Course content - InstallShield

Summary of Course content :-

InstallShield, MSI Projects

Course Overview

Objectives

In this class you will learn how to:

• Create and organize an installation project
• Install files and create shortcuts
• Install and configure special types of files and data, such as registry and INI data, COM servers, Windows services, and .NET assemblies
• Work with MSI sequences and custom actions
• Modify your installer's user interface
• Package your installer for Windows
• Use the Automation interface to modify your project outside the graphical environment

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, and run executables
• 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.

Day - 1

Introduction

About the Windows Installer service

• About Windows Installer installation packages
• About the Windows Installer installation mechanism
• About the InstallShield environment
• Getting help

About Projects

Installation terminology

• Using the Project Assistant
• Using the Installation Designer
• Working with features and components
• Global product and project data

Installing Files

Static file linking

• Dynamic file linking
• Working with destination folders
• Best Practice fundamentals
• "Key" resource usage
• GUID usage
• Restarts and the Windows Restart Manager
• Creating shortcuts
• Using merge modules and prerequisites

Day - 2

Building Releases

Using the Release Wizard

• Media types
• Web installations
• Command-line builds
• Digitally signing the installation and files
• Using the Standalone build system

Deploying an Installation

Running an installation

• Understand how to interact with User Account Control (UAC)
• Maintenance and uninstallation
• Reduce installation time for large packages
• Using msiexec.exe
• Silent and reduced-UI installations
• Setting permissions using ISLockPermissions
• Passing properties from the command line
• MSI Log Analyzer

Day - 3

Non-File System Changes

Registry data

• Text files
• INI files
• XML files
• Environment variables
• File associations

Installing Special Files

COM servers

• Windows services
• .NET Assemblies
• Working with Repositories
• Running SQL scripts
• Forcing data removal
• Creating merge modules
• Creating InstallShield prerequisites
• Chaining MSI installations

Day - 4

Conditions and Actions

MSI properties

• Condition syntax and examples
• Installation sequences
• Custom actions: action types and guidelines
• Getting and setting properties
• Launching executables
• Calling DLLs
• Managed code custom actions
• Editing MSI tables directly

User Interface

How MSI determines dialog order and conditions

• Working with control events
• Working with control conditions
• MSI Debugger
• Creating new dialog boxes
• Subscription to Actions
• Required dialog boxes
• Adobe Flash support for billboarding
• Localization

Day - 5

Updates and Patches

Types of updates

• Creating minor upgrades
• Creating major upgrades
• QuickPatch projects
• General patch projects
• Patching applications on Vista
• Uninstalling a patch

Additional Topics

How to create and deploy transforms

• Direct MSI editing
• Using MSI Automation to modify a project
• Multi-instance installations
• Test Tools and Tricks