NSIS WriteINIStr is not what I expect - nsis

This code does some odd things:
InstallDir "$PROGRAMDATA\Ctream\CSOI\logs"
WriteINIStr "$TEMP\Config.ini" "SQL" "DbName" $SOMEGLOBAL
WriteINIStr "$INSTDIR\Config.ini" "SQL" "Usr" $SOMEGLOBAL
In the tempfile folder, the ini has
[SQL]
DbName=$SOMEGOBAL (its defined elsewhere)
the $instdir folder has no ini file.
I must be missing basic NSIS stuff here, any help appreciated.

You need to add RequestExecutionLevel Admin to your script. Only elevated administrators are allowed to write to $ProgramFiles.

Related

Generate installation logs

I am using special logging build to generate installation logs.
I have observed the logs are not generating when called another installer from installer script.
For ex -
ExecWait '"$INSTDIR\installer1.exe" /S _?=$INSTDIR'
The log is generating for main installer but not for installer1.exe
The installer1.exe contains lots of components and I need to print the logs for the same. I have tried enabling logset on in the installer1 script but no luck.
Tried using dumplog but it doesn't work with silent installation.
Any help would be appreciated!
Sample code from Main Installer script --
InstallDir "C:\MyFolder"
Name "${PRODUCT_NAME_VERSION}"
OutFile "${OUT_FILE}"
Section "Test"
SetOutPath $INSTDIR
LogSet on
ExecWait '"$EXEDIR\Packages\installer1.exe" /S /INST=$INSTDIR' $0
SectionEnd
Sample code from sub-installer script ---
InstallDir "C:\MyFolder"
Section "-Demo"
SetOutPath $INSTDIR
LogSet on
LogText "Print something"
SetOutPath $INSTDIR\ExternalFolder\Demo
File /nonfatal /a /r $INSTDIR\ExternalFolder\Demo\Test
ExecWait '"$INSTDIR\ExternalFolder\Demo\Test\TestSetup.exe" /silent '
SectionEnd
The sub-installer (installer1.exe) is pre-compiled and kept the exe in $EXEDIR\Packages\installer1.exe The patch is valid.
_?= is special syntax that is only supported by NSIS uninstallers, installers use /D=.
ExecWait '"$InstDir\installer.exe" /S /D=$InstDir'
Logging of course has to be enabled in this sub-installer as well.
/D= overrides the InstallDir attributes, forcing $InstDir to the specified path before .onInit is executed.
InstallDir $INSTDIR does not make sense, use something like InstallDir "$ProgramFiles\MyApp"

How to move a subdirectory with its contents to another directory with NSIS

this is the first time I work with NSIS, I want to edit an script NSIS to allow me:
If first instalation -> create the directory "Affaires" in the location "C:\Users\ali.ait-mouhoub.ext\AppData".
If it is an update (So the directory "Affaires" it already exists in "C:\N.O.E") -> move the directory "Affaires" with its contents to "C:\Users\ali.ait-mouhoub.ext\AppData".
The current script creates the directory "Affaires" in "C:\N.O.E".
Can you please help me modify my script to meet my needs?
If the both the new and old locations are on the same volume then you can use Rename:
Section
Rename "$InstDir\Stuff" "$InstDir\OldStuff"
SectionEnd
If the new location might be on a different volume then you have to copy+delete:
!include LogicLib.nsh
Section
ClearErrors
CopyFiles /Silent "$InstDir\Stuff" "x:\Backup"
${If} ${Errors}
MessageBox MB_ICONSTOP "Unable to move!"
${Else}
RMDir /R "$InstDir\Stuff"
${EndIf}
SectionEnd

How do I execute the app right after installation ... with arguments?

