Creating an installer using InstallJammer

InstallJammer is a multiplatform GUI installer designed to be completely cross-platform.

It features a very powerful install builder with support for multiple themes and a high level of configurability for installers. Installers are built as single executable files for easy distribution over the web and handle installing everything you need for your application in a simple, cross-platform way.

 

 

Features

Rapid Development – InstallJammer includes a very powerful install builder for building your installs that lets you take control of everything in your installer, but with a very shallow learning curve, you can have an installer up and running in just minutes! Customization – InstallJammer will let you customize your installs any way you like both in its look-and-feel and its functionality. Multiplatform Support – InstallJammer installers are native binaries that can run on Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, HP-UX and AIX with more platforms added whenever possible.  If we don’t support your platform, you can download the source code and build the platform yourself! Multi-language Support – InstallJammer supports multiple languages in installers with ease.  Many translations already exist, and more are added with each release. Fast Installers – InstallJammer installers are built to be fast and light.  They startup and get your users installing faster because they don’t require the extra step or disk space to extract temporary files before starting. Lightweight Installers – InstallJammer installers are built to be lightweight with no real external dependencies.  You shouldn’t have to lug around the entire Java runtime just to install your software.  Distribute your software with the confidence of knowing that it will run on any platform your customers throw it at. Custom Actions – InstallJammer includes a wide variety of built-in actions to do the most common tasks.  Twiddle the Windows registry, install an RPM on Linux systems, install shortcuts everywhere, or locate the correct Java runtime for your software, all from the built-in actions.  And, if you don’t find an action that does what you want, you can write or script your own! Simple Project Files – InstallJammer project files are simple, plain text that can easily be stored in source control systems and quickly compared for differences when collaborating with other developers. Multiple User Interface Options – InstallJammer can run in a Standard, Default, Console or Silent install mode depending on what the user chooses.  Default will accept all of your build settings at default while still providing a GUI installation, and Silent will install without a GUI and without the need for interaction from the user.  Console allows your user to install on a UNIX system from a console window without a GUI.  And best of all, InstallJammer will choose the best option for you! Dialog Editing – InstallJammer lets you customize every pane of your install, right down to the code that created it.  You can literally make your installer look any way you want. Command Line Control – InstallJammer projects can be built and tested from the command-line, providing easy integration with current build environments and scheduled build configurations.  Any supported platform can be built from any other platform.  Setup a single build machine that builds all of the installers for your company regardless of their target platform. Theme Control – InstallJammer allows you to choose from different themes for your installers with the inclusion of default themes that resemble popular, commercial installers.  You can even create your own themes and use them for all of your installers! Native Look-and-Feel – InstallJammer installers provide native-looking installers for all of the supported platforms. Uninstall Capabilities – InstallJammer will automatically create an uninstaller during installation if you choose. FREE TO USE, FREE TO DISTRIBUTE – And best of all, it’s all free!  InstallJammer is open source and 100% free to use and distribute.  InstallJammer does not require you to pay money or homage for the privilege of distributing your software.  It doesn’t matter if what you are distributing is open source, freeware, shareware or commercial.  You are free to distribute your installers any way you like without owing us a thing.

 

 

Product URL :

http://www.installjammer.com/download

 

Create a simple installer using NSIS

NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) is a professional open source system to create Windows installers.Many plug-ins and scripts are already available: you can create web installers, communicate with Windows and other software components, install or update shared components and more.

List of features: This article explain how to create an installer using NSIS:

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/install/CreatingAnInstaller.aspx

 Product URL :

http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Main_Page 

 

 

• Generates self-contained executable installers
• Support for ZLib, BZip2 and LZMA data compression (files can be compressed individually or together)
• Uninstall support (installer can generate an uninstaller)
• Customizable user interface (dialogs, fonts, backgrounds, icons, text, checkmarks, images etc.)
• Classic and Modern wizard interface
• Fully multilingual, support for multiple languages (including RTL languages) in one installer. More than 40 translations are already available, but you can also create your own.
• Page system: You can add standard wizard pages or custom pages
• User selection of installation components, tree for component selection
• Multiple install configurations (usually Minimal, Typical, Full), and custom configuration
• Installer self-verification using a CRC32 checksum
• Small overhead over compressed data size (34 KB with default options)
• Ability to display a license agreement in text or RTF format
• Ability to detect destination directory from the registry
• Easy to use plug-in system (lots of plug-ins for creation of custom dialogs, internet connections, HTTP downloading, file patching, Win32 API calls, etc. are included)
• Installers can be as large as 2GB
• Optional silent mode for automated installations
• A preprocessor with support for defined symbols, macros, conditional compilation, standard predefines
• A lovely coding experience with elements of PHP and assembly (includes user variables, a stack, real flow control, etc.)
• Installers have their own VMs that let you write code that can support:
  • File extraction (with configurable overwrite parameters)
  • File/directory copying, renaming, deletion, searching
  • Plug-in DLL calling
  • DLL/ActiveX control registration/unregistration
  • Executable execution (shell execute and wait options)
  • Shortcut creation
  • Registry key reading/setting/enumerating/deleting
  • INI file reading/writing
  • Generic text file reading/writing
  • Powerful string and integer manipulation
  • Window finding based on class name or title
  • User interface manipulation (font/text setting)
  • Window message sending
  • User interaction with message boxes or custom pages
  • Branching, comparisons, etc.
  • Error checking
  • Reboot support, including delete or rename on reboot
  • Installer behavior commands (such as show/hide/wait/etc.)
  • User functions in script
  • Callback functions for user actions
• Completely free for any use. See License.

dotNetInstaller – Setup Bootstrapper for .NET Application

This is a very interesting topic written by Davide Icardi on CodeProject that helps developers to define the application prerequisites and install the correct version of these components in the correct order based on the user operating system type and language, user can download these components from the web or install these components directly.

