Package & Deployment products

[PeteJohnston]

I'm trying to use the VB Package & Deployment Wizard to create a Setup.exe file which I can send out to customers. I guess it needs to identify all of the dlls etc. and package them together so that it is nice and easy to install but when I try using the wizard it doesn't seem to be that easy to use and it also gives me problems with what it says are system files which are out of date. This happens even when I try to load it on a PC which has WIN2K installed from the same CD so I don't know why that would be the case.

Anyway, down to the question:

Does anyone know of a better/easier and not too expensive product which I can use for package & deployment? InstallShield is way out of my league at $1200 !

PeteJ
(Contract Code-monkey)

It's amazing how many ways there are to skin a cat
(apologies to the veggies)

 

[CCLINT]

Try the MS Visual Studio Installer for Windows Installer FOC from the MS Download site

 

[PeteJohnston]

Thanks. I'll download it and give it a try. I'll let you know how I get on.

PeteJ
(Contract Code-monkey)

It's amazing how many ways there are to skin a cat
(apologies to the veggies)

 

[PeteJohnston]

The MS site has two exe files to be downloaded, setup1.exe and setup2.exe but when I try to run setup1.exe it tells me that it is not a valid Win32 application. Any ideas?

PeteJ
(Contract Code-monkey)

It's amazing how many ways there are to skin a cat
(apologies to the veggies)

 

[pyroskliq]

PeteJ,

I'm not sure why the setup1.exe wouldn't be working, but here is a link to a page with a comparison of a lot of free (and some not so free) solutions for distributing applications. I've had success with the Wise installer and the Microsoft MSI SDK in the past.

http://www.installsite.org/pages/en/msi/authoring.htm

 

[petevick]

Here is a link to a totally free and very profesional install package...

http://www.jrsoftware.org/

This is Inno Setup and once you get your head round the scripting, it produces great and flexible single or multiple install executables. There is plenty of help and links to other sites who have produced plugin's for Inno.

 

[PeteJohnston]

I meant to post this earlier but I downloaded Inno Setup 3 a couple of days ago. Like petevick says, once you get your head around the scripting it does produce a pretty professional looking install package.

thanks for the suggestions

PeteJ
(Contract Code-monkey)

It's amazing how many ways there are to skin a cat
(apologies to the veggies)