NSIS Installer

Created May 2004

So your looking for an installer for your ravenshield map's or mod's, and your a noobie :P
You came to the right place. HERE IS VERSION TWO... even easier than it was before. it will go through the needed applications and a basic script you can copy paste and edit to help you get your mod into the game.
Things you will need:

• · Microsoft's Windows Notepad or some kind of text based editor
• · Nullsoft Scriptable Install System 2.0 aka NSIS
• · keyboard for typing
• · your files for packaging, know their locations too
• · a read me/disclaimer in text format

Now all we have to do is open notepad and write our script.

Below i have written a very small script with comments to help describe what is going on. All comments have '#' and ';' in front of them, and they are NOT needed unless you want to remind yourself of something, so their is no need to include them in your scripts if you don't want to.

Your files should be setup like this before you compile the script.

SetCompressor lzma
Name "Name of map"
BrandingText 'MindlessOaths RvS Map installer v.5b'
#for ICON you want to locate your icon... i used the icon from the ravenshield CD, which is on my cdrom drive F: and named RavenShield.ico
Icon 'F:\RavenShield.ico'
OutFile 'Filename.exe'
SilentInstall Normal
CRCCheck On
XPStyle on
AutoCloseWindow False
ShowInstDetails Showv DirText 'Choose Directory to Install'
InstallDir 'Didnt find RavenShield on your system, please browse for a location'
InstallDirRegKey 'HKLM' 'SOFTWARERed Storm EntertainmentRAVENSHIELD' 'InstalledPath'
SetDateSave On
SetDataBlockOptimize On
LicenseText "You must agree to these terms below."
#your disclamer is a must for maps, unless u just dont care what happens to it. this can be your readme with a disclamer in it or whatever. also hyperlinks will be converted if you have them in the text file.
LicenseData "c:\ravenshield\mapsmapname_readme.txt"
Page license
Page directory
Page instfiles
Section ""
SetOverwrite on
SetOutPath '$INSTDIR'
#you must have the proper file structure for your maps in the correct place, the command below will take all the folders and files in the mapname folder below, and add them to the installer and all the proper directories will get installed correctly.
File /r 'C:\ravenshield\mapsmapname*.*'
SectionEnd



Make sure you save the file as your mapname.nsi and then drag and drop into the NSIS compiler, or right click the .nsi file and select compile.

Basically copy paste that into notepad, make the necessary changes to the file locations and file names, and then open up the NSIS compiler, this is found in the start menu under 'NSIS' menu and its called 'MakeNSISW (compiler GUI)'.

After opening it, make sure your text file is saved as yourmapname.nsi in the location you want (basically anywhere) drag and drop that file from your windows explorer into the NSIS compiler and wait for it to finish compiling the script and compressing your files.

The application uses LZMA compression type which will compress your files VERY NICELY. I get about 3 to 5MB SMALLER than other installers. Which is idea for distribution to get your files as small as possible. its easier on bandwidth and less time to download, i.e. less complaining.

It will not be creating a gui application because this is the easiest thing in the word... even easier than other installers, since you just have to copy paste and change some values.

If ya have any questions, email me, or check out the NSIS forums for help. NSIS FORUMS

Written by MindlessOath MindlessOath's Email