Variable does not expand correctly in File

[tieum]

Hello,

I try the following code

Var MyVar
StrCpy MyVar "C:\Path\myfile.txt"

SetOutPath "$INSTDIR"
File "$MyVar"

When I try to compile my installer I get the error message:

File "$MyVar" -> no files found.

Why is this?

If I try
File "C:\Path\myfile.txt"
it works.

Thanks,

Tieum

[Comperio]

Variables are used at runtime. File is a compile-time command, so you can't use variables to define the file name.

You muse either use a 'real' name (File "C:\Path\myfile.txt") or you can use a symbol, like:
!define myFile "C:\path\mayfile.txt"
File ${myFile}

But, you can use variables to specify the output, such as:
File "/oname=$myFile" "C:\myfile.txt"

[tieum]

The problem is !define is not "variable." I have documentation in several languages and need to be able to change the path where the documentation is taken from depending on the language on the fly. How can I achieve that?

Update just did it with !define and !undef. Thanks for the help.

[Comperio]

I was just going to mention that if you wanted to control what gets installed, then here's a way that should work:

code:
!include LogicLib.nsh

#...

Section 

${Switch} $LANGUAGE

  ${Case} ${LANG_ENGLISH}

    File "C:\English.txt"

    ${Break}

  ${Case} ${LANG_FRENCH}

    File "C:\French.txt"

    ${Break}

${EndSwitch}

SectionEnd

But, if you instead wanted to build an separate installation for each language, then you could probably use !ifdef blocks for each language. Example:

code:
!ifdef UseEnglish

    ; code for adding English files

!endif

edit You might also have a look at languages.nsi included in your nsis examples folder for more ideas.

[umeca74]

it would be helpful if the FILE instruction error explained that variables cannot be used... I've been banging my head for a couple of hours on this weird fault

[Anders]

Variables only work on the end-users machine, not your machine. "$Whatever" is a valid filename, there is no way for the compiler to guess if you wanted a variable or if that is just the name.