Advanced Installer Enterprise

Advanced Installer Enterprise

 

Features

 

1. Search and Update XML Files

Use the Advanced Installer support to create, update or remove elements, attributes and comments inside XML files or to perform custom searches in the XML files already present on the target system. The XML Editor and XML Search features allow you to:

·update one or more configuration or regular XML files without deleting their previous versions

·deploy an application which requires collecting user specific information, like username or password

·perform various install operations based on the content of an installed XML file

 

XML Editor

It helps you modify the contents of an XML file from the installation package. With the XML Editor you can create a new file or import an existing one from your development machine, organize or localize elements, attributes and even comments.

 

Create or Update XML Files

Create an XML file from scratch or update an existing XML file on the target machine.

 

Opt for safety measures like aborting the installation or restoring the file's original state in case of an error. Backups are a plus.

 

Configure XML Elements, Attributes and Comments

Create, update or remove XML entries at install, uninstall or both.

 

Windows Installer formatted references (properties, files, folders) for element text and attribute values simplify work even more.

 

XML Search

Use multiple locators in a single XML Search to have your installer perform complex parsing. Retrieve information with criteria ranging from:

 

·Attribute name

·Attribute value

·Element text

·Element has index in parent

 

XML Test

All XML related operations can be tested from the Advanced Installer GUI, prior to building the installation package.

 

2. Windows Installer Patches

Your ability to address customer issues in a timely and cost-effective manner is crucial to your product's success. Using Advanced Installer patches you can quickly create and distribute application fixes and improvements.

 

By providing patches instead of full-blown installers you (and your users) will save considerable bandwidth expenses. Windows Installer uses powerful, file-type aware, binary diff algorithms to ensure the smallest patch size.

 

Small, incremental patching is less disruptive and easier accepted by users. Advanced Installer builds only standard, system administrator friendly MSI patches which can be pushed through GPO to automatically patch applications on thousands of computers spread throughout large organizations.

 

Easily create Patches

Using Advanced Installer's Patch Wizard, simply select the old and new installers of your application and in just a few clicks your patch is generated and ready to be deployed.

 

Additional settings are available for advanced users to further customize patches, like:

 

·multi-target patches - update multiple versions of a product

·patch sequencing (from WI 3.0) - ensure correct order of application

 

Your users can quickly be notified of, download and install your product's patches through Advanced Installer's Updater.

 

Patches in Add/Remove Programs

Starting with Windows Installer 3.0, patches are supported by the Add/Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel. You can show your users more information about the patch and offer a way of removing it. You can classify your patch as a hotfix, security rollup, critical update, update, service pack or update rollup.

 

Patch validation

When creating a patch, Advanced Installer always runs sets of pre- and post-build checks to make sure Windows Installer patch rules are met, in order to help you create a valid working patch. Potential issues, if found, are signaled as early as possible.

 

Digitally signed Patches

Digital Signatures can be applied to your patches with just a few clicks, certifying your package's origin and integrity and putting your customer's mind at ease.

 

By signing patches you can enable least-privileged user account patching without UAC elevation prompts on Windows 10.

 

3. Text File Updates

Insert, replace or remove strings in any text file installed by your package or already present on the target machine.

 

4. Convert EXE installers to MSIs

Powerful wizard will convert any EXE setup into an MSI ready for network deployment through Active Directory.

 

5. Merge Modules

Merge modules are the Windows Installer standard for reusable setup logic and resources. Development teams can build and distribute MSM files that include installer components and functionality shared between applications.

 

Advanced Installer allows you to:

·create new merge modules from scratch

·import regular or redistributable(WiX and Visual Studio) merge modules for further editing

·add merge modules in your installer projects

 

Visual Studio MSMs

Visual Studio provides multiple merge modules with application run-times. These merge modules can be added and redistributed with your package to make sure that your product works on target machines.

