Duckware
 You are here: Duckware » MakeInstall   Contact us  

  MakeInstallTM 8.3a
Make an INSTALL.EXE for your JavaTM Program
(a great alternative to InstallShield for Java apps)
 

 
  1. What is MakeInstall?
MakeInstall Manual Index
1. What is MakeInstall
2. Using MakeInstall
3. MakeInstall Command Line
4. License Agreement
5. Release History
6. How to modify PATH var
Setup    
MakeInstall creates an INSTALL.EXE for your Java program, with full install and uninstall support.

InstallShield overhead is too large: You have just finished your Java application. Now, how do you create a installation program with full install and uninstall support? Do you use InstallShield or a similar product? You could, but InstallShield has a large overhead -- for the simpliest of programs (installing a single file) you are looking at a large install program! That is not acceptable.

MakeInstall is the solution: MakeInstall packs a lot of power into a very small package. The EXE overhead is incredibly small. Just look at all of the Duckware downloads!

Features:
  • Install/Uninstall - Full install and control panel uninstall support
  • Ultra small install EXE overhead
  • Supports installing/uninstalling ActiveX DLL's (via regsvr32)
  • Your EXE can hook into the install/uninstall process.
Program Requirements: Microsoft Windows 7/Vista/XP/2000/2003/Me/98; Sun's Java Runtime Environment 1.5 (or later) installed.
 
  2. Using MakeInstall
MakeInstall is incredibly easy to use. First, create a folder that contains all of the files and folders that you want installed into C:\Program Files\YourAppName, in this example, the slideshow folder:
// all files in the 'slideshow' folder
SlideShow.exe¹
MakeSlideShow.exe²
images\*.*
Sample\*.*
readme.html³
Next, script (typically via a BAT file) MakeInstall to package all files of the files in the slideshow folder into an install.exe:
// package.bat
MakeInstall /out:install-slideshow.exe /dir:slideshow /ini:install.ini
Finally, configure all of the MakeInstall options that you want used via an install.ini file:
// install.ini
publisher=Duckware
title=Install Unregistered Version
appname=AutoRun SlideShow
appver=6.0a
apppath=SlideShow.exe¹
apppath=MakeSlideShow.exe²
link=MakeSlideShow,MakeSlideShow.exe²
link=ReadMe,readme.html³
link=Uninstall,Uninstall.exe
desktop=MakeSlideShow,MakeSlideShow.exe²
Please note that MakeInstall automatically creates an Uninstall.exe in your installation folder for you. Also note above in the install.ini file that references to files are relative references to files in your installation folder.
 
  3. MakeInstall Command Line
MakeInstall is a command line utility, which allows it to be easily integrated into scripts and development environments. To produce installation EXE's, MakeInstall uses JexePack, which must be installed separately and the DOS PATH modified to include the directory containing the jexepack.exe file.
TIP: After installing JexePack, create folder c:\exes, copy jexepack.exe to the folder and add c:\exes to your PATH (how to do this). MakeInstall will then be able to find jexepack.exe and you can then use this new folder to hold useful command line utilities that you create or download.
When MakeInstall is run with no arguments from a console window (DOS prompt), the following help is displayed:

Duckware (R) Make Installation Kit Version 8.3a (build 4768)
Copyright (c) Duckware 2000-2013. All rights reserved.

Usage: MakeInstall [/options]

  /DIR:<dir>          package ALL the files in this directory
  /INI:<file>         ini file with 'key=value' lines
  /OUT:<exe>          name output exe file (default install.exe)
  /ICON:<ico>         jexepack option (defaults to diskette icon)
  /GETJAVA:<file>     jexepack option (defaults file to '*')
  /JEXEPACK:<option>  jexepack pass-thru command line options

Most options are mandatory and are described below. If an option contains a space, just quote the entire command line option (eg: "/dir:C:\My Documents\Java\MakeInstall\install").

/DIR:<dir> -- ALL the files in the named folder (and all subdirectories) will be packaged and installed.

/OUT:<exe> -- Names the output EXE (defaults to install.exe).

