renoto
20th January 2012 19:13 UTC
Combining multiple PDF files into a single NSIS compatible file
I know its a very basic question but so far I havent been able to see anything that really touches on the subject even after trying both this forum and the FAQ's on the website and a Google search. Hopefully someone can help me with this issue here.
The goal I'm looking at is to create a CD that prompts a window with an 'install' button (this part is actually already completed, used Flash to create the window with the 'install' button), so that the end user is able to click that and download to their desktop our entire PDF catalog. This is about 57 PDF files kept in a single folder (which has all the pdf files inside it divided into their own folders). I've found quite a few codes on the NSIS site about installing files, but my problem is getting all those files/folders into a format that is compatable with the NSIS code.
At first I tried condensing them into a 'download.cab' file, but when I tried to save it in the Script Editor I got an error, so I figured .cab files arent compatible. Short of this, I'm entirely unsure how to proceed. I'm not at all technologically sound, I'm actually just a graphic designer and this is the first time I'm working with code that isnt CSS or HTML. Forgive me too if I'm slow to understand, as many of the termanology I'm running across I've never seen or heard of before. (Google has become my best friend today haha) Normally I stick with what I know, but I have to do this for work so I'm exploring unchartered territory.
Thanks in advance for your time!
MSG
20th January 2012 19:19 UTC
To learn NSIS, start with examining NSIS\Examples\Example1.nsi and Example2.nsi. Find out what all commands do, using the command reference: http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Docs/Chapter4.html
Once you know what all the commands in those Examples do, and why, you will be well on your way to understanding NSIS. For your specific problem, you can use the CopyFiles command: http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Docs/Chapter4.html#4.9.3.2
renoto
20th January 2012 19:28 UTC
Yeah I'm still reading through the User Manual and trying to understand as much as possible, but I'm also on a deadline. I was actually supposed to have this entire thing done by today, but converting all the PDF files (and creating the entire index for the catalog) took me the whole week, so I havent even had time to sit down and really focus on this. Hopefully if my boss doesnt lob my head off for not having it done today, I can use the weekend to really sit and look at it, but right now I'm trying to get it done as quickly as possible.
I did see that Copy Files thing mentioned somewhere once before, and I looked at it earlier, but of course I didnt understand it.
[/SILENT] [/FILESONLY] filespec_on_destsys destination_path [size_of_files_in_kb]
CreateDirectory $INSTDIR\backup
CopyFiles $INSTDIR\*.dat $INSTDIR\backup
Thats what it is, my only question is where it says 'filespec_on...' is that where I put the name of the folder? Or does the folder name replace 'backup'? Also I'm guessing I have to put the cumulative kb of the files down in that last [], what happens if I miscalculate and give the wrong size?
Again I'm so sorry if I'm misunderstanding it entirely, I'm going to read through again (the top part of the page) but I presently have to run another errand for my boss, so I'll check back in a bit. Thanks!
MSG
21st January 2012 04:57 UTC
filespec_on_destsys means the file specification (path) on the destination system (your user's pc). It's made so explicit because the File command (which compresses the pdf into the installer.exe) is a compiletime command and therefore requires a path on the development system (your pc).
If you 'miscalculate' the filesize, nothing happens. The size parameter is simply added to the total size required by the installer, so that the 'Space needed' field isn't zero.