 

Merge Modules

Configurable MSMs

You can create merge modules with attributes configurable by the consumer of the merge module. Specify which items can be modified and how these items can be configured.

 

Digital Signature

Advanced Installer supports signing merge modules for modern or older operating systems, according to Microsoft's guidelines.

 

ICE validation

Automatically test the internal consistency of merge modules using the evaluators that come with Windows Installer SDK.

 

6. Drivers

Specify drivers for install using the latest Windows Driver Install Frameworks (DIFx).

 

7. Package and Deploy Office Add-ins

Simplify deployment for your add-in users with a Windows 10 compliant package. Put an end to support calls for solving add-in registration problems or enterprise deployment related issues.

 

VSTO Add-ins

Advanced Installer provides a dedicated wizard that helps package a VSTO addin. The generated output package can be either an MSI or EXE.

 

It only takes minutes to follow the wizard, import a Visual Studio solution and get the final deployment package.

 

Add-in Express

For add-ins generated with the Add-in Express framework you must take a different approach.

 

Visual Studio Integration

Once the project is generated, Advanced Installer has an extension for Visual Studio that enables future builds of the setup package to be initiated directly from the add-in’s VS solution.

 

8. CD/DVD AutoRun

Customization

Advanced Installer's AutoRun customizes the icon and label that will be displayed in Windows Explorer. Additionally it can customize the commands that will be available from the CD/DVD's context menu, like:

 

·Launch the install program

·Launch a file from CD/DVD (with command line)

·Browse a folder from CD/DVD

·Open an Internet browser and redirect it to your website

·Launch the installed application in case the package is already installed

 

Advanced Installer fully supports AutoPlay and Default Command on any operating system starting from Windows XP up to Windows 10.

 

Localized Commands

When using AutoRun for multi-language packages it's recommended to localize the CD/DVD's context menu commands as well. This can be easily done by using Advanced Installer's built-in localization support which enables you to fully localize AutoRun commands in just a couple of minutes.

 

Digital Signature

Advanced Installer has the ability to digitally sign the installation package after building the project. When using this feature, a digitally signed AutoRun launcher will be created as well alongside the installation package.

 

9. Windows Firewall Integration

Microsoft OSs come with a built-in personal firewall which provides a barrier against network-based intrusions. Advanced Installer helps integrate your networking applications with Windows Firewall, providing the best possible firewall experience for your users.

While Windows Firewall helps prevent many inbound opportunistic attacks, some compatibility issues arise with applications that expect incoming network connections. If your application can function as a server or implements a peer-to-peer communication protocol, it may be blocked automatically.

 

Windows Firewall operation

When an application not registered with Windows Firewall attempts to open a TCP or UDP port for incoming network traffic, it is immediately blocked with a Security Alert popup dialog:

 

Application attempting to open an inbound connection

 

Adding your network-aware applications to the Windows Firewall Exceptions List becomes increasingly important, similarly to using an Authenticode certificate to digitally sign your installation package and binaries.

 

Windows Firewall and online multiplayer games

Online multiplayer games, in particular, may be affected to some degree.

 

The Security Alert system modal dialog box will appear underneath when running a fullscreen Direct3D application. Since this dialog will be hidden from the user looking at the game fullscreen, it will confuse players attempting to use the online features of your multiplayer game.

 

Furthermore, administrator privileges are required to unblock applications, privileges which may be unavailable to players under parental control rules.

 

Seamless firewall integration

You can offer a better firewall experience for your users by adding your application to the Firewall Exceptions List automatically at install time and removing it at uninstall.

 

Configuring firewall rules and their appurtenance to groups is simple and painless in Advanced Installer: you can authorize certain TCP or UDP ports, or register a whole process (your application) with the Windows Firewall with just a few mouse clicks.

 

Additionally, the firewall configuration tool in Advanced Installer is completely integrated with the Windows Installer technology, allowing the use of Properties and Formatted values, localizable display name for authorized applications and ports as well as conditional configuration of firewall rules.

