InstallShield is an installation creator. Means, this program can create installation packages for windows softwares. If you are a software developper, and if your software is very big, with many files and DLLs to work on, you will need to create and installation program. So, the customers only need to open the program, select the path for installation, and everything will be automatically be installed.
Many files must go to the program directory, ans many to "windows" or the %systemroot% folder, etc. If the program is independent of any ActiveX DLLs or OCX files or if your progrm doesn't use the windows registry, it is only needed that the program files be copied to any directory and then executed. But when your software is very big and needs to install system files, ActiveX files, codecs, etc., and also that it needs a CD key to install and some feature to activate the program, etc., you need a professional software which deals with the subject.
"InstallShield" has a large set of features that helps you to create professional installation packages. It is being used by many companies like the Adobe , Corel, etc for the installation / updation of their softwares.
The features include, the selection of Visual Basic or C++ project files to create the installation. The Dependant libraries or DLLs and ActiveX controls, etc are automatically included in the installation. The project is compiled to generate the executable file. All are included and the installation is created (the uninstaller is installed when a program is installed).
Installscript, which is the scipt to install programs in windows can be easily generated by this program. Such scripts are saved under the filetype "INF" and can be installed in windows just by right clicking and selecting "install"!
This can be called "the best software of its kind", although the price is very high.
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