group addons (& switchless installers) & remove shortcuts in start menu

[kiki burgh]

hi! i'd like to seek your advice abt the ff:

1. how to create custom group for addons (& switchless installers) in start menu ...

i.e.,: apps A, B & C will be grouped in All Programs -> Utilities (i've requested some from Kelsenellenelvian before & he was very accommodating ... thanks kel! )

a. with it's own start menu folder

b. with no start menu group (i.e., shortcuts to .exe of apps A, B & C will be together in 1 folder only)

2. how to remove start menu groups & unnecessary shortcuts (i.e., app's website, readme, help, etc.), especially if shortcuts to .exe of apps A, B & C will be together in 1 folder only.

please see some pics below to better illustrate my inquiries:

custom grouping in start menu

shortcuts & start menu folders to remove

thanks!

Edited November 29, 2009 by kiki burgh

[Mr_Smartepants]

I use a cleanup.cmd that I execute from runonceex for mine.

It looks a little like this:

net user aspnet /delete
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Desktop\*.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Desktop\*.url"
DEL "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\*.lnk"
DEL "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\*.url"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Set Program Access and Defaults.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Windows Catalog.lnk"
DEL /F /S /Q "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temp\*.*"
RD /S /Q "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temp\"
mkdir "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temp\"
MOVE "%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\LClock" "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Utilities\"
MOVE "%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Other Tools" "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\"
MOVE "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Lavalys" "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Utilities\"
MOVE "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Smart Defrag" "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Utilities\"
shutdown.exe -r -f -t 240 -c "Windows XP will now restart in 4 minutes..."
EXIT

[kiki burgh]

appreciate this Mr_Smartepants! i'll study this. currently, i'm looking into some addons that are executed like what i inquired about. cheers!

[0d14r3]

Hi kiki.

To group my addons I modify the MSI file or use the switch "group" on many installer.

Look sample below:

PDF Creator - a Inno Setup Package

PDFcfg.inf - the configuration file to PDF Creator program

PDF_Creator - the command line to .7z switchless installer

The line Group on .inf file create an custom group called "- Ferramentas -" at start menu.

To modify a MSI file I use Orca editor. Below the AdobeRrd.txt show with create an shortcut to " - Ferramentas -\PDF" in start menu for Adobe Reader 8.

The final start menu are:

- Ferramentas -

PDF

PDF Creator

Adobe Reader

I wait this information help you.

0d

PDFcfg.txt

PDF_Creator.txt

AdobeRrd.txt

[kiki burgh]

appreciate this 0d14r3! btw, i got this suggestion when i was looking for orca:

InstEd is better than Orca

Edited November 29, 2009 by kiki burgh

[beats]

Better, not really. The user interface looks nicer, but it's also slower. It's just a matter of taste.

[kiki burgh]

thanks for the feedback beats.