Inno Setup

Inno Setup is a program that can be created with the help of scripts to the installation routines. For the creation of scripts, a text editor with syntax highlighting in the package is only included, but other manufacturers offer additional software that provide a graphical user interface for creating packages.

Formation

The first version of Inno Setup was created in early 1997, as the software developer Jordan Russell was looking for an easy way to distribute the 16- bit and 32 -bit version of its software. With the available solutions he was dissatisfied because they were too complicated or simply not available in a 16- bit and 32 -bit version for his own purposes either too large for the user to operate. Therefore, he decided to develop a self- installer, which he then put in the version 1.09 also other available to those interested.

Over time, and thanks to a growing active followers is a very versatile tool for creating installation programs, which often reaches as today in its possibilities of commercial solutions developed from this first still fairly simple program.

Special Features

The software supports all major Windows operating systems from Windows 2000. The program will save the installation file either in a single file (EXE) or divides the setup for multiple disks on. Inno Setup supports the compression methods ZIP ( deflate ), bzip2, and 7 - Zips LZMA in various stages of compression, multi-language installations, create shortcuts, create registry entries, password-protected or encrypted installations as well as a "silent " installation and uninstallation without user input.

The software has a separate license called Inno Setup License ( similar to the BSD license ). The source code is fully available ( for the development environment Delphi ) and may be freely changed.

Restriction for Windows Vista

When using Inno Setup in software products, it is not possible by Microsoft to be certified as "Designed for Windows Vista " to obtain because Inno Setup is unable to generate the necessary Windows Installer files.

Additions made by other manufacturers

Thanks to the disclosure of the source code and the liberal license is available for Inno Setup of plug-ins and programs, the most important of which briefly presented here. Together with Inno Setup they provide a free suite for the creation of installation packages.

ISTool

The ISTool should help the user to create scripts for Inno Setup. A tree structure on the left side structured individual categories in which the user can make his changes to create a customized package. From the same producer, there is also the download DLL that allows to download files during the installation and the Billboard DLL to display a slideshow during the installation.

Inno Setup Form Designer

This software is similar to the form designer in many development environments, allowing the user to create their own dialogues, which are converted in real time into usable for Inno Setup code. In addition, the program includes a Rich Text Editor, for example, license texts can be created with the.

More Packages

Inno Setup script # Includes uses the ability of Inno script to use Includes, and implemented numerous additional functions such as playing music or generating serial numbers for individual packets. Images Wizard contains a package of graphics for setup.

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