Portable App Development

Just need to get my head around the [RegistryKeys] launcher entries...

So taking the example

[RegistryKeys]
app=HKCU\software\app

On launch
If there is no registry file in %PAL:DataDir%\settings, the live registry key is backed up and then deleted. There will be no key left in the live registry.
If there is a registry file in %PAL:DataDir%\settings the live registry key is deleted and backed up and replaced by the %PAL:DataDir%\settings entry.

At end of run

It seems that there is no documentation for %WINDIR% which might work (not tested) but I found no equivalent of NSIS $SYSDIR which is required to portabilize many admin applications.

[Moved from PortableApps.com Platform support to Portable App Development forum - mod Chris]

In reviewing a program with RegShot I received the following entries:

C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\xxx\NTUSER.DAT.LOG
C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch\xxx.EXE-3868F2CB.pf
C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch\FIREFOX.EXE-1D57670A.pf
C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch\xxx.EXE-1035DFC7.pf
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\software.LOG

(some characters I have replaced through a "x" sign)

Do I have to note the above items, or can I ignore them?

Does anyone know how I can code a system call within the 2.0 launcher/code? Basically I need to refresh the desktop once the launched application has closed - in order to reset the original desktop. I thought that RefreshShellIcons might be enough, but this obviously doesn't seem to refresh the desktop. Without it, the desktop only reverts to its original state on the next windows logon.

I have a portable app (Eclipse Portable) that spawns a compiler (iverilog.exe). However, the compiler--which is installed under the portable app's folder--requires DLLs. I can make the compiler run by copying the DLLs to the Windows\System32 folder on the host machine. Of course, this makes the PortableApp no longer portable.

Does anyone know how to setup the PortableApp to locate the DLLs? Or configure the environment variables?

I'm new to using the PA Installer, but I get this error when using it:

Processed 1 file, writing output:
Adding plug-ins initializing function... Done!
Error: invalid VIProductVersion format, should be X.X.X.X
Error - aborting creation process

Could someone please give me a clue as to what to look for? I did a search and saw this happening 3 years ago but I'm not able to ascertain what the problem is.

does any one have an example or know of an app that uses this function in the launcher.ini for PA.c Launcher 2.0

i only ask cause i am having a hard time understanding the manual and an example of how it is used would allow me to see how it is used.

thanks in advanced.

ok, from what i understand if i wish to include custom segments for the PA.c Launcher i must have a file named PortableApps.comLauncherCustom.nsh in my source directory.

now if i want to add several segments i would have the PortableApps.comLauncherCustom.nsh file and any files called by PortableApps.comLauncherCustom.nsh

for example, here would be one part of my custom segment

PortableApps.comLauncherCustom.nsh code


!include "GetDXVersion.nsh"

Section "Main"
CheckDirectXVersion:
Call GetDXVersion
Pop $R0
IntCmp $R0 801 GetINIOptions 0 GetINIOptions


When you have an online app, and there is a firewall running on the pc, I am asked to allow the app connection to download chrome for example.

Normally this is fine, but when you use the updater within the platform it causes problems.

I am told that there is no connection to download, so I allow the prompt from the firewall and the updater carries on, only it skips chrome.

This means that the install is messed up because it has deleted the old install and now there is nothing for the launcher to do but give a "not found" error.

If I find an app, which is freeware but not Open Source software, is it enough to contact the developer per email to get the permission for creation of a portable app after the PortableApps.com standard?