Is it possible to 'Pin to start menu' using Inno Setup? - scripting

I'm using the excellent Inno Setup installer and I notice that some Applications (often from Microsoft) get installed with their launch icon already highly visible ('pinned?') in the start menu (in Windows 7). Am I totally reliant on the most-recently-used algorithm for my icon to be 'large' in the start menu, or is there a way of promoting my application from the installer please?

It is possible to pin programs, but not officially. Based on a code posted in this thread (which uses the same way as described in the article linked by #Mark Redman) I wrote the following:
[Code]
#ifdef UNICODE
#define AW "W"
#else
#define AW "A"
#endif
const
// these constants are not defined in Windows
SHELL32_STRING_ID_PIN_TO_TASKBAR = 5386;
SHELL32_STRING_ID_PIN_TO_STARTMENU = 5381;
SHELL32_STRING_ID_UNPIN_FROM_TASKBAR = 5387;
SHELL32_STRING_ID_UNPIN_FROM_STARTMENU = 5382;
type
HINSTANCE = THandle;
HMODULE = HINSTANCE;
TPinDest = (
pdTaskbar,
pdStartMenu
);
function LoadLibrary(lpFileName: string): HMODULE;
external 'LoadLibrary{#AW}#kernel32.dll stdcall';
function FreeLibrary(hModule: HMODULE): BOOL;
external 'FreeLibrary#kernel32.dll stdcall';
function LoadString(hInstance: HINSTANCE; uID: UINT;
lpBuffer: string; nBufferMax: Integer): Integer;
external 'LoadString{#AW}#user32.dll stdcall';
function TryGetVerbName(ID: UINT; out VerbName: string): Boolean;
var
Buffer: string;
BufLen: Integer;
Handle: HMODULE;
begin
Result := False;
Handle := LoadLibrary(ExpandConstant('{sys}\Shell32.dll'));
if Handle <> 0 then
try
SetLength(Buffer, 255);
BufLen := LoadString(Handle, ID, Buffer, Length(Buffer));
if BufLen <> 0 then
begin
Result := True;
VerbName := Copy(Buffer, 1, BufLen);
end;
finally
FreeLibrary(Handle);
end;
end;
function ExecVerb(const FileName, VerbName: string): Boolean;
var
I: Integer;
Shell: Variant;
Folder: Variant;
FolderItem: Variant;
begin
Result := False;
Shell := CreateOleObject('Shell.Application');
Folder := Shell.NameSpace(ExtractFilePath(FileName));
FolderItem := Folder.ParseName(ExtractFileName(FileName));
for I := 1 to FolderItem.Verbs.Count do
begin
if FolderItem.Verbs.Item(I).Name = VerbName then
begin
FolderItem.Verbs.Item(I).DoIt;
Result := True;
Exit;
end;
end;
end;
function PinAppTo(const FileName: string; PinDest: TPinDest): Boolean;
var
ResStrID: UINT;
VerbName: string;
begin
case PinDest of
pdTaskbar: ResStrID := SHELL32_STRING_ID_PIN_TO_TASKBAR;
pdStartMenu: ResStrID := SHELL32_STRING_ID_PIN_TO_STARTMENU;
end;
Result := TryGetVerbName(ResStrID, VerbName) and ExecVerb(FileName, VerbName);
end;
function UnpinAppFrom(const FileName: string; PinDest: TPinDest): Boolean;
var
ResStrID: UINT;
VerbName: string;
begin
case PinDest of
pdTaskbar: ResStrID := SHELL32_STRING_ID_UNPIN_FROM_TASKBAR;
pdStartMenu: ResStrID := SHELL32_STRING_ID_UNPIN_FROM_STARTMENU;
end;
Result := TryGetVerbName(ResStrID, VerbName) and ExecVerb(FileName, VerbName);
end;
The above code first reads the caption of the menu item for pinning or unpinning applications from the string table of the Shell32.dll library. Then connects to the Windows Shell, and for the target app. path creates the Folder object, then obtains the FolderItem object and on this object iterates all the available verbs and checks if their name matches to the one read from the Shell32.dll library string table. If so, it invokes the verb item action by calling the DoIt method and exits the iteration.
Here is a possible usage of the above code, for pinning:
if PinAppTo(ExpandConstant('{sys}\calc.exe'), pdTaskbar) then
MsgBox('Calc has been pinned to the taskbar.', mbInformation, MB_OK);
if PinAppTo(ExpandConstant('{sys}\calc.exe'), pdStartMenu) then
MsgBox('Calc has been pinned to the start menu.', mbInformation, MB_OK);
And for unpinning:
if UnpinAppFrom(ExpandConstant('{sys}\calc.exe'), pdTaskbar) then
MsgBox('Calc is not pinned to the taskbar anymore.', mbInformation, MB_OK);
if UnpinAppFrom(ExpandConstant('{sys}\calc.exe'), pdStartMenu) then
MsgBox('Calc is not pinned to the start menu anymore.', mbInformation, MB_OK);
Please note that even though this code works on Windows 7 (and taskbar pinning also on Windows 8.1 where I've tested it), it is really hacky way, since there is no official way to programatically pin programs to taskbar, nor start menu. That's what the users should do by their own choice.

