Prerequisites Page - Installer Project
This view allows you to include existing installers in your package, to enable Windows features or set specific Windows Server roles.
The prerequisites can be installed before, during or after the main package install. You
can change when a prerequisite is executed by dragging it over in the Additional
Packages list or by setting the Scheduled option from Prerequisite Installation Tab.
The prerequisites configured to be installed before the main package are handled by
our EXE bootstrapper. This is why the corresponding option must be checked in the Configuration Tab page.
All setup files used by a prerequisite can be bundled with your package or placed online and accessed through a URL. During install, if the prerequisite is not found it will be automatically installed.
Prerequisites
Adding predefined prerequisites
Select Packages tree item to display the Frameworks and Runtimes page. You can then check the prerequisites you want to include in your package.
In Frameworks and Runtimes page you can also configure global
prerequisite options.
To make sure that the target machines can run your installation package, you can include Windows Installer as a prerequisite. Windows Installer predefined prerequisites use special setup file locations. When building your project, the prerequisite installation package is downloaded automatically. If the download fails or you cancel it, an error message will be displayed and the build process is aborted.
Adding bundled prerequisite software
Use the
toolbar button, “New Executable Package
” context menu item or Insert key. You will be prompted to pick
the executable prerequisite setup files.
Use the
toolbar button or “New Windows
Installer Package” context menu item. You will be prompted to pick the .msi
prerequisite setup files.
Adding downloadable prerequisite software
Use the
toolbar button or “New URL Prerequisite”
context menu item to add the download URL of the prerequisite. This type of prerequisite is
created with default settings, so you need to configure it manually.
Adding chained packages
All .msi prerequisites are added as Chained prerequisites by default.
Chained packages require Windows Installer 4.5 or higher. For older Windows
Installer versions they are ignored.
Specify which builds will contain a prerequisite package
If multiple builds were created in Builds page, you can specify which build should contain the prerequisite in the the prerequisite's Builds tab.
Adding a prerequisite from repository
Use the “Add From Repository” context menu item. A submenu with all the available repository prerequisites will be displayed.
This option is shown only if there is at least one prerequisite in repository.
Exporting a prerequisite in repository
Select the prerequisite you want to export and use the “Move To Repository” context menu item.
You can read more about the prerequisites repository in this article.
Editing a prerequisite
When selecting a prerequisite, its properties pane will be displayed. In this pane you can configure all available package settings.
Removing prerequisites
Use the
toolbar button, the “Delete” context menu item or press
the Delete key while a prerequisite is selected.
Reordering prerequisites
The order in which the prerequisites are displayed is the order in which they will be installed on the target machine. The Shift + Up keys will move a package up. The context menu item or Shift + Down keys will move it down.
context menu item or
Windows
Features
Adding a Windows Features bundle
Use
the toolbar button or “New Windows Feature
bundle” context menu item.
Editing a Windows Features bundle
When selecting a Windows Features bundle, its properties pane will be displayed. In this Windows Features pane you can configure all available settings.
Removing a Windows Features bundle
Use the
toolbar button, the “Delete” context menu item or press
the Delete key while a Windows Features bundle is selected.
Windows Server Roles
Roles
selected in this view only apply when running the package on a Windows Server. They will be
ignored on any other OS type.
This feature is available for Enterprise or above project
types.
Adding a Windows Server Role
Select
Windows Server Roles tree item, then check the roles you want to include in
your package. The roles are grouped by the earliest supported version of the target server
OS.
Editing a Windows Server Role
When selecting a Windows Server Role, its properties pane will be displayed. In this Windows Server Roles pane you can configure all available settings.
Removing a Windows Server Role
Use the
toolbar button, the “Delete” context menu item or press
the Delete key while a Windows Server Role is selected.
Topics
- Predefined Prerequisites
A list of predefined prerequisites and global prerequisite options - Prerequisite Installation Tab
The Prerequisite Installations tab in Advanced Installer - Prerequisite Files Tab
The Prerequisite Files tab in Advanced Installer - Prerequisite Conditions Tab
The Prerequisite Conditions tab in Advanced Installer - Chained Package Behavior
This article explains the chained packages installation behavior - Edit PseudoFormatted Type Dialog
The "Edit PseudoFormatted Type" dialog in Advanced Installer. - Windows Features
Add or remove windows features. - Windows Server Roles
Configure Windows Server Roles - Specify Builds Tab
Specify the builds for an Advanced Installer project item.