Portable App Creator

Submitted by maroesjk on November 1, 2007 - 3:29pm.

I found that I'd want some frequently used apps on my PortableApps drive. So I coded a small program, which monitors an installation in order to make a PortableApp myself. That's Portable App Creator: It which monitors an installation in order to make a PortableApp. It should be used on a clean host-PC, with no traces of the application you'd wish to make portable. Just start monitoring and install the application to your PortableApps drive. Portable App Creator should work with any device which has a PortableApps-folder in the root.

The first version was written in one day using AutoIt3 and RegShot. A lot of work has been done since, to make it useful for all people having a PortableApps drive. The scripts have been tested with RegShot 1.8.x and all final AutoIt- and UPX-releases since November 2007. The author uses a 32-bit, English version of Windows XP Professional, which has been updated using the Release Candidate of SP3 and all packages available at Microsoft Update. The current version was compiled using RegShot 1.8.2, AutoIt 3.2.10.0 and UPX 3.02.

The package was developed to work on all 32-bit versions of Windows XP, whatever language the OS is. The package should be working one Windows 2000 as well. According to the FAQ of RegShot, Portable App Creator will only work on Windows Vista if UAC is disabled. In case you might want to change the source to make it work on your system: feel free to do so. All sources (AutoIt au3-files) are included in the “source” folder.

A PortableApp created with Portable App Creator will (temporarily) copy the necessary files in %systemroot%\system32, %userprofile%, %allusersprofile%, %commonprogramfiles% as well as the necessary information in the registry to the host-computer. All original settings of the host-computer will be backed-up prior to running the PortableApp and are being restored after the PortableApp closes. I've already made a PortableApp from Franckey SystemCleanup, TrendMicro HijackThis, Network Stumbler, ...

Want to give Portable App Creator or (in short) PAC a try?
You can now download Portable App Creator 0·96·4 beta at RapidShare or MediaFire (MD5: 864B0A1FACC2E1EBC4090AE715C02CFD, only 336 kB). See this post for the latest changelog. Please see the readme-file supplied with this package to find out what you need to do before you can use "Portable App Creator" and/or watch the video demo (4.180 MB) I created using an older version of PAC.

Please note
I won't be able to work a lot on PAC at the moment nor will take a look at this forum on a daily/weekly basis in April to June. I am currently busy reconstructing a complete floor of my house, because of the fact that my wife and I are expecting our 2nd child in June. So be patient if I don't answer your questions right away...

( categories:

Portable App Development

)

So...

nocr (Homepage) - November 1, 2007 - 5:05pm

I'm not a lawyer, but from what I've heard from others, modifying and redistributing closed-source executables constitutes a violation of their license. Please remove your link.

Thanks, and have a nice day.

Please Make TiLP Portable

No

ptmb - November 1, 2007 - 6:34pm

No, according what he says the app is made by him, and portabilizes the apps you want. So, is according on how you use it that you should worry, and I think that there is right to modify apps for PERSONAL use (some of them, at least).

~~So, the app he made only portabilizes other apps, now, the apps you choose to portabilize are your problem.~~

EDIT: It seems that he should remove the link. Read below.

Photoshop? No… I use GIMP. No, It's not pirate. No, I didn't pay for it. It is possible! Because it's free. Yes, free! Ok! Stay with your pirated Photoshop!!! Idiot…
If you usually forget to close tags make </strong></em> your sig.

Did you even download it?

OliverK (Homepage) - November 1, 2007 - 5:28pm

1. Remove the aut2exe file. Autoit is not open source. To do what you have done with this is illegal. Consider Autohotkey- I believe it can compile aut files (don't quote me), which is opensource and can be redistrubited.

2. Get a new icon. That icon is copyright to John and PA.com.

3. Consider setting it so it can use any drive. NOT just a U3 drive. Luckily, mine was a U3 drive.

4. I'll have to examine the script, but make sure it uses the working directory code- or its not portable and I'll have to hack it and be mad.

5. Tux Guitair should go in the folder that the luancher will be in.

Otherwise, this looks like very good work- I'll test it and let you know how it worked on the portablizing end.

Good gracious! There goes a kangaroo. I must have a practice with me boomerang- Now then, slowly back
If you throw that thing at me, I'll jump right on your head.
Innit marvellous? Got a land full of kangaroos and I had to pick that one.

Sorry

ptmb - November 1, 2007 - 6:33pm

I was wrong. I don't know nothing about programing...

Illegal?

rab040ma - November 1, 2007 - 7:47pm

The AutoIT license says (in part):

Reproduction and Distribution. You may reproduce and distribute an unlimited number of copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT either in whole or in part; each copy should include all copyright and trademark notices, and shall be accompanied by a copy of this EULA. Copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT may be distributed as a standalone product or included with your own product.

Commercial Use. You may sell for profit and freely distribute scripts and/or compiled scripts that were created with the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.

I suspect "Illegal" is too strong for including aut2exe in the package, although since IANAL I could be wrong ... I haven't studied his package, but if aut2exe is the only thing in there, I don't think it should be much of an issue, assuming all of the conditions of the license are met.

If it is not Open Source, John can't post it on SF.net currently, but that's not the same as "illegal". Generally, if it is allowed (or not forbidden) in the license, it is not illegal. "All rights reserved" is one sort of license; "you may reproduce and distribute" is another. Neither abrogates a copyright.

