If Advanced Installer could offer the Installshield-like features of File Groups, Components, and Setup Types (which have components), this software would be 100% good to go.
Think of file groups as a way to separate types of files. Eg. DLLs, Help Files, Program Files, OCX Files.
Think of components as a way to combine a single file group or many. Eg. Component X has a certain set of file groups, and Component Y has other.
And think of setup types as being defined with a set of components. Eg. Setup Type 'Simple' has components with certain components, and setup type 'Full' has components with more components.
I don't know if the full 'install-shield' complexity is required for this feature. Once of the nice things about AI is that it doesn't have an over-complicated interface.
I think a two-tier system would suffice, with components and setup-types. As follows:
1. configurable a list of components. Each component has property required/optional.
2. in the properties dialog of each file need to be able to configure the component it belongs to.
2.a. It would be useful to be able to set the component of a folder, and have this value get inherited by all files in the folder.
3. configurable list of setup types (e.g. Standard, Full, Minimal)
4. configure which components belong to each setup type.
5. The installer UI would display a list of all configured types plus
a custom type. Selecting the custom type allows the user to choose the components by hand (required components can't be switch off).
I think this is a really urgent feature because install components is a fundament install concept. Also without compoents the installer lacks the level of control users have come to expect.