BlogThe MSIx Experts Crib
RSS

Table of Contents

About
Advanced Installer helps you create powerful and reliable MSI, App-V & MSIX packages. Upgraded every month by our team, since 2003.

What’s New in Advanced Installer 24.1

Version 24.1 is now available and brings improvements to custom action management, Azure Key Vault signing, PowerShell automation, and packaging workflows.

Here’s what this release includes:

  • 1 new feature focused on custom action management
  • 15 enhancements: Azure Key Vault signing, PowerShell automation, Repackager, Sparse Packages, prerequisites, and other packaging workflows
  • 31 bug fixes improving packaging reliability, automation, and project editing

Redesigned Custom Actions view for easier managementCopy link to this sectionLink to this section copied!

Managing Custom Actions is now easier with a redesigned view that provides a clearer overview of your actions and installation sequences.

The new interface gives you:

  • A cleaner layout with a clear separation between Custom Actions and installation sequences
  • Easier ways to add custom actions
  • The ability to move actions between sequences using drag and drop
  • Clearer positioning of Custom Actions within each installation sequence
  • Color-coded sequences and a highlighted current sequence for easier navigation

You can also choose where a custom action is inserted when adding it to a sequence, or leave it unsequenced.

More flexible Azure Key Vault signingCopy link to this sectionLink to this section copied!

Azure Key Vault signing now supports additional authentication options, giving you more flexibility when signing your packages.

You can choose between:

  • Client Secret
  • Interactive Browser
  • Azure CLI, including Managed Identity and Federated Identity

The Azure CLI option is particularly useful for automated environments such as Azure VMs and GitHub Actions, where you can authenticate without storing long-lived secrets in your build environment.

Expanded PowerShell automationCopy link to this sectionLink to this section copied!

PowerShell automation has been extended to cover more Advanced Installer project settings and workflows.

You can now automate:

  • Dialog View configuration
  • Digital Signature settings in Updates projects
  • The “Store setting inside the Updater” option

These additions make it easier to configure and build projects programmatically, especially when Advanced Installer is part of an automated build or deployment process.

Support for specifying either internal or external executable paths in Sparse PackagesCopy link to this sectionLink to this section copied!

Grant an application identity and leverage modern API features in your Win32 application with sparse packages. Now you can specify any target path in the sparse package manifest, without being limited to files present in the Files and Folders page.

Improved the usability of generated Repackager automation scriptsCopy link to this sectionLink to this section copied!

The older scripts generated by the Repackager were essentially one-liners, hard to understand and maintain.The new script structure splits it into multiple sections, allowing you to easily customize your Advanced Installer options, package details, and VM configurations. Give it a try and let us know how we can help you further improve your automation workflows.

Introducing Open Package Manifest (OPM)Copy link to this sectionLink to this section copied!

Deployment Information Belongs with the ApplicationCopy link to this sectionLink to this section copied!

Applications are easy to move between teams and environments.

Their deployment information usually is not.

Teams often recreate or store installation commands, detection rules, requirements, and other deployment settings across multiple tools.

Built by the teams behind Advanced Installer and PacKit, Open Package Manifest (OPM) is an open format that keeps your application's deployment information together with the application source.

By making deployment information portable, OPM simplifies application handoffs, versioning, automation, and deployment across different tools and environments.

Watch the webinar launch to learn more about Open Package Manifest (OPM).

What Features Do You Need Next?Copy link to this sectionLink to this section copied!

Tell us what matters to you.

Please request the feature directly through the forum.

Download Advanced Installer 24.1Copy link to this sectionLink to this section copied!

You can access this version in two ways:

TipAdvanced Installer Customer Referral Program

For over 20 years, users like you have been recommending Advanced Installer, and we truly appreciate it.

Now we’ve made it official. The Referral Program makes it easy to share Advanced Installer and get rewarded.

You can now refer Advanced Installer to your peers and save up to 30% on your next renewal.

Get your referral code from My Account or Learn more.

Comments: