InstallSite Blog : AdvancedInstaller

New Advanced Installer 7.2 brings desktop ActiveSync installers for Windows Mobile applications

stefan — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:56:01 GMT

On September 8th, 2009 Caphyon Ltd. announced the latest edition of its Windows Installer authoring tool. This is the fifth feature update in this year. Since each Advanced Installer purchase includes 6 months of maintenance (optionally 30 months) you get an average of three free updates.

New and improved features in Advanced Installer 7.2 include:

Install Windows Mobile applications from the desktop through ActiveSync
Transforms Wizard to create MST transforms capturing user input during an install or the differences between two Windows Installer MSI databases
Fast installs through Windows Installer 5.0
Retrieve WiX imported files from Visual Studio project
Ability to digitally sign using information from the certificates store
Ability to customize the installation folder for each feature
Mixed 32-bit/64-bit package predefined project template
Visual C++ application predefined project template
.NET Framework application predefined project template
Copy/Paste support for dialog editor, launch conditions, Prerequisites, upgrades and searches
Command line options for: Windows Mobile projects, patch images, adding and removing merge modules in a MSI project, setting merge module signature information, ProductCode
Windows Powershell 1.0 predefined prerequisite
Adobe Flash Player 10 predefined prerequisite
XNA Framework 3.1 predefined prerequisite and launch condition
SQL Server Express and SQL Server Compact launch conditions

Advanced Installer is licensed on a per developer basis, allowing named users to install the software on up to five machines. It is available in four editions, starting with the Freeware community edition and offering a 30-day trial period for the other editions.

For more information about Advanced Installer please see:
www.installsite.biz/advancedinstaller.htm

Careful with that Hyperlink (on your MSI dialog)

stefan — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:51:16 GMT

One of the new features in version 5 of the Windows Installer runtime is support for hyperlink controls on setup dialogs. Remember that MSI 5 is only available on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, but there's no redistributable for down-level platforms.

In most cases when introducing new features, the MSI team made sure they don't break your setup on older runtime versions. For instance, older MSI versions simply ignore new tables that they can't use. This enables developers to create a setup that will run with basic functionality on older platforms but on the latest MSI version the new features would "light up".

The hyperlink control is different, maybe because it's not a table but a new control type in an existing table, the Control table. Thus, it causes your setup to fail on Windows Installer versions prior to MSI 5:

Dialog with hyperlink control on Windows 7

Dialog with hyperlink control on Windows Vista

Error code 2885 means "Failed to create the control [3] on the dialog [2]."

Workaround

To work around this issue, create two versions of the dialog, one with the hyperlink control, and the other without. Use these condition to display the appropriate dialog:

VersionMsi >= "5.00" (for the dialog with hyperlink control)
VersionMsi < "5.00" (for the dialog without hyperlink control)

Note that making the hyperlink control invisible for MSI versions < 5 doesn't help. You really need a separate dialog.

How to create a hyperlink control (if your tool doesn't support it)

I've used Advanced Installer to create the above screen shots, because its dialog editor can create hyperlink controls. If you are using InstallShield or another tool that doesn't support hyperlink controls (yet) but has a way to modify the msi tables directly, you can create a hyperlink control using these easy steps:

Create a static text control
Set its text in HTML format: like this:
<a href=http://www.installsite.org>www.InstallSite.org</a>
where the href parameter specifies the URL and the text between the opening and the closing tag is what gets displayed.
Go to Direct Editor and select the table named Control.
Find your text control and change the Type from Text to Hyperlink.

This manual procedure even gives you more flexibility. For instance you could hyperlink only part of the text, while in Advanced Installer the complete text is hyperlinked. The following screen shot was created with InstallShield using this string for the Hyperlink Text:

Please visit <a href="http://www.installsite.org">InstallSite.org</a> for more samples

New Advanced Installer 7.1 brings Windows 7 and WI 5 compatibility and support

stefan — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:02:39 GMT

On July 8th, 2009 Caphyon Ltd. announced the latest edition of its Windows Installer authoring tool. The new Advanced Installer enables developers and system administrators to easily build and repackage complex applications into reliable, ready to deploy MSI and EXE installers, patches and on-line updates.

