PortableApps.com - Portable App Development

Redundant $Bits variable removal

Gord Caswell — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 01:21:11 +0000

With the release of the PortableApps.com Launcher version 2.1, the $Bits variable is set by PAL itself.
As such, setting this variable in Custom.nsh can be removed for the following applications, see applicable edits to the Custom.nsh files here:

7-Zip **
AkelPad
Avidemux
Blender
Daphne
KVIrc
Krita
Listary
ProcessHacker
RapidCRCUnicode
RawTherapee **
TEncoder
UltraDefrag
VirtualDub
WaveShop
WinMTR

** These applications require moving small pieces of code that were handled within the general code. See the github commit for details.

This post has been stickied, with applications being removed from the list once updated.

Forums:

Portable App Development

PortableApps.com Application Template 3.5.2 (with default launcher included)

John T. Haller — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 22:37:43 +0000

This has been officially released on the Development Page

I'm testing a new style of PortableApps.com Application Template for use with the PortableApps.com Launcher and Installer. The old 2.4 release was just the barebones file structure but includes no example config files. This is of a complete template with config files and a default launcher along with a stub EXE so you can be sure it works by default.

The configuration is setup with an AppID of AppNamePortable, so it uses AppNamePortable.exe as the default launcher and AppNamePortable.ini as its configuration file. There are default settings in the INIs for handling config files that exist locally, config directories that exist locally, config files that move between Data and App, config directories that move between Data and App, and registry key config settings. The necessary lines to handling the moving and backup/restore of local settings as well as portablization of both a standard config file and a .reg file are all included and working for an example app of AppName and ExamplePublisher. The files are all fully commented and a how to txt file is included in the base directory. You can start up just by loading an app without even needing to recompile AppNamePortable.exe. When you're ready to release, instructions for that are included as well.

Download PortableApps.com Application Template 3.5.2

Note that I'm still debating splitting this full version out and doing it along with lighter versions based on just registry and one of just files.

Please test this out, look for any errors, and provide feedback. Suggestions for this particular format are appreciated as well. If we do an automated builder based on interactive Q&A, that will be a separate process from this one (and much more complicated), so please no suggestions along those lines for right now.

Thanks!

Release History
3.5.2 (2019-01-08): Added BaseAppID64, fixed grammar and spelling issues
3.5.1 (2018-10-12): Added WorkingDirectory, BaseAppID, and app icon to help.html
3.5.0 (2018-05-21): Updated links to https, improved App directory readme, updated versioning
3.4.1 (2016-11-18): Fixed single word referring to config file instead of registry
3.4 (2016-11-18): Released and announced as official
3.4 Dev Test 2 (2016-11-14): Fixes recommended in Gord's first comment plus default installer.ini
3.4 Dev Test 1 (2016-11-13): Initial release

Forums:

Portable App Development

Creating A Portable App: A Guerilla Field Guide

OliverK — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:42:44 +0000

Introduction:Often, somebody will make a post asking for help. I wrote up a guide real quick for this poster, here. After a suggestion by r-andom, I re-posted as a forum topic. If you have a suggestion for the guide, post here. If you need help portablizing, make a new post in the Portable App Development Forum. So, without much more text, I loose the gorilla. . .

