Forums Feature Suggestions Script Installer

I posted this originally as a reply to another post but figured it would get a bit more exposure here:

A mIRC installer that automatically finds the mIRC directory (or maybe lists all directories mIRC is installed in if theres more than one installation? That you can checkmark which to install to and have multiple?), puts whatever files there, and then performs certain mIRC commands to install it (IE automatic script loading)

..kinda like Winamp's installer.

im not sure what you mean by this but if its an installer (namely creates a setup.exe) i really only have 2 things to say.

1. This can be done just use installshield developer
and
2. Most people dont trust scripts that come packaged in an exe. Its simply enough for them to just copy the blah.mrc file and /load it.

i support the idea however for large scripts but sadly you cant include mirc with it.

if this isnt what you meant then forgive my arrogance

The fact that you can not legally package mIRC with any scripts is exactly what I mean. This way, you can install a script into mIRC, have the installer load the scripts, etc.

Also, they could make it so that you always know the files contained in the installer are reasonably safe by allowing only inis and mrcs and other script files. Well, actually, probly be easier to just disallow exes. Of course there could be malicious scripts but you take that risk with any script you download..

This is a good idea actually. mIRC *should* list all the directories on your harddrive that contain the "mirc.ini" file, since this filename is hardcoded into mIRC, and always present, unless edited out.

mIRC doesn't seem to store the install directory path anywhere on the harddrive on in the registry. I have mIRC installed at c:\Internet\mirc\ for 4 years, and not a single update has found this path by default. It keeps defaulting to C:\Program Files\mIRC\ which doesn't exist.

Listing all the directories that contain mirc.ini would be useful, and possibly even give the option to have the installer update ALL locations at once... in the event you have multiple installations, or the Asylum or like-trojan installed.

- Raccoon

installshield??? Why is it people seem to think "expensive = better" http://www.jrsoftware.org/is4.php feature rich, stable, and FREE.

Hmm, that's interesting, mine always defaults to c:\mirc\mirc, which is where my plain-jane mIRC is installed. It's gotta be stored somewhere, just don't have the patience to look for it right now.

I have to agree, the free installers work great, though I prefer NSIS myself, may have to check out Inno Setup.

NSIS is good, I've never used it personally, but from what I hear, NSIS is a bit difficult to use, Inno Setup trys to make most things pretty simple.

NSIS is a pain in the butt to use.

i never said it was better however i do like it. i wasnt worried about comaprative shopping.

I like installshield its quite easy to use and powerfull enough to do the job. You can search the drive looking for mirc.ini but i agree mirc should place its install path in the registery.

Well my point was, I have no problem with people saying "this can already be done using method X" however when you tell people "you can already do this, if you go out and spend $200+ on a program to do it" thats kinda going overboard imho. So I was providing a free alternative, not so much for you, if you want to use installshield, that's your choice, I meant for the people who want an installer just for scripts. Maybe it's just me but I wouldn't go out and spend hundreds of dollars just so I could package an mIRC script...

ya i agree 100% if all you want to do is write an installler for a couple of plain text files installshield probably isnt the best choice. Theres tons of freeware/shareware insatllers out that might be more suitable for that purpose.

back to the main subject however i also like the idea of a setup for scripts but most people usually complain and some sites wont post them at all. I dont think the problem youll find is in writing it but getting people to follow suit.

Just a follow-up on one of my previous posts, though it's going off the main topic again.

The mIRC installer looks up the value for the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Mircosoft\Windows|CurrentVersion\Unistall\mIRC\UninstallString key. If this key is preset, it will grab the path info from there, then check to see if that path exists. If it does, it uses this as the defaul install directory, otherwise it defaults to C:\Program Files\mirc

Actually, it's not that bad, though it does have a learning curve. It's not all point and click, it's dependable on scripting, which is why I like it. There isn't much I can't do with...

Well InnoSetup has scripting support too. IS uses Pascal scripting which makes it pretty decently powerful.