The 7.1 release completes our Windows 7 and Windows Installer 5.0 compatibility and support. From new features readily available to your installers to better usability and OS integration, Advanced Installer makes checking for and using the new Microsoft platform a snap.

Multiple user interface improvements are available in this version, both in installers using the Enhanced UI feature and in Advanced Installer itself where a new set of cleaner, modernized and better suited for the Vista/Windows 7 operation systems icons debuts.

New predefined ready-to-use prerequisites, launch conditions, searches and ten new custom ways of searching on the user's computer ensure that your application's install never fails due to problems in third-party frameworks, components or products.

Other improvements in this version:

Single Package Authoring for WI 5.0
Enhanced Service Configuration for WI 5.0
Ability to generate Unicode MSI Databases
File associations in Windows Mobile projects
New configuration content report for Windows Mobile projects
Display progress information on Windows 7 Taskbar for: Auto Updater, Repackager, package build, Enhanced UI installation and EXE bootstrapper installation
Added Checklist control in Enhanced UI
Added Hyperlink control in Enhanced UI and Windows Installer 5.0 UI
Multiple selection ListBox and ListView controls in Enhanced UI
ASP.NET registration for an IIS web application
Logging support for chained packages
Extended search support with 10 additional methods
Predefined searches for RegAsm, Regsvr32, Aspnet_regiis and Microsoft Office installation path
Microsoft Silverlight predefined prerequisite
DirectX 11 predefined launch condition
Windows 7 predefined launch condition
Refreshed Advanced Installer icon set

Advanced Installer is available in four editions, starting with the Freeware community edition and offering a 30-day trial period for the other editions.

For more information and ordering Advanced Installer please see:
www.installsite.biz/advancedinstaller.htm

(Text based on a press release from Caphyon Ltd.)

New Advanced Installer 7.0 brings Windows Mobile/CE support

stefan — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:45:05 GMT

On May 25th, 2009 Caphyon Ltd. announced the latest edition of its Windows Installer authoring tool. The new Advanced Installer enables developers and system administrators to easily build and repackage complex applications into reliable, ready to deploy MSI and EXE installers, patches and on-line updates.

The 7.0 release breaks new ground with the addition of full support for the Windows Mobile platform. Finally creating fully featured installers for your smartphone applications becomes just as easy as creating installers for your desktop products.

Another major addition in this release is the enhanced installation user interface. This brand new external UI implementation is laying the foundation for massive improvements on how your installers look and feel. Better Vista/Windows 7 integration, transparencies, exciting new controls and more powerful customization are ready to use in your installers.

Do you have installers already written with NSIS that you need to switch to Windows Installer? Advanced Installer 7.0 can import NSIS projects in addition to Visual Studio, WiX, Eclipse and Inno Setup. Quickly and painlessly convert them to MSI - with just a few mouse clicks.

And of course, as always, tons of smaller features come to help every-day's life of the installer developer. Application leftovers after uninstall are now a thing of the past with the built-in support for uninstall cleanup. Predefined Custom actions for port testing and application shutdowns. Prerequisites and launch conditions for XNA Framework, Windows Installer 5.0, Internet Explorer 8 and many more.

Other improvements in this version:

Windows Mobile/CE support
Import NSIS projects
Enhanced installation user interface
Cleanup application-generated resources and settings at uninstall
Persist user-modified application data through upgrades and repairs
Predefined custom action for testing if a port is free (not bound to an application)
Predefined custom action for closing applications
Custom name in the "Add or Remove Programs" applet
XNA Framework predefined prerequisite and launch condition
Windows Installer 5.0 predefined launch condition
Internet Explorer 8 predefined launch condition
SQL Server Compact Edition 3.5 SP1 predefined prerequisite

Advanced Installer is available in four editions, starting with the Freeware community edition and offering a 30-day trial period for the other editions.