If it could be used to violate some other program's license or EULA, that gets into a different category. It could be against forum guidelines to post such a program. On the other hand, if it could be used just as easily on programs which allow it in their EULA, it's likely that "illegal" is too strong. Something can be against forum guidelines without being illegal.

The thing about the trademarked images is that we're not supposed to use them without John's permission ... so using an alternative (and generic) icon and graphics during development is good. That doesn't mean that John won't replace them if he accepts the program into the suite, but that can wait until he says something. If he decides it doesn't fit, then the "generic" icons and graphics can be replaced with something better as it gets toward a release candidate. It may also be that John would want to identify it with its own icon, perhaps like Toucan. So yes, it is probably good to avoid the PA-specific trademarks, at least during development.

I think we can afford to be less confrontational about some of these licensing issues, even to the point of requesting that links be removed in a polite way if there is question.

Personally, I'm interested in this program, so I hope it is not a violation of forum guidelines, but it isn't my forum...

Another ingredient for a happy marriage: in a family argument, if it turns out you are right -- apologize at once! (The Notebooks of Lazarus Long)

GPG key: 0565D971 | see you on IRC channel: #portableapps on irc.freenode.net

Sorry,

porterkm (Homepage) - November 1, 2007 - 7:05pm

If you don't change everything as per above by other users, you are violating the forum guidelines. You need to remove the link.

"I was like that [excited about new technologies], but then John [Dvorak] taught me that everything was a piece of crap and the world is going to hell."
-Leo Laporte

-Please search before post

Give me your email, I'll try

OliverK (Homepage) - November 1, 2007 - 7:43pm

Give me your email, I'll try to cookup an icon for you.

Please edit out the link until we get these issues fixed.

Alternative file

maroesjk - November 2, 2007 - 7:53am

Because the file I posted before might have violated the forum-rules and/or EULA of AutoIt, it might be an idea to post an other file for now...

What if I'd post a file which includes:

the AU3-script files;
a new "Portable App Creator" icon;
a textfile stating which files should be downloaded AND included in the folder with the AU3-scriptfiles before compiling (i.e. regshot and the three files from AutoIt);
an executable which first checks if the files mentioned under 3 are available and compiles a version of "Portable App Creator.exe" if so.

That should work and comply to the forum-rules, shouldn't it? If that complies to the rules according to you guys, I can upload the file as soon as I am home. It's a 203 kB zipfile now Eye-wink .

To OliverK: The scripts should work just fine on any removable drive which has an PortableApps-folder in the root.

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Yup:-) That sounds

OliverK (Homepage) - November 2, 2007 - 8:51am

Yup:-) That sounds good!

Excellent program by the way.

Thanks & New package

maroesjk - November 4, 2007 - 6:47am

Since the forum-rules of PortableApps.com are or may be violated when packages are posted that include (parts of) AutoIt3 and/or RegShot, I decided to only provide:

3 *.au3-files, which are AutoIt Script files (in the source folder)
2 icons, in both ICO- and WMF-format (in the icon folder)
1 executable, named "PAC Compiler.exe" in order to make your own "Portable App Creator.exe"

Please read the file "PAC Compiler.txt" included in the package to see what you need to do before you can use the "Portable App Creator" I wrote. I'll need to compile PAC yourself!!!

Here is the new file: Portable App Creator Package on RapidShare (338 kB)

Work done:

Created new icon(s)
removed RegShot- & AutoIt-files and slightly modded the "Portable App Creator.au3" because of that
created "PAC Compiler.au3", "PAC Compiler.exe" and "PAC Compiler.txt"

To do:

Write a (short) manual for Portable App Creator
put (more) comments in the script files, which will make the scripts easier for people to understand and edit
think about a possible new icon (not sure if I will replace the current one, though)
develop a separate website for the program (if people consider it usable)
change PAC Compiler to detect installations of AutoIt and (if possible) RegShot
optimalisation (and, if needed debugging) of the scripts (?)

Thanks for the compliment OliverK, nice to hear that you like(d) it...

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

RegShot isn't an issue, it's

ZachHudock - November 4, 2007 - 9:10am

RegShot isn't an issue, it's open source:
http://regshot.blog.googlepages.com/regshot

The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705

True

maroesjk - November 5, 2007 - 7:45am

You're right ZGitRDun8705. It will probably simplify the fifth bullet on my "to do"-list. If I put RegShot.exe in, the compiler will only have to detect if AutoIt is installed. And I know that there is a point where the registry refers to the AutoIt folders Eye-wink

An other thing for my "to do"-list: I just realized this morning that the "creator" script will only work on an US-/UK-English Windows version, since it sends "alt-f" and "s" (Save As) to the text-editor and next searches for a screen named "Save as". So a "to do" is to internationalize this part of the script.

I'll work on these points and will try to post the third alpha tonight!

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

question:

denash - November 5, 2007 - 1:13pm

is does say as the second step:

2) install on U3-drive

does this mean that this app will only create portable applications for U3 usb drives?

Ooopsss....

maroesjk - November 5, 2007 - 1:24pm

Nope, It'll create portable applications for PortableApps. It's just that I've written it for my U3-drive in the first place. I'll rename the second step to "2) install on the PortableApps drive" in the new version I'll post tonight!

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Portable Apps Creator (3rd alpha version)

maroesjk - November 5, 2007 - 2:20pm

Work done:

Added RegShot 1.8.2 and GPL-license (thanks to ZGitRDun8705)
Put (more) comments in the script files, which will make the scripts easier for people to understand and edit
Changed the "Portable App Creator.au3" to detect an existing installation of AutoIt3
Changed "PAC Compiler.txt" to "PAC Compiler.pdf"
Changed "Portable App Creator.au3" in order to make it work on non-English operating systems
Made some minor changes to optimize the scripts (partly thanks to denash)

please find the 3rd alpha version of Portable Apps Creator here (481 kB).