There's a reason there's no programmatic way to pin things to the taskbar/start menu. In my experience, I have seen the start menu highlight newly-created shortcuts, and that's designed to handle exactly this situation. When you see a newly-installed program show up on the start menu, it's probably because of that algorithm and not because the installer placed it there.
That said, if a new shortcut does not appear highlighted, it may be because the installer extracts a pre-existing shortcut and preserves an old timestamp on it, rather than using the API function to create a shortcut in the start menu.

Have a look at: http://blogs.technet.com/deploymentguys/archive/2009/04/08/pin-items-to-the-start-menu-or-windows-7-taskbar-via-script.aspx

Related

Delphi Syntax error in FROM clause, but no from clause

I'm really new to Delphi and have not yet worked with SQL (I'm a complete beginner).
I use code to connect my database and tables to my program, but as soon as I run my program, I get a Syntax error in FROM clause message.
When I select break, it highlights end; of a part of the code.
function TADOCommand.Execute(var RecordsAffected: Integer;
const Parameters: OleVariant): _Recordset;
var
VarRecsAffected: OleVariant;
begin
SetConnectionFlag(cfExecute, True);
try
Initialize;
Result := CommandObject.Execute(VarRecsAffected, Parameters,
Integer(CommandObject.CommandType) + ExecuteOptionsToOrd
(FExecuteOptions));
RecordsAffected := VarRecsAffected;
finally
SetConnectionFlag(cfExecute, False);
end;
end;
I have three tables, of which two display on their grids, but one is not displaying on the grid, and also gives me the Syntax error in FROM clause when I want to do anything with it.
This is the code that I used to connect my database in the datamodule:
unit dmChamps_u;
interface
uses
System.SysUtils, System.Classes, ADODB, DB; // add Ado and DB
type
TdmChamps = class(TDataModule)
procedure DataModuleCreate(Sender: TObject);
private
{ Private declarations }
public
{ Public declarations }
conArchers: TADOConnection;
tblArchers: TADOTable;
tblJT: TADOTable;
tblMatches: TADOTable;
dscArchers: TDataSource;
dscMatches: TDataSource;
dscJT: TDataSource;
end;
var
dmChamps: TdmChamps;
implementation
{%CLASSGROUP 'Vcl.Controls.TControl'}
{$R *.dfm}
procedure TdmChamps.DataModuleCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
// create objects
conArchers := TADOConnection.Create(dmChamps);
tblArchers := TADOTable.Create(dmChamps);
tblMatches := TADOTable.Create(dmChamps);
tblJT := TADOTable.Create(dmChamps);
dscArchers := TDataSource.Create(dmChamps);
dscMatches := TDataSource.Create(dmChamps);
dscJT := TDataSource.Create(dmChamps);
// setup connection
conArchers.ConnectionString :=
'Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=ArchChampsDB.mdb;Mode=ReadWrite;Persist Security Info=False';
conArchers.LoginPrompt := false;
conArchers.Open;
// setup table archers
tblArchers.Connection := conArchers;
tblArchers.TableName := 'Archers';
// setup data source
dscArchers.DataSet := tblArchers;
tblArchers.Open;
// setup table matches
tblMatches.Connection := conArchers;
tblMatches.TableName := 'Matches';
// setup data source
dscMatches.DataSet := tblMatches;
tblMatches.Open;
// setup table JT
tblJT.Connection := conArchers;
tblJT.TableName := 'Judges/Timekeepers';
// setup data source
dscJT.DataSet := tblJT;
tblJT.Open;
end;
end.
I've looked through all of the questions on the From clause error already on the site, but none of the scenarios quite match my problem. I also went to Embarcadero's site and read about TableDirect, which I thought might be a possible solution, but it was already in the code.
Your error is here
tblJT.TableName := 'Judges/Judges';
You can't has a table with that name, or Judges or Timekeepers
You can solve do it:
// setup table J
tblJT.Connection := conArchers;
tblJT.TableName := 'Judges';
// setup data source
dscJT.DataSet := tblJT;
tblJT.Open;
Separated
// setup table T
tblJT.Connection := conArchers;
tblJT.TableName := 'Timekeepers';
// setup data source
dscJT.DataSet := tblJT;
tblJT.Open;
Maybe it is because of the slash in 'Judges/Timekeepers'.
Did you try to debug step by step going to the code in DataModuleCreate?

