EZ Automated UC ?
 

OK this may be better in a more ROM centered section but I thought I'd throw it out there and see.

I did a lot of research a few months back on doing UC restores with ROM flashing it seemed rather tedious with lots of unique code/scripts to write. there were a few programs to automate this process but they were still in their infancy and still a bit of work.

What is the current state of UC automation? I'd love to upgrade my current flashed ROM to one of the ones with the new TF2 manilla but I really like the way everything is set now. I don't mind doing it once more but I'd love to get it automated so I can hop on/off ROMS until I find one I like.

Thanks

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

nobody?

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

Try this thread on SDConfig: http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=59566

The wiki at XDA is also very useful: http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index...gename=AutoRun

It may seem a little overwhelming at first, but it is really pretty straightforward. Took me 15 minutes to get my SDConfig set up, saves me that much time, at least, everytime I flash my phone!

SD Config is also exceptionally powerful. I have it install all my programs, install the registry keys on apps that I paid for, set up my email, install security certificates for my exchange server, restore weather settings for TF3D and restore favorite program shortcuts on the programs tab.

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

At the same time, you could just dump all your .cab files into a single folder and run Sashimi... done deal, no need to create an SDconfig.txt or anything like that.

I haven't been too big a fan of sashimi in the past, but I like it better than UC. Lesser of two evils.

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

so, if you are not a fan of either what do you use? just reinstall everything every time?

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

I use Sashimi, it can do everything that UC can... it's easier in some areas, a little more difficult in others.

To install a set of .cabs, you just put them in \Storage Card\SASHIMI\Auto\CAB

When Sashimi is run then, it will go through the list of .cab files in that folder, and install them - alphabetically. If certain programs require special prompts (like Skyfire, for example) the install will pause, allow you to choose any options you may need, and it will automatically continue. You also, if you so choose, can set it up to run through those options for you, so it never has to pause. I've found this is just a big hassle to set up though.

Sashimi can copy files. Again - \Storage Card\SASHIMI\Auto\Root\...

The root folder is essentially an image of your phone's root folder... so if you want a file called secret.txt in My Documents, after a resest, you would place a copy of the file in...

\Storage Card\SASHIMI\Auto\Root\My Documents\secret.txt

And it will be copied when sashimi is run. Sashimi can delete files as well (though, I'll admit this is easier in UC), and it can install .reg files automatically. It can use provxml files to set up things like e-mail accounts, and even has a program to generate the .xml files for you.

It's considerably better than UC... but I still feel as if many improvements could be made.

The whole UI could be re-worked to be much more smooth and fast - and more intuitive. Sashimi creates a bunch of junk entries in your start menu list, and it's just a hassle to make a file to have them removed. Also, once the auto install is done, it will give you 10 seconds to say yes to soft resetting, otherwise it defaults to NO. It would be nice to change a setting to have it default to yes, this way I can just have it run and take care of everything.

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

there are apps that automatically make the sdconfig.txt file for you, so its as easy as putting all your files in a folder and saying make an sdconfig.txt out of these files and it does all the work for you.

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

While nice, sashimi is self-contained. And I often find myself stumbling across extra apps that I would like to keep after a hard reset. All I need to do is copy the .cab to the right folder, done deal. If using UC, I'd need to re-run the program to make the sdconfig.txt and copy it again.

I haven't used any of these programs, couldn't find them when I experimented with UC over sashimi, but the sdconfig file contains file copy commands and delete commands as well, how do you go about setting these up every time?

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

if i find a new app thats not part of my current sdconfig.txt i wouldnt rerun the program to build another one, its as easy as adding a new line into the text file not that labor intensive at all. i personally dont rebuild my sdconfig.txt it more than once i simply just add to it or delete from it. we could go back and forth but it really comes down to user preference. both have their pros and cons

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

I don't know. I personally didn't like the fact that most ROMs aren't sashimi compliant, so it setup an SDConfig to install sashimi, rebooted and then ran sashimi. Then for the life of that flash, I always had sashimi installed on my phone. It just seemed easier to eliminate the middle man and do the SDConfig myself.

As for adding programs you picked up, I never found it a hassle to just type

CAB: Storage Card\Cab\whatever.cab at the end of my SDConfig file.

The other thing about SD Config I like is that I can control the order that things happen in, as opposed to haveing to rename files to work with Sashimi's alphabetical model. To me that was important as far as registry settings\tweaks that had to occur after a particular program was installed, as in the case of inputting serial numbers for me.

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

Yeah, that's what this is, I guess... I'm proving I'm too lazy to add one line to a text document, but at the same time, I will go and manually run sashimi each time :mrgreen: Then take the time to complain about how it's not completely automated and still requires some action on my part.

With the programs I install, I found I needed a LOT more trial and error with UC to finally get it right, and it needed more of my attention when all was said and done.

Also, Sashimi can install apps to your storage card, instead of internal storage. Agreeably, this isn't huge, as you can just copy .ink files to your start menu, and restore registry keys, but, it's still nice to have. UC isn't able to do this.

No hard feelings, I'm just sharing what I have learned trying both, and which I prefer, and why... removing some of the research for other people.

I'll agree, renaming files for sashimi is a bit of a pain, but I just add 1-(cabname) and 2-(cabname) to those which are order-sensitive. This is one of the things I feel needs improvement.

