I am planning on making a new installer that runs after the desktop has started, It is going to be in-depth and will require a semi complicated config file.

Below is a sample of the structure of the intended config file, I have only just created this and its in its early stages - I still have to figure out how to parse this yet.

Please give me your opinions on the structure.

The key.

Programs consist of -

Program name

program location and switches

Does it requires a reboot after it. yes/no

Is it dependant on the item or parent above it, 0=no 1= yes

Registry items -

Add = add a reg key

Del = delete a reg key

File = import a reg file with \s

Does it requires a reboot after it. yes/no

Is it dependant on the item or parent above it, 0=no 1= yes

submenu items

should it have a submenu with a title or just appear indented from the program above 0 = indent, 1 = title

I intend adding a few more switches to the end of each line so that authors can add multiple defaults for things like "HomePC", "Laptop", "server" and so forth.

The more I type the more I think off, anyway please tell me what you think.

[OPTIONS]
MenuItem = "Applications"
  program = "ALL Seeing Eye" , "%systemroot\install\ase.exe Q:A /R:N",no,0
  submenu = 1,"Adobe"
    program = "Acrobat" , "%systemroot\install\Acrobat.exe -r -t" , no , 0
    program = "Photoshop" , "%systemroot\install\photoshop.exe -s -t" , no , 0
      submenu = 0
        Registry = file , "%systemroot\install\import.reg" , no , 1
        program = "PS Addon" , "%systemroot\install\psaddon.exe -s -t" , no , 0
        submenu = 1,"filters"
          program = "CoolShades" , "%systemroot\install\coolshades.exe -s -t" , no , 0
          program = "Mirrors" , "%systemroot\install\mirrors.exe -s -t" , no , 0
            registry = add , "Mirror Serial No" , "HKCU\whatever" , no , 1
            registry = del , "Mirror Warning" , "-HKCU\whatever" , no , 1
        \submenu
      \submenu
    Program = "ImageReady" , "%systemroot\install\photoshop.exe -s -t" , no , 0
  \submenu
  program = "MSN Messenger 6" , "%systemroot\install\MSN6.exe Q:A /R:N" , no , 0
    submenu 0
      program = "MSN Plus" , "%systemroot\install\MSN_PLUS.exe Q:A /R:N" , no , 0
    \submenu
\menuitem

menuitem = "XP Programs"
  program = "DirectX 9" , "%systemroot\install\DX9.exe Q:A /R:N" , yes , 0
  program = "Windows Media Player9" , "%systemroot\install\wmp9.exe Q:A /R:N" , no , 0
    submenu = 0
      program "WMP9 Hotfix" , "%systemroot\install\Q123546.exe Q:A /R:N" , no , 1
    \submenu
\menuitem

Very nice idea. I'll help you program it if you like.

Looks good. I hope it works out OK =D