InstallAware

Let’s suppose that I create an installation setup where I package my product version 1.0.

As time goes by, I create several patches for my program that fix some critical issues and after 6 months I create a patch but this time I call this patch service pack 1 (SP1).

The thing that makes this last patch (SP1) special is that I would like to be able to let my user patch my application with the SP1 but at the same time, I would like to also create a full installation package that will include the application and SP1 rolled into one.

In other words, I would like to achieve two things:
1) Let my clients use the original installer setup + SP1.
2) Allow the user to use an installer setup that installs all at once (No need to install SP1 because is already included).

I am assuming that if I make sure that the “Product Code”, “Revision Code” and “Upgrades Product with Product Code” values remain identical as when I originally built my first setup, I should be able to make a second installer setup whose final outcome would be identical as if I used the original installer setup + SP1.

Is my assumption correct? Would I be able to later create SP2 and use my original installer setup + SP1 + SP2? Would I also be able to use my second installer setup (the one that includes SP1) and apply that same SP2 to it?

Thanks.

1. Build RTM setup (SP0)
2. SAVE *built* setup files somewhere safe
3. Build SP1 setup (same as RTM, just with your newer application files)
4. Add the files in step #2 as "patch reference" to SP1 setup
5. Build SP1 setup in "patch" mode

MichaelNesmith wrote: 3. Build SP1 setup (same as RTM, just with your newer application files)

Do I have to make sure that the “Product Code”, “Revision Code” and “Upgrades Product with Product Code” values remain identical as when I originally built my first setup (SP0)?

Also, if I wanted to install the application from scratch, and I wanted the installer to include SP1 on the application, I would be using this build, correct?

5. Build SP1 setup in "patch" mode

So this patch can be use to patch the original application (SP0) but it wont install the application from scratch right?

To create SP2:
Do the same as step 3 (for the full install), and then create a patch by following step 4 and 5 but making sure that the patch reference contains SP0 and SP1.

I should then be able to use SP2 to patch SP0 and SP1 correct?

Thanks

Do I have to make sure that the “Product Code”, “Revision Code” and “Upgrades Product with Product Code” values remain identical as when I originally built my first setup (SP0)?

Product Code must match; everything else should be managed by the InstallAware engine.

Also, if I wanted to install the application from scratch, and I wanted the installer to include SP1 on the application, I would be using this build, correct?

Correct. You will end up two setups - one that can be used for fresh installations (plus upgrades) and one that is purely for upgrades.

So this patch can be use to patch the original application (SP0) but it wont install the application from scratch right?

Correct.

To create SP2:
Do the same as step 3 (for the full install), and then create a patch by following step 4 and 5 but making sure that the patch reference contains SP0 and SP1.

I should then be able to use SP2 to patch SP0 and SP1 correct?

Yes.

Awesome, thanks for the help.

Does this mean that there is no way to have ONE installer to 1. Install the latest version of your software 2. Patch any previous installs to the latest version?

Does this mean that there is no way to have ONE installer to 1. Install the latest version of your software 2. Patch any previous installs to the latest version?

No, if you have only ONE installer with the same PRODUCT CODE, it will uninstall your previous versions and install the current one. If you, on the other hand, have a patch, it will just patch the previous version to a newer one without uninstalling.