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Glossary to assist newbies understand the NSIS User Manual (v2.38 on 8/29/08)
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Attribute:
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Command that configures your installer's general behavior (unlike an Instruction): AutoCloseWindow true . Unless it's a Compiler Flag, it's not Section or Function specific and so is specified outside them
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Callback:
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A Function called by the installer at certain points in the install, eg, .onInit is called when the installer is nearly finished initializing
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Command:
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Any non-comment line (possibly \-extended), ie, Compile Time Commands, Attributes (and Compiler Flags), Instructions, and commands related to the definition of Functions, Pages, Sections, and Variables
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Comment:
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Text enclosed in /* ... */ or prefixed with ; or #
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Compile Time Command:
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Always starts with a bang, eg,
!ifdef VERSION & NOVERSION
!error "Warning compile-person: both VERSION and NOVERSION are defined"
!endif
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Compiler Flag:
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An Attribute that "affect[s] how the compiler generates code and compresses data": SetCompressor zlib
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Constant:
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A case-insensitive, read-only variable with built-in value. Dereferenced as a variable: $EXEPATH
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Define:
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A symbol defined at runtime by NSIS (a Predefine), by !define , or by /D at the command line. Dereferenced with $ and curly brackets: ${VERSION}
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File Instruction:
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includes the named file(s) in the installer's data block at compile time for extraction to the /oname or SetOutPath folder at run time. (This is included here as hopefully an improvement to "Adds file(s) to be extracted to the current output path")
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Function:
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A user-created block of commands called explicitly (user function) or automatically (Callback)
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Installer:
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A wizard that MakeNSIS.exe compiles from a script
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Instruction:
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A Function or Section command executed when your installer is run, eg, FileClose $0
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Page:
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The Page family of commands typically specify either Page custom creator_function leave_function or one of the internal page types, which are license , components (to select), directory (of installation), instfiles (where, installer configuration complete, the Sections are executed), uninstConfirm . These differ in some behaviors (e.g., Section s define components for the components page only) and the attributes that effect them. LicenseText 's setting, if any, is only used on the license page, for example
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Plug-in:
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A DLL file called using form DLLName::FunctionName "param1" "param2" "param3"
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Predefine:
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A Define with built in value. Includes four underscores in its name: ${__<UPCASE>__}, eg, ${__FILE__}
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Register:
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A pre-declared variable, one of $0 - $9, $R0 - $R9
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Script:
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A (.nsi) text file that sets some attributes (minimally, outfile ), usually declares/defines/assigns some Symbols, then lists the Pages, in order, to walk the (un)installing user through. Zero or more Functions and at least one Section follow. Plug-ins may be called and header (.nsh) scripts !include d
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Section:
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A block of commands "executed in order by the resulting installer." "If [Attribute] ComponentText is set, the user will have the option of disabling/enabling each visible section. If a section's name is 'Uninstall' or is prefixed with 'un.', it's an uninstaller section."
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Symbol:
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Define (Predefine or user !define ) or Variable
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Variable:
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A globally-scoped constant, register, or user variable
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