Use the search box to find out if someone's done the work or some of the work for you. Search PortableApps.com.
Become familiar with the launchers available. For instance:
- X-Chat Portable redirects the Path, and GTK directories.
- Notepad++ Portable Moves files and then adjusts them so that any open files from your flash drive will now open on your new host.
- 7-Zip Portable deals with the registry entries made by 7-zip.
- PNotes Portable Passes a command line variable to the program.
Determine the license. Is it OSS or another type of license? If its Open Source Software, you can post all of the launcher and the program on the forums. Since PortableApps.com is dedicated to OpenSource software, its against the forum rules to post a piece of software that contains closed source (even if you are allowed to redistribute) software. If its closed source, well, you can post a launcher, similar to what I've done here, only. Why is this first? Well, you have to decide if its worth the work.
Determine the programing language. Why? Well, you have to be careful. Is it done in:
- .Net? Sorry. While some don't care, alot of people here despise .Net, as its not installed on all computers. See this link For a whole discussion on the subject of .Net.
- Java? As I understand there's the Java Portablizer, but there is not yet an Open Source JRE. So use of Java applications is somehow limited.
  You can study the following application to get an idea of portable Java implementation.
  - Eclipse Portable
  - RSSOWl Portable
Get the tools. Load up- you'll need them.
- I whole heartedly suggest the use of HM NIS Edit (Portable) Select either the download with NSIS included, if you don't intend to download it separately, or without if you do. It adjusts properly in both occasions.
- Note also if you wish to use another editor, you can download a portable version of NSIS separately, from here.
- Regshot. which is used to figure out what changes a program made during the install process.
- Alternately, you can use Process Monitor to figure out what registry entries its reading.
- NirSoft RegfromApp is a small freeware utility that allows you to specify a specific process to monitor. You can even launch a process with it and monitor those specifically. It produces a nicer output of what registry entries the program has modified.
- I also suggest picking up Notepad ++ Portable. Just in case.
- To handle making the icons, use something like IcoFx
Do your research. Read up on these topics in the forums:
- The PortableApps Format Specifications
- The Official Installer
Feel your head is about to explode? Mine to, writing all this html. There's more
Download your program. If you have keyboard loggers, malware protection or anything that runs in the background, consider turning them off before taking a regshot. Now, fire up regshot and take a regshot of the computer by scanning the C drive, more on that in a minute, before installation. Go have a cup of coffee or a can of Mountain Dew. Don't touch the computer! You'll get extra registry entries.
Install your program and run it a couple of times. Make sure you do this from a clean install. If you don't, you may have skewed results. Do NOTHING else during this time
Take second regshot and then compare the results. Save it a html, it produces a nicer printout then .txt
Figure out where the program is saving files. Check C:/Documents and Settings/UserName/Application Data for %appdata%. If you scan the entire C:\ Drive with regshot, those changes should show up.
What to do with registry entries:

HKCU:Regshot will show a HCKU modification as HKU\Random Numbers\whatever. Look for those in HKCU\Software\ and handle them in NSIS as HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Whatever.
- Useful Entry: HKU\S-1-5-21-1060284298-823518204-725345543-1003\Software\Texas Instruments\TI Connect\StartUp\.
- Useless: HKU\S-1-5-21-1060284298-823518204-725345543-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache
HKLM:HKLM is a branch of the registry that cannot be modified by someone with a Limited account- just an Administrator. Handle them by double checking that they are needed. Often, something like InstallDir: whatever can be ignored. Else-if those entries really really are needed, you will need to check that the launcher can do it, then launch the software. If you don't have the rights, you'll use a message box to say so and terminate the launcher. Handle them in NSIS as HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\whatever
HKU: You can ignore these.

Find a base launcher that deals with those issues.

Adjust the launcher to reflect the changes you need made

Compile, test, and adjust

When it works, drop a note with it in the Beta Testing Forum., using this format. Let us have at it. We'll be glad to

Well, that about sums it up.

More General Help
Open Source Software is generally found at SourceForge
You can get general help here
If you have any specific questions, give post, and we'll be happy to help.
You can also join us at #portableapps on irc.freenode.net. You'll need a IRC client. You can use X-Chat, Pidgin, or Miranda. Helpful hints are here. Don't want to download a full blown IRC client? Well, I'm sure you will eventually, but here's a web based IRC client that's fast.

Thanks to . . .
r-andom, for his blurb on java\
MaienM and Bart.S for letting me know about those pesky updates

Changelog

10SEP08

Updated a few spelling issues
Added NirSoft RegfromApp
Updated link to installer thread
Changed up the way registry was talked about, added examples

08APR09

Add NSIS Portable to the Tools List

02OCT09

Add examples of Portable Java implementation
Update links to the PA.com format, Installer
Update link to NSIS Portable

Forums:

Portable App Development

Apps Ready For Official Release, Post Here

John T. Haller — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:24:45 +0000

If you've created an app that is currently posted as a Development Test and the following apply:

it has been tested by folks and no bugs are found
it conforms to the guidelines below
you are willing to support it on an ongoing basis (at least 6 months)

... then please post a note in this thread. Please note that this is for the actual authors/packagers only. Please don't nominate someone else's app for inclusion. Developers/packagers, you can list up to 10 apps in a single post, but please don't continuously add new apps to one of the top 10 comments and please don't remove apps once they are crossed out. Once a post is within the top 10, we will whittle it down and then move on to the next post.