Please read the file "PAC Compiler.pdf" included in the package to see what you need to do before you can use "Portable App Creator". You'll need to compile PAC yourself, due to the fact that it is prohibited to include (parts of) AutoIt3 on this forum.

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

You should be able to

John Bentley - November 5, 2007 - 2:21pm

You should be able to compile it. The way I see it it the same issue as using a MSVC compiler and including it. (Not that anyone would do that, but...)

aka MISIIM
What is worship without hard rock!

You can compile your script.

ZachHudock - November 5, 2007 - 3:02pm

You can compile your script. Once it's compiled, it doesn't need AutoIt installed to be able to run, everything is contained your compiled exe.

The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705

That's something else?!

maroesjk - November 5, 2007 - 3:34pm

That's something else than all people on november 1st said. The problem might be that the compiled script "Portable Apps Creator" includes parts of AutoIt in order to "compile" the shortcuts for the PortableAppsMenu...

So, the compiled script contains parts of AutoIt, which is prohibited (according to the EULA). Next, AutoIt isn't open-source, which may be a problem according to the forum-rules...

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Having the script compiled

ZachHudock - November 5, 2007 - 3:46pm

Having the script compiled is perfectly fine. If you had included some of the AutoIt binaries it would have been an issue. I didn't get a chance to download the original package, but from what you are saying, it sounds like it just included your compiled scripts and RegShot.

The one thing i would recommend from that whole first section of this topic is this
3. Consider setting it so it can use any drive. NOT just a U3 drive. Luckily, mine was a U3 drive.

The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705

Compiled Script containing (parts of) AutoIt

maroesjk - November 5, 2007 - 4:03pm

The original package consisted of one executable (created with AutoIt) and two *.au3-files (the original scrips). Once the executable was run, it put 3 AutoIt files and RegShot to a temporary folder.

The problem doesn't seem to be the EULA of AutoIt after all (as long as I include a copy of their EULA): You may reproduce and distribute an unlimited number of copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT either in whole or in part; each copy should include all copyright and trademark notices, and shall be accompanied by a copy of this EULA. Copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT may be distributed as a standalone product or included with your own product. (sorry rab040ma, that I missed your post on that)

The problem may be the forum-rules here: In addition, if you are releasing an Free, portable, open source (OSI-approved license) individual application that is not a fork or clone of an app hosted here, you may make a post when you do a release. The code for this product must be available from the page you link to in your post and your product must properly attribute contributors

The question may be if closed-source software (AutoIt) can or cannot be a part of open-source software posted here. A lot of people seemed to have problems with the original package which was posted. I really don't know if I can post a package which includes in-an-exe parts of AutoIt now...

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

It was written in AutoIt,

ZachHudock - November 5, 2007 - 4:09pm

It was written in AutoIt, you are not redistributing AutoIt itself. What AutoIt files did it put in a temporary folder?

The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705

Files to compile new scripts

maroesjk - November 5, 2007 - 4:13pm

The files the script included were those to "compile" the shortcuts for the PortableAppsMenu: "aut2exe.exe", "autoitsc.bin" and "upx.exe". UPX shouldn't be a problem, since it is open-source, but "aut2exe.exe" and "autoitsc.bin" are closed-source.

Maybe I should/could ask John if posting my original file was violating the forum rules or not?

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

I think including aut2ext

ZachHudock - November 5, 2007 - 4:15pm

I think including aut2ext and autoitsc.bin are against the rules. I didn't realize some of the original AutoIt binaries were included. You are allowed to have your scripts compiled though.

The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705

Problem is

maroesjk - November 6, 2007 - 4:08am

Yes, but the problem is that the compiled script itself containes those AutoIt-binaries Eye-wink

Next, I realized that the first package also included the stand-alone AutoIt files. My previous post on that was mistaken... Sorry for that.

For now, I won't add the AutoIt files. I did change the startpost saying that compiling isn't difficult (as it might scare possible users). Tonight, I'll try to post a new package (fourth alpha). It will have a new "PAC Compiler.exe" which

will see if the necessary AutoIt-files are in the files-folder
if not, will try to copy the necessary AutoIt-files from the AutoIt installation on the PC
will see if the necessary AutoIt-files are in the files-folder
if not, will try to download the AutoIt-v3.zip from the AutoIt website and extract the necessary files using 7Zip
will see if the necessary AutoIt-files are in the files-folder
if not, will abort the script

If the sixth point doesn't occur, it'll fully automatically compile "Portable App Creator.exe". What about that?

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

That's a different

John Bentley - November 6, 2007 - 5:48am

That's a different situation. You can post it when it's compiled. Just not the binaries you attach to the script.

aka MISIIM
What is worship without hard rock!

His concept is to have his

rab040ma - November 6, 2007 - 5:10pm

His concept is to have his original script write the customized source code for the launcher when the user runs it, then it will automatically run aut2exe to compile that new code on the users machine. He can't do that very well unless the aut2exe is available somewhere on the user's machine.