Input and output pipe in Lazarus TProcess

I would like to make a terminal with a Lazarus GUI application. But I'm in trouble. And I hope someone can help me, please.
Question1: The Chinese and other special chars cannot display normally, I would like to know how to fix this problem.
(code)Class of the thread and "run" button on click event
screenshot
Question2: I want to know how to input some command into the console. I tried to start a Windows cmd, and use "winver" command. But when I click the button, nothing happened.
The send command button
Winver is not console but a GUI program. To run a program with output into memo, use the following code, which retrieves version using the cmd.exe "ver" command. You can try to use this template for the first question too.
unit mainprocesstomemo;
{$mode delphi}{$H+}
interface
uses
Classes, SysUtils, Forms, Controls, Graphics, Dialogs, StdCtrls, Process, Pipes;
Type
{ TForm1 }
TForm1 = class(TForm)
Button1: TButton;
Memo1: TMemo;
procedure Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
private
public
procedure ProcessEvent(Sender,Context : TObject;Status:TRunCommandEventCode;const Message:string);
end;
var
Form1: TForm1;
implementation
{$R *.lfm}
{ TProcessMemo }
Type
TProcessToMemo = class(TProcess)
public
fmemo : Tmemo;
bytesprocessed : integer;
fstringsadded : integer;
function ReadInputStream(p:TInputPipeStream;var BytesRead:integer;var DataLength:integer;var Data:string;MaxLoops:integer=10):boolean;override;
end;
function RunCommandMemo(const exename:TProcessString;const commands:array of TProcessString;out outputstring:string; Options : TProcessOptions = [];SWOptions:TShowWindowOptions=swoNone;memo:TMemo=nil;runrefresh : TOnRunCommandEvent=nil ):boolean;
Var
p : TProcessToMemo;
i,
exitstatus : integer;
ErrorString : String;
begin
p:=TProcessToMemo.create(nil);
if Options<>[] then
P.Options:=Options - [poRunSuspended,poWaitOnExit];
p.options:=p.options+[poRunIdle];
P.ShowWindow:=SwOptions;
p.Executable:=exename;
if high(commands)>=0 then
for i:=low(commands) to high(commands) do
p.Parameters.add(commands[i]);
p.fmemo:=memo;
p.OnRunCommandEvent:=runrefresh;
try
result:=p.RunCommandLoop(outputstring,errorstring,exitstatus)=0;
finally
p.free;
end;
if exitstatus<>0 then result:=false;
end;
{ TForm1 }
procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var s : string;
begin
//RunCommandMemo('testit',[],s,[],swonone,memo1,ProcessEvent);
RunCommandMemo('cmd.exe',['/w','/c','ver'],s,[],swonone,memo1,ProcessEvent);
end;
procedure TForm1.ProcessEvent(Sender, Context: TObject;
Status: TRunCommandEventCode; const Message: string);
begin
if status in [RunCommandIdle, RunCommandFinished] then
begin
if status =RunCommandFinished then
begin
memo1.lines.add(' process finished');
end;
if tprocesstomemo(sender).fstringsadded>0 then
begin
tprocesstomemo(sender).fstringsadded:=0;
// memo1.lines.add('Handle:'+inttostr(tprocesstomemo(sender).ProcessHandle));
memo1.refresh;
end;
sleep(10);
application.ProcessMessages;
end;
end;
{ TProcessToMemo }
function TProcessToMemo.ReadInputStream(p:TInputPipeStream;var BytesRead:integer;var DataLength:integer;var Data:string;MaxLoops:integer=10):boolean;
var lfpos : integer;
crcorrectedpos:integer;
stradded : integer;
newstr : string;
begin
Result:=inherited ReadInputStream(p, BytesRead, DataLength, data, MaxLoops);
if (result) and (bytesread>bytesprocessed)then
begin
stradded:=0;
lfpos:=pos(#10,data,bytesprocessed+1);
while (lfpos<>0) and (lfpos<=bytesread) do
begin
crcorrectedpos:=lfpos;
if (crcorrectedpos>0) and (data[crcorrectedpos-1]=#13) then
dec(crcorrectedpos);
newstr:=copy(data,bytesprocessed+1,crcorrectedpos-bytesprocessed-1);
fmemo.lines.add(newstr);
inc(stradded);
bytesprocessed:=lfpos;
lfpos:=pos(#10,data,bytesprocessed+1);
end;
inc(fstringsadded,stradded); // check idle event.
end;
end;
end.
I don't know minecraft server, and many external programs might do weird things to the console. But a simple combination of programs to test with is here http://www.stack.nl/~marcov/files/processmemodemo.zip

