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Default Features

InstallShield 2014 Express Edition

The default feature concept exists only in the Project Assistant. All resources (for example, files or registry data) that are added to an installation project need to be associated with a feature. If a resource is not associated with a feature, it is not installed to the target system at run time.

Using a default feature simplifies the authoring experience in the Project Assistant. You do not need to worry about associating project resources with a feature to ensure that they are installed. When you add registry data, create new shortcuts, or add files when All Application Data is selected, all of these resources are added to the default feature. This ensures that all of the project resources you add in the Project Assistant will be installed to the target system when an end user runs your installation.

Setting the Default Feature

You can set the default feature in the Installation Architecture page of the Project Assistant.

What Happens If There Are No Features or No Default Feature Is Selected?

When you navigate to the Installation Architecture page or add data to the Application Files, Application Shortcuts, or Application Registry page, InstallShield selects the first root feature as the default feature. If there are no features, InstallShield creates one silently.

See Also

Features View