NSIS based Windows Installer for OpenMS

This repository contains all files necessary to create a windows installer from a source build of OpenMS (System A).

Additional required software:

• NSIS (NullSoft Installer System)
  • in its current version the scripts are written for NSIS 3.0 from http://nsis.sourceforge.net. For 3.0 we upgraded to a newer, better maintained UI plugin (https://github.com/SuperPat45/UltraModernUI) but with legacy design. Please install/copy it, too, before you proceed.
  • to work with NSIS 2.x, you need to remove a subfolder on line 91 in the OpenMS_installer.nsi and use the old UI plugin but we suggest the sole usage of NSIS 3.0 now.
  • you should also copy the content of the 8k string support from http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Special_Builds (Download large strings build) build into your NSIS install directory (this should overwrite makensis.exe and Stubs). It removes problems during the addition of the many thirdparty paths on a user's machine during installation. (There are no problems during compilation)

TODO before running OpenMS_installer.nsi

1. Copy UAC.dll to your <PATH-to-NSIS>/Plugins directory before running the installer script! Otherwise you'll get an error during script compilation: "Invalid command: UAC::RunElevated"
2. Extract the content of Inettc.zip to your <PATH-to-NSIS> directory before running the installer script! Otherwise you'll get an error during script compilation: "Invalid command: inetc::get"

Quick guide

1. Fully compile and test OpenMS using a Visual Studio Generator (create the targets [OpenMS TOPP UTILS GUI] - NOT MORE!!)
2. create the documentation (targets "doc" and "doc_tutorial" (NOT doc_internal) in OpenMS_build/doc) OR copy the doc folder from Linux if setting up documentation on Windows is too hard or not possible.
3. Read additional install information in the header of OpenMS_installer.nsi (!)
4. Adapt relevant settings in the header of OpenMS_installer.nsi to your needs OR see ./auto_package/*.nsi for example files, which you can just copy and modify.
5. Compile OpenMS_installer.nsi using NSIS (this should create a file named something like OpenMS_setup.exe)
6. Distribute

Verifying the installer

• Use a Virtual Machine (System B)
• Do NOT assume that successfully installing OpenMS_setup.exe on the System A means that the installer will work on a new System B! But you can at least check for major quirks.
• Check if all files were created and Start Menu entries are present and working.
• To test the TOPP tools, run TOPPTest_Assembler.pl on System A. e.g.,
  • Adapt paths within TOPPTest_Assembler.pl
  • Open a VS command line
  • > cd c:\<path to win_installer_dir>
  • > TOPPTest_Assembler.pl
  • Now, copy the folder /OpenMS/source/TEST/TOPP/ to System B and run TOPP_test.bat (which should have been created by the perl script).
  • Check if the script runs through without pausing (which means that something needs your attention). If you're picky, then check the whole output of the script. Sometimes a TOPP-tool might give a warning and still produce the correct result, thus the script will not remind you of that.