InnoSetup v6 ARC Extraction, Minimize Broken

InnoSetup v6
Extracting from a FreeArc 0.67 (March 15 2014) Archive using temporary file unarc.exe, during the extraction process the minimize window button is broken.
Using FreeARC because it's the best compression software I can find to date.
During the archive decompression, the GUI window with the status message can't be minimized.
Clicking the window makes windows respond with a deny sound. How do I resolve this?
Something to do with "ProgressPage" or executing the arc command line?
Even with this page disabled, it does the same thing, so probably the setup waiting for the process to finish?
I am constantly working on improving and getting this fix because I got files that are in the 100 GB range that need to be compressed to save on disk space. Making a setup program for the extraction process makes it easier to install those files vs relying on the application that I must install first in order to do an extraction.
EDIT: I switch the extraction program from arc.exe to unarc.exe because arc.exe was crashing due to RAM issues.
#define ArcArchive "Test.arc"
[Setup]
AppName=Test App
DefaultDirName=Test App
AppVerName=Test App
WizardStyle=modern
Compression=lzma2
SolidCompression=yes
Uninstallable=no
DisableProgramGroupPage=yes
[Files]
Source: unarc.exe; Flags: dontcopy
[Code]
var
ProgressPage: TOutputProgressWizardPage;
ProgressFileName: string;
procedure ExtractArc;
var
ArcExtracterPath: string;
ArcArchivePath: string;
TempPath: string;
CommandLine: string;
ResultCode: Integer;
S: AnsiString;
Message: string;
begin
ExtractTemporaryFile('unarc.exe');
ProgressPage := CreateOutputProgressPage('Decompression', 'Decompressing archive...please wait');
ProgressPage.Show;
try
TempPath := ExpandConstant('{tmp}');
ArcExtracterPath := TempPath + '\unarc.exe';
ArcArchivePath := ExpandConstant('{src}\{#ArcArchive}');
ProgressFileName := ExpandConstant('{tmp}\progress.txt');
Log(Format('Expecting progress in %s', [ProgressFileName]));
CommandLine :=
Format('"%s" x -o+ -dp"%s" "%s" > "%s"', [
ArcExtracterPath, ExpandConstant('{app}'), ArcArchivePath, ProgressFileName]);
Log(Format('Executing: %s', [CommandLine]));
CommandLine := Format('/C "%s"', [CommandLine]);
if not Exec(ExpandConstant('{cmd}'), CommandLine, '', SW_HIDE,
ewWaitUntilTerminated, ResultCode) then
begin
RaiseException('Cannot start extracter');
end
else
if ResultCode <> 0 then
begin
LoadStringFromFile(ProgressFileName, S);
Message := Format('Arc extraction failed failed with code %d', [ResultCode]);
Log(Message);
Log('Output: ' + S);
RaiseException(Message);
end
else
begin
Log('Arc extraction done');
end;
finally
{ Clean up }
Log('Arc extraction cleanup');
ProgressPage.Hide;
DeleteFile(ProgressFileName);
end;
Log('Arc extraction end');
end;
procedure CurStepChanged(CurStep: TSetupStep);
begin
if CurStep = ssPostInstall then
begin
ExtractArc;
end;
end;

