2

Are there any components or 3rd party software to create the self-installer Delphi application?

I want to make some kind of one-click installer which will copy the main exe file and few other files to AppData folder and create the shortcuts. It should contain only one installation screen with few settings.

I just can't find any installation builder which will create such one-click installer.

Guess I have to store all my additional files (including uninstaller) as the resources inside of the single exe, and then unpack them into the destination folder. Maybe you know some more effective method?

Andrew
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  • Did you look at Inno or similar? Also what do you mean by appdata? – David Heffernan Dec 20 '11 at 08:57
  • @DavidHeffernan I think he means "AppData" folder –  Dec 20 '11 at 09:08
  • @dorin but which one? Presumably the one under the user profile rather than commonappdata. – David Heffernan Dec 20 '11 at 09:25
  • @DavidHeffernan Yes, I mean AppData under the user profile. – Andrew Dec 20 '11 at 09:27
  • @David most likely, tho', I don't really see the rational behind it... –  Dec 20 '11 at 09:29
  • possible duplicate of [how to make setup file containing a delphi exe and some other files](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6706691/how-to-make-setup-file-containing-a-delphi-exe-and-some-other-files) – Marcus Adams Dec 20 '11 at 19:15
  • On other people's system, be polite. Use a sound, tested installer/uninstaller engine which will install your software properly and also remove it properly if the user decides so. A good user experience starts and ends with the installer/uninstaller. –  Dec 20 '11 at 19:15

2 Answers2

18

Use InnoSetup. This can be configured/scripted to do automatic installations and does not cost anything.

Bruce McGee
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Thorsten Dittmar
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  • InnoSetup allow to make one custom setup screen with my options? – Andrew Dec 20 '11 at 09:16
  • InnoSetup uses pascal script(if I remember correctly) which will allow you to create custom screens, add custom components, pretty much everything you need. –  Dec 20 '11 at 09:28
  • +1 For mentioning InnoSetup. It's opensource and written in Delphi moreover. – menjaraz Dec 20 '11 at 10:49
  • I agree with you all. Been using InnoSetup for deliverables for years now. No problems, just works. Does all the strange stuff like run database installers, register DLLs. Excellent. – Martin James Dec 20 '11 at 12:23
  • For your purposes a little bit of installation scripting should be enough to get going. – Warren P Dec 20 '11 at 13:24
  • I just used InnoSetup for the first time last week. It has a wizard to get you started, and I was setup in less than an hour with a basic self-contained EXE without any scripting. – Marcus Adams Dec 20 '11 at 19:12
4

Use NSIS installer (Nullsoft (winamp) installer. It is very simple and configureable.

http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Main_Page

BennyBechDk
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