 

Configuring the Windows Firewall

Besides specifying firewall rules for your application (or individual ports), you can also alter the global firewall configuration, when installing and/or uninstalling.

 

Finally, it is possible to change the System Services authorization options or the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) settings, which give you full control on how the Windows Firewall is configured.

 

10. SharePoint Solution Installer

Advanced Installer offers complete Windows Installer support for SharePoint applications. Forget about creating installers for your SharePoint solutions by hand. With Advanced Installer you can do this in just a couple of minutes as the whole package creation process is wizard driven and it does not require manually editing any configuration files.

 

Benefits

Use Advanced Installer's unique features to easily create SharePoint Solution installers.

 

·Standard Windows Installer format

·Deployment through MSI or EXE installers with a beautiful User Interface

·Complete maintenance support for your solutions: Repair, Change and Uninstall

 

Installer UI

Pre-built dialogs will help your users install the SharePoint application the way they want.

 

·Target IIS Servers with the dedicated selection dialog

·Installation log dialog for debugging or normal usage

 

Complete Deployment Scenarios

Advanced Installer offers complete deployment options allowing you to create the SharePoint Solution installer you need.

 

▲SharePoint specific launch conditions:

·Check if Administration and Timer services are started

·Check if the package is not already deployed

·Check for user deployment permissions

▲Create installers that support deployment to:

·Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010

·Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013

·Microsoft SharePoint 2016

▲Deploy included assemblies via Global Assembly Cache (GAC)

▲Use Code Access Security (CAS) Policies

▲Global deployment to all SharePoint Severs or Target deployment only to specified servers

▲Scheduled or immediate deployment

 

11. SQL Databases

Web applications often require additional information from databases during installation. Advanced Installer's SQL Databases support can be used as a standalone feature to configure SQL servers or in collaboration with the Internet Information Services feature for complete web applications deployment scenarios.

 

SQL Connections

Advanced Installer offers multiple choices that help you select how your installer will connect with the SQL Server:

 

·Predefined, SQLite 3 and Custom Connections

·Use already created connections for Microsoft SQL Azure, SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQLite 3 or define your own custom connection string

·ODBC support

·Connect to the SQL Server by using an ODBC Driver with the advantage of being able to connect to a greater range of servers or by using ODBC Data Sources specific with each server type

·Trusted Connections

·Connect to Microsoft SQL Server by impersonating the logged on user

·Test SQL Connections

·Let your users know if the SQL Server parameters provided in the predefined SQL Connection dialog are correct. The installer will test the connection and continue to perform the changes on the target machine only if the parameters are valid

·Sandbox Test

·Test Connections and SQL Queries in an isolated environment on your development machine without actually installing the package

 

Windows Installer Integration

Advanced Installer provides full Windows Installer integration with the following benefits:

 

·Dynamic Configuration

·Configure your SQL scripts or queries dynamically by using Windows Installer properties and formatted types directly from the installer user interface

·SQL Script or Query Replacement

·Built-in support to quickly replace certain sections from your scripts or queries with installer properties in order to create a flexible integration with Windows Installer

·Transactions Units

·Group several SQL script files in transaction units ensuring that your query changes will be committed atomically

 

User Interface Dialogs

Provide an improved user experience by using the predefined dialogs which helps your users select SQL Servers and Databases during installation:

 

·SQL Connection dialog

·Let your users connect to the SQL server by providing the connection parameters during install

·Browse for SQL Servers dialog

·Enable your users to select the desired SQL Server to be used from a list of all available servers during installation

·Browse for Server Databases

·Select your desired database from a list of those available on the SQL Server during installation

 

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)

Configure SSRS deployments which will be executed during installation. Upload reports, datasets or data sources to an instance of Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services.

 

12. Windows Installer Dialog Editor

The difference between a good installer UI and an awesome installer UI often lies in the little differences, the small tweaks and customizations that make your installer just perfect for your application and your users.

