Advanced Installer Ribbon

Advanced Installer’s Ribbon offers an efficient and easy way to navigate your project with just a couple of clicks. The Ribbon can be split into the following groups Quick-Access Toolbar, Tabs, and the Application Menu.

Ribbon

Quick Access Toolbar

The Quick-access Toolbar is a customizable toolbar which shows commands that are most often used.

Quick-access toolbar

  • Save - save the current project
  • Build - can choose to create all builds, rebuild all builds, or create a specific build
  • Run - launch the installer; if it was not built it will generate it first
  • Back - navigate backward in the project
  • Next - navigate forward in the project
  • Messages - show latest information and news about Advanced Installer
  • Show below the Ribbon - move the Quick-access toolbar below the Ribbon
  • Minimize the Ribbon - hide the Ribbon

Tabs

A Tab is a collection of features that are related to each other.

Tabs

In the Tabs group, there is also a button to access the context-sensitive User Guide.

User Guide

Solution Tab

Home Tab

Project Tab

Home Tab

  • Build - can choose to create all builds, rebuild all builds, or create a specific build
  • Run - launch the installer; if it was not built it will generate it first
  • Run in VM - test the installation in a provisioned virtual machine
    • Impersonate System Account - enable this option to impersonate the system account when using "Run in VM"
    • Edit VM profiles - the Edit VM Profiles dialog will be shown allowing you to create and configure the profiles that will be used for virtual machine installations.
    • Create a new VM - the wizard will be shown assisting you to create a new virtual machine and to configure it for testing the installation.
  • Run in Docker - test the instalation in a Docker container.
    • Create a repackaging Docker image - run the Docker Image Prepare Wizard to set up a Docker image.
  • Show Run Log - display the installation log
  • Debug cmd line - send a command-line to the package before installation when using the [ Run ] option
  • Open Output Folder - open Windows Explorer at the project location
  • Options - set the project options from the Project Paths Tab
  • Find - search the project
  • Project Summary - dialog to navigate through the project content

View Tab

View Tab

  • Show
    • Left Pane - show or hide the left pane
    • Compact Left Pane - resize icons in the left pane
    • Only Non-Empty Views - hide all views that don’t have changes
    • Status Bar - show or hide the status bar
  • Navigation
    • Last Change - navigate to the last location where the project was modified
    • Back - navigate backward in the project
    • Next - navigate forward in the project
  • Show/Hide Info Panes
    • Installation - quick access menu to different sections of the project
    • Log - show or hide the log pane
    • Issues - show or hide results of the ICE validation
    • References - display a list of the references of the item you have tried to delete
    • Find Result - show or hide the search result pane
    • Notes - display various notes added and is specific for the selected view
    • Notifications - show or hide the notifications pane that displays a list while authoring the package or loading the project
    • Messages - show latest information and news about Advanced Installer

Settings Tab

Settings Tab

  • External Tools - configure additional tools used during the build process through the External Tools dialog
  • Auto Import - configure the extensions used when importing XML and INI files
  • Repository Manager - manage dialogs or prerequisites in the Advanced Installer repository
  • Repackager Settings - configure the settings for the Advanced Installer Repackager
  • Package Validation - configure package validation with ICEs, compatibility checks and WACK
  • SCCM Configurations - define the settings based on which the System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) configuration file will be created
  • Path Variables - configure the path variables
  • Auto Updates - configure Advanced Installer's update process through the "Update Options" dialog
  • Customer Feedback - select if you want or not to help improve Advanced Installer by sending non-personal information

Wizards Tab

Wizards Tab

  • Convert Paths - convert existing project paths to use path variables
  • Create Transform - create a transform for an MSI Package installation
  • Add Adobe Plug-in - add an Adobe Product plug-in to the project
  • Add Office Addin - add an Office Product plug-in to the project
  • Import
    • Visual Studio Project - import a Visual Studio Project into an Advanced Installer project
    • Visual Basic 6.0 Project - import a Visual Basic 6.0 Project into an Advanced Installer project
    • Real Studio Project - import a Real Studio Project into an existing Advanced Installer project
    • MSI/MSM Package - import an MSI/MSM file into an existing Advanced Installer project
    • Eclipse Workspace - import the projects from an Eclipse workspace into an existing Advanced Installer project
    • IntelliJ IDEA Workspace - import the projects from an IntelliJ IDEA workspace into an existing Advanced Installer project
    • Repackage Result File - import a repackager result file (.RPK)

Application Menu

The Application Menu contains commands that affect the entire project and workspace as well as the Help.

Application menu

  • New - create a new project from to Start Page
  • Open - open an existing project or a built installer database file(MSI) in MSI Quick-Edit mode
  • Save
    • Save - save current project
    • Save As - save current project under a different name
    • Save As Template - save current project as a template to be reused for a different package
  • Settings
    • External Tools - configure additional tools used during the build process through the External Tools dialog
    • Auto Import - configure the extensions used when importing XML and INI files
    • Repository Manager - manage dialogs or prerequisites in the Advanced Installer repository
    • Repackager Settings - configure installation capture profiles for Advanced Repackager
    • Package Validation - configure package validation with ICEs, compatibility checks and WACK
    • SCCM Configurations - define the settings based on which the System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) configuration file will be created
    • Path Variables - configure the path variables
    • Auto Updates - configure Advanced Installer's update process through the "Update Options" dialog
  • Help
    • Contents - open the Advanced Installer User Guide
    • Support Forums - open in the default browser the web page of the Advanced Installer Forum
    • Purchase Now - open the web page where you can buy an Advanced Installer license
    • Register - activate an Advanced Installer license
    • About - general information about Advanced Installer(version, license, etc.) and update check
  • Exit - close the current project

NoteAdvanced Installer Ribbon has page and project type specific contextual tabs.

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