I loved the Portable Application Template that I have seen on the forms here, so I made a program to edit and compile it automatically. There are still bugs, but I got most of them out. Please feel free to tell me what you think. In the spirit of open source, I have also released the code. 
Code in Autoit:
http://eyecreate.googlepages.com/portableappcreator.au3
Compiled and packed with NSIS:
http://eyecreate.googlepages.com/pafappmaker.exe
Modified PAF NSIS template(original from - https://portableapps.com/node/2022):
http://eyecreate.googlepages.com/ApplicationPortableTemplate.nsi
________________________
SFX Creator-as mentioned below in comments:
http://eyecreate.googlepages.com/sfxcreator.exe
Visit the Community page
Join our forums
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Subscribe with RSS
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Mastodon
Follow us on BlueSky
before it even installs it finds a corrupt file, and i get a message "CRC Failed in Contrib\Graphics\Wizard\orange-uninstall.bmp"....i used 7-zip to extract the files and ran it that way....looks good.
EDIT
it doesn't always create the launcher properly, repeatedly get an error message saying that it can't find makensis.exe, your program stays running and will then generate the *.nsi file instead of creating the launcher. Maybe add the ability to create the *.nsi file only, instead of forcing creation of the launcher.
The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
I'll check into the CRC problem, It probably just needs to be rearchived. I can add an option for just .nsi, I just didn't know people would want it. The problem of it not making .exe is most likely that RAR SFX deleted it's other archive files(minus the starting file) which means it wouldn't be able to find makensis.exe. In what frequencies does this occur? Thanks for your feedback!
Nobody should start to undertake a large project. You start with a small _trivial_ project, and you should never expect it to get large. If you do, you'll just overdesign and generally think it is more important than it likely is at that stage. Or worse,
The makensis.exe file is in the folder with your app, so i don't think that's the problem. After the first run of your app, it no longer properly generates the exe files. It will go through the process like normal, ask where to save the created exe, and after naming it and choosing the location to save, your app stays opened with all the fields filled, and if you click on the "Make" button at this point, the error message comes up.
Another suggestion, for the source code you provided, also provide the ApplicationPortableTemplate.nsi file and the icon you used for your app.
The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
okay, got it fixed. I found it lost Current Directory after the first time through. It was trying to find makensis.exe where you last saved a file. I also added the save script option in. Everything should be reupped to the same locations. I also added the modified ApplicationPortableTemplate.nsi file becuase it is needed to compile the script and exe. The icon is the defalt for autoit, so you don't need anything special. If you don't know what autoit is and want to edit/compile this, go to http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/.
Nobody should start to undertake a large project. You start with a small _trivial_ project, and you should never expect it to get large. If you do, you'll just overdesign and generally think it is more important than it likely is at that stage. Or worse,
thanks, works great now...this will make things a lot easier...now i dont have to try and translate the Framakey apps to english, i just put all the info into ur app and it will make a script for me
The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
I realized after looking at my code that it could be put to other uses. So I now give you the SFX Creator. The autoit code is very similar to the PAF maker, but what changed is that the NSIS script will take the files in the given directory and will package them in the NSIS exe with the cool Lzma compression(powers 7zip). It will extract like other SFX progams to a temp folder, run your program, and then delete the temp folder. I added ability to customize the icon too. My hope is, im time, I can make this a simpler PAF Maker that can run compressed, saving you space. Again, please tell me what you think.(The exe was made with SFX Creator
)
http://eyecreate.googlepages.com/sfxcreator.exe
Link also at top.
Nobody should start to undertake a large project. You start with a small _trivial_ project, and you should never expect it to get large. If you do, you'll just overdesign and generally think it is more important than it likely is at that stage. Or worse,
using SFX Creator, I got OpenOffice Portable down to 80mb. It takes a few more seconds to load, but save alot of space.
EDIT:
After making many programs with SFX Creator, I have found there is some odd bug that if you name the saved exe the same as the one you will run, it launches itself in an infinite loop. Until I can figure out why and fix it, name your exe's different.
