Automation of InstallAware builds

[ryangraham]

Hey guys,

I'm evaluating your suite for my company to see if it's easier/quicker than InstallShield.

I'm curious if you guys offer some kind of api so that I can build some MSIs through the command line. Not only for the build, though, but also the Group Policy (as I need to get a single msi out at the other end).

If this functionality is offered, where can I find some information on this so that I can try it out?

Cheers,
-RG!

[MichaelNesmith]

Yes, see the documentation (help file) entries on the command line build engine, compiler variables, the group policy wizard, as well as the automation interface. I am thinking you won't need to go the full-blown automation route - InstallAware's compiler variables provide a very versatile, easy, and cost-free method to customize setups during command line build time.

[bokkie]

Ryan, to confirm what Michael wrote, you will not ordinarily need the automation interface. I used that extensively in IS and it was a necessary evil. InstallAware's compiler variables are much, much the preferred way.

You asked: Is it easier and quicker than IS?

Answer: By miles.

[ryangraham]

Hey guys,

I've been enjoying the InstallAware suite, but have just run into a roadblock...

We use MSBuild to automate our builds in TFS, and if I create a task to shell the group policy wizard to convert an exe to an msi (as is the desired output of our packages), it will block until the pgplwiz.exe process is killed.

I've determined that this is caused because it wasn't a genuine command line application, but that it used a gui. This was the same reason we had to find an alternative to winzip.

Do you guys ship a special command line builder for both building the projects AND the group policy wizards?

Cheers,
-RG!

[MichaelNesmith]

Thanks, I've logged this as a feature request.