For more information and ordering Advanced Installer please see:
www.installsite.biz/advancedinstaller.htm

(Text based on a press release from Caphyon Ltd.)

New Advanced Installer 6.9 brings multi-instance installs and IIS Application Pools support

stefan — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:29:00 GMT

On March 18th, 2009 Caphyon Ltd. announced the latest edition of its Windows Installer authoring tool. The new Advanced Installer enables developers and system administrators to easily build and repackage complex applications into reliable, ready to deploy MSI and EXE installers, patches and on-line updates.

The 6.9 release helps you build installers able to install multiple instances of a product on the same computer, avoiding conflicts through separate resource (file and registry) spaces.

The addition of an Application Pools feature completes Advanced Installer's comprehensive Web Application support covering IIS, SQL Server, SQL scripts and ASP.NET.

Also new in this version is the ability to schedule image slide shows in the background during the install of your application. Together with full billboard editor, this opens up additional possibilities of branding, advertising and presenting your products during install.

Other improvements in this version:

Ability to install multiple instances of the same product
IIS Application Pools support
Extensible trial period
Programmable image slide shows for installation background
Back / Next navigation in Advanced Installer's graphical interface
Hide Java Launcher settings from end-user

Advanced Installer is available in four editions, starting with the Freeware community edition and offering a 30-day trial period for the other editions.

For more information and ordering Advanced Installer please see:
www.installsite.biz/advancedinstaller.htm

(Text based on a press release from Caphyon Ltd.)

New Advanced Installer 6.8 brings Inno Setup project importing

stefan — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:04:14 GMT

On February 5th, 2009 Caphyon Ltd. announced the latest edition of its Windows Installer authoring tool. The new Advanced Installer enables developers and system administrators to easily build and repackage complex applications into reliable, ready to deploy MSI and EXE installers, patches and on-line updates.

The 6.8 version makes switching to Windows Installer easier than ever before by importing Inno Setup projects. Move to MSI setups without losing the time and effort already invested into your installers.

New predefined Custom Actions allow you to list all databases users can connect to in the installation UI, detect processes or services and call any function in any standard DLL.

Customize multiple installers generated from a single project with different GUI themes according to each target market and audience.

Other improvements in this version:

Import Inno Setup projects
Call function from standard DLL predefined custom action
Ability to add new dialogs directly in the UI Sequence
List all databases the user can connect to
Detect process and stop process predefined custom actions
Detect service predefined custom action
Per-build GUI themes
Ability to condition standard actions
Detailed information when trying to remove a referenced file, folder or property
Wizard for "Browse IIS Websites & Virtual Directories" predefined custom action
Wizard for "Browse for SQL Servers" predefined custom action
Installed Office 2003 application predefined launch condition

Advanced Installer is available in four editions, starting with the Freeware community edition and offering a 30-day trial period for the other editions.

For more information about Advanced Installer please see:
www.installsite.biz/advancedinstaller.htm

(Text based on a press release from Caphyon Ltd.)

New Advanced Installer 6.7 brings licensing support with trials and registration

stefan — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:04:26 GMT

On November 26th, 2008 Caphyon Ltd. announced the latest edition of its Windows Installer authoring tool. The new Advanced Installer enables developers and system administrators to easily build and repackage complex applications into reliable, ready to deploy MSI and EXE installers, patches and on-line updates.

The 6.7 release introduces a Licensing module supporting trials and registrations. Configurable with just a couple of mouse clicks, it is perfect for the busy software publisher, freeing you from having to implement your own custom solutions.

Configure custom HTTP headers and error pages in IIS. Help your users to easily pick target web sites and virtual directories during install by showing an automatically created list with what's available.

Extend your installer's functionality with the new ready to use predefined custom actions, Prerequisites and launch conditions.

