Using the Setup Design or Components Views to Create a Component

InstallShield 2024

For installation projects, you can create a new component in the Components view and then associate it later with a feature, or you can create a component under a specific feature in the Setup Design view, as described below. Note that the Setup Design view is not available in DIM or Merge Module projects.

Using the Setup Design View to Create a Component

For installation projects only, follow the steps below to create a component in the Setup Design view.

To create a component in the Setup Design view:

In the View List under Organization, click Setup Design.

In the Setup Design explorer, right-click a feature or subfeature and click New Component, or press CRTL+INSERT. InstallShield adds a new component with the default name New Component n (where n is a successive number).

Enter a new name, or right-click it later and click Rename to give it a new name.

The new component is automatically associated with the selected feature.

Using the Components View to Create a Component

For installation projects, DIM projects, and Merge Module projects, follow the steps below to create a component in the Components view.

To create a component in the Components view:

In the View List under Organization, click Components.

Right-click the Components explorer and click New Component, or press INSERT. InstallShield adds a new component with the default name New Component n (where n is a successive number).

Enter a new name, or right-click it later and click Rename to give it a new name.

For installation projects, associate the component with one or more features.

Note:In installation projects, components that are not associated with a feature are displayed with the orphaned component icon ().

In InstallScript projects, the following characters are invalid in component names:

\ / : * ? " ’ < > |

When you create a component, its property sheet is displayed to the right. You should immediately specify the component’s properties, including the required Component Code (Windows Installer–based projects only) and Destination properties.

After you have created a component and specified its properties, you can associate your application’s files, registry entries, and shortcuts with it.