Another ingredient for a happy marriage: in a family argument, if it turns out you are right -- apologize at once! (The Notebooks of Lazarus Long)

GPG key: 0565D971 | see you on IRC channel: #portableapps on irc.freenode.net

It's fine

Ryan McCue (Homepage) - November 8, 2007 - 4:58am

Your original posting was completely fine. Although the Free Software Foundation and Richard Stallman disagree with using closed-source compilers, it's still perfectly fine (AFAIK). Just make sure you include all of your source and it's fine.

Waiting for Rocks'n'Diamonds Portable? Fear not, it's coming soon.

Discussion

maroesjk - November 8, 2007 - 6:34am

I see the point you are making, but I don't want a discussion like this (which seems to go on and on, and on, and on...) to distract me and/or possible users from Portable App Creator.

The first package/posting may or may not have violated the forum rules. Please forget about it and work with the latest package I released (see the start post to get a link). That version certainly does not violate the forum rules (at least everybody agrees on that Eye-wink ). The newest version now checks for the necessary AutoIt files. If they're not found, it is offerred to download AutoIt and extract the necessary files from the downloaded package. All is done automatically, so even an absolute Noob (if there are Noobs that use PortableApps Puzzled ) could do the trick.

Therefore I'd like to say: Case Closed for me*. I won't post any replies on this anymore...

* I am only willing to rethink this if John posts a message that my first package did not violate the forum rules...

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Erm...

Ryan McCue (Homepage) - November 11, 2007 - 12:48am

If it included AutoIt itself, then it would be a violation. From what I saw of the package, it was only a program compiled using AutoIt. So, until someone proves me otherwise, it was perfectly fine. I'm a moderator and developer, so I know Sticking out tongue

Waiting for Rocks'n'Diamonds Portable? Fear not, it's coming soon.

Is this any different to the

jwyanze (Homepage) - November 5, 2007 - 10:50pm

Is this any different to the 1 u had before. Because i have the first one u put up by the way it works very good i have made SmartDraw 2007 portable which works like a charm

Never curse the alligator till you done cross the bridge. Eye-wink

Mainly the same

maroesjk - November 6, 2007 - 1:10am

Its mainly the same package as I posted before. Some minor changes have been made in the script(s). Those were mainly some text changed and/or optimization: nothing essential and/or functional was changed. So you can still use the first package if you'd want to...

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

OK well

jwyanze (Homepage) - November 6, 2007 - 6:26am

i tried this 1 last night and got kinder confuse u might need to get out that Manuel for users. But tks the first 1 works really great. I kinder have a fan base back here in Trinidad who really don't have the time to be here or make there own portableapp. So i am kinder like the distributer around here. Keep up the good work

Never curse the alligator till you done cross the bridge. Eye-wink

Portable Apps Creator (4th alpha version)

maroesjk - November 7, 2007 - 2:30am

Here it is, a few hours later than expected...

Work done:

Added 7za 4.42 and added/changed both the GPL- and LGPL-license to version 3
Changed PAC Compiler to automatically download AutoIt-v3.zip if needed
Renamed "PAC Compiler.pdf" to "readme.pdf” and rewritten the “How to use Portable Apps Creator” part
Changed all references to an “U3”-drive into a “PA”-drive
Debugged and optimized (again...) both Portable App Creator and Portable App Shortcut

Please find the 4th alpha version of Portable Apps Creator here (731 kB). Read the file "readme.pdf" included in the package to see what you need to do before you can use "Portable App Creator".

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

i prefer the first 1 but

jwyanze (Homepage) - November 7, 2007 - 11:55am

i prefer the first 1 but it's good for ppl who don't want to get into the script.
i haven't actually made any thing with this 1 yet but soon enough. Just need ideas on what program to make portable.

Never curse the alligator till you done cross the bridge. Eye-wink

Creating GUI

maroesjk - November 9, 2007 - 1:43pm

I won't be able to work a lot on the sofware for the rest of the month, I think. My new project on the program is to make a GUI, since the program seems to work without any problem.

Creating the GUI (in AutoIt) will probably mean that some adaptions have to be made to the "Creator" code as well, mainly switching some dialogs and things. I hope to be able to release a first beta (yes, I'm taking it out of alpha as soon as the GUI is ready) at the end of this month...

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Portable Apps Creator (5th alpha version)

maroesjk - November 14, 2007 - 7:50am

It took me less time than I expected to get a GUI for Portable Apps Creator (my first one in AutoIt). I decided to release (at least) one other alpha: it's the fifth one. Quite some extra code was needed to create the GUI, but as far as I tested (and debugged) it, the code works without errors. If I did something wrong, you can always go back to the 4th alpha (731 kB), which I did not delete for now...

Work done:

Created a GUI for Portable App Creator
Changed PAC Compiler to only download AutoIt-v3 if the necessary AutoIt-files
(1) are not found in an AutoIt-installation; and
(2) are not found on any harddisk
Deleted (most of) the “How to use Portable Apps Creator” part of this document as the GUI cleared it all

Please find the 5th alpha version of Portable App Creator here (791 kB). Read the file "readme.pdf" included in the package to see what you need to do before you can use "Portable App Creator".

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

AutoIt Error. Line

jwyanze (Homepage) - November 14, 2007 - 9:31am

AutoIt Error.

Line -1:

Error: Variable used without being declared.

happens when executing the PAC Compiler.
it does not compile.