Other improvements in this version:

Licensing module: trials and registration support
Play Audio File predefined custom action
Uninstall Previous Versions predefined custom action
Ability to configure custom HTTP error pages for a Web Site or Virtual Directory
Ability to configure custom HTTP headers for a Web Site or Virtual Directory
Populate a combobox/listbox with all websites/virtual directories on the target IIS server machine
Ability to change the order of standard actions
Wizard for creating prerequisites
.NET Framework 2.0 SP1 and SP2 predefined prerequisites
.NET Framework 3.0 SP1 predefined prerequisite
Visual Studio 2008 SP1 Redistributable predefined prerequisite
Active Internet connection predefined launch condition
Installed Office 2007 application predefined launch condition

Advanced Installer is available in four editions, starting with the Freeware community edition and offering a 30-day trial period for the other editions.

For more information about Advanced Installer please see:
www.installsite.biz/advancedinstaller.htm

(Text based on a press release from Caphyon Ltd.)

New Advanced Installer 6.6 brings additional prerequisite support and ICE validation

stefan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:01:02 GMT

On October 3rd, 2008 Caphyon Ltd. announced the latest edition of its Windows Installer authoring tool. The new Advanced Installer enables developers and system administrators to easily build and repackage complex applications into reliable, ready to deploy MSI and EXE installers, patches and on-line updates.

The 6.6 version offers new ready to use, predefined prerequisites, from .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, SQL Server Express to Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8. A brand-new Repository allows you to store any prerequisite you define yourself and reuse it in other projects.

A new Condition Wizard helps you create Windows Installer conditions with ease while additional predefined Custom Actions allow you to run any file as Administrator or preserve the Install Type of the old version of your software.

Also new is the ability to run the ICE validation suite integrated as a final step in the build process, ensuring that your MSI packages are flawless. Validation messages are appended to the unified Build Log.

Other improvements in this version:

Prerequisites repository for storing and reusing user-defined prerequisites
Option to run the ICE validation suite as part of the build process
Configure web application mappings at Virtual Directory level
Prompt to use Path Variables when adding files if applicable
New Condition wizard
Duplicate build configurations
.NET Framework 3.5 SP1 predefined prerequisite
.NET Framework Client Profile predefined prerequisite
SQL Server Express 2008 predefined prerequisite
SQL Server Express 2005 SP1 and SP2 predefined prerequisites
Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8 predefined prerequisites
Run file as Administrator predefined custom action
Preserve Install Type of the old version predefined custom action
Support for Minor Upgrades in EXE bootstrapper
Option to hide properties from install log

Advanced Installer is available in four editions, starting with the Freeware community edition and offering a 30-day trial period for the other editions.

For more information about Advanced Installer please see:
www.installsite.biz/advancedinstaller.htm

New Advanced Installer 6.5 brings Windows Installer 4.5 support and WiX import

stefan — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:50:55 GMT

On August 19th, 2008 Caphyon Ltd. announced the latest edition of its Windows Installer authoring tool. The new Advanced Installer enables developers and system administrators to easily build and repackage complex applications into reliable, ready to deploy MSI and EXE installers, patches and on-line updates.

The 6.5 version completes the full implementation of Windows Installer
4.5 features. Embed multiple MSIs in a unified setup package and install them chained in a single, atomic transaction.

A new WiX import feature helps you leverage existing installer projects while at the same time giving you access to the numerous Advanced Installer features and capabilities.

Collect user information during install and POST it to your server with the included predefined Custom Action. With just one click specify your software dependencies using one of the newly added prerequisites and launch conditions.

Other improvements in this version:

Complete Windows Installer 4.5 feature support
WiX projects import
.NET Native Image Generation 2.0 support
.NET Native Image Generation support for assemblies installed in GAC
User info collection and retrieval custom action
Support for discrete "INI entry removal" operation
Windows Installer 4.5 predefined Prerequisites
SQL Server compact edition predefined prerequisite
Visual C++ 2005 SP1 redistributable predefined prerequisite
Visual C++ 2008 redistributable predefined prerequisite
MS XML Parser predefined prerequisite
Acrobat Reader 9.0 predefined prerequisite
Acrobat Reader 9.0 predefined launch condition
DirectX predefined launch condition

Advanced Installer is available in four editions, starting with the Freeware community edition and offering a 30-day trial period for the other editions.

