Replace string in text file at compile time

qwertymodo · 8th April 2009, 05:15

I need to replace a string inside of a text file at compile time, in the same way that the ReplaceInFile header does. I know that I COULD write a separate script that does it via the command-line, then call

code:


!system '"${NSISDIR}\makensis.exe" "textreplacescript.nsi"' = 0

!system '"textreplace.exe" "commandlineargs"' = 0

!delfile "textreplace.exe"

Is there an easier way?

jpderuiter · 8th April 2009, 13:54

http://nsis.sourceforge.net/TextReplace_plugin

Sorry, I was too quick...
This will not work at compile time.

qwertymodo · 9th April 2009, 01:35

Hmm... well in the mean time I'll try the other way...

qwertymodo · 12th April 2009, 09:56

So, the whole point of this question was that I have portable-ized a few programs for the U3 platform, and anyone who has ever perused PortableApps.com knows how useful NSIS is for creating portable application launchers. Unfortunately, I did have to go the route I had indicated, but it ended up not being so bad. I actually added a few more functions in this manner as well. My one gripe was having to use separate helper scripts, which just made the source folder all ugly.

Then I discovered the wonders of !system 'echo ... >> mytempfile'

Well, one thing led to another, and it was just too cool using runtime commands at compile time, and then I was like "hey I'll bet I could take all of these helper scripts I'm writing and merge them all into one!"

Yes, I did actually managed to write a very useful script whose output file does NOTHING.

...I get the feeling that no one else has done this before...

...perhaps with good reason...

...I scare myself sometimes...

{_trueparuex^} · 12th April 2009, 11:04

Try this.

code:
!define /file BUNCHASTUFF somefile.txt



!searchreplace NEWSTUFF "${BUNCHASTUFF}" "foo" "bar"

...



!delfile somefile.txt

!appendfile somefile.txt "${NEWSTUFF}"

Also you could use the NSIS !echo command instead of using !system command to call echo in your script.

PaR

{_trueparuex^} · 12th April 2009, 17:51

I just realized that code probably won't work with script files or with any other files that breaks the parameter quoting.

PaR

qwertymodo · 14th April 2009, 05:12

Hmm... I'll have to try that. Can !echo be used with >> the same as the system echo can? I mean, what is the actual difference? And as for breaking parameter quoting, I can usually get around that with $\"

kichik · 10th May 2009, 12:19

There's no !echo, only !appendfile and it works on all platforms and doesn't depend on the existence of echo or platform dependent command line parsing.

qwertymodo · 10th May 2009, 20:28

Well, there is an !echo command, I guess it just outputs only to the compiler, but thanks for pointing me at !appendfile, it's exactly what I needed.

...also, I'm not sure what you mean by platform-independent, as I'm pretty sure NSIS is Windows only anyways...

Afrow UK · 10th May 2009, 23:38

NSIS can build on other platforms other than Windows (but only build installers that run on Windows).

Stu

qwertymodo · 11th May 2009, 03:57

Oh, right, I knew that... just for some reason I wasn't thinking about the fact that it's a compile-time command, which would depend on the compiling system :P Anyway, problem solved, so thanks for the input

8th April 2009, 05:15	#1
qwertymodo Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 26	Replace string in text file at compile time I need to replace a string inside of a text file at compile time, in the same way that the ReplaceInFile header does. I know that I COULD write a separate script that does it via the command-line, then call code: !system '"${NSISDIR}\makensis.exe" "textreplacescript.nsi"' = 0 !system '"textreplace.exe" "commandlineargs"' = 0 !delfile "textreplace.exe" Is there an easier way?

12th April 2009, 11:04	#5
{_trueparuex^} Senior Member ${_trueparuex^}'s Avatar$ Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Glow Posts: 285	Try this. code: !define /file BUNCHASTUFF somefile.txt !searchreplace NEWSTUFF "${BUNCHASTUFF}" "foo" "bar" ... !delfile somefile.txt !appendfile somefile.txt "${NEWSTUFF}" Also you could use the NSIS !echo command instead of using !system command to call echo in your script. PaR
${_trueparuex^} is offline$

12th April 2009, 17:51	#6
{_trueparuex^} Senior Member ${_trueparuex^}'s Avatar$ Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Glow Posts: 285	I just realized that code probably won't work with script files or with any other files that breaks the parameter quoting. PaR
${_trueparuex^} is offline$

10th May 2009, 12:19	#8
kichik M.I.A. [NSIS Dev, Mod] Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Israel Posts: 11,343	There's no !echo, only !appendfile and it works on all platforms and doesn't depend on the existence of echo or platform dependent command line parsing. NSIS FAQ \| NSIS Home Page \| Donate $ "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." -- Confucius

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8th April 2009, 13:54	#2
jpderuiter Major Dude Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 672	http://nsis.sourceforge.net/TextReplace_plugin Sorry, I was too quick... This will not work at compile time.

9th April 2009, 01:35	#3
qwertymodo Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 26	Hmm... well in the mean time I'll try the other way...

14th April 2009, 05:12	#7
qwertymodo Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 26	Hmm... I'll have to try that. Can !echo be used with >> the same as the system echo can? I mean, what is the actual difference? And as for breaking parameter quoting, I can usually get around that with $\"

10th May 2009, 20:28	#9
qwertymodo Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 26	Well, there is an !echo command, I guess it just outputs only to the compiler, but thanks for pointing me at !appendfile, it's exactly what I needed. ...also, I'm not sure what you mean by platform-independent, as I'm pretty sure NSIS is Windows only anyways...

10th May 2009, 23:38	#10
Afrow UK Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 8,434	NSIS can build on other platforms other than Windows (but only build installers that run on Windows). Stu

11th May 2009, 03:57	#11
qwertymodo Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 26	Oh, right, I knew that... just for some reason I wasn't thinking about the fact that it's a compile-time command, which would depend on the compiling system :P Anyway, problem solved, so thanks for the input