InstallShield

InstallShield is a proprietary installation solution from Flexera Software (formerly Acresso Software ) for Microsoft Windows. According to the manufacturer, it is one of the world's most widely used setup solutions with 500 million installations. The software consists of an authoring solution that is used to create installations and a runtime solution produced by the authoring and the installations are made.

According to the manufacturer's instructions InstallShield is used by more than 500,000 companies for distributing software. It is integrated into the product field " FLEXnet " for software distribution and license management.

Functioning and scope

In earlier versions of InstallShield was equipped with its own Entpackungsalgorithmen and a separate runtime environment for the target system, which have been integrated into an executable program file. Some of these are still available, but be a part of their responsibilities to the native Windows Installer service when installing from if they find them.

InstallShield can handle various setup methods, network- based or Internet-based installations. For use with Microsoft development environments a special adaptation is delivered. InstallShield is available in only two languages ​​: English and Japanese.

Depending on the edition, the control option on the created setup projects and the function varies significantly. All installations created with InstallShield carry a watermark and are as InstallShield recognizable.

Express Edition

This version of InstallShield is limited to the wizard-based creation of Windows Installer ( *. Msi). Thus, it is applicable only for Windows operating systems from Windows 2000, since only these can run the Windows Installer service. From InstallShield Express X also supported the creation of installations that do not require Windows Installer, but only offer limited functionality. With 559 euros for a Germanized version ( 449 € for a version in English ), the program is relatively expensive.

Professional Edition

In this version of the product creating custom dialog boxes or localized setups, own setup scripts and reuse of already created setup environments for new projects is possible. It also supports interaction with current Microsoft technologies that may come in connection with the installation for use, for example. NET Framework 3.0, IIS 7.0, SQL Server 2005, beta of Windows Server "Longhorn", DirectX 9.0c and Windows Mobile platforms. It also supports a Windows Vista certification process and provides special functions to make installations on Windows Vista smoothly. The Professional Edition beats here but already beech with 2099 euros.

Premier Edition

The authoring solution is delivered in only three, but for installation in 33 selectable languages. Furthermore, can the use of InstallShield during authoring on the build - section, ie the compilation phase of the setup, reduce, so that other people or their own authoring solutions can be used, use the InstallShield only as compiler. The Premier Edition is the most expensive version of all. The Germanized version costs thus directly from the manufacturer Euro 3899.

License Management

Furthermore, this version supports a fairly complicated process for license management. Flexera offers a fee-based web service for managing licenses and "Product Activation" on the InstallShield Activation Service. It licenses are stored on a server Flexera and can be managed by divisions of their own company. It is not intended to install the service on their own servers or to fully integrate license management into the company - Flexera is included when you use this function forcibly paid.

Alternatives

After installing proprietary solutions, especially InstallShield, over the years established a virtual monopoly, some competitors, notably free, open- source alternatives were popular. Flexera noticed this and compares InstallShield on the product pages with " home-grown solutions" ( "home-grown solutions "). Although these are hardly comparable to the functionality of InstallShield, but they fulfill the same original purpose.

  • Inno Setup by Jordan Russell
  • InstallAware
  • Nullsoft Scriptable Install System of "Winamp " maker Nullsoft
  • Windows Installer XML from Microsoft
  • Wise Installer

Formation

InstallShield was originally developed by the eponymous startup company, to Macrovision, the company bought out in 2004 and integrated into the FLEXnet product division. Four years later, Macrovision sold his business solutions to a private buyer, who then founded the company Acresso. Acresso has been renamed in October 2009 Flexera Software.

Criticism

On September 19, 2008 it was announced that the Update Agent from InstallShield that connects to for checking updates to the appropriate manufacturer's website, unencrypted communication. Accordingly, as not only the traffic can be overheard, but it allows the user to be pushed in this way, any programs respectively pests.

Software deployment Windows Server 2008 WiX
413470
de