For more information about Advanced Installer please see:
www.installsite.biz/advancedinstaller.htm

(Text based on a press release from Caphyon Ltd.)

New Advanced Installer 6.4 brings support for transactions in SQL scripts and 64-bit Java

stefan — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:41:09 GMT

On June 16th, 2008 Caphyon Ltd. announced the latest edition of its Windows Installer authoring tool. The new Advanced Installer enables developers and system administrators to easily build and repackage complex applications into reliable, ready to deploy MSI and EXE installers, patches and on-line updates.

The 6.4 version adds full transaction support for SQL scripts and the ability to automatically discover and display Microsoft SQL Servers available on the network at install time.

Collaboration of multiple developers on different computers is even easier with the addition of custom, per-machine configurable project path Variables. A friendly wizard automates the conversion process.

Full 64-bit support for Java programs is provided with a native 64-bit version of the Java launcher which can load your application into a discovered (or optionally bundled) 64-bit Java Runtime Environment.

Other improvements in this version:

Full transaction support for running SQL Scripts
Auto-discovery and browse of MS SQL Servers available on the network at install
Ability to use custom, configurable Variables in project paths
Wizard for auto-conversion of project paths to Path Variables
Smart cabbing eliminates duplication of content from cabinets
Native 64-bit version of Java launcher
Optional 64-bit JRE bundle
Native Unicode version of EXE bootstrapper
Synchronizing information extracted from a COM files

Advanced Installer is available in four editions, starting with the Freeware community edition and offering a 30-day trial period for the other editions.

For more information about Advanced Installer please see:
www.installsite.biz/advancedinstaller.htm

(Text based on a press release from Caphyon Ltd.)

New Advanced Installer 6.3 brings Vista Games Explorer integration and Visual Studio Setup projects import

stefan — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:33:20 GMT

On May 9th, 2008 Caphyon Ltd. announced the latest edition of its Windows Installer authoring tool. The new Advanced Installer enables developers and system administrators to easily build and repackage complex applications into reliable, ready to deploy MSI and EXE installers, patches and on-line updates.

The 6.3 version delivers tremendous time-saving features for game developers: one-click integration in Windows Vista's Games Explorer and registration in Windows Media Center.

Also new is an advanced, full-control mode for media volumes and CAB archive settings, allowing you to finely tune the way your products are compressed, packaged and delivered to your customers.

You can quickly convert your existing Microsoft Visual Studio Setup projects to Advanced Installer using the new addition to its powerful import capabilities.

Other improvements in this version:

Full Windows Games Explorer integration and Media Center registration support
Importing Visual Studio Setup projects
Authoring patches in form of downloadable EXE files
Another new addition full customization capabilities for media volumes and CAB archives in advanced mode
Aero Wizard style on Vista for Updater
Repeat support for Scheduled Tasks
Predefined Java Runtime Environment launch condition
Predefined Custom Actions for handling data in ListBox and ComboBox controls
New Build Content tab for at-a-glance build reports
Status page displayed in Bootstrapper when prerequisites searches are performed
Command Line option to specify languages to be included in the package
Sandbox testing of Prerequisite conditions
Building packages only in a specified language

Advanced Installer is available in four editions, starting with the Freeware community edition and offering a 30-day trial period for the other editions.

For more information about Advanced Installer please see:
www.installsite.biz/advancedinstaller.htm

(Text based on a press release from Caphyon Ltd.)

New Advanced Installer 6.2 brings MSI, MSM and Eclipse projects import

stefan — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:51:40 GMT

On March 6th, 2008 Caphyon Ltd. announced the latest edition of its Windows Installer authoring tool. The new Advanced Installer enables developers and system administrators to easily build and repackage complex applications into reliable, ready to deploy MSI and EXE installers, patches and on-line updates.

The 6.2 version focuses on further shortening the time required to create new MSI installers. Import your existing Eclipse projects for your Java products, take advantage of the new wizards to quickly create unified 32/64-bit installers, save ready-to-use templates for your future projects.

