How to run a program and wait till it finishes before an uninstall continues?

Archive: How to run a program and wait till it finishes before an uninstall continues?

vbgunz
20th June 2003 20:57 UTC

How to run a program and wait till it finishes before an uninstall continues?
I need to run a program before an uninstall completes. My application installs services onto the users system and an uninstall will not work as it can not delete any of the services in use.

I have a batch file which shuts down all the services... I need to call it and have it finish *before* the uninstall continues...

This should be possible I hope... Can someone please help me with this?

Thank you for any information on this :)

Joost Verburg
20th June 2003 21:18 UTC

Use ExecWait.

vbgunz
20th June 2003 22:32 UTC

I placed the Execwait command as the first command in the section "section uninstall". It seems to work like a charm. Wise?

Thank you Joost for this information :)

Brummelchen
22nd June 2003 23:57 UTC

i would put execwait in the "Function un.onInit" - this is executed before all other uninstall stuff.

vbgunz
23rd June 2003 01:47 UTC

Thank you Brummelchen,

I previously had it at the top of the uninstall function call but it seems your method is just as good and will be my preferred method from now on. Thank you

Now I just have to get these executables to launch in minimized mode or appear not at all...

Thanks again :)

vbgunz
23rd June 2003 02:08 UTC

I looked further into the nsExec function and I think it works without displaying the dos box... I really hope so and this NSIS is getting cooler by the moment. Thank you to everyone for your help :)

Sunjammer
23rd June 2003 08:51 UTC

Yes that is the whole point of nsExec, plus it allows you to capture output into the stack or to the details window!

Joost Verburg
23rd June 2003 10:11 UTC

Putting it in the section is better than using un.onInit, because:

1) It won't be executed if the user quits the uninstaller before uninstalling
2) There is a dialog when the user has to wait

Brummelchen
23rd June 2003 10:39 UTC

@Joost

In that (1) point you're right - but look yourself what i did

Function un.onInit
  MessageBox MB_ICONQUESTION|MB_YESNO|MB_DEFBUTTON2 "<bla> would you like to uninstall '${MUI_PRODUCT}' and all its components?" IDYES +2
  Abort
FunctionEnd

My first question in the uninstaller

(2) he is using something like execwait - there is no option to display a messagebox while waiting?
I have problems to understand inserting sections while using the MUI or InsertOptions to get messages.

Joost Verburg
23rd June 2003 12:32 UTC

Ok, but most people use a confirm page.

If you put it in a section, you will see the normal installation window (with details, information etc.).

vbgunz
23rd June 2003 19:45 UTC

So far I have ExecWait in the "un.onInit" function area below "Abort" and it seems to do its job pretty good. I've tested it with continuing ahead and in quitting the uninstall early by saying no.

It seems to so far work without problems. Joost are you referring to the nsExec command in the "un.onInit function area"? That is the command I would like to use but I have no real idea on how to get it to run for an uninstallation.

The nsExec will not run in either of the uninstall functions or section areas.

So far ExecWait seems to do its job *but* it is unable to do it with parameters to minimize or hide dos boxes like nsExec does. Is their a solution or a way to call nsExec for an uninstallation?

Thank you

Joost Verburg
24th June 2003 00:01 UTC

What is the problem? nsExec should work.

vbgunz
24th June 2003 00:21 UTC

This works using ExecWait in 2.0b3

Function un.onInit
  MessageBox...
  Abort
  ExecWait "$INSTDIR\Core_Shut_Down.bat"
FunctionEnd

And this Works in 2.0b3

Section Uninstall
  ExecWait "$INSTDIR\Core_Shut_Down.bat"
  ...

But neither of these work in regards to nsExec in 2.0b3

Function un.onInit
  MessageBox...
  Abort
  nsExec::Exec "$INSTDIR\Core_Shut_Down.bat"
FunctionEnd

And neither does this work in 2.0b3

Section Uninstall
  nsExec::Exec "$INSTDIR\Core_Shut_Down.bat"
  ...

Currently nsExec works in a section only during install but how do I tell uninstall to execute a section before going through with the uninstall? I am considering anything that works in either minimizing or hiding the dos boxes all together... Preferably nsExec.

Thank you Joost

vbgunz
24th June 2003 01:28 UTC

Ok I just successfully tweaked my script so to be fully compliant with the latest dev build of 2.0b4. I will get to work on this. Thank you Everyone!