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InstallAware Extends Leadership in Setup Authoring Space Formerly Dominated byInstallShield.
New InstallAware 6.0 is first to market with Windows Vista and hybrid 64/32 bitsystem support for installing software, updates, and device drivers.
San Francisco, CA, June 6 2006 Â InstallAware Software Corporation has releasedInstallAware 6.0, a setup authoring tool for ISVs and enterprises deployingproducts, patches, updates, and device drivers. InstallAware 6.0 creates WindowsInstaller setup packages with support for the latest technologies, includingMicrosoft .NET 2.0, Microsoft SQL Server Express 2005 Service Pack 1, Windows Vista,64 bit operating systems, and Driver Installation Frameworks 2.01.
 A significant achievement in version 6 is the InstallAware Web Update mechanism, says Tod Curtis, Vice President of Research and Development at InstallAware.  ItÂ'sdemonstrative of the design philosophy behind all of InstallAware. Fully standardscompliant it looks and feels just like Windows Update. Fully customizable  developers can edit every update dialog, and tweak the update logic. Easy to use  works out of the box without surprises. And, it is the first solution to market withcomplete source code for the update client. The Web Update client was writtenentirely in InstallAwareÂ's MSIcode scripting language, which is a testament to thepower and richness of MSIcode.Â
MSIcode is InstallAwareÂ's fourth-generation language for creating Windows Installerdatabases, without requiring programming skills. Still unmatched in the industry twoyears after its debut, MSIcode is a human-readable script, with conditionalstatements and branching execution. The simplicity of MSIcode significantly lowersthe barrier to entry for Windows Installer development, a task with a sharp learningcurve.  Anyone can author a setup in InstallAware using MSIcode, adds Curtis,  andthe beauty of InstallAware is that when a setup is built, the intelligent andhuman-readable MSIcode is automatically converted into a logo-certifiable,standards-co mpliant Windows Installer database, without requiring too much effort onthe part of the developer.Â
Also new to InstallAware 6 is Driver Installation Frameworks 2.01 (DIFx) support,hybrid 64/32 bit installations from a single setup file, the ability to minimizesetups to the system tray and show message balloons, Windows Task Scheduler support,and detection of Virtual PC and VMware virtual machines. The setup user interfacenow supports building tabbed dialogs, like those used in the Office 2007 installer.The IDE now offers intelligent warnings and tips as MSIcode is being built, avoidingcommon setup authoring pitfalls. A new sample project illustrates detecting andconnecting to instances of Microsoft SQL Server locally and on the network, togetherwith pre-built dialogs that enumerate and test a server connection. Another newsample for driver installations simulates connecting a virtual  toaster to thecomputer and automatically installs its plug-and-play drivers, implemented entirelyin MSIcode.
InstallAware 6Â's own setup serves as showcase for InstallAwareÂ's advancedtechnology. Users choose the product edition they wish to install directly in thesetup wizard, and setup dynamically defines the corresponding product features. Theminimum setup option works without requiring an Internet connection, and additionalfeatures are downloaded on-demand when selected. The user is surveyed, againdirectly within the install wizard, both when installing and uninstalling, and theresults are seamlessly submitted online.
 We take the rocket science out of Windows Installer and software installations, says Jeremy Garrett, Vice President of Marketing at InstallAware.  Why hassle withan overly complex product when it only takes one click to check for Vista machines,one click to test for 64 bit systems, one click to install complex runtimes, such asMicrosoft SQL Server Express and .NET Framework. And, it only takes one click tocreate patches. Again, itÂ's just one click to install multiple instances of the sameapplication on the same computer. And, we give you the actual code that performseach task, so you can review and customize as necessary.Â
InstallAware is available in four editions, with prices starting at US$199. A timelimited trial and more information is available at http://www.installaware.com/.
About InstallAware Software Corporation
InstallAware Software Corporation, founded in 2003, is a software developmentcompany focused solely on state of the art software installation tools which offerthe highest compression ratios and bullet-proof installations. The company producessoftware installation and compression technologies for the Windows Installer (MSI)platform on the Microsoft Windows Operating System. InstallAware is supported bythousands of users worldwide, and is a Borland Technology Partner. For moreinformation, visit www.installaware.com.
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ME DIA CONTACT:
Jeremy GarrettInstallAware Software Corporation336 Guerrero Street, San Francisco CA 94103415 358 4094 (voice)415 358 4094 (fax)sales@installaware.comh ttp://www.installaware.com/
I nstallShield is a registered trademark and/or service mark of MacrovisionCorporation and/or Macrovision Europe Ltd. in the United States and/or othercountries.
