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program launcher

BlitzMax Forums/BlitzMax Beginners Area/program launcher

jrthom(Posted 2007) [#1]
Ok all,

I am in a bit of a bind. I have designed a program and I need an installer for it. I have a program to actually install the program to the computer. What I am after is a selector program to allow the user to install the required programs in any order desired.

The code that I have come across is this:


' MyProgram.exe

' the following prints the contents of this source file

file=OpenFile("D:\MyProgram.exe")

If Not file RuntimeError "could not open file MyProgram.exe"

While Not Eof(file)
Print ReadLine(file)
Wend
CloseStream file

When I use this program, all it does is prints the contents of this file encrypted. This is not what I am after. I need to have it where it actually launches to program to install.

Let me give you an illustration. Using the LogicGUI Program, I created a UI. This is the code:

'Source Code created on 22 Sep 2007 21:46:06 with Logic Gui Version 2.2 Build 262
'John Doe
'Start of external Header File
SuperStrict

'End Of external Header File


Local Logic_Gui:TGadget = CreateWindow:TGadget("Logic_Gui",240,51,665,513,Null,WINDOW_TITLEBAR|WINDOW_RESIZABLE |WINDOW_MENU |WINDOW_STATUS |WINDOW_CLIENTCOORDS )
Local Button1:TGadget = CreateButton:TGadget("Button1",71,85,75,23,Logic_Gui:TGadget,BUTTON_PUSH)

Repeat
WaitEvent()
Select EventID()
Case EVENT_WINDOWCLOSE
Select EventSource()
Case Logic_Gui Logic_Gui_WC( Logic_Gui:TGadget )
End Select

Case EVENT_GADGETACTION
Select EventSource()
Case Button1 Button1_GA( Button1:TGadget )
End Select

End Select
Forever

Function Logic_Gui_WC( Window:TGadget )
DebugLog "Window Logic_Gui wants to be closed"
' HideGadget( Window:TGadget )

End
End Function

Function Button1_GA( Button:TGadget )
DebugLog "Button Button1 was pressed"

End Function

'Start of external Append File
'Your additional code should be here!

'End Of external Append File


When you launch this code, it brings up only 1 button labeled BUTTON1. When you press this button, it gives you the text message

DebugLog "Button Button1 was pressed"

What I need is when you press the button (will be labeled INSTALL PROGRAM, it needs to actually launch the .exe installer file.

Can anyone assist me? Thanks in advance.

James


Jake L.(Posted 2007) [#2]
You want to execute another app, right? Then have a look at the module pub.freeprocess. With that you can run other apps, read their output/returnvalues etc...

Search the forum for usage examples, should be selfexplaining.


jrthom(Posted 2007) [#3]
Jake,

Thanks for your reply. I do have a followup question.

I tested this and it works:

Import PUB.FreeProcess

Local proc:TProcess


proc=TProcess.Create("Notepad",0)

If proc.Status()

Notify "Notepad is still running"

EndIf

This program runs and runs well. There is a problem. When it brings up the notification saying that NOTEPAD IS STILL RUNNING, it gives me an OK button to press. When I press the OK button, it closes the notepad. I tested this with the installer I want to use, in this case D:\setup.exe. the same thing happens. Setup.exe launches and goes through the process of installing. There is the notification window as well that will cancel the installer. Is there a way to eliminate this issue?


Jake L.(Posted 2007) [#4]
When you press the OK button your program continue it's execution (Notify popups a modal window, stopping further program execution until closed).

If you want to wait for a process to close, try:

While proc.Status()
Wend


Jake

PS: You should use codeboxes when posting code on the forums. Use {code}...{/code} for few lines and {codebox}...{/codebox} for larger blocks (Use [] instead of {} )


jrthom(Posted 2007) [#5]
Jake,



Works like a charm. Thanks.

Combining it with the UI,



Also works. Clicking on the button launches the file and the file remains. This was what I was in need of. Now, all I have to do is to code 3 other items in this launcher and give it an icon.

Thanks again.


SebHoll(Posted 2007) [#6]
To create setup's on Windows, you may have to have a look at InnoSetup.


jrthom(Posted 2007) [#7]
SebHoll,

I have an installer program. I use Setup Factory 7 and it works well. I can easily create an autorun.ini file and program it to launch the installer of the program I wish to install. What I need is a program that does something similar to AutoPlay Media Studio in that when the CD is placed in the drive, it gives an installer program for the user to choose which program to install. Here is the best example I can give you:

The autorun file launches an installer that has the following:

BUTTON1: This installs DirectX 9
BUTTON2: This installs MyProgram
BUTTON3: This installs Adobe Acrobat Reader
BUTTON4: This installs Dot Net Framework

So far, the code is only able to do one of these. I would like to know if it can do all 4 of these, or do I need to spend alot of money to buy AutoPlay Media Studio (or other similar program to do this)

James

P.S. Thanks for all the replies. They have been helpful