How to Customize Your Application Updater Editor?
Software isn’t just about capabilities – its UX and design matter too.
In the application packaging industry, your setup installer design should reflect your product’s quality and branding as it’s the first contact point the user has with your software. The same goes for your application’s Updater, when delivering new features and fixes to your users.
With Advanced Installer 22.6, customizing the Updater UI elements has become straightforward thanks to its built-in editor for the Updater WinUI theme. This editor gives you control to personalize the background colors, text, and buttons to match your product’s style.
In this article, I’ll show you how to access and use the editor to customize the Updater interface for your application.
How to Access the Updater Editor?
If you already set up a package project in Advanced Installer and added the Updater, here’s how you can access the editor:
- Navigate to the Updater page in Advanced Installer.
- Select the Personalize tab.
- Check the ‘WinUI rendering’ option to unlock the editor.
The Updater uses WinUI version 1.0 for modern rendering. We plan to update the editor to support WinUI version 3.0 in the following versions of Advanced Installer.
To learn how to use the Updater, check out our tutorial here.
How to Enable Color Theming
When you check the ‘WinUI rendering’ option, the ‘Enable color theming’ setting is automatically checked. So, make sure you keep it checked to set up your custom design and apply it to the Updater. If you unchecked it, the Updater will display the default design.
This feature lets you keep both a custom design and the default one, so you can easily switch between them whenever you need.
How to Personalize the Updater UI Elements
Once the editor is active, you can start customizing the Updater interface. The editor is intuitive and user-friendly, with a real-time preview that shows how your customized Updater will appear to users.
To change an element’s color, click its current color indicator. This will open the color picker, where you can choose the preferred one.
When you set the background color, the editor automatically adjusts the text color – black or white, based on the background brightness to ensure readability. If you have a specific text color in mind, you can choose it manually with the color picker.
Changed your mind about any color selection? No worries. You can use the ‘Reset to default color’ option to go back to the editor's suggested color.
Auto-Theming of Lists States
The editor can automatically adjust colors for list item states, like Selected, Selected PointOver, and SelectedPressed, based on List Background color. It ensures the theme color remains visible on the new background color by adjusting it accordingly.
To enable this feature, check the ‘Them list states automatically’ option.
If the auto-generated colors don’t match your preferences, you can manually change them using the color picker.
Conclusion
Advanced Installer’s Updater Editor makes it simple to customize your Updater to provide a professional, brand-consistent look. With a few clicks you can align its design with your product’s identity, ensuring a seamless experience for your users.
The real-time preview and intuitive controls take the guesswork out of customization, letting you focus on creating a professional result.
Curious to try it yourself?
Download Advanced Installer’s 30-day free trial to explore the Updater Editor and other powerful features.
FAQs
How do I customize the Updater in Advanced Installer?
To customize the Updater, navigate to the Updater page in Advanced Installer, select the Personalize tab, and enable the WinUI rendering option. Use the built-in editor to adjust colors for backgrounds, text, and buttons with a real-time preview.
Can I switch between default and custom Updater designs?
Yes, Advanced Installer’s Enable color theming option lets you switch between your custom design and the default Updater appearance. Keep this option checked to apply your customizations or uncheck it to revert to the default, offering flexibility for testing or updates.
Written by
Renato Ivanescu
Renato is a technical writer for Advanced Installer and an assistant professor at the University of Craiova. He is currently a PhD. student, and computers and information technology are his areas of interest. He loves innovation and takes on big challenges.