Never curse the alligator till you done cross the bridge. Eye-wink

Portable Apps Creator (6th alpha version)

maroesjk - November 14, 2007 - 12:52pm

Work done since the 4th alpha:

Created a GUI for Portable App Creator
Changed PAC Compiler to only download AutoIt-v3 if the necessary AutoIt-files
(1) are not found in an AutoIt-installation; and
(2) are not found on any harddisk
Deleted (most of) the “How to use Portable Apps Creator” part of this document as the GUI cleared it all
Fixed PAC Compiler, which contained an error (sorry for that , and thanx for pointing it out, jwyanze)

Please find the 6th alpha version of Portable App Creator here (803 kB). Read the file "readme.pdf" included in the package to see what you need to do before you can use "Portable App Creator".

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

now i need a new software to

jwyanze (Homepage) - November 14, 2007 - 5:38pm

now i need a new software to install to test it any ideas? but it compiles now.i like the ban on the side of the window, it looks good. i could try and make a icon for u if u want. i know u said something bout that 1 being temp. hit-me-back if with ur decision.

Never curse the alligator till you done cross the bridge. Eye-wink

Oops & New Icon

maroesjk - November 15, 2007 - 3:56pm

The banner on the side of the window is taken from "create shortcut" from my PC. But now I realize that I installed XPero XPize on it. So the picture is part of that (open-source) package. I'll credit XPero in the next version Eye-wink .

Next, I'm not happy with the temporary icon I am using now. So if you're willing to create a new one/some new ones, that would be great! If I like them, I'll put it in the package. Just post a link to it (as I can't find your e-mail-address). If possible, I'd prefer to have a vector-art picture next to the ico-files...

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

I need this sofeware and I

icecoffee - November 15, 2007 - 12:11am

I need this sofeware and I cann't get this sofeware from the website which you gave , so can you mail the software to me ? My E-mail address is

juedui888@gmail.com

thanks.

Sorry?

maroesjk - November 15, 2007 - 4:21pm

I tried to send the file to your gmail-account, but somehow it doesn't seem to accept the zipfile. Maybe you can download the new version?

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

rename the extension

Simeon - November 15, 2007 - 4:26pm

gmail doesnt like zips in emails...

"I was just out walking my rat and I seem to have lost my way" - James Bond in Diamonds are forever

AutoIt Eroor

Ellis Thomas Place - January 4, 2008 - 8:10am

What is this:

AutoIt Error.

Line -1:

Error: Variable used without being declared.

Cannot make any programs portable, what am I doing wrong?

Go through all steps as best I can
There is no walkthrough as far as I can find

please could someone do a step by step instruction of where to point each step and what should happen.

Is there a program that I can try that definately will work?
Is there any other user friendly apps.

Used ceedo and argo and was very simple, worked first time on all apps i tried

Please help!

I'm a nube, I have no knowledge of scripting, please be considerate!

Portable Apps Creator (7th alpha version)

maroesjk - November 15, 2007 - 4:04pm

Made some small modifications and fixed a small bug in PAC compiler. I think PAC is nearing it's 0.9 beta-release now Eye-wink . Work done:

Added the functionality to monitor the installation of MSI-files
Created a GUI for PAC Compiler

As the sixth alpha seemed to work ok, I deleted both the fourth and sixth alpha.

Please find the seventh alpha version of Portable App Creator here (803 kB). Read the file "readme.pdf" included in the package to see what you need to do before you can use "Portable App Creator".

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

works fine seems to compile

jwyanze (Homepage) - November 15, 2007 - 8:06pm

works fine seems to compile faster. maybe an illusion by the GUI oh by the way my email....just put yahoo.com at the end of my name. Eye-wink

Never curse the alligator till you done cross the bridge. Eye-wink

PAC does not recognize my

stwum - November 15, 2007 - 10:02pm

PAC does not recognize my PortableApps drive even though I'm running it directly from that same drive. No matter where I put PAC, it still gives the same message message, "No PortableApps Drive was found on your system..."
BTW, I'm testing on a Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 with WINXP SP2.

It looks for

maroesjk - November 16, 2007 - 1:21am

It looks for a removable drive which has a folder "[drive]:\portableapps\portableappsmenu". Did you rename your PortableApps folder? If not, I'll try to have an other look at it next week!

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

It does not work with

Khajios - November 16, 2007 - 3:58pm

It does not work with portable hard drives. Mine (a WD Passport, 250 gb) mounts as drive I usually, my solution is to just make a portableapps folder on the Ipod and cops the files over afterwards. I would suggest you make it work with ANY drive, with the possible exclusion of C. Then again, some people may want to make a portable app when they do not have their drive with them, so why bother to check if the drive is in?

Need generalized version

rogerlasttry - November 17, 2007 - 7:18am

Nice work so far, but I agree with comments by Khajios.

It does not work with portable hard drives.
... I would suggest you make it work with ANY
drive ... some people may want to make
a portable app when they do not have their drive with them, so why bother to check if the drive is in?

Maybe you could create the 'generalized' portable app first then apply any changes needed for use on U3 drives.

I'll change it

maroesjk - November 20, 2007 - 12:54am

I'll change the software in the next couple of days to:

search for the PortableApps folder on the drive PAC is used/started;
if it's not found search for the PortableApps folder on all drives, starting the last drive and going back;
if it's not found display a warning and use the drive where PAC is used/started.

That would do the trick, wouldn't it?