Advanced Installer not only starts you up with a beautiful, gorgeously themed User Interface, but then it helps you easily change it according to your needs.

 

Visual Dialog Editor

The WYSIWYG Dialog Editor offers accurate dialog preview rendering (native) on the editor canvas, all in real-time. MSI Formatted package references are visualised in-place for realistic UI previews.

 

The Editor is fully keyboard accessible and designed to wield powerful capabilities from an easy to use environment.

 

Use Built-in Dialogs

Advanced Installer comes with built-in, ready to use dialogs for license agreements, gathering logon information, configuring SQL connections and many more.

 

Alternate installer paths like Upgrade, Patch, Maintenance and Uninstall are covered by default. Just a couple of clicks and you'll have a package with basic functionality.

 

Create New Dialogs

If the built-in dialogs are not enough you can easily create your own from scratch. Our support will make the creation and maintenance of dialogs with complicated layout painless.

 

A complete set of tools is available to edit any built-in or custom dialog from the installation.

 

Moreover, by saving your custom dialogs to the Dialog Repository you can reuse package UI design and logic work throughout your projects.

 

Dialog Localization

If you have a multilingual application you will certainly want to create setups that are translated in the user's native language.

 

Setting up such a package using Advanced Installer's easy localization support with built-in Dictionary Editor will not take much of your development time.

 

Dialog and Control Actions

Add functionality to your controls and dialogs by using the Events Editor.

 

·Published Events

·Subscribed Events

·Control Conditioning

 

A handy wizard waits ready to guide you step by step in setting up the most commonly used actions.

 

Installation UI Preview

Quickly testing dialog design and functionality is invaluable, especially in complex projects.

 

Advanced Installer brings a very realistic preview of the exact sequence in which the dialogs will appear at install time.

 

13. Installer User Interface

The first part of your application experience, the installer User Interface is also the way your users start interacting and making decisions about how they want to work with your product. This is why Advanced Installer strives to create beautiful, easy to use and powerful User Interfaces.

 

Beautiful User Interface

Our powerful Themes support allows you to completely change the appearance of your installer with just a mouse click. Over 50 beautiful, ready-to-use themes ensure a consistent but unique and customizable visual look and feel for your installers.

 

Schedule image slideshows in the background of your installation dialog to entertain or educate your users about your product during longer installs.

 

Enhanced User Interface

Create MSIs with standard Windows Installer interfaces for perfect platform integration or go beyond, and upgrade to our native External UI implementation offering:

 

▲HTML5 hosting on your installer dialogs

▲Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7 and Vista controls:

·Large true-color icons

·Command Link controls

▲Additional native controls:

·Hyperlink

·Checklist

·Selection Tree with checkboxes

·Tab Host control

·Native OS “Browse for Folder” dialog

·Enforced EULA lecture

·Printing support

 

Multiple Languages

Distribute localized installers in as many languages as you need. Multi-language installers will start in the user's default system UI language and the bootstrapper can offer a language selection dialog.

 

The many productivity-enhancing tools that come with Advanced Installer implement similarly intuitive, powerful and beautiful UI: the EXE Bootstrapper, Updater, Native Java Launcher.

 

Installer Dialogs

Creating installer dialogs is time-consuming. Fortunately, Advanced Installer comes with a list of the most used dialogs which have been created taking into consideration the most common usage scenarios.

 

Your installers will be ready to also run at simplified or no-UI levels for administrative/enterprise deployment scenarios.

 

The fact that you don't have to doesn't mean you can't: our fully featured Dialog Editor waits ready to help you create your installer dialogs from scratch or simply customize the ones already provided.

 

14. Direct Table Editor

Visually edit your MSIs at database table and row level.

 

15. Application Trial and Licensing

Advanced Installer's trial and licensing feature allows potential clients to evaluate your application before purchasing. It enables them to fully activate the application only with your consent, after receiving a valid license key.

