Download and install the NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) package
From here.
Run the NSIS installation package using their setup wizard:
Write an NSIS (*.nsi) script file
An .nsi file is just a text file with script code.
Commands are in the format: command [parameters]
Comments are included using ‘#’ or ‘;’ or C-style comments /* …. */
A simple example nsi script is shown here:
; Example.nsi ; ; Very simple example: all optional settings left as default. ; Installer asks user where to install, and drops copy of "Program.exe" there. ; Name the installer Name "Example" ; Set the installer output file name OutFile "ExampleInstaller.exe" ; Set the default installation directory InstallDir $PROGRAMFILES\Arrayjet\Sprint ; Set the text to prompt user to enter a directory DirText "This will install My Cool Program on your computer. Choose a directory" ; Specify all files needed for installation Section "MainSection" SEC01 ; Set output path to the installation directory, ; where INSTDIR = C:\Program Files\Arrayjet\Sprint SetOutPath $INSTDIR ;Create the installation directory CreateDirectory $INSTDIR ; Put file there File Program.exe File Text.txt SectionEnd
Save it as an .nsi file.
Compile the .nsi file
Open the .nsi file in the MakeNSISW tool and will automatically compile, highlighting any errors if there are any:
It will also create the installation executable for you:
Run the installer
Running this executable will create the directory C:\Program Files\Arrayjet\Sprint and insert the “Text.txt” and “Program.exe” files for you.
A more complicated example
The following nsi script, when compiled will generate an installation package that will create/install:
… ‘Welcome’/’Installation’/’Finish’ installation pages
… an complete un-install package
… software version information
… multiple files installed (exe, chm, pdf) from input folder
… a set of dlls for the the system32 folder
… the desired font
… new directories at chosen locations
… program shortcuts at chosen desktop/start menu locations
… required strings written to the registry
These functionlities are all self-documented inside the script:
# Auto-generated by EclipseNSIS Script Wizard
# 14-Sep-2011 14:19:38
Name "Command Centre™ for Sprint"
# General Symbol Definitions
!define REGKEY "SOFTWARE\$(^Name)"
!define VERSION 1.2.0
!define COMPANY Arrayjet
!define URL http://www.arrayjet.co.uk
# MUI Symbol Definitions
!define MUI_ICON "resources\Common files\Small Instrument Software 1.0.ico"
!define MUI_FINISHPAGE_NOAUTOCLOSE
!define MUI_FINISHPAGE_RUN "$INSTDIR\Command Centre™ for Sprint v1.2.exe"
!define MUI_UNICON "${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Graphics\Icons\modern-uninstall.ico"
!define MUI_UNFINISHPAGE_NOAUTOCLOSE
# Included files
!include Sections.nsh
!include MUI.nsh
# Variables
Var StartMenuGroup
# Installer pages
!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_WELCOME
!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_INSTFILES
!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_FINISH
!insertmacro MUI_UNPAGE_CONFIRM
!insertmacro MUI_UNPAGE_INSTFILES
# Installer languages
!insertmacro MUI_LANGUAGE English
# Installer attributes
OutFile "Command Centre™ for Sprint v1.2.exe"
InstallDir "$PROGRAMFILES\Arrayjet\Sprint Software"
CRCCheck on
XPStyle on
ShowInstDetails show
VIProductVersion 1.2.0.0
