create a CAB file to run install a load of programs in one go?

[Guest duke_stix]

Hey

Recently i've had to do a number of re-flashes due to a particular homescreen plugin (lcdplug :) ) causing issues with my phone.

what im wondering is the following:

currently, whenever i install any programs onto my phone such as file explorers, ebook readers and task managers, i install them straight to the storage card as to put it plainly, i dont have much free space onboard the 8310 (something crazy like 10mbs, which is nothing!)

how difficult would it be to create a cab file that would either

a) re-install ALL the programs i require/like in one go, (so that i just run that single CAB and it installs all the software for my phone in one go one after the other without any intervention from me)

or to

:D create a CAB file that would 're-make' all relevant shortcuts from the /Storage Card/Program Files folder into the /Windows/Start Menu folder

im guessing it would be considerably easier to do the second?

i have a *little* coding knowledge with HTML and i've been able to customise my own homescreens but thats the limits of my 'skills' as it were!

if anyone could point me in the direction of either creating a CAB file or even if somebody would like to work with me on this, it would be great! as im sure it would be needed!

any help with this would be greatly appreciated!

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

Hi there. I hope you won't mind me replying on your thread to assist. :)

I would like to address option B. A simple solution to option B is compiling your LNKs into an installable CAB file. Months back, I've prepared a simple utility for Windows XP able to generate INF then compile stuffs into a CAB file.

Here is how to use it:

1. Once downloaded, extract the content of the zip archive to a folder on your PC.

2. Clicking the EXE generates 6 folders (Folder 0 - Folder 5)

3. Place all stuffs you'd like to compile on those folders. Since you'd like to compile the LNKs (Start Menu shortcuts), you will have to copy-paste them from phone onto the designated folders.

Examine this screenshot:

a. The folder to the left of the image is \Storage\windows\Start Menu (phone-side). This would be the main folder. There are 4 sub-folders inside named Accessories, Games, Orange, Configurations

b. InfoCab XP is at the middle of the pix.

c. The right-most folder is where you have InfoCabXP executable file plus the generated folders (PC-side).

Folder 0 = contents of \Storage\windows\Start Menu

Folder 1 = contents of \Storage\windows\Start Menu\Orange

Folder 2 = contents of \Storage\windows\Start Menu\Games

Folder 3 = contents of \Storage\windows\Start Menu\Configurations

Folder 4 = contents of \Storage\windows\Start Menu\Accessories

Active Sync, Calendar, Call History, Camera etc... should therefore be dumped to Folder 0

4. Once ready, click the left-most button on InfoCab XP to generate the INF. The button next to it should only be click once there is an INF.

Below is the INF based on my sample screenshots...

;; INF Generated by InfoCab XP Revision 1

;;			www.gpcarreon.com


[Version]

Signature="$Windows NT$"

CESignature="$Windows CE$"

Provider="duke_stix"


[CEStrings]

AppName="My Shortcuts"


[CEDevice]

ProcessorType=0


[SourceDisksNames]

1=,Source1,,"Folder0"

2=,Source2,,"Folder1"

3=,Source3,,"Folder2"

4=,Source4,,"Folder3"

5=,Source5,,"Folder4"

6=,Source6,,"Folder5"


[SourceDisksFiles]

"ActiveSync.lnk"=1

"Calendar.lnk"=1

"Call History.lnk"=1

"Camera.lnk"=1

"Contacts.lnk"=1

"fireplayer.lnk"=1

"Internet Explorer.lnk"=1

"Java.lnk"=1

"Messaging.lnk"=1

"MSN Messenger.lnk"=1

"Multimedia Album.lnk"=1

"Music Player.lnk"=1

"pvPlayer.lnk"=1

"RJV Date Calculator.lnk"=1

"SecuriT.lnk"=1

"Settings.lnk"=1

"SimTkUI.lnk"=1

"Tasks.lnk"=1

"Video Recorder.lnk"=1

"Voice Notes.lnk"=1

"Voicemail.lnk"=1

"WMPlayer.lnk"=1

"Applications.lnk"=2

"Back Up.lnk"=2

"Downloads.lnk"=2

"Orange Help.lnk"=2

"Orange Plus.lnk"=2

"Photo Contacts.lnk"=2

"Pictures.lnk"=2

"Ringtones.lnk"=2

"Try Card.lnk"=2

"Video.lnk"=2

"Jawbreaker.lnk"=3

"More Games.lnk"=3

"Solitaire.lnk"=3

"CSD Line Type.lnk"=4

"GPRS Authentication.lnk"=4

"MMS Settings.lnk"=4

"ATCIUI.lnk"=5

"Calculator.lnk"=5

"Clear Storage.lnk"=5

"File Manager.lnk"=5

"SIM Manager.lnk"=5

"Space Maker.lnk"=5

"Speed Dial.lnk"=5

"Task Manager.lnk"=5


[DestinationDirs]

Main=0,"\Storage\windows\Start Menu"

Folder1=0,"\Storage\windows\Start Menu\Orange"

Folder2=0,"\Storage\windows\Start Menu\Games"

Folder3=0,"\Storage\windows\Start Menu\Configurations"

Folder4=0,"\Storage\windows\Start Menu\Accessories"


