Running some DOS batch file to install a program simply scares users off, so,
how could I turn/compile them an .exe with Window's interface for
alert/validation/status update etc? Preferably not to get too involved...

Thanks in advance.

Don

anythingreally wrote:
> Running some DOS batch file to install a program simply scares users off, so,
> how could I turn/compile them an .exe with Window's interface for
> alert/validation/status update etc? Preferably not to get too involved...
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Don

I've never heard of any programs that could compile a .BAT into an .EXE but
why bother -- there are real install programs out there which will unpack,
create directories, install, make registry changes, etc. And some of them
are free. Try a Google search for "freeware install program" (without the
quotes) and see what pops up. Download and try some of the free ones -- one
of them will probably do the job.

--
John McGaw
http://johnmcgaw.com

anythingreally wrote:

> Running some DOS batch file to install a program simply scares users off, so,
> how could I turn/compile them an .exe with Window's interface for
> alert/validation/status update etc? Preferably not to get too involved...
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Don

Anything simple, such as a *.bat file, converted into using
the Windows GUI is involved. The easiest is to change the
mindset of the end user with, perhaps, inserting comments and
pauses into the DOS *.bat file. Failing this, the alternative
might to be convert the DOS batch file into an *.exe file. Look
in Google...programs do exist to make the conversion.

John McGaw said this on 3/7/2009 8:47 PM:
> anythingreally wrote:
>> Running some DOS batch file to install a program simply scares users
>> off, so, how could I turn/compile them an .exe with Window's interface
>> for alert/validation/status update etc? Preferably not to get too
>> involved...
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Don
>
> I've never heard of any programs that could compile a .BAT into an .EXE
> but why bother -- there are real install programs out there which will
> unpack, create directories, install, make registry changes, etc. And
> some of them are free. Try a Google search for "freeware install
> program" (without the quotes) and see what pops up. Download and try
> some of the free ones -- one of them will probably do the job.
>
> --
> John McGaw
> http://johnmcgaw.com

Nullsoft Install software is one of them that comes to my mind. It
seems to be quite robust. Google should find its source. There's a
heck of a learning curve on it though.

Thank you all. I took a quick look at Nullsoft Install software, sounds
interesting, I don't mind learning curve, however, I wish there's some sort
of sample code or even write-up on creating a Windowish Installer for DOS
batch centric installation process/controls, I have about 10 batch files.
In the past, I've tried some batch file conversion tools (to .exe) but none
worked. The package is quite involved...

"Big_Al" wrote:

> John McGaw said this on 3/7/2009 8:47 PM:
> > anythingreally wrote:
> >> Running some DOS batch file to install a program simply scares users
> >> off, so, how could I turn/compile them an .exe with Window's interface
> >> for alert/validation/status update etc? Preferably not to get too
> >> involved...
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance.
> >>
> >> Don
> >
> > I've never heard of any programs that could compile a .BAT into an .EXE
> > but why bother -- there are real install programs out there which will
> > unpack, create directories, install, make registry changes, etc. And
> > some of them are free. Try a Google search for "freeware install
> > program" (without the quotes) and see what pops up. Download and try
> > some of the free ones -- one of them will probably do the job.
> >
> > --
> > John McGaw
> > http://johnmcgaw.com
>
> Nullsoft Install software is one of them that comes to my mind. It
> seems to be quite robust. Google should find its source. There's a
> heck of a learning curve on it though.
>
>

Read more on Nullsoft Install, the tutorial didn't seem to touch anything on
how to call DOS batch file etc., if I drop all the these batch files, and
re-start with this one, it may take much more efforts, the batch files are
wasted (they seem to be quite robust). thks.

"Big_Al" wrote:

> John McGaw said this on 3/7/2009 8:47 PM:
> > anythingreally wrote:
> >> Running some DOS batch file to install a program simply scares users
> >> off, so, how could I turn/compile them an .exe with Window's interface
> >> for alert/validation/status update etc? Preferably not to get too
> >> involved...
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance.
> >>
> >> Don
> >
> > I've never heard of any programs that could compile a .BAT into an .EXE
> > but why bother -- there are real install programs out there which will
> > unpack, create directories, install, make registry changes, etc. And
> > some of them are free. Try a Google search for "freeware install
> > program" (without the quotes) and see what pops up. Download and try
> > some of the free ones -- one of them will probably do the job.
> >
> > --
> > John McGaw
> > http://johnmcgaw.com
>
> Nullsoft Install software is one of them that comes to my mind. It
> seems to be quite robust. Google should find its source. There's a
> heck of a learning curve on it though.
>
>

