Author Topic: New Portable Mode for My Apps (Read 33,370 times)

mouser · « **on:** October 04, 2008, 05:16 PM »

Just wanted to mention that i've finished coding an improved Portable mode for my bigger apps, which has been long requested. I will add support for it as I release new versions (first up will be Screenshot Captor).

I'll post more details with the individual programs, but basically the Portable mode uses the special ConfigDir.ini file that I introduced in earlier versions that let's you customize the configuration/settings directory for a program's data files.

Now if you edit the ConfigDir.ini file and add a line saying:
Portable=TRUE

That setting tells the program to use the application directory for the settings/configuration files, and to not write any license key information or other data to any other directory.

Entering a license key in Portable mode will also only save license data in the app directory (you can also copy your license key from your installed version on your pc).

Ehtyar · « **Reply #1 on:** October 04, 2008, 08:17 PM »

Thank you Mouse Man, very much appreciated here.

Ehtyar.

lanux128 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 05, 2008, 01:47 AM »

this often requested feature will come in very handy.

wreckedcarzz · « **Reply #3 on:** October 05, 2008, 03:59 AM »

Just wondering, can you come up with some type of system similar to what PortableApps.com has? I use their suite + every program they have (literally) on my 1GB flash drive (its a cram).

Personal preference, but I find the system logical and the GUI management for it just perfect.

Deozaan · « **Reply #4 on:** October 05, 2008, 05:02 AM »

Cool! Thanks mouser!

AbteriX · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2008, 10:07 AM »

WOW prima, thank you mouser

Falcon_four · « **Reply #6 on:** October 08, 2008, 08:41 PM »

Great!!

Thanks Mouser!!!!

>>>>F-4>>>>

superboyac · « **Reply #7 on:** April 20, 2009, 05:17 PM »

mouser, a comment on your portable feature.

If I understand correctly, to install on a USB drive, I just run your installer and specify the USB drive path for the install. Wouldn't it be better to just be able to unzip to the USB drive manually? The reason is that I don't want a computer that already has your software locally installed to get confused on which installation is the current one. For example, I have FARR installed locally, but I want it on the USB drive. If i run the installer, now the Windows Add/Remove program will think I'm updating the current install or add a new (duplicate entry). And then what happens to my local start menu? Does it get confused? Am I thinking of this correctly? I'm having the same questions with Linkman Pro. I just think portables work better as zips, no install...just for this situation.

mouser · « **Reply #8 on:** April 20, 2009, 05:45 PM »

Quote

If I understand correctly, to install on a USB drive, I just run your installer and specify the USB drive path for the install. Wouldn't it be better to just be able to unzip to the USB drive manually?

No. You do NOT have to run the installer.

The installers I create are actually "zip-compatible-exes", which means you can unzip them exactly as if they were .zip files, and then just run the programs from the unzipped location.

superboyac · « **Reply #9 on:** April 20, 2009, 05:59 PM »

Quote from: mouser on April 20, 2009, 05:45 PM

Quote
If I understand correctly, to install on a USB drive, I just run your installer and specify the USB drive path for the install. Wouldn't it be better to just be able to unzip to the USB drive manually?

No. You do NOT have to run the installer.

The installers I create are actually "zip-compatible-exes", which means you can unzip them exactly as if they were .zip files, and then just run the programs from the unzipped location.

I see. i never knew you could do that. Thanks.

superboyac · « **Reply #10 on:** April 20, 2009, 06:08 PM »

What about the relative path thing, how do I do that?

mouser · « **Reply #11 on:** April 20, 2009, 06:23 PM »

depends where you need to refer to a relative path..
but for example in FARR, you can use:
%APPDRIVE%
%FARRDIR%

other programs (screenshot captor, launchbar commander, etc.) are similar.

launchbar commander will actual try to fixup drive letter if it changes.

superboyac · « **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2009, 06:35 PM »

Quote from: mouser on April 20, 2009, 06:23 PM

depends where you need to refer to a relative path..
but for example in FARR, you can use:
%APPDRIVE%
%FARRDIR%

other programs (screenshot captor, launchbar commander, etc.) are similar.

launchbar commander will actual try to fixup drive letter if it changes.

OK thanks. Looks like I'll have to fiddle around with the setup. Ugh...I'm so busy...let me give a big thanks for this stuff working great right out the box so far. I haven't had time lately to go into software and check out all the options...I miss it.

superboyac · « **Reply #13 on:** April 21, 2009, 04:44 PM »

mouser, i've extracted the files as you said to my usb. now, how can I copy all my configurations from your various programs and transfer them to usb? From there, i will tweak it for portable use. i just don't want to start out from scratch completely.

mouser · « **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2009, 04:48 PM »

just copy the .ini configuration files from your existing installations to the usb drive.

afterwords you can edit the settings from within the program to change any drive letters, OR you could open the .ini files in a text editor and look for drive letters to change manually.

superboyac · « **Reply #15 on:** April 21, 2009, 05:04 PM »

Quote from: mouser on April 21, 2009, 04:48 PM

just copy the .ini configuration files from your existing installations to the usb drive.

afterwords you can edit the settings from within the program to change any drive letters, OR you could open the .ini files in a text editor and look for drive letters to change manually.

Excellent! Thank you, that's what I kind of thought, I just wanted to make sure.

superboyac · « **Reply #16 on:** May 04, 2009, 09:54 PM »

Quote from: mouser on April 20, 2009, 06:23 PM

launchbar commander will actual try to fixup drive letter if it changes.

i'm configuring this right now. I'm entering the path on the usb for the "custom file explorer". Are you saying that LBC will automatically change all these letters according to whatever drive letter gets assigned to the USB? So, I don't have to do any of the relative path "..\" business?

mouser · « **Reply #17 on:** May 04, 2009, 11:11 PM »

Quote

Are you saying that LBC will automatically change all these letters according to whatever drive letter gets assigned to the USB? So, I don't have to do any of the relative path "..\" business?

yes. and if it doesnt work i will make it work.

superboyac · « **Reply #18 on:** May 04, 2009, 11:29 PM »

Quote from: mouser on May 04, 2009, 11:11 PM

Quote
Are you saying that LBC will automatically change all these letters according to whatever drive letter gets assigned to the USB? So, I don't have to do any of the relative path "..\" business?

yes. and if it doesnt work i will make it work.

you are amazing.

f0dder · « **Reply #19 on:** May 04, 2009, 11:34 PM »

Quote from: mouser on May 04, 2009, 11:11 PM

Quote
Are you saying that LBC will automatically change all these letters according to whatever drive letter gets assigned to the USB? So, I don't have to do any of the relative path "..\" business?
yes. and if it doesnt work i will make it work.

...a few years later

mouser · « **Reply #20 on:** May 05, 2009, 02:43 AM »

hush!