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Modular InnoSetup Dependency Installer

By , 23 Sep 2011
 
Screenshot - dotnetfx_installer1.jpg

Screenshot - dotnetfx_installer3.jpg

Introduction

This article contains a modular InnoSetup install script that downloads (if setup files don't exist already) and installs various dependencies like .NET Framework 1.1/2.0/3.5/4.0 and others on 32-bit or 64-bit Windows.

Background

Once upon a time, I needed an installer for my .NET applications. I knew that I could use the "genius" ClickOnce installer, but in my opinion it has a bad interface and is not very handy. Then I came across a script for InnoSetup that had everything I wanted, but unfortunately it was only for .NET 1.1. So, I spent a few hours (became more over time) in InnoSetup and modified it to my needs.

Details

The source code is written modular. The folder structure looks like this:

Screenshot - dotnetfx_content.jpg

  • setup.iss - contains the basic setup where you include the modules (products) you need. They need to be included at the top like #include "scripts\products\dotnetfx11.iss" and then you only have to call their main function inside the [Code] part like dotnetfx11();
  • bin - contains the final output of the installer
  • src - contains the application files of your program
  • scripts
    • products.iss - contains the shared code for the product scripts. You only have to change the [CustomMessages] part and [Files] part (inclusion of isxdl language files)
    • isxdl - contains the downloader DLL for the setup (if there is something to download) and its language files (e.g. german.ini). This is the place where you can put your language files for the isxdl downloader in.
    • products - contains the scripts for products which are required by the application (e.g. .NET Framework 2.0)
      • dotnetfx11.iss - .NET Framework 1.1
      • dotnetfx11lp.iss - .NET Framework 1.1 Language Pack
      • dotnetfx11sp1.iss - .NET Framework 1.1 + Service Pack 1
      • dotnetfx20.iss - .NET Framework 2.0
      • dotnetfx20lp.iss - .NET Framework 2.0 Language Pack
      • dotnetfx20sp1.iss - .NET Framework 2.0 + Service Pack 1
      • dotnetfx20sp1lp.iss - .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1 Language Pack
      • dotnetfx20sp2.iss - .NET Framework 2.0 + Service Pack 2
      • dotnetfx20sp2lp.iss - .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2 Language Pack
      • dotnetfx35.iss - .NET Framework 3.5
      • dotnetfx35lp.iss - .NET Framework 3.5 Language Pack
      • dotnetfx35sp1.iss - .NET Framework 3.5 + Service Pack 1
      • dotnetfx35sp1lp.iss - .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 Language Pack
      • dotnetfx40client.iss - .NET Framework 4.0 Client Profile
      • dotnetfx40full.iss - .NET Framework 4.0 Full
      • ie6.iss - Internet Explorer 6
      • iis.iss - Internet Information Services (just a check if it is installed)
      • jet4sp8.iss - Jet 4 + Service Pack 8
      • kb835732.iss - Security Update (KB835732) which is required by .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1 on Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
      • mdac28.iss - Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.8
      • msi20.iss - Windows Installer 2.0
      • msi31.iss - Windows Installer 3.1
      • msi45.iss - Windows Installer 4.5
      • sql2005express.iss - SQL Server 2005 Express + Service Pack 3
      • sql2008express.iss - SQL Server 2008 Express R2
      • sqlcompact35sp2.iss - SQL Server Compact 3.5 + Service Pack 2
      • vcredist2010.iss - Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable
      • wic.iss - Windows Imaging Component
      • winversion.iss - helper functions to determine the installed Windows version including service packs
      • fileversion.iss - helper functions to determine the version of a file
      • stringversion.iss - helper functions to correctly parse a version string
      • dotnetfxversion.iss - helper functions to determine the installed .NET Framework version including service packs

Mostly you may have to tweak the setup.iss because of different Windows version / service pack version check depending on the version of .NET Framework you need.

If a dependency (product) is not installed, the script checks if the product's setup exists inside the dependencies directory which is configurable in products.iss. By default it is: .\MyProgramDependencies. If they don't exist there, it tries to download them (except for Windows Service Packs). This means a support for offline installing via CD or DVD is also possible. In the recent versions, there was also support for 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) OS including Itanium (ia64) added.