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Yes, I do have

stwum - November 16, 2007 - 4:00pm

Yes, I do have "[drive]:\portableapps\portableappsmenu" on my usb drive. I believe that the problem is with MS VirtualPC 2007. PAC works fine on my regular PC. However, it fails when I try it in a virtual environment(MS VirtualPC 2007).
'Ope this helps in investigating the problem.

nothing happens

thetrueholly - November 17, 2007 - 1:23am

i tried out now each version of pac but it doesn't work with me although i have a pam-drive with the correct folders. when i start the pac, the wizard already stops working at step 1 "take 1st shot": though the button appears in grey and shows "working", nothing happens any more and i even couldn't cancel or skip the process after waiting about 15 min. i had to shut down the pac by using the taskmanager- it seems the pac hangs-up every time. what is wrong???

This first stage if i am not

jwyanze (Homepage) - November 17, 2007 - 5:53pm

This first stage if i am not mistaken is the screen shot of the reg. this is often long due to the amount of registry entries u have. it could be verry short or verry long so when it says working that means that that it's still working lol (kinder repetitive)
try to clean ur registry and compress it. their are plenty programs for that on the net. I think it may make that step pass faster. and try putting it over night and see if it is finished by morning. that way u will not have to feel the pain on it talking forever. often it kills to watch something that has no given/estimated time. and therefor make u rush ur judgment.

hope that was of some help.

NB: i haven't actually used the newer versions yet so it may be a glitch tho.

@maroesjk i think u should put a message on that wizard saying that the time will vary depending on how much programs use ur registry and how cluttered ur registry is.

first time i feel like i said something smart lol.

Never curse the alligator till you done cross the bridge. Eye-wink

I agree

maroesjk - November 20, 2007 - 1:06am

I agree on your note, Jwyanze. I'll put something like that in a starter-screen...

btw, you got mail Eye-wink

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

I'll change it

maroesjk - November 20, 2007 - 1:03am

On my system, RegShot (which runs hidden in the background) somehow stealed focus from PAC, just after the first shot was taken. In the script, I stated that (after the first shot was taken), the script should wait for RegShot to steal the focus again. Probably, RegShot won't act like this on all systems. I'll repair it in the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, you could try to change the line (number 275)
WinWaitActive($RegShotTitle)
to
WinWaitActive($RegShotTitle, "", 10)

Recompile and test again. I am curious if this solves the problem. I am not satisfied with the solution mentioned above, but if it works, I'll have an other modification of the script in mind to solve the problem better...

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Got ur mail and i am going

jwyanze (Homepage) - November 20, 2007 - 4:43pm

Got ur mail and i am going to be working on it later

btw u got mail.

Check ur mail again. I just finished the first set
tell me what u think.

Never curse the alligator till you done cross the bridge. Eye-wink

Portable Apps Creator (8th alpha version)

maroesjk - November 23, 2007 - 1:31pm

Thanks for all your suggestions and bugs to work on Eye-wink . I hope this version will solve the problems you mentioned. If so, the next version will be 0.9 beta. For now, here's another alpha: number eight now Smiling .

Work done:

Changed the detection of the PA-drive in both “Portable App Creator.au3” and “Portable App Shortcut.au3”
Changed the way Portable App Creator cooperates with RegShot a few moments after the 1st shot
Added a “Welcome” screen to Portable App Creator
Some small cosmetic (both visual and under-the-hood) changes

Jwyanze already is working on a new icon / image for PAC. His first work looked real Cool . It'll probably be in the beta version!

NOTE: Jwyanze noticed errors in the Portable App Creator.au3 script. I deleted the link to the alpha because of that...

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Portable App Creator (version 0·9 beta)

maroesjk - November 23, 2007 - 1:32pm

After the (kind of buggy) eighth alpha, I decided to (thourougly) retest the whole program. Done some re-programming because of the tests and it is working again according to me. I even managed to squeeze the package to 631 kB! I've decided to take it to the beta-stage now...

Work done:

Changed the icon(s) and picture of the programs / GUI (thanks to Jwyanze)
Retested the whole program and crushed a few bugs (luckily, these were non-protected species ). Afterward performed 4 installations on 2 systems without any problems.
Some small visual cosmetic changes

Please download Portable App Creator 0·9 beta (631 kB). Read the file "readme.pdf" included in the package to see what you need to do before you can use "Portable App Creator".

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

cheers

spacemonkey101 - November 24, 2007 - 12:21pm

Just wanted to say a big thanks for PAC. Ive been using it for a while now and just wanted to voice (err.. type) my appreciation. I do have a problem with it tho!! Its making me so lazy!!! But its good to rest every now n then eh? Eye-wink

Keep up the good work its much appreciated.

edit. latest link is showing network error?? :s

Error?

maroesjk - November 25, 2007 - 4:58am

Thanx for the compliment.

The latest link works on my system(s), and more than 40 people already downloaded 0·9 beta... Where exactely do you experience the network error?!

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

it still doesn't work...

thetrueholly - November 25, 2007 - 11:53am

i tried now each version but unfortunately none did work... since the 0.9 beta it runs at least until the before-last step "take 2nd shot": after taking the 2nd shot a window opens with the text of the reg.-changes and then the pac just hangs-up again (this time i even waited several hours!). what should happen then normaly when it would work correct, i even don't know until today what exactly this pac should do because it never worked. (the programs i wanted to make portable are: raimaradio and the unofficial clamwin-version in german language)

same

Mobius_19 - November 25, 2007 - 9:08pm

that same thing keeps happening to me

Strange

maroesjk - November 26, 2007 - 3:00am

That's strange. It works on all my (English OSsed) systems.

Here is what PAC does from there. The window with the text of the reg-changes should open (RegShot does this).

PAC waits for a window called with the string ".txt -" in the title (wich is a string to occur with notepad). In the (current) Portable App Creator.au3 script this starts from line 337 (you could try to rewrite this part of the script according to your needs).

