration is open <an idea which I don't like very much>, I feel we should add a warning / note to the user to let them know this could take a moment and to not be alarmed:  

When combined with number one:  "Registration will open a browser window.  This may take a few moments and may occur during instance configuration"  Or something along those lines to let the user know what we are doing : )

Patch

Attachment: bug38627.patch (text/x-patch), 3.62 KiB.

The 6.0.6 Windows packages have been rebuilt with this bug fix.

This bug does not exist in any released packages.  It is in new functionality in the 6.0.6 installer.

I've added the information on the new system to the manual.