SetupS File Specification (.app/.ppg)

This is the most important file of the ssTek deployment package. It is an actual (and valid) .INI-file.

Use any text-editor, such as Notepad2, to create or modify one. Or the easiest way is to simply use the SetupS Editor (ssEditor) included with the SetupS package.

Also as in any .ini-file, most system and environmental variables, frequently seen enclosed in %...%, are recognized plus many new ones specific only to SetupS (i.e., %ppApps%). See Automatic Variable Substitutions Chart for more details.

For details, click on the Section names:

[SetupS] (Required)

Title=

(Required). Name of Application or Game.

Version=

(Optional). Version (for App's) or Copyright (for Games) information, for example:

v1.23|c2009, etc.

Description=

(Optional). Currently only used by ssWPI. Enter a description of the application or game. Use "^^" to force line-breaks.

URL=

(Optional). Currently only used by ssWPI. Enter websites addresses here. Separate multiple tags with "|". For example: http://www.xyz.com | http://www.example.com

Category=

(Recommended). Currently only used by ssWPI. See Category List for a complete list. Separate multiple categories with "|".

OS=

(Optional). Used by ssWPI for filtering app/game lists or by SetupS to gate installs. Use:

0 = None specified or "Any". Effectively the same as 15 ("All"), below.

1 = NT5: 2000, XP, 2003, etc. (20) #Is_OS=5#

2 = NT6 (pre-Metro/Modern): Vista, 7, 2008, 2011, etc. (21) #Is_OS>=6.0# #Is_OS<=6.1#

4 = Metro/Modern (pre-Win10): 8, 8.1, 2012 (22) #Is_OS>=6.2# #Is_OS<=6.3#

8 = NT10: 10, 2016, etc. (23) #Is_OS>=10.0#

15 = All (1+2+4+8)

Architecture=

(Optional). Used by ssWPI for filtering app/game lists or by SetupS to gate installs. Use:

1 (x86)

2 (x64)

3 (DualArch)

BuildType=

(Optional). Use:

ssApp

ppApp

ppGame

ppTweak

App-File Version=v9.23.10.08.0

Used only by SetupS internally to determine what version level the current file-format was created under. A five-number group with the first number always "v9" and rest being the current project core version.

App-File Style=1(Dual)|2 (INI)

Used internally by SetupS to determine what style the current file-format was created with. Either dual-format consisting of both the legacy format and the INI-file format; or strictly just the INI-file format.

AppPath=

(Recommended but not required). The "Installed-to" path goes here -- the actual physical (final) location of the app or game.

Assembly=

(Recommended for ssApps. Optional for ppApps/ppGames). Ignored during Regen-mode. Place commands, components, directives (see below), setup, or install package(s) here with proper silent install switches or script(s) to automate the install. Mainly for SetupS/ssApps, but can be used with ppApps/ppGames for any post-install or preprocessing commands, script(s), or registry entries. Use "^^" to force line-breaks.

See these for useful Components or Directives.

Some examples:

setup.msi /qb
%WaitForIt% "%ProgramsCommon%\TestStartmenu.lnk"
%ProcessKill% "Notepad.exe"
%AddonInstaller% "%SourcePath%\Test_addon.7z"
%AddToHosts% "127.0.0.1 secure.example.com"
%Extract% "Extras.rar" -o"%SystemRoot%\LastXP"
md "%ProgramFiles%\Something" #CMD#
"7z920-x64.msi" /qb #Is_x64#
ImportTest.reg
ScriptTest.cmd

StartMenuSourcePath=

(Required only if shortcuts are to be created). The original shortcut folder name for SetupS/ssApp's or default/non-advanced StartMenu folder for ppApps/ppGames. This is where shortcuts get created if no advanced StartMenu sorting is selected.

Catalog=

(Recommended) For Advanced StartMenu sorting only, this defines where to create shortcuts. See StartMenu Catalog for a complete list. Separate each catalog entry with "|".

ShortCutNamesKeep=

(Optional or Required depending on the KeepAll flag or if BuildType is a ppApp or ppGame). List which shortcuts desired to keep (if KeepAll=No). First one listed here is the most important one as it is the one to be used for creating the Desktop, Startup, Sendto, or QuickLaunch shortcut(s).

FileTypes=

(Optional). List the file extension(s) to associate with the entire Application or Game. The use of Gate Directives (such as #Is_x64#, #Is_NT6#, etc.) is allowed. Separate each with "|".