Here are the Development Test guidelines:

Compile the Development Test Splash Screen (from the PA.c Template) into your launcher
Follow the current PortableApps.com Format™ specification.
Use the current PortableApps.com Installer (see PortableApps.com Format™ specification for details).
Doing a new release titled "Dev Test 1" or appropriate number. The installer should follow the standard naming convention of AppNamePortable_1.2_Dev_Test_1_English.paf.exe

Posts will be removed as the apps are released.

Apps that are not in PortableApps.com Format and ready for official release on PortableApps.com will be removed from this thread.

Java and .Net apps delayed

We won't be releasing Java or .NET apps just yet. Java we're waiting on licensing finalization with Oracle and will shortly have the only fully legal portable Java implementation which we'll work apps from. .NET apps are awaiting the new app directory which will have a special section for apps requiring .NET which will be hidden by default and include information on why it won't work on most public PCs (which are XP and have no .NET installed at all).

Bookbinder Portable (Java) - Gord Caswell
FileKiller (.NET) - scriptdaemon
Free Rapid Downloader (Java) - kiriko
FreeCol (Java) - thesupremecommander
Freemind (Java) - rab040ma
Makagiga Portable (Java) - winterblood
Minecraft (Java)
JabRef (Java) - Gord Caswell
jPDF Tweak (Java) - Gord Caswell
RSSOwl Portable - computerfreaker1
Screamer Portable - Nathan9222
Solitaire Settlers of Catan - dagardner
TuxGuitar (Java) - dagardner
Zekr Portable - dagardner

Note: This topic was originally retired but has been revived and we've been having developers pickup and revise some older apps that never made it to release. We're working on the newer postings quicker, but the old ones are getting picked off one by one as well.

Forums:

Portable App Development

Forum Guidelines (Portable App Development)

John T. Haller — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:25:48 +0000

The portable app development forum is for all development discussion related to portable apps. Feel free to ask questions on adapting the standard PortableApps NSIS-based launchers used with Portable Firefox, etc with other apps. Or with help working on any portable development project you wish. You'll find more portable apps developers here than anywhere else, so, for most questions, either someone will know outright or at least be able to point you in the right direction.

Forums:

Portable App Development

Total commander

helloma2 — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 18:18:06 +0000

Bonjour,

Je suis surpris de ne pas trouver "Total Commander" en version portable !

Est-ce dans vos projets ?

Cordialement,

helloma22

Forums:

Portable App Development

Portable Browsing browser — depricated

Spazz007 — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:33:15 +0000

It hasn't been updated since 2018 and it's not working, please mark it as deprecated in the browser/internet section. Thank you

[https://portableapps.com/apps/internet/private_browsing]

Forums:

Portable App Development

Extract WiX Bootstrapper

xmha97 — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 22:49:56 +0000

How can I extract the contents of a WiX Bootstrapper installer (.exe) from the command line without actually running the installer?
I want to make online version of: https://portableapps.com/node/79524

Forums:

Portable App Development

Desperate need of 64bit version of the PortableApp Launcher Creator

peterowen — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:15:10 +0000

Hi.
I switched all my apps to portable format on an 64bit os.
I do not have use of 32bit and i have none 32bit exe. All my apps are 64bit.
I would like very much to continue using PortableApps but without the 32bit Luncher and i desperate need the 64bit version for the LauncherCreator !
Where i can download that 64bit ONLY of the LauncherCreator !

Thanks.

