Mixed 32/64 Package Organization Wizard

This wizard will launch when "Mixed 32/64-bit Package" is selected from the Start Page or when "Mixed 32/64-bit matching the platform" package type is selected in the Install Parameters page. You can reopen the wizard by using the [ ... ] button placed next to the “Package Type” option.

This wizard simplifies the operations that should be performed to organize a Mixed 32/64-bit matching the platform package. These operations are described in the Unified 32/64 Package Type How To page. The wizard will guide you step by step through every stage required to organize your “Mixed 32/64-bit matching the platform” package.

Mixed 32/64 Wizard pages are listed and explained below.

  1. Enter details about your project
  2. Requirements
  3. 64-bit Executables and Libraries
  4. 32-bit Executables and Libraries
  5. Package Organization
  6. Shortcuts
  7. Merge Modules

Enter details about your project

The first three dialogs let you enter the generic information about your project, like product and company name, the distribution type of your installer, project and output folder.

NoteThese dialogs appear only if the wizard is launch from the "New Project Dialog", otherwise they are skipped.

Requirements

This page displays the options that are going to be disabled for the current build in order for the Mixed 32/64 package to work. These options are:

  • “Create EXE setup file” Bootstrapper option is required.
  • “Include CAB into the MSI database” build option is not allowed.

If both requirements above are fulfilled by the current build, the Requirements page will not be displayed.

64-bit Executables and Libraries

Here you specify the files that will be installed only on 64-bit platforms (they will be marked as 64-bit components and conditioned to install only on 64-bit platforms).

Advanced Installer automatically detects which of your files is a 64-bit executable or library and displays them on this page.

Adding new 64-bit files to the project

You can add all the 64-bit executables and libraries from a selected folder by using the [ Scan Folder... ] button / list context menu item or press the Insert key while the list control is focused. The files will be added into Application Folder keeping their relative path.

To select the exact files that should be added to the project and considered 64-bit files you can use the [ New Files... ] button / list context menu item or press the + key. The files will be added to Application Folder.

Selecting files from the project as 64-bit files

You can add existing files to the 64-bit files list by using the [ Existing Files... ] button / list context menu item or press the * key.

Removing files from the 64-bit files list

You can remove the selected files by using the [ Remove ] button / list context menu item or press the Delete key while an element is selected. Existing files will not be deleted from the project, they will not be restricted from installation on any platform.

32-bit Executables and Libraries

Here you specify the sub-folder that will contain the 32-bit files and their behavior on 64-bit machines.

Advanced Installer automatically detects which of your files is a 32-bit executable or library and displays them on this page.

Adding new 32-bit files to the project

You can add all the 32-bit executables and libraries from a selected folder by using the [ Scan Folder... ] button / list context menu item or press the Insert key while the list control is focused. The files will be added into a sub-folder of Application Folder using their relative.

To select the exact files that should be added to the project and considered 32-bit files you can use the [ New Files... ] button / list context menu item or press the +. The files will be added into Application Folder.

Selecting files from the project as 32-bit files

You can add existing files to the 32-bit files list by using the [ Existing Files... ] button / list context menu item or press the * key.

Removing files from the 32-bit files list

You can remove the selected files by using the [ Remove ] button / list context menu item or press the Delete key while an element is selected. Existing files will not be deleted from the project, they will not be considered as 32-bit files anymore.

Installation of 32-bit files on 64-bit platforms

You can choose to allow installation of the 32-bit files on 64-bit machines by selecting the “Install these files on 64-bit platforms” option. This option is useful for your application to interact with other 32-bit applications.

TipIn the Organization page of this wizard, you will also have the possibility to allow the end user to choose whether to install or not the 32-bit files on 64-bit platforms. The files will be organized in per-platform features for that.

32-bit Folder

You can name the folder that will contain the new 32-bit files. The folder will be created under “Application Folder” and it will also be used next time you will run this wizard.

This folder is meant to host the 32-bit files in order to prevent name conflicts that may appear between them and their 64-bit counterparts.

Note On 32-bit platforms, the files from this folder will actually be installed into the “Application Folder” because there will be no 64-bit file to conflict with.

Note On 64-bit platforms, this folder will be used only if you selected the “Install these files on 64-bit platforms” option. This means that, on 64-bit platforms, the install location of your 32-bit files from this folder will be the same with their project location.

Package Organization

In this page you, can choose how the files will be organized or reorganized into per-platform features.

Available Files Organization Options

  • “Move all to per-platform features” - The files existing in the project, as well as the newly added files, will be placed in per-platform features (64-bit, 32-bit, and Common).
  • “Leave existing files in their feature, add new to per-platform features” - Only the newly added files will be placed in per-platform features (32-bit, 64-bit, and Common). The files existing in the project will not be moved from their feature.
  • “Leave existing files in their feature, add new to specified feature” - The newly added files will be placed in the feature selected below. If there is no feature yet in the project, the “MainFeature” will be created to host the new files.

By default don't install the 32-bit Feature on 64-bit platforms

This option can be selected only if the files are organized in per-platform features and you have selected the “Installation of 32-bit files on 64-bit platforms” option into the “32-bit Executables and Libraries” wizard page.

When enabling this option, the "SetupTypeDlg" dialog will be added to your project. During installation, the end user will be able to install the 32-bit feature, by selecting "Custom" or "Complete" installation.

Build install databases

This option allows the creation of separated MSI files for 32-bit and 64-bit systems. This options allows patch creation and passes any ICE validation. Disabling this option will slightly reduce the size of your installation package but will prevent patch creation.

Shortcuts

Here you can create shortcuts for the newly added files. Shortcuts to 32-bit files will be placed into a sub-folder of “Application Shortcut Folder” with the same name like the 32-bit files folder under “Application Folder”.

NoteLike the 32-bit files folder, this 32-bit shortcuts folder will be redirected to its parent when installing on 32-bit platforms.

Merge Modules

Here you can specify the installation platforms for your merge modules.

Adding a new Merge Module

You can add a new merge module by using the “New...” button or by pressing the + key.

Removing a newly added Merge Module

You can add remove a newly added merge module by using the “Remove” button or by pressing the Delete key while an item is selected.

NoteExisting Merge Modules can be removed from the "Merge Modules" page inside Advanced Installer.

Installation

64-bit Merge Modules can only be installed on 64-bit platforms. For 32-bit Merge Modules, you can select one of the following installation options

  • Only on 64-bit platforms.
  • Only on 32-bit platforms.
  • Always on 32-bit platforms and only for Complete installation on 64-bit platforms.
  • On both platforms.

ImportantFor 64-bit modules the single available option is "Only on 64-bit platforms" because 64-bit merge modules are meant to be installed only on 64-bit platforms.

NoteThe module installation behavior is achieved through its feature conditional install level.

Reusing Features

The selected Merge Module will be placed into an existing feature with a suitable installation behavior if available, unless the “Create a new feature for this module without searching for a suitable feature” option is enabled.