I just figured out a way to run Avantbrower off of a removable USB flash drive. The trick is to make it so that Avantbrowser can't save it's settings in the default place: ....\Application Data\Avantbrowser, but rather store it in the program location.

So far I've got a crude batch file that does the job, but when I get home today, I will write a real program that does it nicely.

It won't save the cache, history, or anything else that isn't saved in the Application Data configuration folder (the folder only contains info about Settings, Recent Pages, Open Pages, Popup Lists, Feeds, and Skins).

But still, that's enough for me at least.

I'm pretty sure that 3rd party toolbars won't work, since they are incorporated into IE, and AB just borrows that.

So, after I go home this afternoon, I'll figure out a way to do it nicely. I'll post a link when I'm done.

kewl.....I look forward to checking it out.

duke

I assume it didn't work

Bump this back up. Would really like to do this on my usb disk. Would it perhaps be possible to alter the location of where the files are stored?

UPDATED!! SEE PAGE THREE OF THIS TOPIC!! READ ENTIRE POST BEFORE TESTING.

This will provide a batch file to use with Avant Browser and will transfer your settings and favorites from your flash drive when ran.

Now this solution may or may not work for you and I assume No resposibility from the use of this batch file.
I DO have Admin rights on tested system with XP Home SP2
and have not tried this on any other system.

Similar solution can be made for W98 as long as the batch file is edited properly.

Sorry this is so long just wanted to try and explain clearly.

Begin
First thing I did was install or copy the Avant program folder to my flash drive from:

C:\Program Files\Avant Browser.

Next I copied my Favorites to the Avant Program folder on the flash drive.
If you do not copy your favorites an empty folder will be created the first time the batch file is ran and you will not have your favorites available.
Next I ran Avant.exe from the flash drive(NOT THE BATCH FILE)to set up my settings or if you already have, go to
the Application Data folder in the current user profile such as:

C:\Documents and Settings\CurrentUser\Application Data

This folder may be hidden and you may have to go to Folder options to reveal this folder.

Then I copied the "Avant Browser" folder located in the "Application Data" folder to the Avant program folder on my flash drive and renamed it "Config" for ease of folder indentification. If you do not rename to "Config" batch file WILL NOT find your settings.

Now I created a batch file in the main Avant program folder on the flash drive as follows Spaced for ease of reading:

(BEGIN BATCH FILE BELOW)


@echo off
echo Your Avant Settings And Favorites Will Now Be Transfered To This Computer.
echo.
ATTRIB -H "%Userprofile%\Application Data"
if exist Favorites\ GOTO FAV
if not exist Favorites\ GOTO FAV2

:FAV
echo Previous Favorites Are Now Being Backed Up And Your Favorites Transfered.
echo.
md "%Userprofile%\OldFavorites"
move "%Userprofile%\Favorites" "%Userprofile%\OldFavorites\Favorites"
echo.
xcopy /s /h /i /r /c /q /y /e Favorites "%Userprofile%\Favorites"
GOTO CONT

:FAV2
echo You currently Have No Favorites Saved In Your Portable Avant Program Folder.
echo.
md "%Userprofile%\OldFavorites"
move "%Userprofile%\Favorites" "%Userprofile%\OldFavorites\Favorites"
md "%Userprofile%\Favorites"
GOTO CONT
echo.

:CONT
echo.
if not exist "%Userprofile%\Application Data\Avant Browser" GOTO RES1
if exist "%Userprofile%\Application Data\Avant Browser" GOTO RES2

:RES1
echo Your Settings Are Now Being Transfered To This Computer.
echo.
xcopy /s /h /i /r /c /q /y Config "%Userprofile%\Application Data\Avant Browser"
echo.
GOTO START

:RES2
echo Previous Settings Are Now Being Backed Up And Your Settings Transfered.
echo.
move "%Userprofile%\Application Data\Avant Browser" "%Userprofile%\Application Data\Avant Browser Old"
echo.
xcopy /s /h /i /r /c /q /y Config "%Userprofile%\Application Data\Avant Browser"
echo.
GOTO START

:START
echo Avant Browser Will Now Start With Your Settings And Favorites If Available.
ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 3000 > nul
avant.exe
echo.
ping 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 3000 > nul
echo Your Favorites Will Now Be updated And The Previous Favorites Restored.
echo.
xcopy /d /c /s /y /i /e "%Userprofile%\Favorites" Favorites
echo.
rd/s/q "%Userprofile%\Favorites"
move "%Userprofile%\OldFavorites\Favorites" "%Userprofile%\Favorites"
echo.
rd/s/q "%Userprofile%\OldFavorites"
if exist Config GOTO END1
if not exist Config GOTO END2

:END1
rd/s/q config
GOTO END2

:END2
echo Your Avant Settings Will Now Be Updated And The Previous Settings Restored.
echo.
ATTRIB -H "%Userprofile%\Application Data"
xcopy /s /h /i /r /c /q /y "%Userprofile%\Application Data\Avant Browser" Config
echo.
rd/s/q "%Userprofile%\Application Data\Avant Browser"
if exist "%Userprofile%\Application Data\Avant Browser Old" GOTO REN
if not exist "%Userprofile%\Application Data\Avant Browser Old" GOTO EXIT

:REN
echo.
move "%Userprofile%\Application Data\Avant Browser Old" "%Userprofile%\Application Data\Avant Browser"
GOTO EXIT

:EXIT
ATTRIB +H "%Userprofile%\Application Data"
exit /b



(END OF BATCH FILE ABOVE)

Now run the batch file. All settings and favorites on your drive should be copied to pc and Avant will start with those settings. DO NOT CLOSE the batch file or your updated settings and the PC previous settings will not be transfered back. The batch file will close on it's own when everything is completed. After you are done exit Avant (may be on system tray depending on settings) and WAIT for the batch file to close. All setting should be transfered back to the flash drive including any new favorites. Depending or your flash drive and computer, the time this takes will vary depending on USB 1 or 2 so make sure everything is DONE before removing flash drive. Settings also included open web pages that were saved when Avant was closed. If Avant pre-exists on the computer it will move the saved settings and favorites when you run the batch file and restore them when you are done. This will allow you to have two sets of setting for you own computer. This may allow you two have two Avant program folders on the same PC that uses separate settings for each. You may have to change folder names in the batch file if you don't use the names or locations I did.

