I'd like to call a batch file at the start of an Inno Setup compile process. i.e. before it starts compiling, perform an external operation. Is this possible or should my external activity be wrapping the Inno Setup compile process?
If you have ISPP installed with Inno (It's built in now) then you can use the Exec()
preprocessor function to run your batch file. The compile will be paused until it returns (place it at the beginning of your file).
#expr Exec("c:\file.bat")
If your command takes arguments, you have to write it as:
#expr Exec('c:\my_cmd.exe','some_argument')
You can also run it from a batch file that then calls the setup compiler.