Working on an installer...

Killswitch · **Joined:** Wed Apr 21, 2004 7:12 pm **Posts:** 742

I've taken a look at num3's posts about his library installer (thanks to him for pointing me to it) and I found a bit of code that basically sums up how to create an installer/self-extracting pack file.

I've tried to replicate this myself, but without much of a guide other than the code posted by the fool on the post in question. I can't seem to get the source for the original library installer.

Anyway, I tried this:

Code:

createfile(0,"bob.exe")
    writedata(?bob,?bob-?bob_end)
    *str=allocatememory(11)
    pokes(*str,"bob = cool")
    writedata(*str,11)
    writelong(11)
closefile(0)

end

bob:
readfile(0,"bob.exe")
fileseek(lof()-4)
a=readlong()
fileseek(lof()-4-a)
a$=readstring()
debug a$
bob_end:

It creates an .exe that isn't a valid Win 32 application, apperently, I am using the demo version, is the debugger that is stapled to the .exe's I create effecting the program?

thefool · **Posted:** Tue Nov 09, 2004 10:56 pm

well if you are working on an installer that code certantly wont work, as it needs purebasic compiler to add the file to itself.

But look at the code: (thank to boop64). (btw, this code needs some changes, as i used it to bind 2 files)

Code:

;Filename  "pack_test.pb" 

;SFX_Test 
;By Boop64 
;http://boop64.2y.net 

;Creat a pack archive and add a file 
If CreatePack("tmp.pak") 
AddPackFile("exe1.exe")
AddPackFile("exe2.exe")
ClosePack() 
EndIf 

;Read pack archive and copy to memory 
If ReadFile(0,"tmp.pak") 
len = Lof() 
AllocateMemory(0, len,0) 
*mem = MemoryID() 
ReadData(*mem, len) 
CloseFile(0) 
EndIf 

;Create the UnPack program with attatched pack archive. 
If CreateFile(0, "UnPack_Test.exe") 
WriteData(?filestart, ?fileend-?filestart) ;Write extraction program to file. 
WriteData(*mem, len) ;Write pack archive 
WriteLong(len) ;Write 4 byte pack archive file length to the end of the file. 
CloseFile(0) 
EndIf 
DeleteFile("tmp.pak");Delete pack archive from harddrive 
End 

;Include the extraction program 
filestart: 
IncludeBinary"Extract.exe" 
fileend: 

Code:

;Filename "extract.pb" 

;SFX_Test 
;By: Boop64 
;http://boop64.2y.net 

;Opens the exe to read the pack archive file that is attatched. 
If ReadFile(0, "UnPack_Test.exe") 

;Get the file length of the packed archive. 
FileSeek(Lof()-4) ;Set the file read position 4 bytes from the end. This is where the size of the packed archive file is stored 
filelen.l = ReadLong();Read the file length of the pack file. 

;Copy the file to memory temporarily. 
AllocateMemory(0, filelen,0) ;Allocate memory for the pack archive's size. 
*mem = MemoryID() ;Set a pointer to the memory address. 
FileSeek(Lof()-4-filelen);Set the file read position before our pack archive 
ReadData(*mem, filelen) ;Copy the data to memory. 

;Write the pack archive to disk 
CreateFile(1, "tmp.pak") 
WriteData(*mem, filelen) ;Write the data from memory to a file. 
CloseFile(1) 
CloseFile(0) 
EndIf 

;Open the pack archive 
If OpenPack("tmp.pak") 
*file = NextPackFile();Extract the packed file to memory. 
size.l = PackFileSize();Size of unpacked file 
;Write unpacked file. 
CreateFile(0, "exe1.exe") 
WriteData(*file , size) 
CloseFile(0) 
*file = NextPackFile();Extract the packed file to memory. 
size.l = PackFileSize();Size of unpacked file 
;Write unpacked file. 
CreateFile(1, "exe2.exe") 
WriteData(*file , size) 
CloseFile(1) 
ClosePack() 


;Delete our temporary pack archive and run exe's
DeleteFile("tmp.pak") 
RunProgram("exe1.exe")
RunProgram("exe2.exe")

EndIf 
End 

You cant make this in 1 code, if you want to make an SFX that works without the purebasic compiler. You need to have a stub, that will extract the file from itself.
but stydy the code and try it

btw my name is in 1 word

Paul · **Posted:** Tue Nov 09, 2004 11:15 pm

Keep at it and you will eventually get it !!

It can be done... http://www.reelmedia.org/pureinstall

Thomas · **Joined:** Sat Apr 26, 2003 8:45 pm **Posts:** 113

PureInstall packs better than Install Creator which I'm using up till now. Only problem is, PureInstall does not create an icon on the desktop.
♫

abc123 · **Joined:** Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:27 pm **Posts:** 195

Can someone please convert this for PB4, thanks!

Thorsten1867 · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 12:42 pm

Thomas wrote:

PureInstall packs better than Install Creator which I'm using up till now. Only problem is, PureInstall does not create an icon on the desktop.
♫

You can use 'EasySetup', if you like. It's also written with PB and creates small (Overhead <90KB) setup programs.

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