Installer design and backdrops

[Frank D. Engel, Jr.]

It's typically better to use the installation solution provided by the 
OS when one is available -- user familiarity and so forth...

For Mac OS X, I found a free program somewhere called "Iceberg" which 
simplifies creation of OS X installer packages quite a bit.  It's easy 
to use, and quite flexible.

For Windows, however, I don't really bother with the M$ stuff; I use 
Inno Setup.  The interface should be familiar enough for most Windoze 
users, and the system is quite powerful.  Inno Setup also gives you 
uninstallers "for free" - little or no extra work involved for you.  
Just make sure you get the package of extras, including the graphical 
IDE-type thing which makes creating the installers much easier.


On Feb 16, 2006, at 5:09 PM, Lynn Fredricks wrote:

>> I've grown weary of using third-party installers and I prefer
>> to automate all parts of my build process, so I'm working on
>> a custom installer system for my projects.
>>
>> It seems that WiseInstall and InstallShield use a backdrop
>> behind their install window, but I like the way Rev's 2.7
>> installer doesn't presume you have nothing better to do that
>> watch the progress bar.
>>
>> So here's the question:  Is the backdrop used by so many
>> professional installers really just a useless holdover, or is
>> there some benefit to having it that I'm not seeing?
>>
>> If you were building your own installer would you use a
>> backdrop?  If so, why?
>
> I did build my own installer (http://www.meshinstall.com) :-) Well 
> sort of
> -- its going to final candidate status in the next version. MeshInstall
> doesn't currently have a backdrop but Ive been thinking there should 
> be one
> as an option. Sometimes installers manipulate files temporarily on a 
> hard
> disk - if a user can switch out of an install then there's a greater 
> chance
> they can screw up the process.
>
> One of our businesses deals in content, and we needed an installer 
> that we
> could incorporate serialization into (since the content itself isnt
> serialized like an app) and pretty up with some branding.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Lynn Fredricks
> President
> Proactive International, LLC
>
> - Because it is about who you know.(tm)
> http://www.proactive-intl.com
>
>
>
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>
-----------------------------------------------------------
Frank D. Engel, Jr.  <fde101 at fjrhome.net>

$ ln -s /usr/share/kjvbible /usr/manual
$ true | cat /usr/manual | grep "John 3:16"
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten 
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have 
everlasting life.
$



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