PC SDK - Single installer package

Niklas Skoglund

Hi All,

in this post I will explain how you can create one single installer for your PC SDK application.

When you develop a stand alone PC SDK application (an executable, not a RobotStudio Add-In using PC SDK), it is dependent on Robot Communication Runtime.

In order for the end user to be able to install your application, he first needs to install the Robot Communication Runtime.

The PC SDK comes with a redistributable installer of Robot Communication Runtime, and it is located under ..Robotics ITSDKPC SDK 5.14RedistributableRobotCommunicationRuntime.

So you typically have to hand over two separate installers to your customer and they both have to be installed for your application to work.

This is probably a no brainer for many customers, but hey, wouldn't it be easier with only one installer anyway?

By using InstallShield 2010 Limited Edition, which can be used free of charge, you can package the Robot Communication Runtime redistributable installer into your own PC SDK application installer.

Visual Studio 2010 comes with a project template for Installshield 2010 Limited Edition, but from scratch it is actually just an entrypoint for downloading a Visual Studio Add-In.

The first thing you have to do is to create a new InstallShield project:

The first time you do this, you are prompted to download and register the InstallShield Add-In. When that is done, you shall return to this dialog and create a new project again. I leave that to you.

Start the Project Assistant and enter General information:

Add/Drag'n Drop the software components that should be installed by your installer. Also add the three Robot Communication Runtime components from the PC SDK 5.14/Redistributable folder:

Create a new Custom Action:

A Custom Action is a construct that lets you do additional stuff at different times in the installers life cycle. For example you can check that a program is not running, before the installer starts, you can execute some program after uninstalling etc.

In our case we will launch the Robot Communication Runtime after the installation of the actual PC SDK application has been installed.

Enter the following properties:

Now it is time to build the installation project and create the setup.exe file:

I'm glad to hear from you, if this is something that is interesting for you and your customers.

Here is a link to a press release about the bundling of InstallShield Limited Edition with Visual Studio 2010:

http://www.flexerasoftware.com/company/newscenter/pressreleases/press-releases_11119.htm

John Wiberg2011-06-07 10:29:34