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/install/dotNetInstaller.aspx

Utility for converting HTML to EXE

 WebSiteZip Packer:

 This is a powerful and easy application which will help you
to turn a single HTML pages into an executable file (.exe) with
an integrated HTML browser.

It can be used to:

• Produce and distribute e-books.
• Allow the visitors of your web site to download the exe-version of the site for offline work.
• Create convenient offline presentations and catalogs.
• Create guides and manuals for your software products.
• Any purpose where you need a solid executable file with an integrated HTML browser instead of piles of separate files and folders which are usual attributes of HTML pages.

Convert 7-Zip archives (.7z) into Self-Extracting archives (.exe) from Windows Explorer.

 7-Zip file archiver, written by Igor Pavlov is one of the most popular archiver due to its high compression ratio and offcource being free.

A 7-Zip Self-Extracting (SFX) archive is a stand-alone program file (Windows .exe file) that can unpack the 7z archive (stored inside it) without needing 7-Zip or any other tools. This is actually a .7z file bundled with a small program (stub) that extracts the files directly from the merged .7z file to the folder specified by the user.

you need to have got the two following tools.

• Paquet Builder – Freeware (or Registered) Edition. Paquet Builder can convert 7-Zip, Cabinet and Zip archives into simple or advanced Self-Extractors in .exe format. It can also create .7z, .cab and .zip files itself.
   
• Shell extension for Paquet Builder (free add-on): allows you to access to the Paquet Builder features directly from Windows Explorer (context menu).

1. Open Windows Explorer and locate the 7-Zip archive you want to convert. For this article, we will convert “demo.7z”.

2. Highlight the 7-Zip archive and right click on it to display the mouse context menu:

3. Select “Convert to a Self-Extracting .exe“.

Note that this menu will only appear if the shell extension is installed.

4. The following dialog box will appear:

You can modify the pre-defined settings if you wish. Otherwise click on “Create” to continue.

6. Paquet Builder will be opened silently and some seconds after that, your Self-Extracting archive is created if everything was fine.

7. If you launch the .exe file, you (and anyone you send the .exe to) will see this result:

 

You select the path where you want your files to be extracted to and you click Next. 7-Zip is not required at all.

You can change the title “Paquet Archive” using the “Archive Title” field.

Click on “Advanced Options” to change some default parameters:

• “Description” lets you change the text that appears in the Welcome step of the wizard.
• You can even specify an icon file for the Self-Extracting .exe file.

You can even change the splash bitmap, the homepage URL and the text of the Welcome dialog in Paquet Builder.

» Customizing the Self-Extracting archive

Paquet Builder can create tailored Self-Extracting archives: you can customize your SFX archives from A to Z in a snap.

If you would like to create more advanced Self-Extracting archives, you can use Paquet Builder:

• enable “Open Paquet Builder to modify the package” and Paquet Builder will be opened when you click on Create. Your Self-Extracting archive is not created until you compile it in Paquet Builder.
   
• or you can enable “Create a Paquet Builder project file when compiling“. In this case, the Self-Extracting archive is created and a project file (.pbp extension) is also output. Then double-click on this .pbp file to open Paquet Builder.

With Paquet Builder you could add a lot of additional features to your Self-Extracting archive:

• display some prompt messages at startup.
• show readme, license agreements, etc…
• select a different default destination folder for your files.
• create shortcuts to the output files.
• execute additional programs or open document files.
• add a uninstaller.
• digitally sign the .exe file if you have a certificate.
• and much more.

Creating Installer using WinZip

It is very easy to create self extractable archive using WinZip. The advantage is it can be used on any widows machine, even when there is no unarchive software installed.Just follow the steps given below:

• Add all the files to be installed in a folder.
• Right Click on the folder and go to WinZip>Add to Zip file.
• A Zip file will be created.
• Don’t exit the Winzip Wizard.
• Press ‘Shift + K’ and a panel will appear asking for the location of the zip file.
• Don’t change anything there.Click OK.
• Close the wizard and you will find your installer in the same directory.

  

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Creating Installer using WinRAR

Yes it is Winrar,your own archiving tool, apart from basic zip/unzip it can perform some real cool stuffs.It can be used to create a quick smart installer and it is very easy. Just follow the steps given below and you will be amazed by your own work.

Ok.Here is the list of items you need:

• WinRAR installation
• Files to be bundled as installer.
• A wicked brain to follow the instructions given below.

1.  Dump all the files required by your project into one folder.
2.  Right click on it and go to Add Files to archives
3.  A window will open. Either change the extension of the archive file or check the option Create SFX Archive. 
4. Goto Advanced Tab and Click on SFX Options button . 
5. Another window will pop up which will allow you to customize your installer further. 
6.  Here Click on each tab to provide necessery deails:

General

Provide the path where the installer will install the files.It can be Program Files or any other location.

Advanced

This tab provides two options:

• Cleaning up old files.
• Creating Shortcuts. 

       

 

 Creating Shortcuts:

By Clicking on Add Shortcut options we can add multiple shortcuts on the locations shown in the picture given below :

 

 Modes

 A custum question can be asked if required before installation by using this option.These modes are specially require if you need to keep the client in mind. Here you can set

• If it has to use temporary folder
• Do a silent installation without asking
• Overwrite options – Complete, ask or skip.

     

 Update

This option allow us to configure the update process.

Text and Icon

 To give more  professional look to installer you need to add Title images and text so that people don’t think it a spam. Check the image.

 

 License

This tab allows you to show the license text at startup time.

   

 

Module

This tab allow you to use it as in GUI mode or console mode. 

 So after providing these details your installer is ready.