Screenshot - dotnetfx_installer2.jpg

Screenshot - dotnetfx_installer4.jpg

The installation routine of the dependencies is automatic, and they run in quiet or semi quiet mode. Therefore no user interaction is needed, except for Internet Explorer 6. This setup script uses [CostumMessages] so that you can easily add multi-language support to your setup and are easily able to configure settings (like the dependencies directory) without looking at the [Code] part.

Applications used for the script are:

  • Inno Setup - setup engine (version 5.4.2)
  • ISTool - extends Inno Setup but I just needed the isxdl.dll downloader (version 5.3.0)

Known Problems

If dependencies are needed, the required free hard drive size is incorrect.

Points of Interest

Special thanks go to Ted Ehrich who created the .NET Framework 1.1 script. Well, I am sure that this script will serve me in the future very well and I hope you may like it too.

History

  • 14 Oct, 2007
    • Initial version
  • 19 Oct, 2007
    • Minor update to code
  • 27 Oct, 2007
    • Minor update to code
  • 25 Jan, 2008
    • Minor update to code
  • 15 Aug, 2008
    • Now uses dotnetchk.exe to determine which version of .NET Framework and its language pack is installed
    • Added .NET Framework language pack(s) to script
    • Added translation for download page
    • Separated script code into multiple files to make it easier to update the script for different versions of the .NET Framework
  • 1 Jan, 2009
    • Wrote source code modular (each dependency now has one file)
    • Added code for Windows security updates, .NET Framework 1.1, 2.0sp1, 3.5, 3.5sp1 and their language packs
    • No more dotnetchk.exe
  • 1 Sep, 2009
    • Code for dependencies installation routine was completely rewritten and is now executed before the actual installation of the application. Setup also checks if all dependencies are installed successfully and if not, displays an error page
    • Added support for 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) OS including Itanium (ia64)
    • Added code for .NET Framework 2.0 SP2 and its language pack
    • Fixed windows version check bug and language pack check bug
  • 23 Sep, 2011
    • Added support for .NET Framework 4.0, Windows Installer 4.5, Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable, SQL 2008 Express and SQL 3.5 Compact Edition (community)
    • Added helper functions to determine the installed .NET Framework version which removed redundant code
    • Added version strings parser to fix wrong detection for version numbers above 9
    • Added delayed and forced mid-install restart support
    • Added usage of #define in setup.iss (community)
    • Added unicode version of Inno Setup as default for better multilanguage support
    • Fixed restart on 3010 resultcode from installers
    • Fixed missing check in Windows 2000 Security Update (KB835732)
    • Added support for offline files on x64 and IA64 OS

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

About the Author

 stfx
Austria Austria
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AnswerRe: dependency file not added to output setup.exememberstfx5 Oct '12 - 22:26 
You got that a bit wrong - all it does is check if the dependencies exist in a subdirectory (MyProgramDependencies in this case) when the setup is run. This is useful for distribution over CDs/DvDs.
 
It does not mean that it will be included in your setup.exe. This could be changed however, and would actually make sense, but you need to check the Inno Setup docs to see exactly how.
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AnswerRe: dependency file not added to output setup.exememberMember 905500031 Oct '12 - 4:37 
Make sure that you added the executable in the [Files] section if you want it included in your setup.exe
 
Also, I really need to install the dependencies offline. For my software, I only need dotNetFx40_Full_setup.exe. I placed the executable in bin/MyProgramDependencies, but it still just tries to download from the site regardless.
 
Is there something I'm missing?
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GeneralMy vote of fivememberMichael Estwik12 Aug '12 - 11:53 
There is no word to say how thankful I am for this article.
 
I've been waiting for a software company for over one year to release a new version of their installer software (which I will be able to upgrade for free) and during this time I've been waiting for be able to realease my own software.
 
Now, thanks to you, I don't have to wait any longer. My software is complete and I can finally publish it. Thank you man, you are the best!Thumbs Up | :thumbsup:
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SuggestionMS Compact Database Version 4.0 [modified]memberFreddyvdh12 Jul '12 - 3:44 
Hi,
 
I needed the compact database version 4.0 for my project. Here my code for use:
 
[CustomMessages]
sqlcompact40_title=SQL Server Compact 4.0
sqlcompact40_titlex64=SQL Server Compact 4.0 x64
 
en.sqlcompact40_size=2.5 MB
de.sqlcompact40_size=2.5 MB
en.sqlcompact40_sizex64=2.3 MB
de.sqlcompact40_sizex64=2.3 MB
 

