InstallShield Professional V7. (Tools).

InstallShield Professional offers software developers an installation solution for the creation of non-Windows Installer (MSL) based software installations. Professional 7 introduces over forty new features and enhancements including source code control integration, automated update capabilities, and Microsoft .NET support. The new update capabilities enable software developers to manage the entire update lifecycle from one tool. InstallShield Professional offers an intuitive Media Wizard that creates software updates using advanced differencing technology. The Wizard creates a difference file that contains only the changes between versions, reducing the size of each update. The file differences are then distributed as part of an update setup created in Professional, which includes an "update-aware" script allowing developers to fully customize the update setup experience.

Professional 7 offers integrated source code control support, enabling developers to manage installation projects the same way they manage other code and ensure proper versioning control during development. Using a new project format specifically designed to support source code control activities, Professional facilitates the usage of virtually all the leading source code control solutions including Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, Merant PVCS, and other solutions that support the Microsoft Common Source Code Control Interface.

Using Script-Based Installations for Microsoft NET 

InstallShield Professional also extends the power of InstallScript to the Microsoft .NET Framework, giving software developers access to Microsoft's latest advancements. Developers can distribute the Microsoft NET Framework with their setups, scan C# NET and Visual Basic .NET projects for file dependencies, and mark file groups as .NET assemblies. Fuly Automated Migration Path.

Professional 7 offers an upgrade for most InstallScript-driven setups. When users of InstallShield Professional 6.x open their old projects in version 7, project files are automatically converted to the new format. Enhanced InstallScript Capabilities - With 75 new functions, developers can use over 275 predefined functions to customize any part of the installation including user dialog sequences, file transfers, error handling, reboot, and, the uninstallation routine, avoiding the need to write custom DLLs to perform installation tasks.

Enhanced One-Click Internet Installations Professional gives developers the ability to create easy-to-download Web versions of their software. With One-Click Install, consumers download and install the developer's software directly from the Web in one step.

The One-Click Install technology installs the files not already present on the destination PC, saving via bandwidth. Enhanced Windows XP Support Developers can support both Windows XP Professional and Home Editions as target platforms in addition to Windows 2000, NT 4, 95, 98, and ME.

Expanded InstallShield Objects - New Objects for MDAC 2.7, DirectX 8.1, Crystal Reports 8.5 and the .NET Framework let developers avoid scripting when including popular third-party technologies. Developers drag and drop InstallShield Objects into the installation project, enabling the latest versions of third-party technology to be included.

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