Original author(s) | Nullsoft |
---|---|
Developer(s) | NSIS Team and NSIS Community |
Initial release | 31 July 2001; 18 years ago[1] |
Stable release | 3.05 / 16 December 2019; 35 days ago |
Repository | |
Written in | C, C++ |
Operating system | Windows, Mac OS X |
Type | Software development tools |
License | zlib License |
Website | nsis.sourceforge.io |
Nullsoft Scriptable Install System is a script-driven installer authoring tool for Microsoft Windows backed by Nullsoft, the creators of Winamp. NSIS is released under a combination of free software licenses, primarily the zlib license. It has become a widely used alternative to commercial proprietary products like InstallShield, with users including Amazon.com, Dropbox, Google, Ubisoft, FL Studio, BitTorrent, and McAfee. How do I extract the actual main program file that PlayOnLinux is asking. Intel 80386, for MS Windows, Nullsoft Installer self-extracting archive.
Nullsoft Scriptable Install System (NSIS) is a script-driven installer authoring tool for Microsoft Windows backed by Nullsoft, the creators of Winamp. NSIS is released under a combination of free software licenses, primarily the zlib license.[2] It has become a widely used alternative to commercialproprietary products like InstallShield, with users including Amazon.com, Dropbox, Google, Ubisoft, FL Studio, BitTorrent, and McAfee.[3]
- 2Script examples
- 3Concepts
- 3.2Modern user interface
History[edit]
NSIS was created to distribute Winamp.[4] It is based on a previous Nullsoft product, PiMP (plugin Mini Packager), and is also known as SuperPiMP. After version 2.0a0, the project was moved to SourceForge where developers outside Nullsoft started working on it on a regular basis. NSIS 2.0 was released approximately two years later.
NSIS version 1 is in many ways similar to the classic Windows Installer, but it supports more compression formats. NSIS version 2 features a new streamlined graphical user interface and supports LZMA compression, multiple languages, and an easy-to-use plugin system.
In January 2006 NSIS was SourceForge's project of the month.[5][6]
Script examples[edit]
Hello world![edit]
Simple installer[edit]
Concepts[edit]
NSIS 1.98
Script[edit]
The NSIS compiler program makensis compiles scripts like the following example into executable installation programs. Each line in the script contains a single command.
Modern user interface[edit]
Version 2.0 introduced a new optional streamlined graphical user interface called Modern UI (MUI). The MUI has a wizard-like interface. It supports a welcome page, finish page, language selection dialog, description area for components, and greater customization options than the old user interface.
Since NSIS version 2.30 (Released on 25 August 2007) there is new version (beta) of this UI accessible: Modern UI 2 (MUI2) which is an enhancement to Modern UI. Unlike the old MUI this version is based on nsDialogs instead of old-fashioned InstallOptions .ini files.
From version 2.34 (Released on 24 December 2007) this MUI2 is ready for mass consumption and it is included in all NSIS packages. Also all examples had been switched to it.
Modern UI 2 documentation.
Graphical interfaces[edit]
NSIS projects can be configured by simply editing text files (with .nsi extension). However, several third parties provide editing software:
- EclipseNSIS is a module for the Eclipse platform. It allows NSIS scripts to be edited, compiled and validated.
- HM NIS Edit (freeware) editor with support of custom C++ or Delphi plug-ins.
- Venis (freeware) editor
- Visual & Installer is an add-in which integrates NSIS with Microsoft Visual Studio IDE and allows to create and build NSIS projects right within it.
Installer interfaces[edit]
Several projects that extend or replace the Modern UI have started in the past few years. Interfaces such as the ExperienceUI and UltraModernUI completely change the style of the installer by skinning it to look like the InstallShield interface. Other interfaces like installSpiderUI aim for a more minimalistic approach on the visual side of things while maintaining the same level of functionality as the ASD.
Plugins[edit]
NSIS can be extended with plugins that can communicate with the installer. Plugins can be written in any unmanaged programming language capable of building a dynamic-link library (such as C, C++ or Delphi), and they can be used to perform installation tasks or extend the installer interface. A plugin can be called with a single line of NSIS code.
Several plugins come with the NSIS package that permit the installer to display a splash screen, display a custom page, display an image on the background, download files from a website, perform mathematical operations, patch files and more.
Other plugins are available online, including ZipDLL, and a Python plugin.