If this works you can also get a Batch file Compiler that will turn the batch file into an EXE and allows "Ghost Mode" that hides the batch window while processing

MAKE SURE NOTHING IS BEING WRITTEN TO YOUR FLASH DRIVE BEFORE REMOVING OR YOU MAY LOSE DATA. MINE HAS A LIGHT SO I KNOW WHEN IT IS DONE TRANSFERING SO I CAN HAVE THE BATCH FILE HIDDEN.

The one I have used is Shareware and is found here:

http://www.abyssmedia.com/quickbfc/index.shtml

There are other batch compilers that will do the same and you may find a freeware version. Try Google.
Hope this works for others and feel free to modify and improve it or point out mistakes so others can have a functional PORTABLE Avant Browser.

I have tried transfering history so that when you are done it will not be left behind without losing the PC owners history but I have been unsucessful to this point. Maybe someone else can figure a way out.

At least until the settings folder can be changed through Avant. Good Luck.

NOTE: I am leaving this batch file here but I have UPDATED it to use the 7Zip utility to zip the Favorites and Avant settings. This saves drive space and noticably speeds transfering up.
I recommend using the new batch file which you can find later in this topic.

And for those that use Eprompter I have Improved "heinz57g" solution for a Portable solution. Go to :

http://www.eprompter.com/forum/index.ph ... ;mp;p=5498

Fmustang76

Can anyone confirm that this works? Will there be a download that can do this?

I'd say fmustang76 can confirm it works... Apparently nobody else has tried it yet. I don't have a flash drive myself. However it seems very straightforward.

I don't get what you mean by a download, everything you need is there. Just copy the relevant part into Notepad and save it with a .bat extension. Read the instructions carefully.

Oh, I didn't know how to make a .bat file. Thanks Sergei.

It's almost ancient lore at this point!

Finally got my USB drive and tried Portable Avant. All I can say is BRILLIANT!

Good to see someone else has tried it with success! I do have a batch file for those needing it to work on 98 but I haven't tested it. I have still been working on a more universal single batch file so it can be taken to PC's with other than Xp (NT,98,). I don't have those systems to test it on but others may need it on the go and can test it once I post it (Or is this a waste of time??). Also still working on transfering History and cookies with the batch file. And since I take alot of "Favorites" with and want to conserve as much drive space as possible (along with speed), I have been testing (with success) a batch file using the 7zip command utility to zip and copy my Favorites when I run my Avant Portable batch file instead of Copying the favorites Directly. This saves me about 4.5 megs of space and transfers them to my drive noticeably faster. If interested about any of these other options let this forum know and I will provide the batch files when available.

Can u post the batch file using the 7zip command utility to zip and copy my Favorites when I run my Avant Portable batch file instead of Copying the favorites Directly.

or pm me

thx

UPDATED MAY 21, 2006!!! PLEASE SEE HERE-
http://forum.avantbrowser.com/viewtopic.php?p=99491#99491!!!

For those of you that have used the previous batch file successfully, I recommend using the batch file below because this one does the same thing except this one will copy and transfer both your favorites and Avant setting using zip files (7zip utility included) to make the process faster and the files smaller. Hope it works for everyone. Again, I have only tested these files and scripted them to work on Xp Home. The file download also contains a Read Me file for more info and directions. Also, to set everything up properly, run the batch file below from your home system that has all of your Favorites and your Correct Avant settings. Once everything is working, you can then delete from your flash drive the "Favorites" and "Config" folders that were needed for the previous batch file along with the previous batch file if desired and use only this new batch file.
View the "README 1st" before using.

Download New Batch File Here : http://savefile.com/files/3268321
All files were scanned with Norton Antivirus before upload.

First Click "Download"

Then Click "Download the file now"


Fmustang76

Alright, I downloaded and ran the new batch file and it placed both zip files on the desktop. Is that correct? Should I move them to the USB drive?

Did you run the batch file from your desktop?? If so that is why the files showed up there. It should create the zip files in the same folder you run the batch file from. Yes you can copy the zip files to the Avant program folder on you removable drive. All files from the download should be placed in the same folder or the batch file will not work. Then you should run the batch file from your Avant folder on your removable drive. The batch file will automatically run Avant.exe once config files and favorites are transfered.

Also sorry for the previous misprint in the Readme.

The download files have been corrected.

AutorunUSB- Runs from Pc to make Flash drive Autorun ---

http://www.filebasket.com/product.php%5 ... filebasket

Fmustang76

Can anyone confirm whether this batch file backs up your URL Aliases?

Yes it does. It saves skin settings, URL, extra Home Pages, Avant Browser Options, etc.

Also if Avant is terminated your open pages along with the rest of your settings will be able to be saved as long as the batch file is allowed to finish.

Fmustang76

Any news on this topic? Will AB ever be really portable? The solution in this post is a bit mess and it didn't work properly for me and I went back to Firefox...

wow, this is truly amazing! thanks!

Doesn't work with Windows 98.