forum.vdsworld.com

[Serge]

hi all,

this has nothing to do with vds but is more a developer question

is there any way i can have an exe file inside a zip file that can be run from within the zip file to install a program (whose files are inside the zip file)?

does that make sense?

the problem i have is that i do not usually "compile" my program files into a INSTALL.EXE file and some folks who download my ZIP file are at a loss to know how to create a folder, name it and transfer the zipped files into the folder

i am trying to avoid having 2 zip files: the normal one with all my program files and another one that has it all as a INSTALL.EXE

what i thought would be great was if i could add a exe file, like INSTALL.EXE, that had a small footprint and that would enable users to just double click on it to transfer the zip files to a folder on their computer + create shortcuts in START

any ideas how this could be done?

thanks in advance

serge

[kOt]

WinZip and WinRAR allows you to make SelfExtracting exe's basically a zip the works like an installer

It lets you setup all the stuff before you turn the zip into the exe

works good.. if this is what you are wanting

[Serge]

thanks kot but that is not what i am after - i want a small exe that will copy the files inside a zip file to a folder of my choice

i don't want my files compressed into a self-extracting exe as it would add too much to the overall file size as i would need to include it along with my other files

serge

[Skit3000]

Winzip and WinRAR will always automaticly unzip/rar all files in the archive to a temporary directory when people open a file called "setup.exe". This way, you might be able to let that program start a small wizard from which the user can use the directory where they want the program to be...

[jules]

CR has a new Zip extension that can create small self extracting Zips that can do this, but they haven't released it.

Basically, you have got to use a self extracting Zip because you can't run an EXE when it's inside a Zip (and thank God for that, we have enough problems with viruses in Zip files already.) You have got to extract the EXe to someplace.

Here's a nice little setup builder: http://www.pablovandermeer.nl/install_builder.html

[Serge]

thanks for all your replies - not the answers i was looking for but i will consider the viability of your suggestions

serge

[Dr. Dread]

How 'bout Tommy´s Easy Packets - should be on vdsworld somewhere. As far as I remember
it has a fairly small extractor stub that will let ya extract your files and run for instance a small
install routine in your proggie.

Greetz
Dread

[Serge]

jules,

that little setup program is a little beauty and easy to use and straight forward - i have been using another one that i thought was good but i found that it took too long to set up, hence my looking for an alternative

but that one you suggested is very easy to configure and i can create set up files in no time at all

dr dread,

am downloading it now and will check it out - thanks for your suggestion

serge

[Garrett]

You can't run an exe from within a zip... In fact, you can't do anything
with any file from within it's zip file. It has to be extracted in order to
use or even view the file. This is why everyone is suggesting a self
extract setup, because it's the only way to do this. You should check
out that thread on the forum here about the open source installer that
a bunch were working on. You'll need a sfx header to bind to your zip
file.

-Garrett

[Serge]

are you sure that you can't run an exe file from within a zip file? i often do so when there is just the one exe file inside a zip file that does not need any dll,... located inside the file

serge

[Mac]

Serge,

I use PowerArchiver (a zip utility) that can also run
files in a zip (even a setup.exe file) - however, this
util (as well as any other) must first extract the file
(usually to Windows\Temp) and then run it.

So the bottom line is still the same - it must be
extracted first.

Cheers, Mac

[PGWARE]

Thats 100% correct, for instance even the Windows zip file viewer/extractor allows you to 'run' an exe or any file from within the zip but in actuality it is actually extracting the files to a temporary directory first and allowing to then use it.

To test, simply create a text file (notepad) then zip it up. Open the zip in Windows and double click to view it. Go to file>save and more then likely it will be within the temp directory where the actual file is at.

A zip file is an archive, there is no way to execute any type of file without first decompressing the archive to normal binary uncompressed format.

[arcray]

[Serge]

thanks for all your help - i will have to resort to INSTALL.EXE or SETUP.EXE

jules,

your suggestion for making an install program does not seem to support creating folders + copying files into those folders as part of the installation process...i looked into the help file and found nothing to help

am i right or am i missing something?

serge

[arcray]

Serge

Have a look at Inno Setup (http://www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php) which should be able to do what you want...