Option to install as portable

[Trond]

It would be nice with an option to install PureBasic as portable. This would not require any new functionality in PB itself, all this option would to is to create the shortcuts with the switches to store the prefs file in the program directory and not register file associations.

[flaith]

Code: Select all

PureBasic.exe /PORTABLE

[Foz]

Yes, that's fine, but what Trond is asking for is the installer to extract directly to the specified directory, not register extensions, and then automatically create a shortcut that has the /PORTABLE switch already active.

The issue is simple: you go to a public computer that will not all installations of programs - entirely understandable. However if there was a Zip file that could be downloaded from the PureBasic website, that could then be extracted to the "local" drive (usb/temp/whatever), and then if that has a shortcut with the /PORTABLE switch, you can get stuck in immediately.

However, I believe Trond's request, coupled with the timing of the release of 4.60b1, I think he wants an easy method of installing and trying without cocking up his perfectly good working version of 4.51. After all if you install everything to the defaults by accident, you will overwrite your 4.51 version and to return is then the uninstall, reinstall, add in all the addin's you've accumulated - a lot of wasted time and effort.

[Tenaja]

+1

[Trond]

However, I believe Trond's request, coupled with the timing of the release of 4.60b1, I think he wants an easy method of installing and trying without cocking up his perfectly good working version of 4.51. After all if you install everything to the defaults by accident, you will overwrite your 4.51 version and to return is then the uninstall, reinstall, add in all the addin's you've accumulated - a lot of wasted time and effort.

That's right, I don't want 4.60 to use the preferences file used by 4.51, as that may create problems.

[skywalk]

I know this has been asked before, but what is the safest way to install a new PB version without corrupting a prior release?

[Little John]

It would be nice with an option to install PureBasic as portable. This would not require any new functionality in PB itself, all this option would to is to create the shortcuts with the switches to store the prefs file in the program directory and not register file associations.

+ 1

what is the safest way to install a new PB version without corrupting a prior release?

The safest way probably is to install a new PB version on a separate computer. I'm not teasing you, in the past sometimes I actually installed new PB beta versions on a virtual machine for testing.

Currently, I have my stable PB version on a portable USB drive. On that drive, there is also Total Commander, which has internal "portable file associations" (great!!). I installed the new beta version on my system in C:\Programs\PureBasic460. When I double-click on a PB file in Total Commander, the file is opened with the stable PB release -- when I double-click on a PB file on the Desktop or Windows Explorer, the file is opened with the new beta release.

Regards, Little John

[Vera]

+1

I'd really appreciate a noninstaller-ZIP-version as well.

That would also make double/tribble-installations superfluous, which are needed right now to get hold of all the help-files.

4.60b1/2
Beware, the portable switch isn't working properly at the moment, the signalized fix isn't included yet.

greetings ~ Vera

[MachineCode]

I know this has been asked before, but what is the safest way to install a new PB version without corrupting a prior release?

Just install it to its own folder and always run it with the "/portable" switch. As simple as that.