Advanced Installer is intended to build installation packages for Windows operating system. The tool can create not only MSI and EXE files but also other types of packages. It has a modern and intuitive interface. Despite the evident complexities of the operations it supports, you will not feel overwhelmed. It is enough to select the kind of project and let the corresponding wizard lead the way. Yet, if you have any difficulties, it is possible to consult its excellent online user guide.
Besides from the desktop, the program can be used from the command line as well as a Visual Studio extension. It can build a wide range of packages. In this regard, there are installer templates for Visual Studio, ASP.NET, Real Studio, Visual Basic, .NET, RAD Studio and client/server applications, among others. Likewise, it allows creating Java applications, patches, add-ins, merge modules, as well as apps for Windows Store and Windows Mobile. Besides, the tool lets you convert between installer types. What is more, you can publish the apps on the Cloud for easy distribution.
When you create an installation package, you can add several identifying details as well as software identification. Similarly, you can set the target folders. It is good that the installer can detect and upgrade outdated versions which avoids installing two different versions of the same product on the same machine.
As to security, the program lets you use a license key or configure a trial period for shareware products. Fortunately, it also uses a strong standard (SHA256) to digitally sign the package and protect its integrity.
Good news is that the interface of the installation package is quite customizable. For instance, there are various themes to choose from. Also, you can build multi-language installers. Besides, you can have the package display a sequence of images while it is being installed.
To sum up, Advanced Installer is probably the best software of its type out there. It comes with multiple features, which can even be extended through writing your own code in various popular programming languages. Although it is good that the program can be evaluated for free, this is absolutely an expensive product and it is way beyond the reach of many users, particularly those working on low budgets.
v10.2 [May 28, 2013]
New features in this release
Windows Features configuration support
Dynamic Repackager profile update
New Repackager UI for configuring multiple applications to be repackaged at once
Ability to create a Repackager noise profile scan
Ability for Bootstrapper to remove a previous version of the package it installs
Custom defined .CUB files (for ICE validations)
Digital Signature for MSI Editor
Internet Explorer 10 predefined prerequisite
Enhancements to existing features
Ability to condition an SQL connection
Support bulk add for SQL scripts
UI for directly adding inline SQL scripts
Register Advanced Installer using a floating license from the CLI
Added blink capability to setups that use Bootstrapper
Added option to test an URL used in Bootstrapper
Improvement in Bootstrapper when handling a property's value
Automatically stopped updater service after advertising command was successfully executed
Added support for creating a new security descriptor starting from a an existing one
Support for LUA patching with certificates from store
Added option for ignoring files attributes when adding a file to project
Restriction to manually add feature names
Support MSI edit/import with duplicate folder names
Predefined folder for IIS Root folder
Dedicated UI option for installing web applications in IIS "wwwroot" folder
Improved error policy for IIS entities
Automatically handle extraction path for installations running under NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM account
Added option which allows the user to decide if all predefined MSI tables will be included in a project that has merge modules
Switch for silent installations to specify the overwrite operation for a web application when a duplicate is detected
"Run with highest privileges" options for scheduled task
Created a search functionality in the "Registry" page
New controls now match the theme environment
Left menu quick filter navigation improvements
WinService class improvements
License auto updater improvements
Real Studio import improvements
Bug fixes
An error was thrown when using "I have a license file received via email" option to register a valid Advanced Installer floating license
Same package code was used for different languages
MSI build failed when "Windows Installer 4.5 for Windows XP x86" was added as feature-based prerequisite
"Reboot after prerequisite finishes installation" still rebooted the machine in a loop if the prerequisite failed to install
Fixed "Prerequisites" page > "Hide already installed prerequisites" option
Quick Launch shortcut was created when "Quick Launch Toolbar" option from "ShortcutsDlg" was unchecked
Scrollable Text control on Surface theme looked disabled
Bottom Note control on WelcomeDlg dialog had a smaller width than its Italian localized string
The "Function" combo box contained a lot of empty new lines
Fixed "Back, Next, Finish, Cancel" Bootstrapper buttons to use the same language as the rest of the package UI (not loading strings from the OS)
"Integer" flag was not working for edit box control on Surface theme (rich edit control)
"Add Dependencies" feature did not detect missing resources
Did not allow creating a table with two binary columns (not supported by Windows Installer)
"Launch File" (viewer) custom action incorrectly stripped quotes that surround properties in "command line" field
Fixed removal key symbol bug on copy/paste
Options from Edit Folder > Permissions > right context menu did't work
Messages displayed by Bootstrapper when failing to download updates were wrong
Fixed crash at copy/paste an empty folder with Remove option set
Fixed crash at copy/paste a File Removal operation
Disabled the option "Fail installation if custom action return an error" for "Set installer property" custom action (it broke the installation otherwise)
Advanced Installer crashed when deleting IIS Virtual Directories with custom Error Pages
Fixed error in IIS page > Authentication Tab
Fixed error when running a package with a "Disable Features" custom action
MsiPackageType="Intel" from WISE import was lost after navigating in "Install Parameters" page
Project type selection dialog did not appear all the time on WIX import
Orphan components were imported from MSI without any hope of recovery
Updater scheduled task was not uninstalled
Fixed bug on deleting feature "Feature" from "Organization" page
Fixed error when opening project with properties used inside Output Folder
Some edit boxes in "Install Parameters" page were misaligned