Can Inno Setup send key and mouse presses, if not, how can this be done using an Installer?

I'm a newbie to both [Microsoft Windows] installers and Inno Setup but I need to know if Inno Setup (or an equivalent) can be used automate the input to a GUI-based windows program, during install, e.g. by clicking on a menu and selecting a sub-item, for instance?
I'm aware of AutoIt and AutoHotkey, as well as NSIS, however Inno Setup comes highly recommended as a software packager/installer, and I also like the idea of learning a little Pascal programming, into the bargain ;)
Any ideas or thoughts are most welcome :-)
I agree with #Deanna, the SendInput function is the best for simulating user input you can get. In the following script I've shown how to simulate mouse clicks on the absolute screen position (in pixels). As an example I'm trying to show Inno Setup's about box through the Help / About Inno Setup menu item (if you would have the same screen settings as me and have the Inno Setup IDE maximized, it may even hit that menu item. So here's just the mouse part (and only limited functionality you can get). Take it rather as a proof, that it's possible to simulate user input from Inno Setup:
[Setup]
AppName=My Program
AppVersion=1.5
DefaultDirName={pf}\My Program
OutputDir=userdocs:Inno Setup Examples Output
[code]
const
SM_CXSCREEN = 0;
SM_CYSCREEN = 1;
INPUT_MOUSE = 0;
MOUSEEVENTF_MOVE = $0001;
MOUSEEVENTF_LEFTDOWN = $0002;
MOUSEEVENTF_LEFTUP = $0004;
MOUSEEVENTF_RIGHTDOWN = $0008;
MOUSEEVENTF_RIGHTUP = $0010;
MOUSEEVENTF_MIDDLEDOWN = $0020;
MOUSEEVENTF_MIDDLEUP = $0040;
MOUSEEVENTF_VIRTUALDESK = $4000;
MOUSEEVENTF_ABSOLUTE = $8000;
type
TMouseInput = record
Itype: DWORD;
dx: Longint;
dy: Longint;
mouseData: DWORD;
dwFlags: DWORD;
time: DWORD;
dwExtraInfo: DWORD;
end;
function GetSystemMetrics(nIndex: Integer): Integer;
external 'GetSystemMetrics#user32.dll stdcall';
function SendMouseInput(nInputs: UINT; pInputs: TMouseInput;
cbSize: Integer): UINT;
external 'SendInput#user32.dll stdcall';
function SendMouseClick(Button: TMouseButton; X, Y: Integer): Boolean;
var
Flags: DWORD;
Input: TMouseInput;
ScreenWidth: Integer;
ScreenHeight: Integer;
begin
Result := False;
Flags := MOUSEEVENTF_ABSOLUTE or MOUSEEVENTF_VIRTUALDESK or MOUSEEVENTF_MOVE;
ScreenWidth := GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXSCREEN);
ScreenHeight := GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYSCREEN);
Input.Itype := INPUT_MOUSE;
Input.dx := Round((X * 65536) / ScreenWidth);
Input.dy := Round((Y * 65536) / ScreenHeight);
case Button of
mbLeft: Input.dwFlags := Flags or MOUSEEVENTF_LEFTDOWN;
mbRight: Input.dwFlags := Flags or MOUSEEVENTF_RIGHTDOWN;
mbMiddle: Input.dwFlags := Flags or MOUSEEVENTF_MIDDLEDOWN;
end;
Result := SendMouseInput(1, Input, SizeOf(Input)) = 1;
if Result then
begin
Input.Itype := INPUT_MOUSE;
Input.dx := Round((X * 65536) / ScreenWidth);
Input.dy := Round((Y * 65536) / ScreenHeight);
case Button of
mbLeft: Input.dwFlags := Flags or MOUSEEVENTF_LEFTUP;
mbRight: Input.dwFlags := Flags or MOUSEEVENTF_RIGHTUP;
mbMiddle: Input.dwFlags := Flags or MOUSEEVENTF_MIDDLEUP;
end;
Result := SendMouseInput(1, Input, SizeOf(Input)) = 1;
end;
end;
procedure InitializeWizard;
begin
if MsgBox('Are you sure you want to let the installer click ' +
'somewhere on your screen ? TLama warned you :-)', mbConfirmation,
MB_YESNO) = IDYES then
begin
if not SendMouseClick(mbLeft, 242, 31) then
MsgBox(SysErrorMessage(DLLGetLastError), mbError, mb_Ok);
if not SendMouseClick(mbLeft, 382, 263) then
MsgBox(SysErrorMessage(DLLGetLastError), mbError, mb_Ok);
end;
end;
The best bet for this is to use the SendInput() API from a DLL that you then call from Inno Setup.
This will allow full control of everything you can do manually in that application.