My installation EXE should unzip itself in a temp folder, then execute an app therein (with passing args), return and delete the temp folder again.
How do I write the nsi script?
It sounds to me like you are trying to create a portable application. Portable applications are always better when the original author adds support for it because it can handle registry and other configuration files correctly.
If you still want to create a launcher application you can do something like this:
OutFile "MyLauncher.exe"
RequestExecutionLevel User
SilentInstall Silent
SetCompressor LZMA
!include FileFunc.nsh
!insertmacro GetParameters
Section
${GetParameters} $1
InitPluginsDir
SetOutPath $PluginsDir
File "c:\myfiles\MyApp.exe"
File /r "c:\myfiles\otherfiles\*.*" ; If you need to include other files required by the application
ExecWait '"$PluginsDir\MyApp.exe" /param1 "pa ra m2" /param3 $1' $0 ; $1 contains the parameters passed to your launcher, remove it if you don't want to pass those arguments
SetErrorLevel $0
SetOutPath $Temp ; Don't lock $PluginsDir so it can be deleted automatically by the installer
SectionEnd
Answering my own question.
The required nsi script skeleton should look like this:
# The name of the installer (arbitrary)
Name "hello"
# The name of the installation file
OutFile "hello.exe"
# where put the installation - other options would be $TEMP, etc.
InstallDir $DESKTOP
RequestExecutionLevel user # no Windows UAC popup please!
SilentInstall silent # completely silent install
SetCompressor /SOLID /FINAL lzma # max compression for inst. file
# The stuff to install
Section ""
SetOutPath $INSTDIR # where to install (overwritable by user!)
File /r D:\...\... # where the install material lives
SectionEnd
# this function auto-runs after installation is fine
Function .onInstSuccess
# parameter are passed through via $CMDLINE
ExecWait '"$OUTDIR\hello.dist\hello.exe" $CMDLINE'
RMDir /r "$OUTDIR\hello.dist" # remove install folder again
FunctionEnd

Not everything is deleted when I uninstall

I've made a simple installer that installs test.txt, but there are several problems:
The created folder+link in start menu isn't deleted
The uninstaller + folder isn't deleted
Does anyone know why?
#defines
outFile "Installer.exe"
installDir $DESKTOP\test
section
setOutPath $INSTDIR
writeUninstaller $INSTDIR\uninstaller.exe
createShortCut "$SMPROGRAMS\TestApplication\Uninstaller.lnk" "$INSTDIR\uninstaller.exe"
file test.txt
messageBox MB_OK "Hello World!"
sectionEnd
section "Uninstall"
delete $INSTDIR\uinstaller.exe
delete "$SMPROGRAMS\TestApplication\Uninstaller.lnk"
delete $INSTDIR\test.txt
sectionEnd
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Shortcuts_removal_fails_on_Windows_Vista
and use RmDir "$INSTDIR" after the delete commands to delete the install folder
In addition to the answers pointing out that you never call RmDir $INSTDIR, you've also mistyped the uninstaller executable name:
delete $INSTDIR\uinstaller.exe
You've missed the 'n'.

NSIS script condition compilation based upon existence of a file

I have an NSIS based installer that I need to be able generate slightly different versions of under different conditions.
The conditions are easy to establish at compile time, if a particular file exists on the disk then the alternative branding can be used. I know I could use a command-line option to the makensis.exe to provide this behaviour, but it would be better if the compiler could take care of this for me.
Is there a way of making a compile time "IfExist" type logic?
!macro CompileTimeIfFileExist path define
!tempfile tmpinc
!system 'IF EXIST "${path}" echo !define ${define} > "${tmpinc}"'
!include "${tmpinc}"
!delfile "${tmpinc}"
!undef tmpinc
!macroend
Section
!insertmacro CompileTimeIfFileExist "$%windir%\explorer.exe" itsThere
!ifdef itsThere
MessageBox mb_Topmost yes
!else
MessageBox mb_Topmost no
!endif
SectionEnd
Note: the !system command used here assumes you are compiling on windows
I don't have the answer to your generic question of compile-time file detection, but I do have a solution to what it sounds like you're trying to accomplish.
My installers use something like this:
In the file CustomBranding.nsh:
!define CUSTOM_BRANDING
!define APPNAME "Brand X"
!define LOGO "C:\Brand_X_Logo.png"
In the main installer script:
!include /NONFATAL "CustomBranding.nsh"
!ifndef CUSTOM_BRANDING
!define APPNAME "Generic"
!define LOGO "C:\Generic_Logo.png"
!endif
Is that the kind of "alternative branding" you're asking about?

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