Nobody should start to undertake a large project. You start with a small _trivial_ project, and you should never expect it to get large. If you do, you'll just overdesign and generally think it is more important than it likely is at that stage. Or worse,
It`s imho a good idea to invest developement in a universal portable maker project.
Is there already a well working one?
an app that can make anything portable, then yes, there is one coming soon.
----
Ryan McCue
Person 1: Oh my god. You will never believe what just happened.
Person 2: What?
Person 1: I can't remember, I've forgotten.
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
While I really can't blame you for not giving a time frame, you need to make more than just an offhand reference to something like this! I'm sure I'm not the only one who like to know:
1: When might we be getting our grubby little paws on this gem? Not expecting a time frame, but an idea of how far along in development this item is.
2: Just why have you hidden this from us?! I've been trying for the last few months to get one of my own developed, and I know that time could have been spent on something productive, like beating somebody over the head in Halo. I'd not have spent in vain that time and effort, when I know that one's already on it's way.
Oh and the Halo comment was just joke. Here in the dorms, video games are banned. They are a "waste of time" in the considered opinion of the staff. (very conservative college) I don't want them to get the idea that I work around the rules. (I never, never break them. I may bend them backward, but I never break them!
)
Timothy Forster
Timothy Forster
1: When might we be getting our grubby little paws on this gem? Not expecting a time frame, but an idea of how far along in development this item is.
Well, that you will have to ask Steve
2: Just why have you hidden this from us?! I've been trying for the last few months to get one of my own developed, and I know that time could have been spent on something productive, like beating somebody over the head in Halo. I'd not have spent in vain that time and effort, when I know that one's already on it's way.
I'd rather get a truck to run over it 
Seriously though, I have only had an idea about it for a while. Steve only just told me too.
----
Ryan McCue
Person 1: Oh my god. You will never believe what just happened.
Person 2: What?
Person 1: I can't remember, I've forgotten.
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
Trying to get a truck down a corridor is a bit overkill. And the guy next to me can usually see what i'm doing and get out of the way...;)
Timothy Forster
Timothy Forster
leki ot dnye sthi rtjepoc ni yreev awy, ni atcf I dwlou ielk ot enyd ym wno eetsxncei tbu eosm oen kpsee iingagimn em ckba, I’m ioklong rof a reseela teda dnaruo het edn fo het mmsrue, fi uyo rea lla uyklc.
Yorsu
Eetvs Mrntoeal
P.S. Just scrambled this with a little program I made, really easy to crack if you have any knowledge of cryptography/puzzles!
We keep imagining you back because we like you, and you keep coming up with gems like this. Who says love can't be bought? Why would we allow you to deny your own existance when you prove yourself so useful?
P.S. The scrambler is a bit annoying. Think you could make that available to us as well?
Timothy Forster
Timothy Forster
You've got it then, its basically a random scrambler, so there's not much to show, if I was to but the text in again it would come out with something different. If you want a copy I'll upload next week as I'm going away for a few days.
Yours
Steve Lamerton
You know, if you scramble all the letter except for the first and last, the brain can still read it with little (if any)effort. Can you do it like that? I'll sure d/l it once it's ready.
---------------
Marge: Homer, the plant called. They said if you don't show up tomorrow don't bother showing up on Monday.
Homer: Woo-hoo. Four-day weekend.
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." -- Robert Frost
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: baby ain't mine." -- Adam Holguin
I could add that as well, expect to see it next week some time.
Yours
Steve Lamerton
(For the uninitiated)
I would,
like to deny this project in every way, in fact I would like to deny my now existence but some one keeps imagining me back, I'm looking for a release date around the end of the summer, if you are all lucky.
Yours
Steve Lamerton
----
Ryan McCue
Person 1: Oh my god. You will never believe what just happened.
Person 2: What?
Person 1: I can't remember, I've forgotten.
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
you're no fun! I'm just putting the final touches to the app before I upload it (somewhere).
Yours
Steve Lamerton
here it is, it's called Nash and you can get it from the link below, sorry about the naff hosting, nowhere else to put it at the moment, please note that it is licenced under the GPL and source is included.