InstallFonts=

(Optional). List font-files here to be installed to the Windows Fonts applet. Use of %Variables% and Gate Directives (such as #Is_x64#, #Is_NT6#, etc.) is allowed. Separate each with "|".

RegisterDLL=

(Optional). List any files (one per line) here to be installed via the Windows Register Server. Use of %Variables% and Gate Directives (such as #Is_x64#, #Is_NT6#, etc.) is allowed.

PriorityOrder=

(Optional). Used by ssWPI for determining which get installed before or after others. Default is "5". Use as such:

0 - Installs these before any other apps.

1 - Installs these after the "0" PriortyOrder items.

5 - Default for items without PriorityOrder provided.

9 - Graphics Drivers.

99 - Antivirus (always do these last to stop it interfering with the install and slowing down the process by scanning everything you do during the install).

100+ - Anything else that may cause ssWPI to not be automatic (user interaction).

999 - Maximum PriorityOrder.

Flags=

(Optional). Merely list to set these (see list below); separating each with "|".

Shortcut Locations (applies to all ShortcutS defs listed):

NotInStartmenu

Use this to NOT create Shortcuts in the StartMenu. Over-rides the Shortcut Options flags: KeepInFolder and KeepAll, below.

Root

Create shortcut in "Start Menu" (a.k.a., Root). Only the first shortcut listed from "ShortCutNamesKeep" or from the ShortcutS defs.

Programs

Create shortcut in "Start Menu\Programs". Only the first shortcut listed from "ShortCutNamesKeep" or from the ShortcutS defs.

StartUp

Create shortcut in "Start Menu\Programs\Startup". Only the first shortcut listed from "ShortCutNamesKeep" or from the ShortcutS defs.

SendTo

Create shortcut in "SendTo" context-menu. Only the first shortcut listed from "ShortCutNamesKeep" or from the ShortcutS defs.

Desktop

Create shortcut on "Desktop". Only the first shortcut listed from "ShortCutNamesKeep" or from the ShortcutS defs.

QuickLaunch

Create shortcut in "QuickLaunch". Only the first shortcut listed from "ShortCutNamesKeep" or from the ShortcutS defs.

CurrentUserOnly

Create shortcut(s) for "Current User" instead of "AllUsers" using above listed flags. Default is to create shortcuts for "AllUsers".

TaskbarPin

(Windows 7 only). Pins a shortcut to the Taskbar. Only the first shortcut listed from "ShortCutNamesKeep" or from the ShortcutS defs.

StartmenuPin

(Windows 7 only). Pins a shortcut to the Startmenu. Only the first shortcut listed from "ShortCutNamesKeep" or from the ShortcutS defs.

Shortcut Options (applies to all ShortcutS defs listed):

KeepAll

Keep all the shortcuts available in the ShortcutS defs and ignore ShortCutNamesKeep.

KeepInFolder

Contain the shortcut(s) in the folder specified in "StartMenuSourcePath".

NoShortcuts

Suppress shortcut creation of any kind whatsoever. Over-rides AlwaysSort, below.

AlwaysSort

Force shortcut creation into an Advanced menu rather than the Standard one

NoMenuIcons

Suppress this App's StartMenu icon folder creation

RefreshDesktop

Force a desktop refresh (without having to cycle thru a logoff then logon). This will also refresh Explorer views as well.

LivePE

Mark this ppApp/ppGame for LivePE's such as ppAppsLive or ppGamesLive (not implemented).

NotMetroFriendly

Over-rides KeepInFolder and KeepAll (above) to place shortcuts from the 'Shortcut names to keep' list or if empty, then the first ShortcutS def listed. Note: this will only affect shortcuts on Windows 8 (NT6.2) or greater.

Post-processing Options:

NoneThing

Suppress SetupS related files. Basically, this prevents creation of the Aux files (screenshot, fader, etc.), advanced startmenu shortcuts, folder icons, and the .app-file. This also means that the app will be rendered invisible or nonexistent to SetupS and ssWPI.

ssWPI Options (the following only affect ssWPI):

AlwaysShow
DuringSetupOnly
InstallT13
InstallInstant

[Meta]

(Optional). Extra application or game information.

Tags=Basically, a list of sub-categories.

(Optional). Currently only used by ssWPI. Separate multiple tags with "|". Unlike "Category", this is a searchable-freeform field where any keyword or phrase is allowed.

Publisher=