Inno Setup - Create a dynamic list of components/types from external source (file or folder contents)

Question

I have a batch file (setting changer) that uses xcopy to list specific files formats in a specific folder, then allows me to type in one of the names and the script uses that name to copy that file to another location.

First xcopy creates a copy of the original as a backup (rolling backup only 1 copy) then does the file copy (extension is fixed in batch only body of filename needed This works great BUT I would love to try and do this in Inno Setup for a nice clean GUI.

I would like to populate the list of components/types from this list of files found in a specific fixed folder. Or even create an ini file with those names in (extra step but maybe better control). Main problem that might prevent this from being possible is not knowing how many entries it would be an array. If only 1 entry or file only 1 option (1 or a) if 4 then user can select 1 of 4 (a, b, c or d). I would extract the file name to create the name/description.

then on completion the same task as my batch would happen, backup (easy always the same name like start.ini) then copy the file e.g. example1.ini and overwrite start.ini

ini might be most flexible as I can imagine later adding new sections to change the actions performed.

Is this possible or stretching this program too far. No rush as my batch works for now but the less typing and manual steps the better for continued use.

I found an example to list contents to a dialog window but I could not figure how to use this to populate components. TLama - List all files in a directory

Answer 1

You cannot create the components dynamically on runtime (you can on compile-time).

---

But it's not difficult to implement a custom dynamic components-like page using the CreateCustomPage and the TNewCheckListBox.

Then in the CurStepChanged(ssInstall) you process the selected files/components as your need.

[Code]

const
  SourcePath = 'C:\somepath';

var
  CustomSelectTasksPage: TWizardPage;
  ComponentsList: TNewCheckListBox;

procedure InitializeWizard();
var
  FindRec: TFindRec;
  SelectComponentsLabel: TNewStaticText;
begin
  CustomSelectTasksPage :=
    CreateCustomPage(
      wpSelectComponents, SetupMessage(msgWizardSelectComponents),
      SetupMessage(msgSelectComponentsDesc));

  SelectComponentsLabel := TNewStaticText.Create(WizardForm);
  SelectComponentsLabel.Parent := CustomSelectTasksPage.Surface;
  SelectComponentsLabel.Top := 0;
  SelectComponentsLabel.Left := 0;
  SelectComponentsLabel.Width := CustomSelectTasksPage.Surface.Width;
  SelectComponentsLabel.AutoSize := False;
  SelectComponentsLabel.ShowAccelChar := False;
  SelectComponentsLabel.WordWrap := True;
  SelectComponentsLabel.Caption := SetupMessage(msgSelectComponentsLabel2);
  WizardForm.AdjustLabelHeight(SelectComponentsLabel);

  ComponentsList := TNewCheckListBox.Create(WizardForm);
  ComponentsList.Parent := CustomSelectTasksPage.Surface;
  ComponentsList.Top :=
    SelectComponentsLabel.Top + SelectComponentsLabel.Height + ScaleY(8);
  ComponentsList.Left := 0;
  ComponentsList.Width := CustomSelectTasksPage.Surface.Width;
  ComponentsList.Height := CustomSelectTasksPage.Surface.Height - ComponentsList.Top;

  if FindFirst(ExpandConstant(AddBackslash(SourcePath) + '*.dat'), FindRec) then
  begin
    try
      repeat
        ComponentsList.AddCheckBox(FindRec.Name, '', 0, False, True, False, False, nil);
      until not FindNext(FindRec);
    finally
      FindClose(FindRec);
    end;
  end;
end;

procedure CurStepChanged(CurStep: TSetupStep);
var
  I: Integer;
  FileName: string;
  SourceFilePath: string;
  TargetFilePath: string;
begin
  if CurStep = ssInstall then
  begin
    for I := 0 to ComponentsList.Items.Count - 1 do
    begin
      if ComponentsList.Checked[I] then
      begin
        FileName := ComponentsList.Items[I];
        SourceFilePath := AddBackslash(SourcePath) + FileName;
        TargetFilePath := AddBackslash(ExpandConstant('{app}')) + FileName;
        if FileCopy(SourceFilePath, TargetFilePath, False) then
        begin
          Log(Format('Installed "%s".', [FileName]));
        end
          else
        begin
          Log(Format('Failed to install "%s".', [FileName]));
        end;
      end;
    end;
  end;
end;