[See comment below for link]
Yours
Steve Lamerton
You could have used the Libertà site, or just asked me
[See comment below for link]
----
Ryan McCue
Person 1: Oh my god. You will never believe what just happened.
Person 2: What?
Person 1: I can't remember, I've forgotten.
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
and could any comments regarding Nash be made in my blog please!
EDIT the new link is here http://slamerton.cubegames.net/Nash.zip
Yours
Steve Lamerton
My Blog
...actually, I got it twisted around.
I had guessed "Steve Montreal" for the dude's name
(Hey, why not - Berke Breathed's "Bloom County" strip has "Steve Dallas", right?...)
"I don't hate cats...as long as they stay on the freeway, where they belong."
- Brad Stine
SFX Creator source? were is the source? and does it take care of reg keys etc.?
other then that pretty cool start!
possible bug:
when i press the X button it doesnt exit IDK?
Slackware 12 for system
MCP (For XP and Server 2003)
Network + Certified
aim is "nycjv321" (minus quotes)
sorry, I wasn't prepared to release it, but I guess it's as good as it'll get.
Autoit source:
http://eyecreate.googlepages.com/sfxc.au3
NSIS script(not very complete, feel free to enhance and send back):
http://eyecreate.googlepages.com/sfx.nsi
About the X button, I know that it doesn't do that, It might be a problem with Autoit or a method I haven't found out about yet, but that is why I made an exit button. Hopefully I can figure out why. Until then, it isn't a major problem. I didn't know people would use it.
It doesn't do reg keys yet, but that is what I was planning to do, incorporate alot of the Portable App Template into it, or the other way around, and get them to mesh as one product.
Nobody should start to undertake a large project. You start with a small _trivial_ project, and you should never expect it to get large. If you do, you'll just overdesign and generally think it is more important than it likely is at that stage. Or worse,
That is the worst NSIS script I have ever seen with regards to actually doing anything!
Anyway, if you want some help to convert it from AutoIt to NSIS, just say the word
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Nwiz_plug-in is useful for compiling the scripts
----
Ryan McCue
Person 1: Oh my god. You will never believe what just happened.
Person 2: What?
Person 1: I can't remember, I've forgotten.
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
I'm not an NSIS expert or anything and only just recently even learned it. Could you explain more what you mean and what you want me to do with the download? Thanks! Sorry that the NSIS script wasn't very good.
Nobody should start to undertake a large project. You start with a small _trivial_ project, and you should never expect it to get large. If you do, you'll just overdesign and generally think it is more important than it likely is at that stage. Or worse,
the script up and then I'll upload it to a Pastebin.
----
Ryan McCue
Person 1: Oh my god. You will never believe what just happened.
Person 2: What?
Person 1: I can't remember, I've forgotten.
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
,elHol I llaeyr no'td gte the opitn of sith rrpm.oga
Cheat King
----------
Cheat King
----------
What don't you get? And which program are you referencing to?
Nobody should start to undertake a large project. You start with a small _trivial_ project, and you should never expect it to get large. If you do, you'll just overdesign and generally think it is more important than it likely is at that stage. Or worse,
I don't get the point of Nash.
Cheat King
----------
Cheat King
----------
It was just a quick, fun program of Steve's.
On that subject, I wonder if he'd be able to do a small favour for me...
----
Ryan McCue
Current Fav. Songs:
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
Yours
Steve Lamerton
My Blog
I'll send you an email, it should be a fairly trivial task.
----
Ryan McCue
Current Fav. Songs:
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
I'm busy until the end of the week so it'll be the beginning of next week before I can work on it, but send the mail anyway.
Yours
Steve Lamerton
My Blog
Hi everyone! i am newbie and interested making portable apps, look like it's very easy to install some basic application like firefox ... opera .. 7-zip...ect...
But i got a problem some application needs to install additional .exe like plugins and those .exe files need to extract into WINDIR and System32 how do i add or create a folder extract files to C:\WINDOWS to works with my Portable App.
I appreciate all your experience helps