[phaolo]

Hello,
I'm creating unattended setups for various applications.
Some of them require extraction + execution, so I decided to use Winrar SFX archives.

To my surprise, however, the SFX archives (sometimes?) don't wait for the command termination!

For example they don't wait for:
- bat files launched by the SFX (you can try with "pause" command)
- some exe files (you can try with "notepad.exe")
- some setups like net framewok (the SFX closes almost immediately while NetFx installs)

Am I doing something wrong? I need the "wait" option for my RunOnceEx setup!
Is there a switch to ORDER winrar to wait for the command termination, or something else?

Help!

This post has been edited by phaolo: 10 January 2011 - 02:12 PM

[phaolo]

Noone?
Can someone, at least, confirm or deny the SFX behaviour?
Maybe it's just my Winrar version problem.. ?

[Geej]

Try to make your post useful by posting your full problematic WINRAR sfx config.
If you can be more specific to your problem, you might get faster reply.

[phaolo]

Geej, on 14 January 2011 - 02:31 AM, said:

Try to make your post useful by posting your full problematic WINRAR sfx config.
If you can be more specific to your problem, you might get faster reply.

Ok, thanks, I'll post some examples (as I'm having this problem with ALL Winrar SFX).
I just need a confirmation for now.

---

Execution example:
1- a RunOnceEx or batch procedure calls a SFX ("start /wait" is not the problem here)
2- the SFX extracts its files.
3- the SFX launches its Setup program silently (if needed).
4- the SFX closes immediately instead of waiting.
5- the RunOnceEx or batch procedure is free to continue, even if the Setup has just started, thus overlapping to next commands.
6- random effects!

---

SFX config examples:

Directx repackaged x86:

Path="%SYSTEMROOT%\Temp\directx"
SavePath
Setup="%SYSTEMROOT%\Temp\directx\dxsetup.exe" /silent            <-- the switch outside the quotes is correct 
Silent=1
Overwrite=1

Random program with batch commands and settings:

Path="%SYSTEMROOT%\Temp\spybot"
SavePath
Setup="%SYSTEMROOT%\Temp\spybot\temp.bat"
Silent=1
Overwrite=1

---

I've found some workarounds by calling the "Setups" directly from hdisk if extracted, or directly from the dvd if already uncompressed.
Works, but Winrar SFX are not behaving as I expected from them.. (and those SFX become non-portable)

This post has been edited by phaolo: 14 January 2011 - 08:28 AM

[Kelsenellenelvian]

Quote

Setup=Directx.bat
TempMode
Silent=1
Overwrite=1

Why does it work this way?

EACH winrar sfx file creates its own temp dir in the temp folder. (TempMode)

Setup calls a file in that folder...

Yes it is that easy!

EDIT: Forgot to ad when the setup file is done winrar cleans up.

This post has been edited by Kelsenellenelvian: 14 January 2011 - 08:58 AM

[phaolo]

OMG, it works that way!!
It's so strange.. I expected a command like "Wait=1" at least.
TempMode is very good for big setups, but for some direct extractions I'll have to use xcopy.

Example:
(very simple case just for clarity)

Vlc sfx contents:
----------------------
vlc-qt-interface.ini
restoreext.bat

Vlc sfx current commands:
---------
Path="%APPDATA%\vlc"
SavePath
Setup="%APPDATA%\vlc\restoreext.bat"
Silent=1
Overwrite=1

This would need TempMode for the wait, but it shouldn't delete the files afterwards!
SFX setup should ALWAYS wait!

Anyway, I don't have other choices.
So.. useful tip Kelsenellenelvian, thanks!

This post has been edited by phaolo: 14 January 2011 - 12:05 PM

[Geej]

phaolo, on 14 January 2011 - 12:03 PM, said:

Example:
(very simple case just for clarity)

Vlc sfx contents:
----------------------
vlc-qt-interface.ini
restoreext.bat

Vlc sfx current commands:
---------
Path="%APPDATA%\vlc"
SavePath
Setup="%APPDATA%\vlc\restoreext.bat"
Silent=1
Overwrite=1

This would need TempMode for the wait, but it shouldn't delete the files afterwards!
SFX setup should ALWAYS wait!

Try the following winrar sfx, (using 2 setup commands):

;The comment below contains SFX script commands

Setup=vlc-1.1.5-win32.exe /S
Setup=restoreext.bat
TempMode
Silent=1
Overwrite=1

restoreext.bat code as follows:

@echo off
REM Applicable for T13 only as %appdata% is not availble for use
Set defaultApvlc="%userprofile%\Application Data\vlc"
md %defaultApvlc%
copy vlc-qt-interface.ini %defaultApvlc%

Your sfx exe should contains 3 files: vlc-1.1.5-win32.exe, restoreext.bat & vlc-qt-interface.ini

Edit: modify restoreext.bat

This post has been edited by Geej: 17 January 2011 - 07:33 PM

[MHz]

phaolo, on 14 January 2011 - 12:03 PM, said:

...
SFX setup should ALWAYS wait!

Anyway, I don't have other choices.
...

You can try to supply the SFX with an executable for handling the bat file so that the SFX may have the task of handling the process direct.

This command may help:

"%COMSPEC%" /c "%APPDATA%\vlc\restoreext.bat"

Note that %COMSPEC% is a environmental variable to the command interpreter. The parameter "/c" initiates the command interpreter into command line mode.

[phaolo]

Oh, I've missed your last reply Geej, but I see that it suggests the batch copy method I've used.

For direct extractions + config, I've just used a temp.bat file to:
-copy files\dir (copy\xcopy).
-apply settings or run other programs.

Anyway I've changed ALL ( ) my archives to temp modes and now they work properly!
The complete application setup lasted 60 mins more, but that's the price to pay for stability.


-SendToA3X v1.7
I know the %COMSPEC% trick, thanks, but I usually adopt it with START /wait
What's the purpose in the vlc example? The SFX now should wait for the .bat with TempMode.

This post has been edited by phaolo: 22 January 2011 - 05:36 PM