Does the world need my XML driven installer? =)

[PryGuy]

Hello all!

I've been messing with the AutoIt 3.1.1.72 Beta and discovered that it supports the good old XML!!! It allowed me to make a postinstall utility that uses data from the XML file. All the programs you wish to install appear as checkboxes (see the attached pic). In the XML file you may make the programs hidden in the list (but they will be installed anyway) or make the checkbox unchecked by default. Here's the sample XML file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>

<Settings>

<Property>

<Name>Microsoft .NET Framework</Name>

<Path>NetFramework</Path>

<Check>1</Check>

<Hide>0</Hide>

</Property>

<Property>

<Name>Microsoft Windows Media Player</Name>

<Path>WMP</Path>

<Check>1</Check>

<Hide>0</Hide>

</Property>

<Property>

<Name>Apple iTunes</Name>

<Path>iTunes</Path>

<Check>1</Check>

<Hide>0</Hide>

</Property>

<Property>

<Name>AutoIt</Name>

<Path>AutoIt</Path>

<Check>0</Check>

<Hide>0</Hide>

</Property>

<Property>

<Name>Alcohol 120%</Name>

<Path>Alcohol120</Path>

<Check>1</Check>

<Hide>0</Hide>

</Property>

<Property>

<Name>Mozilla Firefox</Name>

<Path>Firefox</Path>

<Check>1</Check>

<Hide>0</Hide>

</Property>

<Property>

<Name>Java Runtime</Name>

<Path>JRE</Path>

<Check>1</Check>

<Hide>0</Hide>

</Property>

<Property>

<Name>Adobe Acrobat Reader</Name>

<Path>Acrobat</Path>

<Check>1</Check>

<Hide>0</Hide>

</Property>

<Property>

<Name>DivX Codecs</Name>

<Path>Codecs</Path>

<Check>1</Check>

<Hide>0</Hide>

</Property>

<Property>

<Name>Additional Themes</Name>

<Path>Themes</Path>

<Check>1</Check>

<Hide>0</Hide>

</Property>

<Property>

<Name>Finalizing Installation...</Name>

<Path>Remove</Path>

<Check>1</Check>

<Hide>1</Hide>

</Property>

</Settings>

I think it's pretty easy to understand what it's about: the <Name> parameter defines the name of the program, the <Path> parameter sets the path to the SETUP.CMD (which runs hidden during the installation by the way) file that is in the X:\SOFTWARE\path\SETUP.CMD where X is the CD drive letter and "path" is the name of the folder inside of the SOFTWARE directory. Yet, if there are more than 10 programs in the list, the installer becomes two ot three or more column...

The question is, do you need this XML installer and if you do what do you think I should add there? And suggest a name for this utility please!

Edited September 4, 2005 by PryGuy

[Keamos]

Yes, yes, yes, and yes, the world does need your XML driven installer--this would be a great application to release (and open-source ). Personally I would -love- to mess with this and have fun with it

[blinkdt]

Wow, yet another post-install wizard, and this one looks nice n' easy. I'm a big AutoIt fan and would love to learn more about this before giving it a spin with my Windows 2000 installs. Can you post a working sample with integration instructions?

Edited September 4, 2005 by blinkdt

[j_h3000]

That would be great it's good to feel that you have multiple choices

so... we are waiting for your XML driven installer

[PryGuy]

Okay, sure if you need it!

But it will take sometime to polish the code and yet, do you want me to add some fatures to it? And how about the name?

[Scubar]

looks excellent. ive been looking for a good alternative to RunOnce and WPI thats not gonna take me hours to setup. also just wondering if it would be possible to customize the style of the box using the xml. eg putting a background image in, a Timer before install starts.

Edited September 5, 2005 by ScubaSteve

[MichielioZ]

Although the AutoIt-script might need some work, maybe you could post it anyway ??

I really like the idea of the project, as it would be quite easy to use, with no extra overhead of unnecessary functions (or at least one would be able to strip them from the script if needed...)

[PryGuy]

I have released the beta, here's the thread about it!