InstallShield, InstallScript

In this course you will learn about the InstallScript language and how to customize your installation script to make changes to your end users' systems.

You will also learn how to correctly identify and install shared files, executables that may be in use, and COM servers. Finally, you will understand how to extend your installation program to use DLL functions, Windows APIs, COM objects, .NET assemblies, and external executables to help you leverage existing code.

Objectives
In this class you will learn how to:

• Create and organize an installation project
• Install files, registry data, and shortcuts
• Work with InstallShield scripts
• Customize the installation user interface
• Deal with shared and self-registering files
• Call external code or programs from your installation program
• Package your installer for Windows Vista

Course Prerequisites:
Previous InstallShield experience is not required; however, you should be comfortable with the following:

• Using Windows Explorer and the command prompt to create and manage files
• Registry navigation
• Common installation-related registry keys (e.g., the uninstall key and application information key)
• Basic Windows terminology (e.g., DLL, Control Panel, etc.)

Later sections of the course assume familiarity with programming or scripting languages such as VBScript, Visual Basic, and C or C++.

Course Curriculum
The following course sections and topics will be covered in the class. If you have a specific area that you think might need extra attention, mention it to your instructor on the first day of class.

Introduction and Overview

• Minimum Development System Requirements
• Getting Help
• Installing InstallShield
• Running InstallShield

Project Assistant

• Specifying application information
• Customizing your installation's architecture
• Adding files to your project
• Creating shortcuts
• Configuring registry data
• Selecting dialog boxes to display
• Building your installation

Installation Designer

• Setting general project information
• Organization views
  • Features
  • Components
  • Setup Types
  • File Links
  • Path Variables
• Files and folders view
• Support files
• Shortcuts view
• Registry view
• XML File Changes view
• Server Configuration views

Installing Files

Installing to Windows Vista

• User Account Control (UAC)
• Manifests and execution levels
• Digital signatures

Distribution Media

• Release Wizard
• Files created by the Release Wizard
• Autoplay for CD-ROM builds
• Command-line builds with IsCmdBld
• Other command-line tools

Working with Scripts, Introduction

• Event handlers
• Feature events
• Miscellaneous events
• Common script-based tasks

Working with Locked and Shared Files

Uninstallation

Extensibility

• Calling DLL functions
• Calling methods in COM servers
• Call methods in .NET assemblies
• Calling Windows APIs
• Launching applications and documents
• Launching other installations

Additional Deployment Topics

• Web-enabled installations
• Silent installations
• Maintenance options
• Creating update installations

Custom Dialog Boxes

• Creating a new custom dialog box
• Processing controls in the script
• Modifying an existing dialog box
• Handling silent mode
• Advanced topic: Windows messages and window handles

Localization

• Choosing project languages
• Working with localized support files
• String tables and displayed text
• Transferring language-specific files

InstallShield Objects

• Downloading Objects from the live Redistributable Gallery
• Using InstallShield Objects
• Object properties and methods
• Windows NT Services Object
• Creating InstallShield Objects

Advanced Language Topics

• InstallScript language overview
• InstallScript syntax
• Variables and data types
• Defining functions
• Control flow and branching
• Exiting a script
• Preprocessor directives
• InstallShield script debugger
• Built-in InstallScript functions
• Learning about InstallScript functions
• Built-in dialog box functions
• Sd dialog box functions
• Customizing built-in dialog boxes
• Setting static text on the progress dialog
• Windows registry
• Windows shell
• Feature functions
• File and folder functions
• Information functions
• INI file functions
• String functions