Using NSIS to "script" settings of other installed programs?

ToZo · 24th August 2006, 13:05

Hello,

I could not find a 100% negative answer to what I am looking for in the documentation and FAQs, so allow me to ask:
We have to tell quite a lot of users to modify their settings for Microsoft Office, i.e. "Open your Add/Remove Programs Panel, Select MS Office, click on 'Advanced' .....select this options .... click NEXT ...", which is quite risky as not all users are power users.

I looked at other scripting options (e.g. Autohotkey) but they offer no specific hooks into the installation area.

Although I believe that NSIS is not usable to modify other installations _not_ generated by it, still the question to the experts:

Is it possible to control the settings of other applications (like in this case MS Office)?

If "yes/maybe", what is needed as info about the other applications (e.g. Registry addresses), and if this is known, is the info reliable or differing depending on the machine?
Also if "yes/maybe": anyone knowing an example for this (could not find one in the available ones)?

Thanks a lot,
Toni

Comperio · 25th August 2006, 04:16

Your question is rather vague. NSIS can do just about anything you want it to do, it's just knowing WHAT to do.

Perhaps if you were clearer on exactly what you are trying to do and/or modify someone might be able to better answer your question.

galil · 25th August 2006, 05:45

Quote:

Originally posted by ToZo
If "yes/maybe", what is needed as info about the other applications (e.g. Registry addresses), and if this is known, is the info reliable or differing depending on the machine?

Applications store their settings either in system registry or config files (where exactly, it's up to you to find out. Using the brain and some tools (Regmon/Filemon) or just relying on Google).
NSIS provides registry and file read/write operations. So "yes".

bholliger · 25th August 2006, 07:10

Hello ToZo!

If you want to add a feature to an Office installation, use msiexec.exe. The command-line interface of the Windows Installer.

I dont have the possibility to try out this command line. Its just here for reference to give you a hint.

msiexec /i officefilename.msiORproductcode ADDLOCAL=myFeature /qn

This will add the feature myFeature to the office installation in silent mode. Remove /qn to show the dialogs.

To find out what the name of the feature is, I suggest you to analyze the log file (temp directory) after the manual installation or dig into MSDN/deploy guides for Office.

After figure out this command line, just write a batch file or a nice nsis script (to check return values, whatever).

Please let me know if it works.

Have a nice day!

Bruno

MSIEXEC command line options

http://technet2.microsoft.com/Window....mspx?mfr=true

24th August 2006, 13:05	#1
ToZo Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1	Using NSIS to "script" settings of other installed programs? Hello, I could not find a 100% negative answer to what I am looking for in the documentation and FAQs, so allow me to ask: We have to tell quite a lot of users to modify their settings for Microsoft Office, i.e. "Open your Add/Remove Programs Panel, Select MS Office, click on 'Advanced' .....select this options .... click NEXT ...", which is quite risky as not all users are power users. I looked at other scripting options (e.g. Autohotkey) but they offer no specific hooks into the installation area. Although I believe that NSIS is not usable to modify other installations _not_ generated by it, still the question to the experts: Is it possible to control the settings of other applications (like in this case MS Office)? If "yes/maybe", what is needed as info about the other applications (e.g. Registry addresses), and if this is known, is the info reliable or differing depending on the machine? Also if "yes/maybe": anyone knowing an example for this (could not find one in the available ones)? Thanks a lot, Toni

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25th August 2006, 04:16	#2
Comperio Major Dude Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Coast Posts: 737	Your question is rather vague. NSIS can do just about anything you want it to do, it's just knowing WHAT to do. Perhaps if you were clearer on exactly what you are trying to do and/or modify someone might be able to better answer your question.

25th August 2006, 07:10	#4
bholliger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 223	Hello ToZo! If you want to add a feature to an Office installation, use msiexec.exe. The command-line interface of the Windows Installer. I dont have the possibility to try out this command line. Its just here for reference to give you a hint. msiexec /i officefilename.msiORproductcode ADDLOCAL=myFeature /qn This will add the feature myFeature to the office installation in silent mode. Remove /qn to show the dialogs. To find out what the name of the feature is, I suggest you to analyze the log file (temp directory) after the manual installation or dig into MSDN/deploy guides for Office. After figure out this command line, just write a batch file or a nice nsis script (to check return values, whatever). Please let me know if it works. Have a nice day! Bruno MSIEXEC command line options http://technet2.microsoft.com/Window....mspx?mfr=true