HowTo: Add batch files to the PortableApps.com Platform

This is sar3th's Guide on adding batch files to the PortableApps.com Platform with screenshots. Anyone who reads through this and follows these simple steps should be able to add any batch file to his/her PortableApps.com Platform
Note: depending on your operating system and your settings, your system might look a bit different than mine. This shouldn't be a problem though, since you will find all the required things in your system at the same place.

Jumplist

• Requirements
• Basic step-by-step guide
• Advanced steps (optional)

Requirements

• Basic computer knowledge
• Batch file(s)
• PortableApps.com Platform
• Notepad

For the optional advanced steps, you will need IcoFX. You can also use IcoFX Portable.

Basic step-by-step guide

1. Open the installation folder of your PortableApps.com Platform [Screenshot]
2. Navigate into the PortableApps folder [Screenshot]
3. Create a new subfolder. Name it anything you like, but do not use spaces! In my example, i will call my folder ExampleApplicationPortable [Screenshot]
4. Navigate into your new subfolder. Now, copy your batch file(s) and all required files into it. My batch files are called example1.bat and example2.cmd. They don't require any other files, so i don't need to copy anything else. [Screenshot]
5. Create a new subfolder. Call it App. [Screenshot]
6. Go into your new App folder. Creae another new subfolder and call it appinfo. [Screenshot]
7. Now, open Notepad. To do this, click on Start, then point to Programs, Accessories and then, click on Notepad. [Screenshot]
8. Paste the following code into your notepad window. Details about its function can be found at this site.
   

   [Format]
   Type=PortableApps.comFormat
   Version=2.0
   
   [Details]
   Name=ExampleApplication Portable
   AppId=ExampleApplicationPortable
   Publisher=sar3th
   Homepage=PortableApps.com/node/21757
   Category=Utilities
   Description=ExampleApplication Portable is an ExampleApplication for this guide.
   Language=English
   
   [License]
   Shareable=true
   OpenSource=true
   Freeware=false
   CommercialUse=true
   
   [Version]
   PackageVersion=1.0.0.1
   DisplayVersion=1.0 Release 1
   
   [Control]
   Icons=2
   Start=example1.bat
   Start1=example1.bat
   Name1=ExampleApplication Example 1
   Start2=example2.cmd
   Name2=ExampleApplication Example 2

   Now go ahead and change the settings to match your needs.
   Important notes:

   • If you want more icons, change the number of Icons accordingly and add new StartX= entries, where X is the number of the icon
   • If you only want one icon to be shown, change
     

     Icons=2

     to

     Icons=1

     and remove

     Start1=example1.bat
     Name1=ExampleApplication Example 1
     Start2=example2.cmd
     Name2=ExampleApplication Example 2

   • More information can be obtained here.

   [Screenshot] (outdated)

9. Choose File->Save As. Now navigate to your appinfo folder. Use "appinfo.ini" as file name. [Screenshot]
10. Close Notepad. Restart your PortableApps.com Platform. Your new icons will show up. [Screenshot]

Advanced steps (optional)
You can easily change the icons of your newly created entries. To do that, you will either need an ico file or two PNGs with the dimensions of 32x32 and 16x16. You can easily generate them from any icon yourself using IcoFX. In this example, i will show you how to save the Images as ico file.

1. Open IcoFX. Close the Tip of the day if it appears by clicking its close button. [Screenshot]
2. Open your desired icon. [Screenshot]
3. Click File, Save As. Navigate to your appinfo folder, and name the file appicon [Screenshot]
4. If you have multiple icons, make sure you name them appicon1.ico, appicon2.ico, ... [Screenshot]
5. Restart your PortableApps Platform [Screenshot]

Changelog

• 06.12.2009 Initial post
• 07.11.2011 Updated to PAF 2.0

Questions? Suggestions? Improvements?
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