Then it sends ALT, 4 times ARROW DOWN and ENTER (that should be "Save As..."). Whenever the new window pops up, it sends %TEMP%\PAC\portableapp.reg (the filename) and ENTER.

Maybe the script doesn't open with notepad in your situation? If that's the fact, tell me which program it is opened with. I'll try to get the script running with that program as well...
Or is "Save As" not the fourth item under the first menu in (a German) NotePad?

@thetrueholly: I am glad that I at least seem to have solved your "PAC drive not found" problem Eye-wink

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

description of the problem

thetrueholly - November 26, 2007 - 3:20am

i tried again now- no chance, here what happens: after pushing the button "take 2nd shot" in PAC, it appears grey and shows "working". at the same time, the windows editor opens a script (called: ~res.txt) in which all the reg-changes are listet (keys, values, files, folders...). and-that's it, nothing happens any more, i even can't stop the PAC by pushing "cancel", it hangs-up...
even after linking this script to be opened with notepad and not with the win editor, nothing happened.
@ maroesjk: unfortunately i have no idea about programming and my english also isn't the best, so i absolutely don't know how rewriting any parts of any scripts as you wrote Sad

Confirmation

Caehan - November 26, 2007 - 11:17am

Same thing has been happening to me.

...But the gift of God is eternal life through Christ. Romans 6:23

Thought of the problem

maroesjk - November 27, 2007 - 1:11am

I already thought about that part of the program yesterday, thinking how to solve it for all programs which could open the .txt and all different languaged OSses. I think I might have an idea how to do that. I will try to work on it later this week, but have little time at the moment.

I'll post a new beta asap...

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Download error

spacemonkey101 - November 26, 2007 - 10:50am

I know this is an odd one as others are downloading without error but...
I've tried downloading the new PAC at home and at work with 3 different browsers (IE, FF & Opera). I keep getting the same error

Network Error (tcp_error)

A communication error occurred: ""
The Web Server may be down, too busy, or experiencing other problems preventing it from responding to requests. You may wish to try again at a later time.

Any ideas? Can you provide an alternative source to dl from? Can you email me a copy?

Again your work is much appreciated and I'd like to try the new version.

Cheers

Just wait a bit

maroesjk - November 27, 2007 - 1:13am

Maybe you'd better wait a bit until the next beta, as some users experience problems at a certain point in the program. I'll be working on that. If you can't download the next beta as well, Just post your e-mail address, and I'll e-mail you a copy.

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Portable App Creator (version 0·91 beta)

maroesjk - November 28, 2007 - 11:30am

Its kind of strange that the program seems to work fine for some people (like SpaceMonkey101, Jwyanze, myself), but tends to have problems for others (like TheTrueHolly and Mobius_19) all the time. Since it works on my system, it is kind of hard to see what goes wrong for others. Nevertheless, I created an other beta which I hope solves some problems again...

Work done:

Changed the way Portable App Creator interacts with RegShot and the RegShot results-file (Hope it even works for TheTrueHolly and Mobius_19 now ).
Exclude “start menu”, “desktop” and/or “recent” folders/files as well as “recentdocs” and/or “muicache” registry-keys from being processed by Portable App Creator. Those are unnecessary and/or may not work on systems if the driveletter changes.
Removed the unnecessary feature / bug of some backup-files being copied to the PortableApps drive in Portable App Shortcut. This improves the speed of (most) PortableApps being opened/close (in some extreme cases up to two times faster!). For me, this convinced me of rebuilding all the shortcuts to my own PortableApps and delete all *.bup files from my PortableApps drive.
Some (other) small changes (optimizations on speed and/or behavior).
Rewritten some part of the readme file.

Please download Portable App Creator 0·91 beta (623 kB, I keep squeezing it). Please see the readme-file supplied with this package to find out what you need to do before you can use "Portable App Creator".

I just noticed that a new version of AutoIt was released and that team doesn't supply a (new) zipfile anymore (luckily, the old one is still at their servers). I'll still have to test it with the new version and/or adapt PAC Compiler to work with the SFX they provide now (in case the AutoIt files do not exist on the system)...

UPDATE: The scripts seem to work with the newest AutoIt version as well. Adapting PAC Compiler to work with the SFX will make it possible to leave 7-Zip out of the next beta. The next package will probably shrink to about 400 kB because of that...

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Nice, download works now and

spacemonkey101 - November 28, 2007 - 12:31pm

Nice, download works now and I've not had any problems using it (not that I did before)

Cheers

admin rights

gjjh25 - November 29, 2007 - 6:58am

tried this last nigt and all seemed to go well.

when i came to try them on my work computer, it appeared to want admin rights to run the programme, is this correct or have i done something wrong?

BTW excellent piece of software.

Required on Vista

maroesjk - November 30, 2007 - 1:02pm

As Portable App Creator installs a program (or helps to do so) administrative rights are required. Portable App Shortcut (the actual exe in the PortableApps menu) writes to the registry and/or the windows-drive. Since Vista, this requires administrative rights too. I coded all scripts to require administrative rights, though I guess PAC Compiler could do without it (even in Vista).

I'll delete the administrative requirement for PAC Compiler and adapt Portable App Shortcut (the actual exe in the PortableApps menu) to require administrative rights only if it is runs from Vista. However, I won't be able to test how Vista/UAC will react, as I have no Vista system(s) available.