·After the trial expires, the application will stop running until the user registers the product.

·Registered copies of your product will revert to trial mode when copied on other machines.

·Registration keys are generated and validated using cryptographic secure algorithms.

·Modern UI assists the user in evaluating and registering your product.

 

Easy Integration

The Advanced Licensing support can be easily integrated with any application.

 

Our samples include C++, C#, VB.NET, ASP.NET and Java, but the licensing elements can be retrieved from any type of programming language.

 

16. Microsoft Web Deploy

Microsoft's Web Deploy technology allows you to copy resources, configure databases, certificates, access control and other required dependencies. Use Advanced Installer to integrate this process into your product's installer and target endpoints such as:

 

The Cloud

Easily target Microsoft Azure Websites. All you need is the web site's publishing profile which you can get from the Azure Portal.

 

Local or Remote IIS Servers

With Remote Agent Service (MsDepSvc) at its core, this option enables secure operations through HTTP and HTTPS.

 

Interactive experience

Use Advanced Installer's friendly GUI for quick configuration.

 

·Destination Settings

·Configure the Web Deploy provider, such as IIS Express or Password Decryption, used for the package publishing operation.

·Parameters

·Edit parameter values and change text in files when they are deployed (e.g. prompt to replace a connection string).

 

17. Scheduler

Create and fully configure tasks to be run by the native Windows Scheduler service.

 

18. Windows 7 Games Explorer Integration

The Games Explorer provides game developers with a secure and attractive way to present their games to users in Windows 7. As part of its extensive Windows 7 support, Advanced Installer offers one-click integration in Games Explorer and registration in Windows Media Center.

 

In order to integrate a game into Games Explorer a game definition file (GDF) is needed. A GDF is an XML file that contains metadata describing the game. Advanced Installer automatically generates this file for you based on the information you provide in the user-friendly graphical editor.

 

It then encapsulates the GDF within a resource section of a binary file (DLL), along with the game's thumbnail and icon. The binary file which contains the GDF will be digitally signed by Advanced Installer with the Authenticode certificate you provide, ensuring Games Explorer can trust the rating information.

 

Game and developer details

The Games Explorer, easily accessible from the Start menu, provides a list of all games installed on the user's PC. For each game, detailed information is displayed: title, description, version, release date, publisher, and developer information.

 

Provide rich information about your game

 

The minimum and recommended system performance ratings ensure that your users will enjoy the game experience at the level you designed it for them.

 

Parental controls

Specify game ratings and content description from a multitude of international rating organizations. Define the game genre(s).

 

Specify game executables for the General Application Restrictions, which allow Administrators to restrict user's game play through the Parental Control settings.

 

Game art and data

Provide a game icon and a general or region-specific "thumbnail" game box art image. These will be displayed in Games Explorer.

 

Offer a better experience for players browsing saved games from Windows Explorer by exposing metadata and thumbnails from your saved games.

 

Media Center registration

If your game can be run from Windows Media Center, register it with just a few mouse clicks.

 

Game configuration for Windows Media Center

 

19. Embedded Chainers

Embed multiple MSIs in a unified package and install them in a single transaction.

 

20. MSI Transforms

Transforms enable fast and easy MSI preparing for automatic deployment. Create responsive and differential transforms with just a few clicks, following our wizard.

 

Optimized MSI Packaging

Whenever you don’t have access to documentation from a software vendor with all the required command line parameters for configuring a silent MSI installation the transform file is the solution.

 

Follow the Advanced Installer wizard to create a transform that records the UI changes for any MSI package, while you manually install it. The MST file generated can now be used for silent deployment together with the MSI.

 

Transform Everything

If you want to change contents of the MSI package, not just record the GUI options during the installation, you need to use the the MSI QuickEditor from the Architect edition of Advanced Installer, as shown in the tutorial link above.