TixUtils library

The default extension DLL implementation includes a number of helper functions that may be useful when you implement your own extension DLL. None of the function require special runtime support; they can be compiled without the use of the C/C++ runtime library, MFC, or any other libraries. Only a minimal set of standard Windows DLLs are required on the target system.

The functions are documented in their header file; their full source code is also included. Please consult the following files for details:

InstallMate 9\Tix\TixUtils.h: The annotated declarations of the utility functions.
InstallMate 9\Tix\TixUtils.c: The source code for all utility functions.

Memory allocation

Function	Description
TixMalloc	Allocate a block of unitialized memory
TixCalloc	Allocate a block of zero-filled memory
TixFree	Release an allocated block of memory

Null-terminated string and memory block manipulation

Function	Description
TixMemMove	Copy bytes in memory (overlapping source and destinations ranges are allowed)
TixStrCopy	Copy a null-terminated string
TixStrNCopy	Copy a null-terminated string up to a given maximum length
TixStrDup	Allocate a copy of a null-terminated string
TixStrDupA2W	Allocate a Unicode copy of a null-terminated multibyte string
TixStrDupW2A	Allocated a multibyte copy of a null-terminated Unicode string
TixStrToU	Parse an unsigned decimal integer number from a null-terminated string
TixLoadStringEx	Load a (possibly localized) string resource from the extension DLL's resources
TixParseVersion	Parse a dotted version number a.b.c.d from a null-terminated string
TixFormatVersion	Format a version number a.b.c.d to a null-terminated string buffer

File and directory path operations

Function	Description
TixMakePath	Combine a directory path and file name to a new path
TixGetFileName	Return a pointer to the rightmost component in a file or directory path
TixPathRemoveRight	Removed the rightmost component from a file or directory path

File and directory operations

Note: Symbolic <pathnames> are allowed and will be resolved automatically.

Function	Description
TixCreateDirectory	Create a new directory
TixCopyDirectory	Copy a directory and its contents, with optional depth-limited recursion
TixDeleteDirectory	Delete a directory and its files, without recursion
TixDeleteDirectoryRecursive	Delete a directory and its files, including all its subdirectories
TixDeleteFiles	Delete all files that match a given wildcard specification
TixFileExists	Check if a file or directory exists
TixFindFile	Perform a recursive search for a file or directory that matches a given wildcard specification
TixGetVersionInfo	Retrieve the version information from an executable file
TixGetFileVersion	Retrieve the file version from an executable file
TixGetOcxVersion	Retrieve the installed version of an ActiveX control, given its CLSID or ProgID
TixGetOcxVersionEx	Extended version of TixGetOcxVersion that checks a list of CLSID and/or ProgIDs.
TixCreateShortcut	Create a new shortcut (i.e., shell link) to a file or folder.
TixDeleteShortcut	Delete a shortcut to a file or folder.

User interaction

Function	Description
TixMessageBox	Display a message box with optionally localized text. In quiet mode, returns the default response.
TixDialogBox	Display a dialog box with optionally localized content.
TixQueryDirectory	Display the standard Windows Select Folder dialog box and returns the selected directory path.

Process-related operations

Function	Description
TixWait	Suspend the installer process for a number of milliseconds.
TixIsProcessRunning	Check if another process is running.
TixIsProcessRunningEx	Enumerate all running instances of a given process name and perform a callback action on each one.
TixEnumProcesses	Enumerate all running processes and perform a callback action on each one.
TixIsProcessRunningNT	Enumerate all running instances of a given process name, using a Windows NT-specific method.

Debugging macros

Macro	Description
TIX_OPENLOG	Open the debugging log file; only has effect in Debug builds.
TIX_CLOSELOG	Close the debugging log file; only has effect in Debug builds.
TIX_LOG	Write a message to the debugging log file; only has effect in Debug builds.
TIX_MSGNAME	Returns the symbolic name of the given TIX message number.