Features
Excelsior Delivery is a software tool to create installation packages for your Windows applications.
Installation
The installation wizard provides a commonly used look and feel and supports most basic installation scenarios:
- ask user about installation settings
- copy files to an installation folder
- create shortcuts and registry keys, and register the uninstaller
User dialog contains up to eight steps depending on the package features. Each step allows the user to set up one parameter. The user can skip most of them and run an actual setup with default settings.
Packaging
To create a setup package, you normally use Package Editor, or Packager, which asks you about installation settings via a wizard-style GUI and builds the package. It also saves a special project file, which can be modified later or used to rebuild the package in batch mode.
While the Packager has a number of various options, there are only five that you have to fill in manually:
- application files and folders
- shortcuts to create during installation
- name of your company
- name of your product; and
- the product version
Packager calculates defaults for all other options based on the above ones. You may leave them all intact or you may tune your package to your preferences or the requirements of your application by using these options. Available features are described below in the chapter called ‘Package Options’
NSIS integration
NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) is a professional opensource installation platform that offers a rich set of features and the widest flexibility available.
Since version 1.8 Excelsior Delivery provides integration with NSIS, you can export all necessary scripts for your project and run NSIS compiler from within the Packager to build an NSIS installation package for your application.
It is possible to use the Excelsior Delivery as a GUI wizard for NSIS or you may use this feature to migrate your project to this powerful installation platform if necessary.
Package options
Installer rebranding
You may make the installer to look closer to the style of your application.
You may change images that are used in dialog panels, icons and titles of dialogs, dialog texts and the icon that is built into the output EXE package.
If you have an appropriate graphics then use options at Branding tab of Appearance step of the Packager.
Splash screen
Splash screen is a picture that installer displays while unpacking files. The picture helps your user to pass the time, but it also allows you to impress him/her in whatever way you need to, or say something important about your product.
You may add a splash screen to your package. Any ".BMP", ".JPG", ".GIF" or ".PNG" file is allowed, but it is wise to use a really nice and/or useful picture for this.
License agreement
Excelsior Delivery supports the commonly used procedure of license agreement confirmation.
If you have such an agreement for your product, then give its text to the Packager. Installer will then display it to your user and ask him/her to confirm the agreement with a separate mouse click.
Actual installation starts if and only if the agreement is confirmed.
Installation folder
Windows traditions require that you unpack application files to an appropriately named folder somewhere inside Program Files. Excelsior Delivery supports this tradition and proposes to name installation folder in honor of your company and your product.
You can, however, change that default folder name and its location.
You can also disallow your user to change this setting during installation. In this case, your application will always be set up to the same disk location and your users will have to make one mouse click less.
Installation type
Your software may be set up for "current" user (personal mode) or for all users of the computer (common mode).
You can select installation type yourself or allow the installer to select it automatically, based on the user's privileges. You also can let your user decide, and the installer will ask him/her to make the choice.
Additional shortcuts
In addition to the commonly used Start Menu shortcuts you can also create shortcuts in other convenient and useful places of Windows: Start Menu root, Desktop, Quick Launch bar and Autorun folder.
If you choose to do so, the installer shows these shortcuts to your user and allows him/her to refuse some or all of them. This helps to keep the computer environment convenient to its owner.
File associations
You may set up your application as a handler of certain file type in your user's Windows using special Packager options.
If a file association was specified, the installer will display a dialog that shows the file name extensions and description of the associated programs allowing your user to enable/disable some of the associations.
Installation language
By default installer peeks at language settings in Windows and selects an installation language that is more or less native to your user. English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Japanese and Russian are available from the box, and we can help to add more if necessary.
You may select one of the installation languages for your package in case your distribution and marketing policy requires restrictions of this kind.
Registry key
The installer can create a registry key for your application. Just choose the section and type the key name into the Packager to achieve this. This key will be automatically removed by the uninstaller to help you keep your user's system in proper order.
Package verification
Excelsior Delivery protects packages from modifications that were not authorized by you. The packager supplies MD5 hash to the package, and the installer checks whether the hash still conforms to the package contents after it has traveled through hostile Internet areas. Installation stops immediately with an appropriate warning message if the package has been changed.
This does not offer complete protection from viruses and Trojans, but it helps your user know about the danger and allows you to become aware of unsafe distribution channels in the area.
You may, however, turn this protection off.
Post-installation actions
When the installation is completed, it may be useful to open readme file, run the application or even restart the computer. You may set up any number of actions of these kinds for your package.
The installer will then show actions list to your user and allow him/her to refuse some or all of them.
Callback DLLs
You may extend the installation scenario by your action. To do so you need to include special DLL to your package. The installer calls your callback function just before copying files to the destination and right after the copying completed.
Another callback may be called just before uninstallation.
See documentation for programming details.
Uninstall feedback
Do you want to know why people uninstall your product? Excelsior Delivery can ask them about. Special Packager option allows you to invite your client to your web page or send you an e-mail to give some feedback about his/her reasons to uninstall.
System Requirements
Developer System
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CPU: Intel Pentium II or compatible at 266 MHz or higher RAM: 128 MB minimum, 256 MB or more recommended Disk Space: 28.5 MB OS: Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista or Server 2003
Enduser System
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OS: Microsoft Windows 98, NT 4, 2000, XP, Vista or Server 2003
Feedback
Your opinion is critically important for us to make our product to fit your needs better. If you have any feedback on Excelsior Delivery, then please email us or post to the respective forum.
You can also vote for already registered requests on Feature Requests page.
Thank you in advance.
