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Advanced Uninstall Log for NSIS was born in the need to cover a specific gap.
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It's been discussed fairly enough that the File /r command is very useful
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in cases when developers want to add a huge amount of sub directories and
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files, nevertheless it has the disadvantage that such an installation should
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be uninstalled with RmDir /r which is risky and removes also data that has
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been added/created later within the installation folder.
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About Advanced Uninstall Log.
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Advanced Uninstall Log is a macro system provided in a NSIS header that
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is able to monitor an installation and build an uninstall log file which
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is used by the uninstaller to uninstall files/directories that have been
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added within specific installation blocks.
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This means that files which have been installed outside these blocks,
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or added later either by the user or application's activities, ignored
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Moreover files that might exist into the target directory prior the current
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installation, ignored as well.
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Advanced Uninstall Log creates an uninstall log that removes only files that
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have been installed and optionally interacts with users for every other file
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and/or directory has found in installation folder and requires permission to
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remove these files/directories.
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It is enhanced as well to support updates, e.g. if the installer later would
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update the installation by adding new data, the uninstaller would remove the
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new data that has been added by the installer, without bothering users about.
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If target installation folder exists and contains files and/or directories
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they all preserved from being uninstalled.
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Uninstaller removes data that has been added within specific installation
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blocks, preserving all other data that has been created/added outside of
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these installation blocks. See included examples for details.
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Supports unlimited updates/reinstallations.
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Supports two uninstaller modes. Interactive mode requires confirmation
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to remove every other file exept those files that have been installed.
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Unattended mode leaves intact every other file without bothering users.
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In case when uninstall log (uninstall.dat) has been removed manually instead
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of execute uninstaller, if users attempt to run the installer later, a warning
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issued that they should select a new output folder.
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Implements only the included with NSIS release headers FileFunc and TextFunc.
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There is no need for external plugins and headers, adds a very small overhead.
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If uninstall log (uninstall.dat) is missing uninstaller won't execute at all.
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Due to file create - write procedure that is required in order to add/update
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the uninstall log (uninstall.dat), restricted users on NT based systems won't
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be able to execute the installer.
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Since the header does not implement anything else than the common NSIS release,
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a delay occurs while builds and reads the uninstall log because it needs to
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throw the list several times. Talking for common cases, most likely the delay
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won't be noticeable, however, in cases where the target directory isn't empty
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and contains a large amount of data which will be excluded from uninstall log,
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or added large amount of data after the installation which will be excluded also,
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the delay should be noticeable.
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A very big thanks goes to kichik.
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When my idea of the Advanced Uninstall Log became an NSIS header, it was
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indeed an amateur's attempt to write a flexible and errors free NSIS header.
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Kichik dropped me a dozen of suggestions helping me to achieve my plan.
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However, his main suggestion to eliminate the mentioned above disadvantage,
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still remains untouched by me.
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This header file is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied warranty.
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In no event will the author be held liable for any damages arising from the use
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Permission is granted to anyone to use this header file for any purpose,
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including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it freely,
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subject to the following restrictions:
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1. The origin of this header file must not be misrepresented;
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you must not claim that you wrote the original header file.
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If you use this header file in a product, an acknowledgment in
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the product documentation would be appreciated but is not required.
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2. Altered versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
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misrepresented as being the original header file.
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3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any distribution.
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