Additional Prerequisites and launch conditions are readily defined to be included in your installers with just a mouse click: .Net Framework 3.5, Adobe Acrobat Reader and the new service packs for Windows XP (SP3), Vista (SP1) and Server 2008.

A powerful import feature can handle both MSI installers and MSM merge modules allowing you to open and edit completed, third-party packages for further easy customization in Advanced Installer before deployment.

Other improvements in this version:

Importing Eclipse projects into For Java projects
Importing merge modules into new or existing projects
Importing MSIs into existing projects
Template projects
Ability to define Searches per each build
Ability to define Launch Conditions per each build
Wizard for creating new features
Wizard for creating unified 32/64-bit packages
Predefined .Net Framework 3.5 launch condition and prerequisite
Predefined Acrobat Reader prerequisite and launch condition
Newly released OS Service Packs launch conditions
Serbian language localization
Catalan language localization
MSI-like wizard-style bootstrapper UI with customizable dialog and banner images
Bootstrapper command line for setting installation language
Ability to merge 64-bit merge modules into mixed 32/64-bit packages

Advanced Installer is available in four editions, starting with the Freeware community edition and offering a 30-day trial period for the other editions.

For more information about Advanced Installer please see:

www.installsite.biz/advancedinstaller.htm

(Text based on a press release from Caphyon Ltd.)

Advanced Installer 6.1 brings unified 32/64-bit installers and Windows Firewall support

stefan — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:55:05 GMT

On December 18th, 2007 Caphyon Ltd. announced the latest edition of its Windows Installer authoring tool. The new Advanced Installer enables developers and system administrators to easily build and repackage complex applications into reliable, ready to deploy MSI and EXE installers, patches and on-line updates.

Starting with the 6.1 version you can create unified 32/64-bit installers for simpler deployment and lower maintenance costs. The installers run as 32-bit on 32-bit platforms and as 64-bit on 64-bit platforms.

The ability to configure the Windows Firewall is now fully supported.
Make the firewall configuration seamless for your users. Add your application to the exception list during installation, and remove it from the exception list during uninstallation.

Jump-start your installer by importing your existing Visual Studio project. Advanced Installer will auto-detect all your names, components, resources and dependencies, quickly creating the corresponding setup.

Other improvements in this version:

Mixed 32/64-bit installers
Configuring the Windows Firewall
Importing Microsoft Visual Studio projects and solutions
Bootstrapper customization of background image, welcome text and optional EULA
Custom CAB archive size and number of CABs per volume

Advanced Installer is available in four editions, starting with the Freeware community edition and offering a 30-day trial period for the other editions.

For more information about Advanced Installer 6.0 please see:

www.installsite.biz/advancedinstaller.htm

(Text based on a press release from Caphyon Ltd.)

Advanced Installer 6.0 brings XML updates and imports 3rd party MSI packages

stefan — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:58:46 GMT

On November 9th, 2007 Caphyon Ltd. announced the latest edition of its Windows Installer authoring tool. The new Advanced Installer enables developers and system administrators to easily build and repackage complex applications into reliable, ready to deploy MSI and EXE installers, patches and on-line updates.

Starting with the 6.0 version you can import third party MSI packages into your own Advanced Installer Projects for further editing and customization. You can also import COM+ installation MSIs into existing Advanced Installer projects.

Updating XML files is now fully supported. Insert, replace or remove elements and attributes. Register your application in XML driven frameworks, patch XML configuration files and update XML formatted information.

Advanced Installer now can cache and reuse unchanged archives, resulting in faster builds, thus reducing development time.

Other improvements in this version:

Support for Driver Install Frameworks for Applications (DIFxApp) version 2.1
Storing encrypted digital signature password in project (only for PFX certificates)
Support for Unicode SQL Scripts (UTF8 with BOM, UTF16 little or big endian)
Albanian language localization

Advanced Installer is available in four editions, starting with the Freeware community edition and offering a 30-day trial period for the other editions.

For more information about Advanced Installer 6.0 please see: