It didn't work calling the cmd from 7zip, although it did work just executing the cmd directly from the directory.

run.cmd:

It is as if 7zip ONLY wants to call setup.exe because that is the errer I get: A small box titled 7zip and text saying "Can not find setup.exe". This is strange since I've nowhere mentioned setup.exe. Doesn't 7zip execute the install command in the directory it has just extracted to (I think it should but I'm starting to doubt it.)? Then, if the install command is unavailable - which it isn't - it launches the default "setup.exe". Well, if no one can give me an explaination to this behavior, I'm starting to smell a serious bug...

BTW what's the advantage of using the StartX.exe method as the guide describes as opposed to a .cmd file?

And I just testet that even WinRAR works with the .cmd. I'm afraid I'm about to give up on 7zip if I don't find a solution

Regards,
FoLmEr

KEYTOTIME u are the best. your guide is fantastic

i understood it and applied it right away without any problems.

best regards.

Ok...you will all call me a newbie, but where do I place the code?
This part totally confuses me atm.

The guide is not really clear on that part ( for me )

Can someone explain this part of the guide a bit more

Thx in advance.

VATERNL -NEWBIE-

It should.
By using StartX.exe in combination with the /wait, you are forcing it to complete the script (run.cmd) before it continues to your next command in your batch file.

KEYTOTIME,

I know prior MSI experience is probably required but so many have touted how easy this guide is to follow. I have tried it about 20 times with different apps .exe and.msi and cannot get one successful package. So bear with me I am going to try and hash out what I am doing and maybe some of the veterans can help me out.

Your instructions translated by a noob.
1 Download and install the latest version of 7-Zip.
Easy enough. I had 7-zip installed. (Success!)

2 Make a folder to copy all of the installation files to. If you are using a .msi include StartX.exe in the folder.

Copy all the installation files? I assumed you were referring to any files required to install the application we are trying to package. If I am using .msi I must include StartX.exe in the folder with the installation files. (Success)

3 Select all of them and right click on any file.

Select all the installation files and archive them with 7zip. (Success)

4 Select "Add to archive...", which is under the select option..
Ok...
5 You can make the archive name to whatever you want it to be. Set the compression level to Ultra.

Created "Fake Application.7z" (Success)
6 Hit OK. Once the archive is created, you can delete all files except the archive.

Delete all installation files except "Fake Application.7z" (Success)

7 Go to the 7-Zip directory and copy 7zS.sfx to the folder containing the archive.

Copied 7zS.sfx from Program Files\7-zip to folder with Fake Application.7z (Success)

8 If you want, you can change the icon of the installer by replacing the icon in 7zS.sfx using ResHacker. For example, you can use the icon from the main program. Remember to save 7zS.sfx when you're finished.

Umm assumed this was optional. Didn't do this.

9 Open Notepad and add the following:

created config.txt


10 Save as config.txt with UTF-8 encoding by selecting "UTF-8" from the dropdown menu in the "Save As..." dialog in Notepad. Save it to the same folder as 7zS.sfx and the 7z archive.

Saved as UTF-8 text file in the folder with Fake Application.7z (Success)

11 The folder should now look something like this:

My folder consists of :
Fake Application.7z
config.txt
7zS.sfx

12 Open a command prompt. CD to the folder. Then enter the following command:

Typed following in cmd prompt window in folder with 3 files listed above.

Your guide says 7zx.sfx I assumed it was 7zS.sfx.


That's it, you're done. Try it out.

Launch Fake Application.exe and it extracts but displays the MSI Installer switches dialog.

When trying to create packages with the .exes I had no luck and when trying with the .msi it extracts to the temp folder and I can go into the C:\Temp\7zS4C.tmp and see the contents of my package extracted. The package however just prompts me with the Windows Installer dialog that shows you with all the switches which led me to believe I used the wrong switch. I tried several combinations from the list displayed without any success.

Any glaringly obvious mistakes I have made?

Thanks for your time

EDIT : Hrm must be a quote tag limit LOL

Is the name of the app under 8 characters and has no spaces? Here are two of mine that work. Thank's i fixed the typo.

Ok with that knowledge I now I have working 7-zip installers! Thank you for your patience.

Thank's to you i was unaware of that before. Updated first page.

@FoLmEr.

Try this

DigitalAZ

it u are hving problems with keytotime guide

i have a video! yes a video on how to 7zip office 2003

check the link on my sig

keytotime

u are welcome to link or use my video as a ref to making 7zip.

i write this Autoit Code to auto creat .7z files or .exe(from sfx Files)
but ExE file after built not run the program in SFX comint it alwyes run setup.exe

i don't know wherr is error??!!!


;----------------------------------------------------------------------------
; AutoIt Version: 3.1.0
; Author: Ahmed Bayomy
; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
if not FileExists("7za.exe") then FileCopy(@ProgramFilesDir & "\7-zip\7za.exe",@ScriptDir & "\7za.exe")
if not FileExists("7z.sfx") then FileCopy(@ProgramFilesDir & "\7-zip\7z.sfx",@ScriptDir & "\7z.sfx")
if not FileExists("7zs.sfx") then FileCopy(@ProgramFilesDir & "\7-zip\7zs.sfx",@ScriptDir & "\7zs.sfx")

if $CmdLine[0] =0 then
MsgBox(0,"Help","Parameters : " & @CRLF & " Folder name to creat 7z file " & @CRLF & " /SFX to creat .EXE " & @CRLF & " Filename to make .exe with autorun this file")
Exit
EndIf

dim $Command,$File
$7zFile='"' & $CmdLine[1] & '.7z"'
$Command="7za.exe a -t7z -mx9 " & $7zFile & ' "' & $CmdLine[1] & '\*" -r -y'
RunWait($Command,"",@SW_HIDE )
if $CmdLine[0] >1 then
if $CmdLine[2]="/SFX" Then
RunWait(@ComSpec & " /c " & "Copy /b " & @ScriptDir & "\7z.sfx + " & $7zFile & ' "' & $CmdLine[1] & '.exe"',"",@SW_HIDE)
FileDelete($7zFile)
Else
;~ -----------------------------
dim $7TXT
$7TXT=FileOpen(@ScriptDir & "\7z.txt",2)
FileWrite($7TXT,";!@Install@!UTF-8!" & @CRLF)
FileWrite($7TXT,"RunProgram=" & '"' & $CmdLine[2] & '"' & @CRLF)
FileWrite($7TXT,";!@InstallEnd@!" & @CRLF)
RunWait(@ComSpec & " /C " & 'Copy /b "' & @ScriptDir & '\7zs.sfx" + "' & @ScriptDir & '\7z.txt" + ' & $7zFile & ' "' & $CmdLine[1] & '.exe"');,"",@SW_HIDE)
EndIf
EndIf

No idea, don't do autoit

Is anybody interested in using the custom 7zS.sfx I made which puts the % complete on the right side of the title bar? I'll post it if there's interest.

yes plz ryan

OK, here you go. This is the same base SFX module I use for my switchless installers. It's got the % complete on the right side of the title (which I think looks better) and only has the extraction progress meter with no cancel button. I compiled it myself with MSVC++ 2003.

cool, only 1 prob u left the original icons eww lol

well, it leaves it open for you to change to your liking

I've gotten this going so well, but say I want to taskkill a program after installing... Where would I put the takkill explorer.exe or etc..?

look @ the beginning of this thread.. theres a guide lol

The only way i can see that I can put stuff like that in is through the config.txt with a .bat file, but completely defeats the purpose of a 7zip installer, cos the extraction would have to go to the same place everytime so i can use the .bat file, I just want it to extract to a temp dir and make a .bat install then copy over crack, then delete temp. That way only 1 file is needed. Can someone tell me what to do?

I have followed the guide to the letter and failed with PowerDVD both trial and retail versions and a number of other apps too. In fact if I double click my PowerDVD installer from a Windows environment it works perfectly and silently, but when I call it from my RunOnceEx it prompts for the install directory - therefore not silent.
I have now given up trying to make one as I'm getting nowhere and "helpful" suggestions like read the guide again dont assist anyone. I have read it so many times I can quote it verbatim. The guide is good and well written.
Suggestions:
1. maybe a list of apps that have been successful
2. maybe ryanvm or someone could post this customised SFX module that will be more tolerant at the start of the thread

Or is it a case of certain apps are never going to be able to be made into switchless installers by this generic method?