.NET Framework as a pre-requisite for installation with Inno-Setup

I have an application I have to check if .NET FW 3.5 has already installed. If already installed, I want to open a messagebox that asks the user to download it from Microsoft website and stop the installation.
I found the following code. Can you tell me please:
a) Where should I call this function from?
b) Should I check if .NET FW 3.5 or higher version is already installed? e.g. If FW 4.0 installed - is that necessary to install 3.5?
Thank you
function IsDotNET35Detected(): Boolean;
var
ErrorCode: Integer;
netFrameWorkInstalled : Boolean;
isInstalled: Cardinal;
begin
result := true;
// Check for the .Net 3.5 framework
isInstalled := 0;
netFrameworkInstalled := RegQueryDWordValue(HKLM, 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v3.5', 'Install', isInstalled);
if ((netFrameworkInstalled) and (isInstalled <> 1)) then netFrameworkInstalled := false;
if netFrameworkInstalled = false then
begin
if (MsgBox(ExpandConstant('{cm:dotnetmissing}'), mbConfirmation, MB_YESNO) = idYes) then
begin
ShellExec('open',
'http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=333325fd-ae52-4e35-b531-508d977d32a6&DisplayLang=en',
'','',SW_SHOWNORMAL,ewNoWait,ErrorCode);
end;
result := false;
end;
end;
If you want to perform your check when the installation starts but before the wizard form is shown, use the InitializeSetup event handler for it. When you return False to that handler, the setup will abort, when True, setup will start. Here's a little bit optimized script you've posted:
[Setup]
AppName=My Program
AppVersion=1.5
DefaultDirName={pf}\My Program
[CustomMessages]
DotNetMissing=.NET Framework 3.5 is missing. Do you want to download it ? Setup will now exit!
[Code]
function IsDotNET35Detected: Boolean;
var
ErrorCode: Integer;
InstallValue: Cardinal;
begin
Result := True;
if not RegQueryDWordValue(HKLM, 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v3.5',
'Install', InstallValue) or (InstallValue <> 1) then
begin
Result := False;
if MsgBox(ExpandConstant('{cm:DotNetMissing}'), mbConfirmation, MB_YESNO) = IDYES then
ShellExec('', 'http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=333325fd-ae52-4e35-b531-508d977d32a6&DisplayLang=en',
'', '', SW_SHOWNORMAL, ewNoWait, ErrorCode);
end;
end;
function InitializeSetup: Boolean;
begin
Result := IsDotNET35Detected;
end;