How do i create an InstallShield LE project to ins

Question

I downloaded Visual Studio 2012 yesterday when it was released on MSDN. I have noticed that a few of the project types that we had in 2010 are gone or different. The biggest difference for me right now is the removal of the Windows Installer project. Now we are being forced to use the InstallShield LE (Limited Edition). The problem here is that I write a ton of Windows Services and I can't see how to setup InstallShield LE. It appears that we (my company) will have to invest in licenses for the professional edition.

Has anyone found a way to install services in InstallShield LE? When using the Windows Installer project, you just set the custom actions.

Answer 1

I've recently installed VS 2012 with Install Shield LE. At first I kept getting a ISEXP -5036 internal server error after a build (this was after setting up a ISLE project and running through the Install Shield Project Assistant). Eventually I found out that it was trying to create the MSI in the DVD-5 media type which is where it was failing. For some reason, creating the solution again from scratch somehow recognizes to only build to the CD_ROM and SingleImage media types which works.

Anyway to rectify the 5036 error, click the Build tab in VS 2012 (top menu), select configuration manager and you should see that your IS setup file is selected on the DVD-5 configuration. Change this to CD_ROM and click close. Once you build/rebuild it will complete with no IS 5036 error.

Answer 2

I'm using VS2012 and Installshield LE Spring Edition. I did not have to use Wix.

If you encounter the error "Could not create _isconfig.xml for use with InstallUtilLib.dll", please create a folder with the same name as your setup project and inside the setup project folder.

Credits to http://community.flexerasoftware.com/showthread.php?165929-Could-not-create-_isconfig-xml-for-use-with-InstallUtilLib-dll

Answer 3

I just got some problems finding where to add installer as referred in the answer. So here it is how.

Double click on your service class within your Windows service Project A blank screen with the text "To add components to your class, drag them from the Toolbox and use the Properties window to set their properties..." Right click anywhere but on the links and select "Add Installer"

see ya

Answer 4

If your project is .NET, then try then you can use the ServiceProcessInstaller class with InstallShield LE.

To get it to work with InstallShield, you have to go into the InstallShield "files" tree and right click on your file. Then check the checkbox for "Installer class" on the "COM and .NET settings" tab.

I have gotten it to work, but I've had problems on some OS's like Windows 2008R2. Your mileage may vary.

Here is an example: http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/14353/Creating-a-Basic-Windows-Service-in-C

Answer 5

Visual Studio setup projects are back in VS 2013 as a visual studio extension.

https://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/9abe329c-9bba-44a1-be59-0fbf6151054d

Please update your solution and projects to VS 2013. If you are still in VS 2010, you are probably better off by upgrading directly to VS 2013.

My experience with Installsheild LE is that it is very quirky but once you figure out the tricks, it is easier to use. However, I think that the limited edition is a way by Microsoft and Flexera to sell the fully featured edition. In other words, first we pay Microsoft a lot of money for Visual Studio and then their partner (in crime) more for Installsheild. Bad strategy which did not work out since they had to bring back the setup projects in VS 2013.

Answer 6

Bear in mind that all the above explanation will not help you if you plan to create later an upgrade of that setup. InstallShiled LE can't stop the running service when you upgrade. You can't do it either from Window Service Installer -> BeforeInstall event.