MAKECAB, EXTRACT, CABARC utilities...
OK, now let's take ut from a novice's standpoint...
I went in to find out everything there is about the above mentioned utilities...I did it on the suggestion of MSIPackager...But nowhere on the net are there any documentation on how to create a CAB file from scratch...The documentation that MS provides is from a standpoint of someone already having a Masters degree in Computer Science...
So, would someone step up and stepwise explain in easy to follow directions how these utilities work please...
Keep in mind, novices here...True knowledge is not just in knowing but of passing it on to others, in a way they never forget...So be the first in spreading this knowledge in cyberspace...
Thanks in advance and regards...
I went in to find out everything there is about the above mentioned utilities...I did it on the suggestion of MSIPackager...But nowhere on the net are there any documentation on how to create a CAB file from scratch...The documentation that MS provides is from a standpoint of someone already having a Masters degree in Computer Science...
So, would someone step up and stepwise explain in easy to follow directions how these utilities work please...
Keep in mind, novices here...True knowledge is not just in knowing but of passing it on to others, in a way they never forget...So be the first in spreading this knowledge in cyberspace...
Thanks in advance and regards...
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Posted by:
MSIPackager
14 years ago
makecab is included with XP I believe - try makecab.exe /? from a command prompt for starters...
typical command line is: makecab.exe /f yourfile.ddf
yourfile.ddf might then contain (for example):
-----------
.OPTION EXPLICIT
.Set MaxDiskSize=0
.set DiskDirectoryTemplate=
.Set CabinetNameTemplate=..\_CreateCab.cab
.Set Cabinet=on
.Set Compress=on
;** The files specified below are stored, compressed, in cabinet files
file1
file2
file3
etc
-----------
Don't forget that file1, file2, file3 etc relate to the 1st column of the file table and should be in the same order as the last (sequence) column of the file table! The easiest way IMO to build ths list is to copy and paste the file table (from Orca / Insted) into Excel then sort by sequence no, then copy the 1st column and paste it into your .ddf file - siiimples.
More makecab.exe info on this page: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd583149(office.11).aspx
See how you get on - post back if you get stuck...
typical command line is: makecab.exe /f yourfile.ddf
yourfile.ddf might then contain (for example):
-----------
.OPTION EXPLICIT
.Set MaxDiskSize=0
.set DiskDirectoryTemplate=
.Set CabinetNameTemplate=..\_CreateCab.cab
.Set Cabinet=on
.Set Compress=on
;** The files specified below are stored, compressed, in cabinet files
file1
file2
file3
etc
-----------
Don't forget that file1, file2, file3 etc relate to the 1st column of the file table and should be in the same order as the last (sequence) column of the file table! The easiest way IMO to build ths list is to copy and paste the file table (from Orca / Insted) into Excel then sort by sequence no, then copy the 1st column and paste it into your .ddf file - siiimples.
More makecab.exe info on this page: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd583149(office.11).aspx
See how you get on - post back if you get stuck...
Posted by:
Repackman
14 years ago
Thanks MSIPackager...
I will run your instructions to get acquianted with these utilities...Will update you...
Regards...
I will run your instructions to get acquianted with these utilities...Will update you...
Regards...
Posted by:
instedit
14 years ago
If you open any msi which has an external source tree (you can either extract the embedded files into the source tree using InstEd Plus, or via an admin install), from InstEd you can then right click on a Media table entry and selecte show ddf. This will generate a ddf for you with all the files in the correct order and it handles some gotchas such as file times. Or you can also rebuild the cab right there and then.
Posted by:
milindsm
14 years ago
If you want to create a CAB having files for certain location, you can write a script to recursively traverse the specified folder structure and then create a DDF file out of it. Finally, just pass this file to MAKECAB and you are through.
You can maintain a class structure array in your script. It should get populated for each file as and when you go on writing a file name to DDF so the sequence will remain the same and you can easily update File, Component, Media and FeatureComponent table based on this array.
I hope this helps!!!
You can maintain a class structure array in your script. It should get populated for each file as and when you go on writing a file name to DDF so the sequence will remain the same and you can easily update File, Component, Media and FeatureComponent table based on this array.
I hope this helps!!!
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