Nvin Installer : FREE, Open source installer

Apply feature

2008-12-25T07:27:00.000-08:00

It is mandatory to apply a feature to all files in application directory tree. But it is really difficult if the project contains hundreds of files. Here is the best thing you can do.

1. Select a folder in application directory tree.

2. Select following option.

3. Select appropriate feature in the pop up window.

4. click OK to apply selected feature to all child nodes.

Saving project

2008-12-25T07:19:00.000-08:00

I feel Save and Open options in Nvin Installer looks bit strange !!! No specific extension, no icon to recognise file type... Is it ?

Actual i am saving data in XML format. So file extension can be anything or NOTHING. Still it works!!!

Source code

2008-12-22T21:02:00.000-08:00

Getting source code is not as simple as getting source code from other sites like SourceForge. You must know SVN to get the source code.

SVN or Subversion is something similar to Visual source safe, rational clear case in concept, but looks just great!!!

Use following links to know more about SVN.

1. subversion.tigris.org

2. Subversion

You need to install SVN client to get the source code from Google code

Find list of SVN clients here

I recommend you to use Tortiose SVN. If you are using visual studio professional and ready to spend around 50 USD, get Visual SVN.

Steps to get source code using Tortoise SVN

1. Folder where you want to checkout source code... Any folder for example D:\Nvin Installer

2. Select option as shown below

2. Enter URL as shown in the image below.

3. just click OK.

Now you can modify it as you like, but it will not affect code in the server. You need separate user name and password for that.

I really like this approach adopted by Google. Major advantages what i feel is you will always get latest code. I don't have to create separate ZIP file and upload to give you latest source code.

Screenshot 2

2008-12-16T07:27:00.000-08:00

Editing Setup images

One click setup. This is most suitable if you don't want to allow user to configure anything.

Screenshot1

2008-12-16T07:19:00.000-08:00

Screenshot 1

Screenshot 2

Editing Images

2008-12-16T07:04:00.000-08:00

You can also edit Images used in setup files.

1. Editing images

Save banner or dialog image as bitmap file.

Edit image using software of your choice. It can be Microsoft Paint or some sofesticated software.

Choose New image which will be used while creating new setup files.

Click "Restore Default" to use default image.

Bug report / Feature request

2008-12-15T05:51:00.000-08:00

Bug report and Feature request

It is something unusual if software released with no bugs. Please let me know if you find any serious bug in this tiny software.

http://code.google.com/p/nvininstaller/issues/list

Please don't forget following:

What steps will reproduce the problem?

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?

Please use labels and text to provide additional information.

Setup / Source code

2008-12-14T05:54:00.000-08:00

All resources are made available in google code.

Get the latest setup file from

http://code.google.com/p/nvininstaller/downloads/list

Get source code from

http://code.google.com/p/nvininstaller/source/checkout

Getting source code is not simple. Please read my another article to get the source code

http://nvininstaller.blogspot.com/2008/12/source-code.html

Operating systems

Windows XP or later.

Framework

.Net framework 2.0

Resources used

1. This application is developed using Visual Studio 2008 Express edition. Please visit http://www.microsoft.com/express/ if you are interested in Microsoft visual studio express edition.

2. .Net framework 2.0. Download framework from Microsoft web site: Download.

3. Wix Toolset is open source toolset to build MSI files...This is released under "Common Public License Version 1.0". Download WiX

Please visit my article http://nvininstaller.blogspot.com/2008/12/learning-wix.html if you are interested to learn more about Wix

4. This application also uses DotNetSkin component. Please visit following link if you want to know more about this skinning component

www.dotnetskin.net

5. Crystal clear Icons are open source icons released under "GNU Lesser General Public License". Please visit following links if you want to know more about these beautiful icons.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Clear

http://www.everaldo.com/crystal/

Introduction

2008-12-14T05:43:00.000-08:00

Introduction

Please use following link to find setup file and source code

http://nvininstaller.blogspot.com/2008/12/setup-source-code.html

Here are highlights this product.

1. Create 100% pure Microsoft Windows Installer (.MSI) format software installers.

2. This application is developed using next generation Windows Installer XML(WiX) compiler technology. This is the same technology Microsoft uses internally for creating installers for products like Microsoft Office, SQL Server, BizTalk and Windows Live Messenger. Know more

3. User friendly interface allows you to create create setup files easily. No need to write scripts or learn any programming.

4. It is released under common public license 1.0. Know more about common public license 1.0

5. You can also edit installer images to make it suitable for your business.