Sashimi installs all .cab files first, then reg files, then copies the root files. There's also a synergy feature (my TP is messed up so I can't get to the documentation right now) that will install a .reg file and copy specific files at the same time a .cab is installed, it will even provision xml files at the same time. All that needed to be done was to name the files the same.

So, you have a synergy.cab in your \cab folder, and synergy.reg which you want to be installed with it, put both of them in the same folder - in this case, the \cab folder.

I just got my TP to boot and it's called "Tandem files and bundling" It will install the .cab, then the .reg, .xml or .mscr file that has the same name.

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

ur def. right about the trail and error part lol. that was a ***** i remember the day i decided to figure uc out i must've flashed like 30 times that day!!

off topic: shadowdrake. is that u auto-x in your sig?

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

I agree Sashimi definitely has its pros as well. I didn't want to turn this into a UC vs. Sashimi comparison, I think it goes to show the OP that either way you go, it isn't too difficult to get it set up properly. Takes an hour, tops, of trial and error, and is a must if you flash more than once every month. Like I said orginally, 15 minutes of screwing with UC, and it has saved me hours of restoring things the way I like them after a flash. The cool part is, I am no longer worried about, "I don't want to deal with setting up all the stuff" when it comes to trying someone's new ROM. I flash it, UC runs, within 5 minutes of the download, I am back playing with the phone to see if I like the new rom. If I don't, I can move on to something else with nothing lost.

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

+1. Sashimi is pretty straightfoward. I haven't used it since the Mogul days when I had to load more apps, but it's a great app.

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

Yeah, it is... doesn't look like I'm moving though - that was a low speed corner, somewhere like 10-15 mph because it was so sharp (full steering lock)... and it just so happened to be the moment in time I was adding some power to bring about a little throttle-induced oversteer :headbang: Ahhh that was a fun course, I spent the whole thing sideways.

And since I guess I need to contribute something to the thread, too -- I still have to go through my list of apps when I switch roms becuase some are specific to certain ROMs (like, back in the day... the sprint picturemail update wasn't required for early builds of Dream's ROM because it didn't have picture mail in the first place... something that had to be removed later when I tried a ROM that had it cooked in).

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

So I flash a new ROM, now I'm using Sashimi to reload all my cabs. I plan on then using CERegeditor to make an image of the registry then I will register all my programs and set the phone as I like it then I will rerun ceregeditor and compare the changes. I will port these changes over to sashimi and all should be good right? For my NEXT flashing

What about programs that don't write to the registry but possibly to a dll or other file within the program how will I know about those? Is there a program that looks for changed or added files?

is this a reasonable apporach?

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

The programs that change files are elusive sometimes, a lot of times you just have to search here and xda to find the file that they use to register the program. I do know with Resco Explorer and Backup 2008 the file is wmtrigger.dat in the Windows\ directory. That one took some digging on the web before I found an obscure thread at XDA about it

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

Guess I can't get too excited I flashed to a new rom and Sashimi would not run automatically. had to navigate to it and double click on file then tell it to autorun, then it told me it was done but did not provision email or install all programs. so I found the provision and then got email working but now I have to install all the programs manually first.

guess I'm not here YET!!

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

LOL. That's what I was talking about with ROMs not being Sashimi compliant. Be patient though, you'll get there. Once you do, you will realize it was the best time you ever spent screwing with your phone because it makes flashing so much easier in the future!

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

+1 take your time and do some reading. but trial and error will be your best classroom

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

Setting up your UC is not hard - it is just labor intensive, especially if you want your UC to do extra things like XMLs and run other executable files (xcopyce).

In the end, it's really a one time thing. Get it right and modifying it is a cinch.

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

working sashimi now and got it ALMOST there.
We'll see how it works. comparing registries and going to add those reg edits to the batch and then cross my fingers, do a hard reset and try to run the batch!!

Thanks everyone for all their wonderful input. this place continues to amaze

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

OK, comparing the registry takes a LONG time even with Ceregistry.

So before I make a big mistake, let me make sure I ma doing this right.

I did flashed and made sure all my programs ran then I did a FULL image of the registry. then I spent a long time tweaking and adjusting all my settings and making sure everything works. It does so now I want to compare the two.

I made a second complete registry image (that way I don't risk toasting the phones working registry while I play) Then I let ceregistry editor do it's work and a while later it shows me about 5700 differences. Some are program registrations, some are function/appearance tweaks. I first went through each folder or key and said "select all" hoping to make a large list that could be compiled into a big .reg file or a .cab This was going well until I noticed that It seems that sometimes it chooses the OLD setting over the new setting??

What is the reference point that it compares? I want it to only choose the newer registry entry? am I doing something wrong?

Also, at this point would it be better to install several small .reg files or .cab files or one big one? I'm not going to do 5000+

My setup is fairly stable so I don't expect many changes. Is my workflow OK, do I need to go in to ever entry and choose what I want?

Thanks for the help. I'm ALMOST there

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

Try this program to compare the two reg files, it will then create a third reg file with the differences between the two. Then you can just put that third file in Sashimi's registry folder and let it run after all your programs are installed!

Keep us posted!

EDIT: That is a windows based program, you have to run it on the PC.

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

good luck man, keep us posted on how it works out for u

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

A Big Thanks To Parkjam For Lots Of Emails/pms To Help Me Get This Working.

I Really Appreciate All The Help Man!

IT'S WORKING!!!1

Re: EZ Automated UC ?
 

No problem man, just glad I could help and you got it working perfectly in the end!