Typical Web Installation vs. One-Click Install

InstallShield 2024

Project: This information applies to the InstallScript projects.

When downloading an application from the Internet, many end users experience a long and confusing series of instructions explaining how to download and run the application properly. The typical download can take as many as 10 steps. It can be a frustrating and time-consuming process that is not always successful. End users who fail to download the application properly must rely on product support to assist them, or they give up completely and never gain access to the application. This results in time lost for both the consumer and the development team.

With a One-Click Install setup, however, the end user can download an application with minimum effort and can begin using the application immediately. Compare the installation processes for both typical and One-Click Install setups below.

Typical Internet Installation Process

A typical Internet installation might happen like this:

1. The end user navigates to the Web page and clicks the link to download the application.
2. A dialog opens. The dialog prompts the end user to agree to a software licensing agreement.
3. The end user is given the opportunity to save the installation’s executable file to disk. The end user must remember this location to access the installation’s executable file later.
4. The file transfer begins.
5. The end user must search for the installation executable file and then launch it.
6. The installation executable file unpacks and executes.
7. If any other resources are necessary for the proper execution of the application, the end user must download them at this time.
8. The installation executes and begins to walk the end user through the installation process.
9. The end user makes several choices, such as the disk location of the application executable file.
10. The application file transfer begins.
11. The end user locates the application executable file on disk and launches the application.

One-Click Install Installation Process

With a One-Click Install setup, installations are easier and faster for the end user. A One-Click Install setup can happen like this:

1. The end user navigates to the Web page and clicks the download button.
2. A dialog opens. The dialog shows the progress of the file transfer. Once the installation has been downloaded, the installation runs.
3. The end user begins using the application.

One-Click Install setups keep the end user on your Web page, instead of searching for an executable file to run. One-Click Install setups make it possible for the end user to concentrate on using the application, not struggling to download it.