Thread: Making an installer package using a console app

  1. #16
    Yes, my avatar is stolen anonytmouse's Avatar
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    >> Couldnt you read in the executable byte by byte into an unsigned char array? <<

    Someone's already written this utility for you. This program will convert a binary file to a C data array declaration.

  2. #17
    i dont know Vicious's Avatar
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    sweet
    What is C++?

  3. #18
    Registered User Kybo_Ren's Avatar
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    The self-extractors I've seen simply append the data to the end of the file.

    You know how you have sections like .rsrc, .text, .code?
    Well if you look at a WinZip SFX, you'll se another section called "_winzip_"

    If you disassemble that SFX, you'll find that the _winzip_ section is simply a database that holds the zip file.


    This is quite similar to the xd application posted above, but it puts the data in a different section.

  4. #19
    Carnivore ('-'v) Hunter2's Avatar
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    Hm, perhaps you could even pre-pend the data, if you write a program that will modify the executable file header to specify the application entry point at a later offset, and then stick the archived files in front of the executable code. Not sure exactly how the executable file is structured, but I took a quick look at www.wotsit.org under MS's exe docs, and it does seem that there's a 'entry point offset' part in the file header.
    Just Google It. √

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  5. #20
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    Just use InstallShield and setup your project inside of it. All of this has already been done for you. No sense in re-inventing the wheel.

  6. #21
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    Unless I'm mistaken, the cheapest version of installshield is around $400. For that price I will gladly re-invent the wheel.

  7. #22
    Software Developer jverkoey's Avatar
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    ARG!

    http://nsis.sourceforge.net/

    Go get NSIS! It's a FREE install file creator that you can customize incredibly. It's easy to use, and quite a few people use it (You'll occasionally see an installer with NSIS v2.01 or something like that at the bottom, made with NSIS!)

  8. #23
    Carnivore ('-'v) Hunter2's Avatar
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    >>Unless I'm mistaken, the cheapest version of installshield is around $400.
    MSVC 6 pro came with it a few years ago, I got the whole package for $160 canadian (academic pricing).
    Just Google It. √

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