Forums:

Portable App Development

My Portable Apps

ather — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 07:20:23 +0000

I have developed two apps, both are portable

1) Alternate to Taskbar Toolbars that are removed from Windows 11 (MyShortctzz)
2) PC Dashboard (Shows Num Lock , Caps Lock, RAM, CPU, etc status in Taskbar Icons)

Can be checked at:
Visit my Website apps.letsexcel.net

Admins please review , if they are worthy of adding on your platform

Forums:

Portable App Development

请指导我如何使用 PortableApps.com

LRTAPP — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:36:32 +0000

Are there any instructions or tutorials for using [PortableApps.com]? I also want to learn how to make portable versions of software.

Forums:

Portable App Development

Balena Etcher help file...

Peppernrino — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 15:40:19 +0000

In the Etcher help file... it says "balenaEtcher Portable Portable".

This is probably my fault. Please fix in future update. :/

Forums:

Portable App Development

[Fixed] Google Chrome Portable not remembering history and showing profile error

Андрій — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 17:21:42 +0000

Workaround fix: https://portableapps.com/comment/261345#comment-261345

Hi! I Use 137.0.7151.104 x64, but when I try Ctrl+H on browser I can not see my history. How to fix it ?
(p.s. full administrator rules)
(p.p.s install directory is not current, is - "B:\browser\Google_portable" )

Forums:

Portable App Development

feature request: a local update history

ArNaB0SS — Tue, 13 May 2025 22:05:50 +0000

can a locally stored updates history be implemented with the following features?
A. it just only has to show the name of the PAF and the date + timestamp when it was installed or updated with latest being on the top
B. use symbols + ^ - for new installation, update and uninstallation at the beginning of each entry
C. Keep only the latest 30-50 entries
D. make it accessible from the Help menu in the interface with read only status and a copy button

that's all, TYIA
i guess the updater will also need some updates in order to log it in the data folder preferably in encrypted form
it will help a lot for security / forensic reasons

Forums:

Portable App Development

Online Installer

xmha97 — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 13:59:45 +0000

Hi, I creating online installer of Obsidian Portable.
The online installer works well but there are two problems:
1. The online installer can't download ARM 64-bit version of Obsidian app.
2. The online installer downloads the official Obsidian installation file multiple times.
Please help me.

You can download and test the my online installer here:
https://github.com/xmha97/PortableApps/releases/tag/obsidian-v1.8.9

[DownloadFiles]
DownloadURL=https://github.com/obsidianmd/obsidian-releases/releases/download/v1.8.9/Obsidian-1.8.9.exe
DownloadName=Obsidian (64-bit)
DownloadFilename=Obsidian-1.8.9.exe
DoubleExtractFilename=$$PLUGINSDIR\app-64.7z
DoubleExtract1To=App\Obsidian-amd64
DoubleExtract1Filter=**
AdditionalInstallSize=266743
DownloadSHA256=045f480fd779784ec647d654d17abb764b60bb1661b142c236f994c6c49e4dfb
Download2URL=https://github.com/obsidianmd/obsidian-releases/releases/download/v1.8.9/Obsidian-1.8.9.exe
Download2Name=Obsidian (32-bit)
Download2Filename=Obsidian-1.8.9.exe
Download2DoubleExtractFilename=$$PLUGINSDIR\app-32.7z
Download2DoubleExtract1To=App\Obsidian-386
Download2DoubleExtract1Filter=**
AdditionalInstallSize=266743
DownloadSHA256=045f480fd779784ec647d654d17abb764b60bb1661b142c236f994c6c49e4dfb
Download3URL=https://github.com/obsidianmd/obsidian-releases/releases/download/v1.8.9/Obsidian-1.8.9.exe
Download3Name=Obsidian (ARM 64-bit)
Download3Filename=Obsidian-1.8.9.exe
Download3DoubleExtractFilename=$$PLUGINSDIR\app-arm64.7z
Download3DoubleExtract1To=App\Obsidian-arm64
Download3DoubleExtract1Filter=**
AdditionalInstallSize=266743
DownloadSHA256=045f480fd779784ec647d654d17abb764b60bb1661b142c236f994c6c49e4dfb

Forums:

Portable App Development