PortableApps are great for PC install (unpack & run) and great for distribution (unpack, preconfigure & send a copy to user). In that way I miss an multiuser install option (call it half portable) that puts Data directory in %APPDATA%
Yes, I know the whole point of portability its to use only one directory, and avoid %APPDATA%. But, as sysadmin, I see PortableApps+%APPDATA% a very good and easy way to deploy software with a one-liner:
xcopy /s \\server\dir\my_preconfigured_PortableApp %PROGRAMFILES%\Portable\
If data directory is the only read/write data, and the rest is read only... it should work.
I think its benefits overcome the developer cost. (At least mention it as an "bonus" option for future developments in PortableApps guidelines).
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However, it's not that hard to use the INI file to redirect all the locations.
Insert original signature here with Greasemonkey Script.
You can't do that. For starters, those that support it support it only relative to $EXEDIR (so if you enter "C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming" you'll end up with "C:\PortableApps\AppNamePortable\C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming" which won't work, from memory it'll dump the : and continue on) and also most of our applications don't support custom directory layouts any more and soon none of them will (i.e. the universal launcher won't be supporting it) unless we come up with a very good reason to support it.
I am a Christian and a developer and moderator here.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
How about
..\..\..\Local Application Data\?Insert original signature here with Greasemonkey Script.
Currently we don't have any way of implementing that. It's something which I've thought about and which I've implemented for BPBible at school (except there I've stuck data in H:\ProgramData\BPBible rather than $APPDATA and the program goes in S:\Applications\BPBible - I reckon that portable applications in general (there are exceptions) should be able to work from a server with the App directory read-only; this won't work for some which need their data in their App directory when they're running).
I'll see what John reckons about adding this as a variant of Live mode (for running from read-only media such as a CD, it copies what it needs to the local disk, runs it and then deletes it). I think that it could be a useful way of having it. John, when we get the first beta out I'm willing to do this (fairly straightforward mutation of Live mode, just need to make sure that we don't do any Renames for any of this stuff where it'll be on a different volume).
I am a Christian and a developer and moderator here.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1