IExpress Packager - InstallShield Example

Following is an example of how to re-package the Sun Java 1.4.1.04 installation, using IExpress, in order to create a silent, self installing package.

In this example, the file to be run from the package is an extracted InstallShield Self installer. You may need to create or modify an .ISS file, depending on the software to be re-packaged. In this example we will need ALL of the files extracted from the original installer, including *.bin, *.exe, *.ini, etc. In this example all files needed are found in a single directory. At this point, I am unsure how to repackage installation files the require a specific, non-flat installation directory structure.

Before proceeding:

1. Download the installer to be repackaged (j2re-1_4_1_04-windows-i586-i.exe in this example) and save to the desired directory ("D:\" in this example).

2. Start the installer.

3. When prompted to accept an EULA, find and copy the installation files from your TEMP directory. Finding the TEMP directory took some time, because it wasn’t obvious where to find it. However, I was able to find it finally by taking a “printscreen” when first executing the standard java installation executable, because it writes names of files it is unpacking to it’s TEMP area as it is unpacking them. So then I knew to look for a directory with a file in it named “data1.cab” and “lang.dat” etc. so I did a search on these filenames and found out that the TEMP directory referred to here is at c:\Documents and Settings\pcsupport\Local Settings\Temp\pft32~tmp\disk1\* and then to confirm looked at the most recent access data for that directory, which was the current time, so I knew that was the one to which it was writing.

4. Now if you stop the standard install at the licensing agreement Yes/No choice dialog box, the files extracted from the executable are still sitting in the above-mentioned tmp directory, and you can copy them to another directory before cancelling the install. Now that you have the files, you can begin the steps below, and when you get to the step to select all the files, go to the place where you stored your “data1.cab” and “lang.dat” and all the others and select all of them.

IExpress Packager - Welcome to IExpress 2.0

Start the Packager by running IExpress from the command line: IExpress is, aparently, installed with Internet Explorer, and is found on most recent versions of windows.

IExpress Packager - Package Purpose

Select the type of package to be created.

IExpress Packager - Package Title

Give a name to the package, This will show in the title bar, and perhaps other places.

IExpress Packager - Confirmation Prompt

This is for a silent installation: we do not want a prompt.

IExpress Packager - License Agreement

This is for a silent installation: we still do not want a prompt.

IExpress Packager - Packaged Files

Add all the files that are to be included in this package. In this example we will need all the files that come from the TEMP install directory. A partial list can be seen in the screenshot. Here you navigate to the directory where you copied all the files in the TEMP directory found at the beginning of this article.

IExpress Packager - Install Program To Launch

In this example we are repackaging the setup file itself, and here we will call that file with the required switches. In this example the full command line is:
When I repackaged the Java download for silent installation, I used :

setup.exe –s –a –s –sms –f1setup.iss

Here is the relevant link and information:

http://unattended.sourceforge.net/installers.html

IExpress Packager - Show Window

Select whether or not to show the installation progress. I use, and have only tested, the default. I like to have a little animation on the installation screen.

IExpress Packager - Finished Message

Again. we do not want to be propted.

IExpress Packager - Package Name And options

Give a name and save location to the package. If any of the components use long file names, select that here.

(In this example we do not need this, but as I always include it, and have only tested this way, I have it checked here as well.)

IExpress Packager - Configure Restart

Designate the "No Reboot" switch here.

IExpress Packager - Save Self Extracting Directive

In this example I have not chosen to keep the SED, which contains the answers to the previous questions for future use.

IExpress Packager - Create Package

Ready to go ...

IExpress Packager - Create Package Finished

Success!

IExpress Packager - Notes

Notes on creating Self Extracting Installers from InstallShield Installers:

1. Some applications are not intended to support silent switches.

2. You may need to run the installation in record mode to create your custom .ISS file.

3. Install directories which are not flat, i.e. have sub-directories are not supported (at least I don't know how...)