"anythingreally" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:F0970C5B-06CC-484D-943F-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Running some DOS batch file to install a program simply scares users off,
> so,
> how could I turn/compile them an .exe with Window's interface for
> alert/validation/status update etc? Preferably not to get too involved...
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Don

There are a number of batch file compilers around but they all fail when it
comes to processing advanced commands. The best place to ask this question
would be alt.msdos.batch.nt. You'll find the top-notch experts on batch
files there.

Why should your users be scared off by batch files? Surely it all depends on
what interface you give them! Agreed, they will see a black screen instead
of a pretty GUI, but functionally there needs to be no difference to a
compiled file. You might also consider using VB Script files if you wish to
give your users some basic GUI and make your files a lot more powerful. As a
tiny example: Paste this following line into c:\test.vbs, then double-click
it:

msgbox "Do you want ketchup with your fries?", 4, "Test Dialog"

Bat To Exe-Converter converts batch-script files to exe files.

Features:

- Ghost applications.
- Additional binaries, icons, version information.
- Hidden source.

Bat To Exe Converter 400 KB (Freeware)
Info: http://www.f2ko.de/English/b2e/index.php
Download: http://www.f2ko.de/downloads/Bat_To_Exe_Converter.zip


ju.c


"anythingreally" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:F0970C5B-06CC-484D-943F-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Running some DOS batch file to install a program simply scares users off, so,
> how could I turn/compile them an .exe with Window's interface for
> alert/validation/status update etc? Preferably not to get too involved...
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Don

On Mar 8, 3:11*am, "Pegasus" <n...@microsoft.com> wrote:
> "anythingreally" <anythingrea...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>
> news:F0970C5B-06CC-484D-943F-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> > Running some DOS batch file to install a program simply scares users off,
> > so,
> > how could I turn/compile them an .exe with Window's interface for
> > alert/validation/status update etc? *Preferably not to get too involved...
>
> > Thanks in advance.
>
> > Don
>
> There are a number of batch file compilers around but they all fail when it
> comes to processing advanced commands. The best place to ask this question
> would be alt.msdos.batch.nt. You'll find the top-notch experts on batch
> files there.
>
> Why should your users be scared off by batch files? Surely it all dependson
> what interface you give them! Agreed, they will see a black screen instead
> of a pretty GUI, but functionally there needs to be no difference to a
> compiled file. You might also consider using VB Script files if you wish to
> give your users some basic GUI and make your files a lot more powerful. As a
> tiny example: Paste this following line into c:\test.vbs, then double-click
> it:
>
> msgbox "Do you want ketchup with your fries?", 4, "Test Dialog"

Thanks for the pointer of a better-suited NG, just sent a post there.
On the current DOS batch-driven installer, yes, functionally it works
fine and actually simpler, a user only needs to press a single key of
Y to start installation, however, as I mentioned today's younger
genertion/user expectation is beyond me... they expect GUI ...

On your VB sample script, nice, runs perfectly, now, you got me
started... how to call DOS Batch from VB script? did a quick search
for tutorial, the one found either too simple or not relevant to my
need...

On Mar 8, 10:32*am, "ju.c" <bibidybubidyb...@mailinator.com> wrote:
> Bat To Exe-Converter converts batch-script files to exe files.
>
> Features:
>
> - Ghost applications.
> - Additional binaries, icons, version information.
> - Hidden source.
>
> Bat To Exe Converter *400 KB *(Freeware)
> Info:http://www.f2ko.de/English/b2e/index.php
> Download:http://www.f2ko.de/downloads/Bat_To_Exe_Converter.zip
>
> ju.c
>
> "anythingreally" <anythingrea...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>
> news:F0970C5B-06CC-484D-943F-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
>
> > Running some DOS batch file to install a program simply scares users off, so,
> > how could I turn/compile them an .exe with Window's interface for
> > alert/validation/status update etc? *Preferably not to get too involved...
>
> > Thanks in advance.
>
> > Don- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks, but I'm not sure it is able to handle it...