Overwriting Files on the Target Machine

InstallShield 2019 Express Edition

In the Files view, you can specify the overwrite property of files in your installation. The Windows Installer service uses the overwrite property of each file to determine whether it should be replaced if a file in the installation already exists on the target system.

File Overwrite Rules

File Overwrite Property Value

Behavior on the Target Machine

Windows Installer Versioning Rules (Recommended)

If you select this option, Windows Installer versioning rules are used to determine whether a file that already exists on the target system should be replaced. Windows Installer enforces the following rules:

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Versioned files—In all cases, the file with the highest version is maintained, even if the file already on the target machine has a higher version than the one being installed. Additionally, a file of any version is maintained over unversioned files.

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File language—All other things being equal, the file that is the same language as the installation is maintained over different language versions of the file. The only exception to this rule applies to multiple language files. Files with multiple languages are maintained over single language versions of a file.

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Date—If the modified date of a file already present on the target machine is later than the creation date of that file, the file is not overwritten. This rule protects user preference files from being wiped out during an upgrade or reinstallation.

Never Overwrite

If you select this option, the file—if it exists on the target system—is never overwritten, regardless of the file version.

Always Overwrite

If you select this option, the file—if it exists on the target system—is always overwritten, regardless of the file version.

Overwriting Files on the Target Machine

InstallShield 2019 Express Edition Help Library

April 2019