Features[edit]
NSIS supports the following features:[7]
- zlib, bzip2, and LZMA compression
- Script-based
- Multilingual
- Plugin support
- Script preprocessor
Generated installer[edit]
The generated installer is a Portable Executable, with the installation files archived within the installer, a 34 KB overhead for the NSIS installer,[7] and the installation script compiled into executable code. As the installation script is compiled, the script cannot be obtained from the delivered executable without reverse-engineering the binary.
The archive may be unpacked using 7-Zip, the Total Commander plugin InstallExplorer, or the FAR Manager plugin InstallExplorer.
The archive contains several folders:
- $PLUGINSDIR : installation routine plugins
- $INSTDIR : files used during the installation
- $_OUTDIR : files to be installed.
The generated installer includes command line arguments in order to give users more control:[8]
- /NCRC disables the CRC check, unless the script forces it
- /S runs the installer/uninstaller silently.
- /D sets the default installation directory. It must be the last parameter and must not contain any quotes. Only absolute paths are supported.
Unicode support[edit]
Versions of NSIS before 3.0 did not support Unicode, but only a means to convert some files to different encodings via a plugin.[9] However, a variant of NSIS that has full Unicode support is available.[10] Notable projects using this variant are:[11]
- Google (Picasa)
- Apache OpenOffice for Windows
- Mozilla (Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird)
With the release of version 3.0 of NSIS, Unicode support can be implemented using the compiler directive 'Unicode true'. This gives full Unicode support with no further code changes, but the installer will not run under Windows 95/98/Me.[12] As of 2016 before the 3.0 release NSIS was available in the PortableApps format for Unicode 2.46.5 Rev 3 and ANSI 2.51.[13]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^NSIS 1.x Version History - NSIS wiki
- ^'NSIS licence page'. NSIS.
- ^'Users - NSIS'.
- ^Winamp 2.60 released, From Betanews, 2000-02-14, Tweakers, ...namely featuring a new 'SuperPiMP' installation system...
- ^SourceForge.net Project of the Month in January 2006
- ^'OpenCandy Installer Platform Comparison'. Archived from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- ^ ab'Features'. NSIS.
- ^'installerUsage'. NSIS.
- ^'Unicode plug-in'. NSIS.
- ^'Unicode NSIS Project Page'.
- ^'Unicode NSIS Project Users'.
- ^'NSIS Users Manual Chapter 1'. NSIS. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^'NSIS Portable'. PortableApps.com. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nullsoft Scriptable Install System. |
- Official website
- NSIS on SourceForge.net
- NSIS at Open Hub
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nullsoft_Scriptable_Install_System&oldid=936695282'
Install multiple programs silently - no user interaction required
Silent Install Helper is a clever tool which can help you install multiple applications without seeing any of the usual alerts and dialog boxes. That is, when it works you won't see any splash screens, program licences or requests to choose an installation folder: the applications just end up on your hard drive with the default settings.
To begin, drag and drop your chosen setup files onto the program, and Silent Install Helper will try to identify their type, and list the results. If a setup program is based on a known installer (Inno Setup, Smart, Wise, Nullsoft NSIS, RAR SFX, ZIP SFX, Microsoft, Ghost Install Wizard are supported) then it should be possible to install it silently. But if its 'Installer Type' is listed as 'Nothing found' then this means it's not been recognised, and you'll only be able to run a standard installation.
If you're trying out Silent Install Helper to see if it works then we'd recommend you remove any unsupported setup programs from the list (right-click each one in turn, select 'Delete').
To install whatever programs remain, click Select All > Start. Depending on your installers, you may see brief pop-up messages alerting you that a particular setup program is being launched, but otherwise that should be it. You'll see no dialog boxes, no requests for information, not even a message from Silent Install Helper to tell you the process is over - your applications just get installed.
Alternatively, if you'd like to save this list of programs on multiple PCs (they're all your favourite applications, say), then select the installers and click 'Create *.cmd file'. This produces a script which you can save along with the setup programs. Copy these to any PC, double-click the 'setup.cmd' file and your programs will be installed automatically.
There are bonus tools to manage installed programs, your Windows Startup applications and more.
The interface isn't as intuitive as we'd like, but once you figure out the basics then Silent Install Helper proves to be a convenient tool which makes it quicker and easier to batch install your chosen applications.
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