how do you create a installer?

Question

I want to make an installer to distribute files to folders for example

Main Folder [Alphabet] which contains folder a,b,c,d,e,f etc. When installing files would go to folder the folder they were made to go to

How would you go about doing that?

Answer 1

Windows has a built in utility to do this. On windows XP or later, open up "Run". It should be in your start menu, or you can type (in vista or 7) "Run" into the searchbar in the start menu to find it. In this little window, type "iexpress" and then the enter key. This little tool that pops up will import you files and folders you want, package them into a self-extracting .exe, and you pick the extraction point. Easy, no download, and quick.

Answer 2

Step 0) Any place where you see NAME, replace with your add-ons name.Step 2) Create a directory to work in such as "NAME"Step 3) Inside this directory create another directory named "Install"Step 4) Create your .nsi script. Open up notepad (or another favorite text editor) and paste the following:OutFile "NAME.exe"InstallDir "$PROGRAMFILES\NASA\World Wind v1.2"Install DirRegKey HKCU "Software\NASA\World Wind v1.2" ""Section "Main Install"SetOutPath $INSTDIRFile /r "Install\*.*"SectionEndPage directoryPage instfilesSave as NAME.nsiStep 5) Inside the "Install" directory is where you put your files. Commonly for WW this would be a "Configuration" directory, subdirectory and files, and also a "Data" directory et all. Do not put the "NASA" Directory or "Worldwind v1.2" directory in there. You want only directories and files inside of those. Hopefully this makes sense. Step 6) Right click on NAME.nsi and choose "Compile NSIS Script" You may also choose the compresser to use. LZMA is the best but most of the add-ons are small so this is trivial.Step 7) You should be done! A few things however:It is pointless to zip up an exe installer, it doesn't save much room (may actually cost some).So far the best naming convention I've seen has been..Worldwind_1.2d_NAME_0.1.exeIt would be nice if Add-on developers stuck to the same convention especially putting in WW's version number in there. Of course adjust accordingly :)I hope it's helpfull, please feel free to comment. Special thanks for Nowak for designing the original quick and easy nsi script, and showing me how it's done.Stay tuned, more NSI madness to follow.Llynix01-05-2005, 08:11 AMOn a side note, if anyone needs hosting for these installers please just let us know. I have hosting as do several others and these tiny installers won't cause much of a dent in our bandwidth bills :)I would like to see a forum post will all the addons with links, and also their maintainers and a description. Hint Hint....I assume thats the correct program?Originally posted by Llynix@Jan 5 2005, 12:59 AMI promised a few people this, so here goes.Step 0) Any place where you see NAME, replace with your add-ons name.Step 1) Download NSIS and install.Step 2) Create a directory to work in such as "NAME" Step 3) Inside this directory create another directory named "Install"Step 4) Create your .nsi script. Open up notepad (or another favorite text editor) and paste the following:OutFile "NAME.exe"InstallDir "$PROGRAMFILES\NASA\World Wind v1.2"InstallDirRegKey HKCU "Software\NASA\World Wind v1.2" ""Section "Main Install"SetOutPath $INSTDIRFile /r "Install\*.*"SectionEndPage directoryPage instfilesSave as NAME.nsiStep 5) Inside the "Install" directory is where you put your files. Commonly for WW this would be a "Configuration" directory, subdirectory and files, and also a "Data" directory et all. Do not put the "NASA" Directory or "Worldwind v1.2" directory in there. You want only directories and files inside of those. Hopefully this makes sense.Step 6) Right click on NAME.nsi and choose "Compile NSIS Script" You may also choose the compresser to use. LZMA is the best but most of the add-ons are small so this is trivial.Step 7) You should be done! A few things however:It is pointless to zip up an exe installer, it doesn't save much room (may actually cost some).So far the best naming convention I've seen has been.Worldwind_1.2d_NAME_0.1.exeIt would be nice if Add-on developers stuck to the same convention especially putting in WW's version number in there. Of course adjust accordingly :)I hope it's helpfull, please feel free to comment. Special thanks for Nowak for designing the original quick and easy nsi script, and showing me how it's done.I assume thats the correct program! Thanks To Mizzy chipsy and all A6 members.

Answer 3

It is a lot easier to use a software rather than try to create it yourself. There are many free ones, I recommend Inno Installer (easier), Nullsoft installer (powerful but trickier).

Answer 4

Visit:

http://www.createinstall.com/



A freeware version is available at http://www.createinstall.com/downloads/cif-setup.exe