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Actually RegShot just

John Bentley - November 30, 2007 - 4:20pm

Actually RegShot just doesn't work on vista so this program is rendered useless on vista.

aka MISIIM
What is worship without hard rock!

I See

maroesjk - December 1, 2007 - 8:23am

Oh, I see... Didn't know about that. After your post I read the FAQ on the RegShot website. It seems that RegShot will only work on Vista if UAC is disabled. I changed the start-port accordingly. Maybe I'll write a warning on this in the next version.

Nevetheless, XP will also need to be running as an administrator for Portable App Creator, because of the installation being monitored. And I guess that a PortableApp created with PAC (on XP, if needed) should work when the drive is inserted on a Vista system... Portable App ShortCut wil need administrative right for that (only in Vista)!

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Copy of Portable App Creator 0·91 beta

terencefx - November 29, 2007 - 10:12am

Hi, I have had problems downloading it at the website. I was wondering if you could send me a copy of the program. my email is nutcase_ts@hotmail.com. Thanks very much!

Portable App Creator (version 0·92 beta)

maroesjk - December 3, 2007 - 4:41pm

Some updates and modifications again. Work done:

PAC Compiler downloads the new self-extracting RAR instead of a ZIP from the AutoIt website if needed now.
Removed 7-Zip from the package as it is no longer needed by PAC Compiler.
Changed the requirement for administrative rights in PAC Compiler (requirement removed) and Portable App Shortcut (require for Vista only).
Combined (the) four functions that monitored the installation in Portable App Creator.
Excluded the “Temporary Internet Files” folder as well as “OpenSaveMRU” registry-keys from being processed by Portable App Creator.
Added a screen in Portable Apps Creator if the users attempts to monitor an installation on Windows Vista with UAC enabled. As RegShot won’t work while UAC is enabled, PAC exits after displaying info on this.
Added a screen in Portable Apps Creator to show while executing the final steps of PAC.
Some (other) small changes (optimizations on speed and/or behavior).

You can now download Portable App Creator 0·92 beta (MD5: 9EC32915B3CA3DD1A0EB2537D9578BA0, only 372 kB). Please see the readme-file supplied with this package to find out what you need to do before you can use "Portable App Creator".

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

thx

ashnix - December 4, 2007 - 1:52am

cool tiny programme maroesjk

Nice.

Caehan - December 7, 2007 - 6:33pm

I got it working for me. Works quite nicely. The new GUI is much better. One question though. Do you mind people using this to make a portable app, and then posting the result on the releases page?

...But the gift of God is eternal life through Christ. Romans 6:23

Nope

maroesjk - December 8, 2007 - 3:26am

I don't mind if you do but I don't know if John will like it. As it copies files from and to the host-PC, some people might not see it as a genuine PortableApp. And it doesn't have the .paf.exe extension.

But for me, posting PAC-created PortableApps wouldn't be a problem.

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Hmm...

Caehan - December 10, 2007 - 2:29pm

This may or may not be an error. I may not understand the program enough.

I tried, after I did the install according to the directions, moving the portable app I made to the computer's drive. When I opened the launcher from the copy on the computer, it opened the copy on the thumb drive.

Later I removed the thumb drive, and ran the launcher from the pc, and it diplayed an error saying that the .exe file could not be found, and displayed where it should be. The location it displayed was exactly where the .exe was.

For reference, I am using Win XP, Home Edition, SP2.

Edit: I rechecked the location that the error provided, and found that I had read it wrong. It was looking for C:\\PortableApps\Program Name\Data\Program.exe. So it is as I had mentioned at the top, I didn't understand the program correctly.

...But the gift of God is eternal life through Christ. Romans 6:23

thx for making this great

Maltenrazer - December 4, 2007 - 4:34am

thx for making this great little program, i hope you continue its development and also create a website for it too. very much appreciated, keep up the good work.

A little help with PAC please!!!

andyvu - December 5, 2007 - 1:56am

Hello Portable Appers!
I am newbie here i love the program (PAC) and interested making portable apps. I thanks so much the author who making it so easy to use, especially the RegShot works pretty fast. BUT! i am having a little problem i know alot ppl up here can help me to solve it.

Look like some basic "apps.exe" like Firefox, Opera, 7-Zip ... easy to capture it own DIR, but some programs are required restart and additional DIR need to be added after install the application. Like plugins, services into C:\WINDOWS or SYSTEM32 ...ect..

My question is:
How do I create additional DIR after capture with PAC? or adding files into C:\WINDOWS or making a Virtual Dir into FlashDrive works with the portable apps.

I mean something like: %WINDIR% ...%SYSTEMROOT% ..ect ...
Alot appreciate it for the easy explainations!

Andy {Sorry my English is limited}

You can't

maroesjk - December 6, 2007 - 3:03pm

It's not possible to make the PortableApp use additional folders after you captured with PAC. However, I am generalizing the script to work with an unlimited number of environment variables which are set in the script. I am thinking of putting the %WINDIR% and the Documents-folder in the list of folders to monitor - though I think a good program(mer) should avoid those folders.

If you want to, in the next version (won't work for 0·92 beta yet) you could add more folders using the $EnvArray variable in Portable App Creator and Portable App Shortcut.

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand Binary and those who don't.

Problem

Nathan9222 - December 6, 2007 - 10:48pm

y does this say it makes programs portable but it still leaves registry and other files such as application data.Also when it is done converting all it did was make a shortcut to the program on my USB.Any help with what is wrong

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
Mahatma Gandhi,
Indian political and spiritual leader (1869 - 1948)

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