Customization of the User Interface
InstallAnywhere 2021
InstallAnywhere provides many options for altering the look and feel of the installer.
Splash Screen
InstallAnywhere installers present a splash screen at the initial launch of the installer. This screen is displayed for a few seconds while the installer prepares the wizard, and allows end users to set the installer locale. The splash screen is an ideal introduction to your product, and is an opportunity to set the mood and image for your product. The splash screen will also appear on the HTML page generated for the InstallAnywhere Web Install Applet. It can be either a GIF, a PNG, or a JPEG file of different sizes. It is recommended to use the preferred size of 470 X 265 pixels.
The preferred sizes for the different DPI are:
| • | Image (100% DPI) - 470 pixels for the width and 265 pixels for the height. |
| • | Image (150% DPI) - 520 pixels for the width and 315 pixels for the height. |
| • | Image (200% DPI) - 570 pixels for the width and 365 pixels for the height. |
Note:These sizes are not recommended for InstallAnywhere versions before 2021 and sizes apply to InstallAnywhere 2021 and later versions.
GUI Panel Additions
The Additions to GUI Installer Panels option allows developers to display a list of steps or an image along the left side of the installer’s panel.
Background Images
This Background image feature allows you to create a truly unique installer. The Background image is the graphical background for every panel in your installer. Background images are only supported in GUI installers.
Billboards
Billboards are images that appear in the large right pane of the installer while files are being installed. You can add billboards to your projects to display information to end users during the installation process. The billboards can be used to communicate, advertise, educate, and entertain end users. For example, billboards can present overviews on new features of the product being installed or other products from your company. Each billboard is a file that you or your company’s graphics department creates for control over the look and feel of your installers. Each billboard in the project is displayed for the same amount of time, based on actions within the installation. If an installation has very few files, and many billboards, each billboard is displayed for only a short time.
Billboards can be GIF, PNG, or JPEG files. Billboards can even use animated GIF files, providing the end user with a richer media experience during their installation.
The maximum and preferred size for billboards is 380 x 270 pixels. If the preferred GUI mode is AWT and you have chosen not to display a side panel during the Install Progress step, the maximum size is 587 x 312 pixels.
If you specify more than one billboard for your project, you can control how much time each billboard is displayed while the installation is in progress by using the Display billboards for every nn seconds option. Note the following details about using multiple billboards in a project:
| • | The default time for a billboard to be displayed is 3 seconds. |
| • | To change this time period, select the Display billboards for every nn seconds option and enter a number in the seconds box. |
| • | If the install phase is still in progress after all of the billboards have been displayed for the specified time period, the billboards loop back to the beginning of the list. |
| • | If the install phase completes or is canceled before all billboards are displayed for the specified time period, some of the specified billboards may not be displayed. |
See Also