Creating an InstallScript Release to Update Previous Versions

InstallShield 2014

Project: This information applies to InstallScript projects.

InstallShield enables you to create a release for an InstallScript project to update one or more existing versions of your application. You can customize any necessary criteria through the script.

Note: If the product that you want to update was not installed by an installation created with InstallShield X or later, InstallShield DevStudio, or InstallShield Professional 6.0 or later, you must create a new project. You may also want to consider creating a new project if you plan to include extensive changes in this update.

To create an update release:

1. Open a new or existing InstallScript project.
2. Verify that the product code matches the GUID with which the previous version of your product was installed. To check the product code, in the General Information view, inspect the value of the Product Code setting.

Note: If you are creating a new project and you want to update features that were installed by the original installation, ensure that each feature’s GUID matches the GUID with which the previous version of that feature was installed. To check a feature’s GUID, select it in the Features or Setup Design view and inspect the value of its GUID property.

3. Specify a version number for your product update:
a. In the View List under Installation Information, click General Information.
b. In the Version setting, type the version number.
4. Indicate whether you want to build a differential or full release:
a. In the Releases view, click the desired release.
b. If you want to build a differential release, set the value of the Differential Media property to Yes and continue with step 6. If you want to build a full release, leave the property set to No and continue with step 5.

Note: If you are using the Release Wizard, the Update panel is where you select the release format (Full or Differential).

5. If you are building a full release, specify the versions of your product to which the update should be applied. In the Supported Versions property, type the applicable version numbers using a semicolon to separate the different versions (for example, 1.2.3;1.2.4). If you leave the Supported Versions property blank or select the Non-version specific, the update is applied to all earlier versions of your product. Continue with step 7.

Note: These version numbers can also be specified in the Release Wizard by selecting version numbers from the box on the Update panel. Do not specify version numbers that correspond to releases that were created by versions of InstallShield Professional earlier than 6.0 because those releases cannot be updated.

6. If you are building a differential release, you must use the Release Wizard to specify one or more existing releases to which the current project is compared when creating the new differential release.

Note: Do not specify existing releases that were created by versions of InstallShield Professional earlier than 6.0 because those releases cannot be updated. Only the specified existing releases can be updated by the resulting differential release. To review the criteria that determine whether a file in the current project is included in a differential release, see Differential vs. Full Releases.

To specify a release in the current project:
a. In the Releases view, right-click the release name and select Release Wizard. The Release Wizard opens.
b. In the Update panel, click Add. The Add Existing Media dialog box opens.
c. Select the desired release.
d. Click OK.
To specify a release that is not in the current project:
a. In the Releases view, right-click the release name and select Release Wizard. The Release Wizard opens.
b. In the Update panel, click Import. The Media File Properties dialog box opens.
c. Specify the Data1.hdr file of the desired release by either entering the fully qualified file name in the Media Header File box or select or clicking the browse button to browse for the file.
d. Click OK.
Confirm the specified release’s version information is displayed in the Differential Media box of the Update panel. If no version information is displayed, do the following:
a. Select the release in the list box and click Modify. The Media File Properties dialog box opens.
b. Select the Specify the version information below option and type or select a version number in the list.
c. Click OK.
7. Build the release.

See Migrating from InstallShield Professional 6.x for more information on using a version 6.x-created script with an update-enabled installation.

See Also