[Main]

"ActiveSync.lnk"

"Calendar.lnk"

"Call History.lnk"

"Camera.lnk"

"Contacts.lnk"

"fireplayer.lnk"

"Internet Explorer.lnk"

"Java.lnk"

"Messaging.lnk"

"MSN Messenger.lnk"

"Multimedia Album.lnk"

"Music Player.lnk"

"pvPlayer.lnk"

"RJV Date Calculator.lnk"

"SecuriT.lnk"

"Settings.lnk"

"SimTkUI.lnk"

"Tasks.lnk"

"Video Recorder.lnk"

"Voice Notes.lnk"

"Voicemail.lnk"

"WMPlayer.lnk"


[Folder1]

"Applications.lnk"

"Back Up.lnk"

"Downloads.lnk"

"Orange Help.lnk"

"Orange Plus.lnk"

"Photo Contacts.lnk"

"Pictures.lnk"

"Ringtones.lnk"

"Try Card.lnk"

"Video.lnk"


[Folder2]

"Jawbreaker.lnk"

"More Games.lnk"

"Solitaire.lnk"


[Folder3]

"CSD Line Type.lnk"

"GPRS Authentication.lnk"

"MMS Settings.lnk"


[Folder4]

"ATCIUI.lnk"

"Calculator.lnk"

"Clear Storage.lnk"

"File Manager.lnk"

"SIM Manager.lnk"

"Space Maker.lnk"

"Speed Dial.lnk"

"Task Manager.lnk"


[DefaultInstall]

CopyFiles=Main, Folder1, Folder2, Folder3, Folder4

If you click the Make CAB button, this would be the output CAB. This is just a demo from my C550, some links on it may no work on your phone especially when the target files are non-existent (not installed on your phone)

duke_stix_s_My_Shortcuts.cab

Study the INF codes then correlate with what you see on the screenshot. I find it easy learning that way. If you have spare time, check this demo video: http://www.gpcarreon.com/InfoCabXP/

CAB and INF MSDN articles worth visiting:

Creating a .CAB File (SP)

Creating an INF

Sorry for the long post. Good luck. :D

[Guest duke_stix]

hey

gpcarreon, not a problem at all! thanx for the reply!

going to have a crack at this at the weekend when i get a chance to sit down in front of my pc for longer than 10minutes!

i reckon this would be a useful guide to post up, as im pretty sure im not the only person who finds it a PITA to reinstall all his/her software after doing a hard reset!

once again, gpcarreon, THANK YOU!

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

YOU are most welcome. I'll be checking this thread from time to time to see if there is anything I can do to help. Throw only easy questions a Newbie like me could answer. :)

[Guest duke_stix]

GPCARREON, you are a LEGEND!

now, to figure out how to go about doing a regedit!

any pointers with this?

ta

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

Just a stroke of luck. :)

As for the registry codes, kindly check this reply:

http://www.modaco.com/index.php?showtopic=...mp;#entry782278

Scenario:

Say you'd like to incorporate a registry key on your CAB which is able to modify the ECall list and use 163, 171, 08, 999 as the reg values

Your sample code:

;;; Other INF Sections here previously discussed;;;



[AddRegistry] <-- THIS IS IMPORTANT

HKLM,"Security\ECall","List",0x00010000,"163","171","08","999"


[DefaultInstall]

CopyFiles=CopyFiles1 <--- This is just a sample entry

AddReg=AddRegistry <--- THIS IS IMPORTANT

This line:

HKLM,"Security\ECall","List",0x00010000,"163","171","08","999"

...means

1. Create a registry key named 'List' at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ECall

2. 'List' is a multi-string registry data with the ff values: 163, 171, 08, and 999

This line at the [DefaultInstall] section:

AddReg=AddRegistry

...means add the registry values at the [AddRegistry] section onto your CAB. If you do not specify 'AddReg=AddRegistry' line, your CAB will not change any registry data on the phone.

What's in the line HKLM,"Security\ECall","List",0x00010000,"163","171","08","999" ?

Once again, study the codes then correlate with the screenshot. Have a pleasant day. :D

[Guest duke_stix]

going to revive this thread:

GPCARREON, i call to ye, o god of CAB's!

basically, right now i HAVE to find a way to batch install a load of cab files onto my HTC Wizard, im tired of doing a rom update and a having to install everything one by one!

how would i go about setting this up?

thanx

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

@duke_stix

Some suggestions to accomplish the task:

1. If the 'load of CABs' are program files, you may consider compiling them to desktop-based installer. You can have multiple CAB files installed onto a docked phone with help from NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System). The temp files transferred to the device would not occupy that much space as CABs do get deleted once installed. Each CAB will be installed one at a time.

2. If the 'load of CABs' are only registry values, you can peek at the CAB content first then reconstruct the registry values into a unified CAB which can be run directly on the device unlike desktop-based, NSIS script-driven installers described above.

3. You may also consider 'scripting' repetitive CAB installation task. I believe MortScript can do that. So for example given 5 CABs, compile the CABs just like an ordinary file, write a script which will install the CABs, include the MortScript file to your compilation, create a shortcut to that script then pack/compile all of them.