Next-Level Setup: The Ultimate Guide to Advanced Installer Customization

Table of Contents

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links

If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Advanced Installer Ribbon

Advanced Installer’s Ribbon offers an efficient and easy way to navigate your project with just a couple of clicks. The Ribbon can be split into the following groupsQuick-Access Toolbar, Tabs, and the Application Menu.

The Quick-access Toolbar is a customizable toolbar which shows commands that are most often used.

Save - save the current project
Build - can choose to create all builds, rebuild all builds, or create a specific build
Run - launch the installer; if it was not built it will generate it first
Back - navigate backward in the project
Next - navigate forward in the project
Messages - show latest information and news about Advanced Installer
Show below the Ribbon - move the Quick-access toolbar below the Ribbon
Minimize the Ribbon - hide the Ribbon

Tabs

A Tab is a collection of features that are related to each other.

In the Tabs group, there is also a button to access the context-sensitive User Guide.

Solution Tab

Build - build the solution
Options - edit solution options using Edit Solution Options Dialog

Project Tab

Build - can choose to create all builds, rebuild all builds, or create a specific build
Run - launch the installer; if it was not built it will generate it first
Run in VM - test the installation in a provisioned virtual machine
- Impersonate System Account - enable this option to impersonate the system account when using “Run in VM”
- Edit VM profiles - the Edit VM Profiles dialog will be shown allowing you to create and configure the profiles that will be used for virtual machine installations.
- Create a new VM - the wizard will be shown assisting you to create a new virtual machine and to configure it for testing the installation.
Run in Docker - test the instalation in a Docker container.
- Create a repackaging Docker image - run the_Docker Image Prepare Wizard_ to set up a Docker image.
Show Run Log - display the installation log
Debug cmd line - send a command-line to the package before installation when using the [Run ] option
Open Output Folder - open Windows Explorer at the project location
Options - set the project options from the Project Paths Tab
Find - search the project
Project Summary - dialog to navigate through the project content
Repackager Summary - using this dialog you can review how the repackager was configured during the capture. Available only in an Architect project after importing an RPK
Generate Reports - Generate a project content report into an HTML, XML or PDF file. If you’re importing an RPK in an Architect project type, the option will also generate a repackager summary report in the same location

View Tab

Show
- Left Pane - show or hide the left pane
- Compact Left Pane - resize icons in the left pane
- Only Non-Empty Views - hide all views that don’t have changes
- Status Bar - show or hide the status bar
Navigation
- Last Change - navigate to the last location where the project was modified
- Back - navigate backward in the project
- Next - navigate forward in the project
Show/Hide Info Panes
- Installation - quick access menu to different sections of the project
- Log - show or hide the log pane
- Issues - show or hide results of the ICE validation
- References - display a list of the references of the item you have tried to delete
- Find Result - show or hide the search result pane
- Notes - display various notes added and is specific for the selected view
- Notifications - show or hide the notifications pane that displays a list while authoring the package or loading the project
- Messages - show latest information and news about Advanced Installer

Settings Tab

External Tools - configure additional tools used during the build process through the External Tools dialog
Auto Import - configure the extensions used when importing XML and INI files
Repository Manager - manage dialogs or prerequisites in the Advanced Installer repository
Package Validation - configure package validation with ICEs, compatibility checks and WACK
SCCM Configurations - define the settings based on which the System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) configuration file will be created
Path Variables - configure the path variables
Auto Updates - configure Advanced Installer’s update process through the “Update Options” dialog
Customer Feedback - select if you want or not to help improve Advanced Installer by sending non-personal information

Wizards Tab

Convert Paths - convert existing project paths to use path variables
Add Adobe Plug-in - add an Adobe Product plug-in to the project
Add Office Addin - add an Office Product plug-in to the project
Import
- Visual Studio Project - import a Visual Studio Project into an Advanced Installer project
- Visual Basic 6.0 Project - import a Visual Basic 6.0 Project into an Advanced Installer project
- Real Studio Project - import a Real Studio Project into an existing Advanced Installer project
- MSI/MSM Package - import an MSI/MSM file into an existing Advanced Installer project
- Eclipse Workspace - import the projects from an Eclipse workspace into an existing Advanced Installer project
- IntelliJ IDEA Workspace - import the projects from an IntelliJ IDEA workspace into an existing Advanced Installer project
- Repackage Result File - import a repackager result file (.RPK)

The Application Menu contains commands that affect the entire project and workspace as well as the Help.

New - create a new project from to Start Page
Open - open an existing project or a built installer database file(MSI) inMSI Quick-Edit mode
Save
- Save - save current project
- Save As - save current project under a different name
- Save As Template - save current project as a template to be reused for a different package
Settings
- External Tools - configure additional tools used during the build process through the External Tools dialog
- Auto Import - configure the extensions used when importing XML and INI files
- Repackager Settings - configure installation capture profiles for Advanced Repackager
- Package Validation - configure package validation with ICEs, compatibility checks and WACK
- SCCM Configurations - define the settings based on which the System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) configuration file will be created
- Path Variables - configure the path variables
- Auto Updates - configure Advanced Installer’s update process through the “Update Options” dialog
- Customer Feedback Options - select if you want or not to help improve Advanced Installer by sending non-personal information
Help
- Contents - open the Advanced Installer User Guide
- Support Forums - open in the default browser the web page of the Advanced Installer Forum
- Purchase Now - open the web page where you can buy an Advanced Installer license
- Register - activate an Advanced Installer license
- About - general information about Advanced Installer(version, license, etc.) and update check
Exit - close the current project

Advanced Installer Ribbon has page and project type specific contextual tabs.

Topics

Repackager Summary
Shows the summary of the repackaging operation

Did you find this page useful?

Please give it a rating:

Thanks!

Report a problem on this page

Information is incorrect or missing

Information is unclear or confusing

Something else

Can you tell us what’s wrong?

Send message

Fox Sure

Next-Level Setup: The Ultimate Guide to Advanced Installer Customization