How do I create a custom SetUP for my application?

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This is a good alternative I have found. Let me enumerate the way to do it in simple steps.

1. Download InnoSetup from the following site.
http://www.jrsoftware.org/
Follow the download and run the setup to get that
installed in your computer.

2. Download a wizard tool for the above,
to make life easier available from this site
http://www.istool.org/
Follow the download and run the setup to get that
isTool installed in your computer.

3. Now you can forget about InnoSetup, since IsTool will be your interface.

4. Start IsTool.
In the text window, create your script for installation.

A sample script for setting up only VFP8 RunTime files is given below:

a. Please do not modify anything in the following script. I mean, no spaces, line brakes etc.. Just cut and paste on the IsTool text window. Then you will get the readability. This FAQ columns are less wider and so I cannot help on that.
Start from the Line 1 to Line End
[color blue]
;Line 1: ************************************************
; Script generated by the Inno Setup Script Wizard.
; SEE THE DOCUMENTATION FOR DETAILS ON CREATING INNO SETUP SCRIPT FILES!

[Setup]
AppName=VFP81_RunTime_Setup
AppVerName=VFP8 - SP1 - Runtime Setup
CreateAppDir=false

Uninstallable=false
OutputBaseFilename=VFP8-1_Setup

[Files]
Source: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VFP\GDIPLUS.DLL; DestDir: {sys}; Flags: regserver uninsneveruninstall sharedfile onlyifdoesntexist noregerror
Source: C:\VFP8\Visual FoxPro 8.0 Professional - English\MSVCR70.DLL; DestDir: {sys}; Flags: uninsneveruninstall onlyifdoesntexist
Source: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VFP\VFP8R.DLL; DestDir: {cf}\Microsoft Shared\VFP; Flags: regserver sharedfile onlyifdoesntexist
Source: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VFP\VFP8T.DLL; DestDir: {cf}\Microsoft Shared\VFP; Flags: uninsneveruninstall onlyifdoesntexist
Source: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VFP\VFP8RENU.DLL; DestDir: {cf}\Microsoft Shared\VFP; Flags: uninsneveruninstall onlyifdoesntexist

[_ISTool]
Use7zip=false
;*********************************************************
; EOF
;Line End: ***********************************************
[color black]
5. You can see different parts of the above script separately, by clicking the various tabs of the left hand side tabs.
For example, select Files and Dirs, then on the right hand side, the items can be selected. Right click over the items and you can set the properties.

6. Yet another way is, start the istool.
In the File Menu, click on New,
The Wizard will take over, and it is quite simple.

7. Now compile the script, guided by the wizard.
You will have one single setup.exe or the output file name you chose. Though the scripts look complicated, the wizard driven generations makes that possible in just a while of operation.

8. Remeber to save the script for repeated use.

9. For distribution, all you need is the single setup.exe


InnoSetup is freeware and the IsTool also is freeware. I have used both and happy with them. I am in no way connected to these software providers (FYI).
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Ramani
(Subramanian.G, Winner Software / FoxAcc Software.)
www.winnersoft.coolfreepages.com
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