[Code]
const
sqlcompact40_url = 'http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/5/D/05DCCDB5-57E0-4314-A016-874F228A8FAD/SSCERuntime_x86-ENU.exe';
sqlcompact40_urlx64 = 'http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/5/D/05DCCDB5-57E0-4314-A016-874F228A8FAD/SSCERuntime_x64-ENU.exe';
 
procedure sqlcompact40();
begin
 if (not IsWin64 and not RegKeyExists(HKLM, 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v4.0\ENU')) then 
  begin
    AddProduct('SSCERuntime_x86-ENU.exe', ' /i /passive /norestart',
      CustomMessage('sqlcompact40_title'),
      CustomMessage('sqlcompact40_size'),
      sqlcompact40_url,
      false, false);
  end else if (IsWin64 and (not RegKeyExists(HKLM, 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v4.0\ENU') and not RegKeyExists(HKLM, 'Wow6432Node\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v4.0\ENU'))) then 
  begin
    AddProduct('SSCERuntime_x64-ENU.exe', ' /i /passive /norestart',
      CustomMessage('sqlcompact40_titlex64'),
      CustomMessage('sqlcompact40_sizex64'),
      sqlcompact40_urlx64,
      false, false);
  end;
end;


modified 12 Jul '12 - 10:39.
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QuestionDetecting/Installing VC++ 2010 RuntimememberMember 865677420 Jun '12 - 8:41 
patch for vcredist2010.iss - the two issues fixed are a) detection on x64/ia64 (note the second version check) and b) checking for "Installed" instead of "Install" entry:
 
procedure vcredist2010();
var
	version:  cardinal;
	version2: cardinal;
begin
	RegQueryDWordValue(HKLM, 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\VisualStudio\10.0\VC\VCRedist\' + GetString('x86', 'x64', 'ia64'), 'Installed', version);
	RegQueryDWordValue(HKLM, 'SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\VisualStudio\10.0\VC\VCRedist\' + GetString('x86', 'x64', 'ia64'), 'Installed', version2);
 
	if ((version <> 1) and (version2 <> 1)) then
		AddProduct('vcredist2010' + GetArchitectureString() + '.exe',
			CustomMessage('vcredist2010_lcid') + '/passive /norestart',
			CustomMessage('vcredist2010_title'),
			CustomMessage('vcredist2010_size' + GetArchitectureString()),
			GetString(vcredist2010_url, vcredist2010_url_x64, vcredist2010_url_ia64),
false, false);
end;
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AnswerRe: Detecting/Installing VC++ 2010 RuntimememberMember 865677420 Jun '12 - 8:43 
BTW, I don't know if that affects all installations on x64/ia64 systems - or only such where at least once a x86 version of the runtime had been installed prior installation of the x64/ia64 version. At least on my system, the first node didn't have any entry - and the second node had one for x86+x64.
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QuestionDanish translation for youmemberMember 80309463 Jun '12 - 9:32 
Hey stfx.
 
Amazing work!
 
Wanted to let you know I've added my own danish translation that I use for my projects. Message me privately if you wanna use it.
 
Best regards,
myl
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QuestionAn error occured while installing...- messagememberelmi0111 May '12 - 10:55 
Hello,
i get the message "An error occured while installing..."
Maybe you have to answer this often, but i have no solution for my Inno Setup setup.
 
I use win7 and want to add the jet4 software to my program
How can i solve it?
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QuestionHow to put a restart?memberandrescasta14 Apr '12 - 11:52 
Hi, great solution! I'm trying it but I need to restart my system before installing SQL Server 2008(one of my dependencies).
 
I read you add some feature about restarting the system. Could you tell me how to achieve this?
 
Thank's in advance.
 
Andres
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Questionsql compact fails installmemberred2ltd5 Mar '12 - 9:55 
Hi -
 
When I try to have the SQLCompact3.5sp2 installed on a vista machine (and any other machine for that matter), I get a error message;
"
This installation could not be opened. Contact the application vendor to verify that this a valid Windows installer package.
"
 
I've done some reasearch and it looks like it's because the original script points to an MSI and the download now points to an EXE which extracts x86 and x86 MSI's... so which then don't run automatically.
 
I'm a bit stuck... anyone got over this problem before?
 
Thanks for any help.
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About Article
A modular InnoSetup script to download and install all available .NET Framework versions and much more
Type Article
Licence CPOL
First Posted 13 Oct 2007
Views 472,749
Downloads 9,228
Bookmarked 223 times

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