Question:

Is it possible to execute an application from SIS package during installation and uninstallation?

Answer:

Yes it is possible. Note however that this functionality is only available to signed SIS files (although they can be self-signed).

You can specify that an executable (or other document) be run during an installation by adding FILERUN (FR) and RUNINSTALL (RI) keywords at the end of the executable’s file specification line. For example, the following line in your PKG file will install myprogram.exe and execute it during the installation:
"\Symbian\Epoc32\release\armi\urel\myprogram.exe"-"!:system\programs\myprogram.exe",FR,RI

The RUNINSTALL keyword can be replaced by either of the following alternative "run-options" (which can be used after FR or FM has been specified) can be any of the following:

Name Abbreviation Description RUNINSTALL RI Run on install RUNREMOVE RR Run on uninstall and upgrade RUNBOTH RB Run on install, uninstall and upgrade RUNBEFORESHUTDOWN (Available from Symbian OS v9.5 RBS Run on uninstall before the applications in the package are shut down

Any of these options may be further qualified by use of the RUNWAITEND (RW) keyword, which causes the installation to wait for the executable to complete before continuing. If not specified, then installation continues immediately after the executable is launched.

Note:
The order in which the file is run is arbitrary (independent of the position that it is declared in the PKG file). Therefore the executable may have no dependency on any other file in the PKG as these may not be present on the device at the point the file is executed. Symbian OS v9.5 removes this limitation - RUNBEFORESHUTDOWN can be used to ensure that the executable is run before any files are removed. This feature may be useful for enabling controlled shutdown of non-GUI code prior to its removal.


See also:

• Symbian Developer Library: » Symbian OS Tools And Utilities » Software Installation Toolkit - reference
• Symbian Developer Library: » Symbian OS Tools And Utilities » Software Installation Toolkit - reference » Package file format » package-body » install-file » Installing language independent files