VIAddVersionKey ProductName "Sprint Software"
VIAddVersionKey ProductVersion "${VERSION}"
VIAddVersionKey CompanyName "${COMPANY}"
VIAddVersionKey CompanyWebsite "${URL}"
VIAddVersionKey FileVersion "${VERSION}"
VIAddVersionKey FileDescription ""
VIAddVersionKey LegalCopyright ""
InstallDirRegKey HKLM "${REGKEY}" Path
ShowUninstDetails show
# Installer sections
Section -MainInstallFolder SEC0000
SetOutPath $INSTDIR
SetOverwrite on
File "resources\Command Centre™ for Sprint v1.0 Help.chm"
File "resources\Command Centre™ for Sprint v1.0 User Manual.pdf"
File "resources\Command Centre™ for Sprint v1.2.exe"
File "resources\Command Centre™ Release Notes v1.0.chm"
File "resources\inst_param.aj"
File "resources\Common files\runtime.aj"
File "/oname=Sprint.ico" "resources\Common files\Small Instrument Software 1.0.ico"
WriteRegStr HKLM "${REGKEY}\Components" MainInstallFolder 1
SectionEnd
Section -windowsFiles SEC0001
SetOutPath $SYSDIR
SetOverwrite try
File "resources\Common files\msvcr71.dll"
File "resources\Common files\msvcr70.dll"
File "resources\Common files\msvcp71.dll"
File "resources\Common files\MSVCI70.dll"
File "resources\Common files\MFC71.dll"
File "resources\Common files\mfc70.dll"
WriteRegStr HKLM "${REGKEY}\Components" windowsFiles 1
SectionEnd
Section -fonts SEC0002
SetOutPath $FONTS
SetOverwrite on
File "resources\Common files\lte50331.ttf"
WriteRegStr HKLM "${REGKEY}\Components" fonts 1
SectionEnd
Section -folders SEC0003
SetOutPath $INSTDIR
SetOverwrite on
CreateDirectory "LogFiles"
CreateDirectory "Output Files"
WriteRegStr HKLM "${REGKEY}\Components" folders 1
SectionEnd
Section -shortcuts SEC0004
SetShellVarContext all
SetOutPath "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuGroup"
CreateShortcut "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuGroup\Command Centre™ for Sprint.lnk" "$INSTDIR\Command Centre™ for Sprint v1.2.exe" "" "$INSTDIR\Sprint.ico"
CreateShortcut "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuGroup\Help.lnk" "$INSTDIR\Command Centre™ for Sprint v1.0 Help.chm"
CreateShortcut "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuGroup\User Manual.lnk" "$INSTDIR\Command Centre™ for Sprint v1.0 User Manual.pdf"
CreateShortcut "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuGroup\Uninstall.lnk" "$INSTDIR\Uninstall.exe"
SetOutPath $DESKTOP
CreateShortcut "$DESKTOP\Command Centre™ for Sprint.lnk" "$INSTDIR\Command Centre™ for Sprint v1.2.exe" "" "$INSTDIR\Sprint.ico"
WriteRegStr HKLM "${REGKEY}\Components" shortcuts 1
SectionEnd
Section -post SEC0005
WriteRegStr HKLM "${REGKEY}" Path $INSTDIR
SetOutPath $INSTDIR
WriteUninstaller $INSTDIR\uninstall.exe
WriteRegStr HKLM "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\$(^Name)" DisplayName "$(^Name)"
WriteRegStr HKLM "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\$(^Name)" DisplayVersion "${VERSION}"
WriteRegStr HKLM "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\$(^Name)" Publisher "${COMPANY}"
WriteRegStr HKLM "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\$(^Name)" URLInfoAbout "${URL}"
WriteRegStr HKLM "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\$(^Name)" DisplayIcon $INSTDIR\uninstall.exe
WriteRegStr HKLM "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\$(^Name)" UninstallString $INSTDIR\uninstall.exe
