|
contents | software | |||||||
| InstallAware 6.0 Is Released InstallAware Software has released InstallAware 6.0, a setup authoring tool for ISVs and enterprises deploying products, patches, updates, and device drivers. InstallAware 6.0 creates Windows Installer setup packages with support for the latest technologies, including Microsoft .NET 2.0, Microsoft SQL Server Express 2005 Service Pack 1, Windows Vista, 64 bit operating systems, and Driver Installation Frameworks 2.01. MSIcode is InstallAware's fourth-generation language for creating Windows Installer databases, without requiring programming skills. Still unmatched in the industry two years after its debut, MSIcode is a human-readable script, with conditional statements and branching execution. The simplicity of MSIcode significantly lowers the barrier to entry for Windows Installer development, a task with a sharp learning curve. Also new to InstallAware 6 is Driver Installation Frameworks 2.01 (DIFx) support, hybrid 64/32 bit installations from a single setup file, the ability to minimize setups to the system tray and show message balloons, Windows Task Scheduler support, and detection of Virtual PC and VMware virtual machines. The setup user interface now supports building tabbed dialogs, like those used in the Office 2007 installer. The IDE now offers intelligent warnings and tips as MSIcode is being built, avoiding common setup authoring pitfalls. A new sample project illustrates detecting and connecting to instances of Microsoft SQL Server locally and on the network, together with pre-built dialogs that enumerate and test a server connection. Another new sample for driver installations simulates connecting a virtual "toaster" to the computer and automatically installs its plug-and-play drivers, implemented entirely in MSIcode. InstallAware 6's own setup serves as showcase for InstallAware's advanced technology. Users choose the product edition they wish to install directly in the setup wizard, and setup dynamically defines the corresponding product features. The minimum setup option works without requiring an Internet connection, and additional features are downloaded on-demand when selected. The user is surveyed, again directly within the install wizard, both when installing and uninstalling, and the results are seamlessly submitted online. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Computing News :: home page |