New: OneLoupe (May 1, 2025), Platform 30.0.2 (Mar 27, 2025)
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Hi All,
I have searched through the forum, but I did not find the answer directly.
I manage to create a Portable App, but, I just need to create a PAF.EXE file, in order to let it "install" via the PAM.
Can anobody tell me the "secret"? 
Thanks a lot in advance...
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Move all the files (i.e. App folder, Data folder, WhateverPortable.exe, etc.) into a subdirectory called Files. Edit installer.nsi (available from any of the recent releases) to your specifications (usually just the names, but you'll need to comment out the
!define MUI_WELCOMEFINISHPAGE_BITMAP wizard.bmpline so that it compiles (wizard.bmp is a copyrighted file and is not distributed). Then compile as you would with any NSIS file, et viola. One PAF installer."If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
Hi Ryan,
Jee, thanks. I have a PAF.EXE, thanks a lot!.
I just need to fine-tune the Installer.nsi.
Be sure I'll do my contribution here!
In case a new dev comes along and needs more info, here ya go...
wizard.bmp is the graphic you see on the left while the install wizard is running.
Here are two examples:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cr.yp.to/2004-494/gaim/0.8...
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://fresh.t-systems-sfr.com/un...
What I did for my installer wizard graphic is just grab one of the pre-built ones out of the NSIS examples files, rename it "wizard.bmp" and stick it in the same directory as the installer.nsi file (that's where the script looks for it by default).
Try looking in .\NSIS\Contrib\Graphics\Wizard\ (and don't use an "uninstall graphic by mistake).
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It took me a while to figure out what is going on with the Wizard.BMP file. It seems that only John may compile PAF and portable apps that include the copyright images or trademark names. What this means is that other people who are working on files that follow the PA standard, even if they hope the files will eventually be included in John's PA collection, should start out using other images and phrases.
The thing about that is, when (if) John decides that they are worth adding to his collection, he will need to recreate the distributable with the copyrighted/trademarked stuff. So it is best set your paf.exe up so that is easy to do. For example, name the image you use in your paf.exe file wizard.bmp, so that when John goes to compile it, all he has to do is copy his version of the file over yours. Similarly, if you have his trademarked phrases in variables defined at the beginning of the script, then all he has to do is put his text into those variables, rather than hunt around in the source code to find them.
MC
so that when John goes to compile it
He's got a new system worked out for the future on a way to use it without having to compile it yourself.
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
I figured something would be coming. I was trying to give some pointers to keep newcomers from getting too frustrated -- and hopefully with some keywords that will let search find the article. I'm glad to hear John's going to make it easier eventually.
MC