WriteRegDWORD HKLM "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\$(^Name)" NoModify 1
WriteRegDWORD HKLM "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\$(^Name)" NoRepair 1
SectionEnd
# Macro for selecting uninstaller sections
!macro SELECT_UNSECTION SECTION_NAME UNSECTION_ID
Push $R0
ReadRegStr $R0 HKLM "${REGKEY}\Components" "${SECTION_NAME}"
StrCmp $R0 1 0 next${UNSECTION_ID}
!insertmacro SelectSection "${UNSECTION_ID}"
GoTo done${UNSECTION_ID}
next${UNSECTION_ID}:
!insertmacro UnselectSection "${UNSECTION_ID}"
done${UNSECTION_ID}:
Pop $R0
!macroend
# Uninstaller sections
Section /o -un.folders UNSEC0004
RmDir "$INSTDIR\LogFiles"
RmDir "$INSTDIR\Output Files"
RmDir $SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuGroup
Delete /REBOOTOK $INSTDIR\*
RmDir /REBOOTOK $INSTDIR
Delete /REBOOTOK $INSTDIR\*
RmDir /REBOOTOK $INSTDIR
Delete $PROGRAMFILES\$INSTDIR\*
RmDir $PROGRAMFILES\$INSTDIR
RmDir $PROGRAMFILES\Arrayjet
DeleteRegValue HKLM "${REGKEY}\Components" folders
SectionEnd
Section /o -un.fonts UNSEC0003
Delete /REBOOTOK $FONTS\lte50331.ttf
DeleteRegValue HKLM "${REGKEY}\Components" fonts
SectionEnd
Section /o -un.windowsFiles UNSEC0002
Delete /REBOOTOK $SYSDIR\mfc70.dll
Delete /REBOOTOK $SYSDIR\MFC71.dll
Delete /REBOOTOK $SYSDIR\MSVCI70.dll
Delete /REBOOTOK $SYSDIR\msvcp71.dll
Delete /REBOOTOK $SYSDIR\msvcr70.dll
Delete /REBOOTOK $SYSDIR\msvcr71.dll
DeleteRegValue HKLM "${REGKEY}\Components" windowsFiles
SectionEnd
Section /o -un.MainInstallFolder UNSEC0001
Delete $INSTDIR\runtime.aj
Delete $INSTDIR\inst_param.aj
Delete "$INSTDIR\Command Centre™ Release Notes v1.0.chm"
Delete /REBOOTOK "$INSTDIR\Command Centre™ for Sprint v1.2.exe"
Delete /REBOOTOK "$INSTDIR\Command Centre™ for Sprint v1.0 User Manual.pdf"
Delete /REBOOTOK "$INSTDIR\Command Centre™ for Sprint v1.0 Help.chm"
Delete /REBOOTOK "$INSTDIR\Sprint.ico"
DeleteRegValue HKLM "${REGKEY}\Components" MainInstallFolder
SectionEnd
Section /o -un.shortcuts UNSEC0000
SetShellVarContext all
Delete "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuGroup\Command Centre™ for Sprint.lnk"
Delete "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuGroup\Help.lnk"
Delete "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuGroup\User Manual.lnk"
Delete "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuGroup\Uninstall.lnk"
Delete "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuGroup\*.*"
RMDir "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuGroup"
Delete "$DESKTOP\Command Centre™ for Sprint.lnk"
DeleteRegValue HKLM "${REGKEY}\Components" shortcuts
SectionEnd
Section -un.post UNSEC0005
DeleteRegKey HKLM "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\$(^Name)"
Delete /REBOOTOK $INSTDIR\uninstall.exe
DeleteRegValue HKLM "${REGKEY}" Path
DeleteRegKey /IfEmpty HKLM "${REGKEY}\Components"
DeleteRegKey /IfEmpty HKLM "${REGKEY}"
RmDir /REBOOTOK $INSTDIR
SectionEnd
# Installer functions
Function .onInit
InitPluginsDir
StrCpy $StartMenuGroup "Arrayjet"
FunctionEnd
# Uninstaller functions
Function un.onInit
ReadRegStr $INSTDIR HKLM "${REGKEY}" Path
StrCpy $StartMenuGroup "Arrayjet"
!insertmacro SELECT_UNSECTION shortcuts ${UNSEC0000}
!insertmacro SELECT_UNSECTION MainInstallFolder ${UNSEC0001}
!insertmacro SELECT_UNSECTION windowsFiles ${UNSEC0002}
!insertmacro SELECT_UNSECTION fonts ${UNSEC0003}
!insertmacro SELECT_UNSECTION folders ${UNSEC0004}
FunctionEnd