/INI:<file> -- The INI file containing most of the MakeInstall configuration parameters. Each line of the INI file is in the form 'key=value' and sets a MakeInstall option:
KeyValue
publisher Sets the 'Publisher' column name in the Control Panel 'add/remove programs' applet. [6.5c]
publisher=Duckware
title Sets the title in the opening installation dialog
title=Install MakeInstall
appname The full application name, without version information, and without spaces. See 'displayname' below.
appname=MakeInstall
displayname Optional parameter that defaults to the value of the 'appname' parameter. Specifies the full display name of the application, shown in install and uninstall dialogs as well as the Windows 'Add/Remove Programs' dialog.
displayname=Duckware MakeInstall
appver The application version in "#.#" format
appver=6.2a
readme After installation, MakeInstall will want to automatically launch your readme.html file that now exists in the installation folder. Use this option to change the file (in the install) that will be launched after installation.
readme=readme.html
license The name of a text or (very simple) html file in the install that contains a license agreement that must be acknowledged before installation can continue.
license=license.html
update Normally MakeInstall assumes that you are performing a full new installation. Set this to 'yes' to indicate that the install is intended to be an update (like a registered programs update over a trial version) to a prior installation and not a full install.
update=yes
programfilesdir Optional parameter that defaults to the value of the 'appname' parameter. Specifies the default installation folder name within the Windows 'C:\Program Files' directory.
programfilesdir=Duckware MakeInstall
programdir Optional parameter that defaults to the value of the 'appname' parameter. Specifies the folder name within 'Start / Programs / <programdir> for this application.
programdir=Duckware MakeInstall
feedback Optional URL parameter that if specified, causes a feedback button to be added into the uninstall dialog, that if pressed, will launch the default web browser to the specified URL.
feedback=http://www.duckware.com/feedback.html
unurl Optional URL parameter that if specified, causes the url to be launched when your program is uninstalled.
unurl=http://www.duckware.com/thankyou.html
icon Optional parameter, that specifies the name of an image file within your installation folder, that MakeInstall will use in the upper left corner of install/uninstall windows.
icon=images\appicon.gif
apppath¹ An EXE filename that you want installed as an 'APP PATH' application. Namely, Start / Run / filename will run your app if it is installed as an 'app path'.
apppath=SlideShow.exe
apppath=MakeSlideShow.exe
desktop¹ A text label and exe name in your installation folder that should be installed as a shortcut onto the desktop.
desktop=MakeSlideShow,MakeSlideShow.exe
link¹ Creates a clickable link under Start / Programs / programdir to a file in your installation folder, or a URL.
link=ReadMe,readme.html
link=Online Manual,http://www.duckware.com/...
rs32¹ A DLL that should be registered/unregistered by using regsvr32.exe. The syntax is 'f=file,r=recover question', where the recover question 'r=text' is optional.
rs32=f=emt-outlook.dll,r=Continue installation without 'Outlook Toolbar Integration'?
ihookexe¹ Allows you to hook into the install and uninstall process to provide for custom install and uninstall actions. Specify the name of an EXE in your installation folder. Your EXE is run after installation with a command line of "-Q* /install", or before uninstallation with a command line of "-Q* /uninstall".
ihookexe=spinner.exe
dospath¹ A relative pathname to an exe in your installation package. The folder of the EXE will be added to the PATH environment variable. [6.4a]
dospath=MakeInstall.exe
¹ Option can be used multiple times (on multiple lines), as needed.
Setup /ICON:<ico> -- Allows you to configure an icon for your installation EXE. MakeInstall will use a default icon (seen at the right) if you do not specify one.

 
  4. No Nonsense License Agreement
MakeInstall may be used for no additional charge with a JexePack license.

MakeInstall is freeware. That means that you may try it for free to see if it works for you. If you find anything wrong with the software, let me know and I will try to fix the problem immediately. My entire liability for your use of this software shall not exceed the amount you paid for the software (nothing). You may not reverse engineer or decompile the software. You may not modify the software in any way. The software may not be used on adult sites nor to display adult material. License violations will result in license termination and possible prosecution.

Install EXE's generated with MakeInstall, in accordance with this license, and a registered JexePack, can be distributed royalty free.
 
  5. Release History
Version/Date    Changes made in release
8.3a - 08/29/2013  · Java 7u21 compatibility work
8.1a - 04/04/2012  · fixed multi-thread 'wait for process' issue
8.0c - 02/25/2009  · uses new JexePack
8.0a - 10/03/2008  · installation EXE's now have VS_VERSION_INFO
· INI files can now be ASCII or Unicode
7.1a - 09/25/2008  · uses updated installer
7.0b - 10/21/2007  · uses new jexepack packager
7.0a - 10/09/2007  · solved 'bring to top' issue with Vista
· added publisher key
· versionsurl and upgradeurl keys
6.4b - 09/19/2007  · uses new JexePack /vista:<type> to mark as Vista aware
· fixed '/out' to use full path
6.4a - 09/17/2007  · Added administrator checks into install / uninstall process
· MakeInstall install folder is added to environment PATH variable
· Added /dospath INI command
6.2a - 09/11/2007  · uses new JexePack core
6.1a - 12/29/2006  · allow 'http://' in links
6.0a - 09/02/2006  · uses new JexePack 6.0a
5.3a - 02/17/2006  · exe signed by 'Duckware'
5.3a - 11/17/2005  · added ihookexe (and removed unexes/inexes)
5.2b - 11/16/2005  · add /getjava jexepack pass thru to command line
5.2a - 11/16/2005  · inexes support for private client
5.0a - 09/26/2005  · Creates an install EXE that installs the latest Java (1.5.x) if no java is found
4.1b - 03/30/2005  · readme.html can be readme{_language{_country{_variant}}}.html
4.0c - 12/02/2004  · Add 'unurl' uninstall option
4.0a - 08/14/2004  · added displayname, programdir, and programfilesdir INI parameters
3.3a - 10/12/2003  · Better removal of installation folder
3.1b - 02/11/2003  · Use new JexePack
3.0c - 06/07/2002  · Use new JexePack
3.0b - 06/02/2002  · Use new J2EXE
3.0a - 04/28/2002  · First public release
0.9x - 08/09/2000  · First used for custom projects
 
  6. How to Modify the PATH environment variable
Installing MakeInstall should automatically add the MakeInstall.exe installation folder into the PATH environment variable on Windows Vista/XP/2003/2000/NT.

Windows 7/Vista/XP/2003/2000/NT: Right click on My Computer and select Properties; Select Advanced tab; Click on the Environment Variables button; Select the PATH variable; Click on the Edit button.

Windows ME: Go to Start / Run / 'msconfig'; Select the 'Environment' tab; Select the PATH variable; Click on the Edit button.

Windows 98: Find "c:\autoexec.bat" within Windows Explorer; Right click on the file; Select 'Edit'; Modify the "SET PATH=paths line that you see; Then reboot your computer.

Copyright © 2000-2024 Duckware