The Package Type property indicates the platforms that are compatible with this installation package and can be changed from Install Parameters page.
Supported package types
- 32-bit package
- 64-bit package for x64 processors (AMD64, EM64T)
- 64-bit package for Intel64 (Itanium) processor
- Mixed 32/64-bit matching the platform (runs as a 32-bit package on 32-bit systems and as a 64-bit package on x64 systems)
32-bit Package
This package type can be installed on both 32-bit and 64-bit platforms. It is recommended to use this package type if your application contains no 64-bit binaries and you don't want to interact with any 64-bit folder or registry location.
64-bit Package
A 64-bit package (both Intel64 and x64) is meant to install files in 64-bit folder locations and/or entries in 64-bit registry portion.
A 64-bit package can't be installed on 32-bit platforms.
Folder Locations on 64-bit platforms
Paths to system folders are retrieved differently on 64-bit platforms than on 32-bit platforms. In a 64-bit package you can use the following folders:
ProgramFiles64Folder - C:\Program Files\ CommonFiles64Folder - C:\Program Files\Common Files\ System64Folder - C:\Windows\system32\
Their 32-bit counterparts are resolved to redirected locations as follows:
ProgramFilesFolder - C:\Program Files (x86)\ CommonFilesFolder - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ SystemFolder - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\
Although 32-bit package can be installed on 64-bit platforms, the
ProgramFiles64Folder, CommonFiles64Folder and System64Folder are
resolved to the redirected locations, that is why you need a 64-bit
package in order to access the real system paths on a 64-bit platform.
Mixed 32/64-bit matching the platform
This package runs as a 32-bit package on 32-bit systems and as a 64-bit package on x64 systems. It allows you to have a single installation package that will install on both type of platforms (32-bit and 64-bit platforms) and can install files or registry in the real system paths regardless the platform.
Since "ProgramFilesFolder" property is resolved to redirected location on 64-bit platforms, and "ProgramFiles64Folder" is not defined on 32-bit platforms, for this kind of packages, Advanced Installer defines the "AI_ProgramFiles" property that will point to the system program files (C:\Program Files\) on both platform types.