How to create a compressed SFX file using SevenZipSharp?

Question

I will understand how to create a SFX using SevenZipSharp library.

First of all I need to say I can't find any property to set the compression level, and all of that.

And when I try to make an SFX of a file, I get this error:

"Object reference not set to an instance of an object."

If I try to make an SFX of a folder, I get this error:

"Access to the path 'C:\test' is denied."

(But is not True, I'm Admin and I've tested it with more avaliable folders...)

This is the full class where I'm trying to understand all of this... :

Imports SevenZip

Public Class Form1

Dim dll As String = "7z64.dll"

Private Function SevenZipSharp_Compress_SFX(ByVal Input_DirOrFile As String, _
                                            ByVal OutputFileName As String) As Boolean
    Try
        ' Set library path
        SevenZipCompressor.SetLibraryPath(dll)

        ' Create compressor
        Dim Compressor As SevenZipSfx = New SevenZipSfx(SfxModule.Default)

        ' Set SFX parameters
        ' ¿?

        ' Start compression
        Compressor.MakeSfx(Input_DirOrFile, OutputFileName)

    Catch ex As Exception
        'Return False ' File not compressed
        Throw New Exception(ex.Message)
    End Try

    Return True ' File compressed

End Function

Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
    SevenZipSharp_Compress_SFX("C:\test\file.bat", "C:\7zSFX.exe")
End Sub

End Class

UPDATE:

@For Everyone:

please I pray to someone who will answer my question at least you used to create a SFX SevenZipSharp to tell me what I'm doing wrong and how to fix it, not to answer to say that they are user permission issues, please read the comments.

There are a few things in my opinion I have noticed: first try setting up break points and see exactly where it is failing at. Secondly you can't compress a file and save it as an .exe with SevenZip (in your button click event). Third I have had the same case before (no able to get access to the path) and come to find out it was a permission issue. Have you actually gone into the security of that folder and check the permissions for yourself? — Trevor, May 01 '13 at 05:16
of course like I said I'm sure this is not a permission issue, I'm admin user and I can create/delete/modify what I want, I don't had (never) any related problem with user permissions in my OS, I only have this problem with sevenzipsharp which is a lier, also I've tested it with files instead folders and then it launchs a different strange error that you can see in my question. also any folder/file tested was opened or in execution by any other process to launch that error. — ElektroStudios, May 02 '13 at 05:20
I can't understand the reason why you said this: "Secondly you can't compress a file and save it as an .exe with SevenZip (in your button click event).", You can create a SFX so we can save it as exe, but it's not documented... I don't know how to do it. thankyou for your comment. — ElektroStudios, May 02 '13 at 05:21

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered May 03 '13 at 08:13

2

You are probably using Windows 8, so in order to give your application the sufficient privileges to write-modify in (C:) partition, you should run the application in "As Administrator" mode even you're the admin.

answered May 03 '13 at 08:13

IWIH

417
5
17

Nope, How do you come to that conclusion?, I'm working in Windows 7, and like I said I'd never had ANY user permissions problem (NEVER, ANY), this is not a permissions issue, I don't need to start any program with admin rights 'cause I'm legitim admin, also I can do whatever thing with any file (for example compress using DotNetZip), but I can't make a SFX with sevenzipsharp, simple as this (but don't know if the solution is so simple as that) . thankyou anyway – ElektroStudios May 03 '13 at 09:17
@For Everyone: please I pray to someone who will answer my question at least you used to create a SFX SevenZipSharp to tell me what I'm doing wrong and how to fix it, not to answer to say that they are user permission issues, please read the comments. – ElektroStudios May 03 '13 at 09:23
@ElektroHacker After all, you have an answer, as I can see. But, for your knowledge, I read the comments before answering. I had same experience with writing to C: partition in windows 8, even when using admin-user, and I solved it with running the application in admin-mode. Contrary to window 7, using an admin-user is enough to write-modify within C: partition. Have a great day and code! :-) – IWIH May 04 '13 at 14:20
I appreciate everyones help and the "please read the comments" was not a special/sarcastic comment for you, only was a comment for everyone because I don't would more answers saying is a user permission issue. ps: sorry for my english and thanks! – ElektroStudios May 04 '13 at 15:24

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered May 03 '13 at 23:55

It looks like there may be some confusion as to what the arguments should be. The following code worked for me with the latest SevenZipSharp code on codeplex.

    Private Sub button1_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
        Dim compressor As SevenZipSfx = New SevenZipSfx("7z.sfx")
        compressor.MakeSfx("C:\Temp\cc_seal.7z", "C:\Temp\sfxseal.exe")
    End Sub

I tried with the SevenZipSfx(SfxModule.Default) like in your example, but the module name wasn’t being set and I believe that’s where the “Object reference not set to an instance of an object” error was coming from, because I did this:

    Private Sub button1_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
        Dim compressor As SevenZipSfx = New SevenZipSfx(SfxModule.Default)
        compressor.ModuleFileName = "7z.sfx"
        compressor.MakeSfx("C:\Temp\cc_seal.7z", "C:\Temp\sfxseal.exe")
    End Sub

And it also worked for me without error. Take out the ModuleFileName line, and I got the same crash as you did.

Also notice that compressor.MakeSfx first argument needs to be a .7z file and not a .bat file. It will “work” but when you try to run the sfx.exe it will crash with something about it not being a valid 7zip file. So you'll need to compress your file/directory first.

Make sure 7z.sfx in in your application directory, or provide the path to it (it’s in the codeplex source download)

I tried it with the “7zxSD_All.sfx” file first, it extracts the file then Windows 7 gives an error about it not being installed correctly (I'm assuming Windows 7 thinks it's an install file and not a self extracting file). "7z.sfx" worked though.

How to create a compressed SFX file using SevenZipSharp?

2 Answers2

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