What’s New in InstallShield 2021
InstallShield includes the following new features:
| • | New Features in InstallShield 2021 R2 |
| • | New Features in InstallShield 2021 R1 |
New Features in InstallShield 2021 R2
For information about new features added in InstallShield 2021 R2, refer to the following section:
| • | Enhanced Support for Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022 |
| • | Full ARM Support |
Enhanced Support for Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022
You can now configure install conditions to specifically target Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022.
Software installer targeting ARM64 based devices can now install files to native ARM locations on Windows 10 running on ARM machines. InstallShield supports adding ARM specific folders to the InstallShield project from the Predefined Folder. In order to copy files to ARM specific folders during runtime, requires Windows Installer version 5.0 and the Template summary points to Arm64, need to change the schema version to 500 and the Template Summary to Arm64 in the General Information View.
New Features in InstallShield 2021 R1
For information about new features added in InstallShield 2021 R1, refer to the following section:
| • | Licensing with Cloud License Server (CLS) |
| • | Support of Windows Package Manager in Prerequisites |
| • | Support of App Installer File for MSIX Updates |
| • | Simple Modern Installers |
| • | Support for Windows 11 |
Licensing with Cloud License Server (CLS)
InstallShield introduces the Concurrent Licensing with cloud license server (CLS).
The Cloud License Server (CLS) is hosted in the Revenera FlexNet Cloud Licensing Service that holds license rights for use by InstallShield. Cloud License Server (CLS) eliminate the time and effort required to set up and manage local License Servers, and provide the concurrent licenses to check out the license from multiple machines and easy to configure to build from DevOps build pipeline.
Support of Windows Package Manager in Prerequisites
InstallShield 2021 R1 introduces the Windows Package Manager tab as part of the InstallShield Prerequisite Editor. Windows Package Manager tab lets you specify the Windows Package Manager (WPM) package you want to install as a prerequisite to your product.
Support of App Installer File for MSIX Updates
Now, the MSIX updates can be Configured using App Installer file.
The Wizard Interface view has been enhanced by adding the Minimal Wizard Pages, which provide modern installation\uninstallation experience to end users using frameless wizard screens.
Limitations
The limitations to the Minimal Wizard Pages support in Suite project are:
| • | Customization to Minimal Wizard Pages layout is not supported. Adding/Deleting of pages and controls are not allowed. |
| • | Specifying the actions for the button clicks on Minimal Wizard Pages are not supported. |
| • | Password protection for your installation is not currently supported. |
| • | Progress on the task bar during setup installation is not supported in this release. |
| • | Preview of Minimal Wizard Pages in InstallShield IDE is not supported on Windows 7. |
The Setups created with InstallShield 2021 R1 can now run on Windows 11 version.