Summary

Synopsis

Discussion

Customizing Graphics

• Description: This is the image that is shown after launching the installer, which may identify the product to be installed. It is also the screen where the locale is chosen by the user, if more than one locale is available for the installer.
• Location: This is listed as the Startup Splash Screen Image within the Project task's Installer UI sub-task, under the General UI Settings tab.
• Size: The default image size is 470 pixels wide x 265 pixels high, but this image may vary in size. Images of differing sizes can be displayed, but may affect the overall look of the panel.
• File type(s): Must be .jpg, .png* or non-interlaced .gif (may be animated).

Installer Background Image (only available via Swing UI mode)

• Description: This image acts like a "skin" for the installer. It is applied to every panel of the installer and provides an important part of the extensive customization possibilities for an installer's look and feel.
• Location: This is listed as the Installer Background Image within the Project task's Installer UI sub-task, under the General UI Settings tab.
• Size: This image should be 607 pixels wide x 402 pixels high. While an image of a different size may be optionally scaled to fit either dimension, the appearance of the image may be affected.
• File type(s): Must be .jpg, .png* or non-interlaced .gif (may be animated).

Panel Images

• Description: These images are displayed along the left side of each panel. A default image may be used for any undefined panel images as well as the uninstaller. Additional control of displayed images is provided within the settings for each panel.
• Location: Panel Images may be set via the Project task's Installer UI subtask, under the Installer Steps tab (in the older versions, this is Installer Panel Additions tab). A beveled border can also be added using the Installer Steps Panel option under the Installer Steps tab. The default image can be overridden, on a per-panel basis, via the Image Settings tab found in the Properties settings of each panel. The uninstaller will only display the default image.
• Size: This image should be 170 pixels wide x 305 pixels high. Any image of a different size will be scaled to fit these dimensions, possibly affecting the appearance of the image.
• File type(s): Must be .jpg, .png* or non-interlaced .gif (may be animated).

List of Installer Steps

List

• Description: The List of Installer Steps is provided as an alternative to Panel Images and highlights the progression of the installer/uninstaller. A default list is created when a project is created or opened for the first time in InstallAnywhere 4.5, but can be further edited. Additional control of this list is provided within the settings of each panel.
• Location: The List of Installer Steps may be set via the Project task's Installer UI subtask, under the Installer Steps tab. This location also provides the means to edit and regenerate the list. A beveled border may also be added using the Installer Steps Panel option under the Installer Steps tab. The default behavior of the list may also be overridden, on a per-panel basis, via the Label Settings tab found in the Properties settings of each panel. The uninstaller will automatically generate its own list when this option is utilized.
• Size: The List will fill the same Panel Image size of 170 pixels wide x 305 pixels high. Any text label that is displayed wider than 170 pixels will be truncated with an added "..." and a list can only display up to 13 labels. Use of more than 13 panels requires that some panels share labels; otherwise, the list will not display properly.

List Background Image

• Description: This image may be displayed behind the list. For example, the default background image provides transparency to allow the list to be more easily read. This image can only be utilized for all panels or no panels.
• Location: This is listed as the Installer Steps Background Image within the Project task's Installer UI sub-task, under the Installer Steps tab.
• Size: This image should be 170 pixels wide x 305 pixels high. Any image of a different size will be scaled to fit these dimensions, possibly affecting the appearance of the image.
• File type(s): Must be .jpg, .png* or non-interlaced .gif (may be animated).

Install Progress Panel

• Description: This image or label setting may be explicitly or implicitly set using its own tab of the same name. It allows for customization of the Install Progress panel similar to any other panel in the installer.
• Location: This image may be explicitly or implicitly set via the selections found in the Install Progress tab in the Project task's Installer UI subtask.
• Size: As per Panel Images or List above (170 pixels wide x 305 pixels high) and will be scaled to fit.
• File type(s): Must be .jpg, .png* or non-interlaced .gif (may be animated).

Product Features Buttons

• Description: These are the images displayed on the buttons of the Choose Product Features panel, if utilized.
• Location: Project task's Install Sets sub-task.
• Size: The default size is 32 pixels wide x 32 pixels high. Images of differing sizes will be scaled to fit, which will affect the overall look of the button.
• File type(s): Must be .jpg, .png* or non-interlaced .gif (can be animated).

Billboards

• Description: These are the graphics that are displayed within the Installing... panel above the installation progress bar. If more than one image is to be displayed, InstallAnywhere will evenly divide the estimated time of the Install phase by the total number of billboards and display each billboard accordingly.
• Location: These images can be set via the Project task's Billboards sub-task.
• Size: These images have two different recommended sizes depending on how an installer's UI is laid out. When utilizing a List of Installer Steps or Panel Images and/or the installer runs in Swing mode, the optimal size for billboards is 380 pixels wide x 270 pixels high. If Panel Images or a List of Installer Steps are not being used and the installer does not support Swing mode then the optimal image size for billboards is 587 pixels wide x 312 pixels high. Either of these optimal image sizes may vary but may affect the overall look of the panel. Images larger than the optimal size will be scaled to fit while any images smaller than the optimal size will be surrounded by additional blank space.
• File type(s): Must be .jpg, .png* or non-interlaced .gif (may be animated).

LaunchAnywhere Icons

• Description: These are the icons for each LaunchAnywhere executable (LAX) that is to be created during installation. It is important to note that LaunchAnywhere icons will not attach directly to the LAX, but will be properly displayed on any shortcuts to the LAX. This includes the uninstaller. On Mac OS X, the chosen image will actually be displayed by the LaunchAnywhere .app file.
• Location: Install task, as part of an added LaunchAnywhere executable action.
• Size: Large icons are 32 pixels wide x 32 pixels high; small icons are 16 pixels wide x 16 pixels high. Images of a different size will be scaled to fit. By setting the 32 x 32 icon, the 16 x 16 icon will automatically be scaled and set as well.
• File type(s): All platforms, except Mac OS X, require use of a non-interlaced .gif (while animated .gifs may animate in the Advanced Designer, a random, single frame from a chosen animated .gif will be assigned as the shortcut image). Mac OS X requires the use of an .icns file.

Shortcuts/Aliases/Links

• Description: These are the icons for each shortcut that is to be created during installation.
• Location: Files task, as part of an added Create Shortcut action.
• Size: Large icons are 32 pixels wide x 32 pixels high; small icons are 16 pixels wide x 16 pixels high. Images of a different size will be scaled to fit. By setting the 32 x 32 icon, the 16 x 16 icon will automatically be scaled and set as well.
• File type(s): Shortcut images are only supported on Mac OS Classic and Windows platforms and they must be non-interlaced .gif (while animated .gifs may animate in the Advanced Designer, a random, single frame from a chosen animated .gif will be assigned as the shortcut image).

*NOTE: Transparency is only supported using Swing GUI mode and color tables are not supported at all. Also, .png files created with Adobe Photoshop (currently through v6.0.x) are not supported. Supported .png files can be created using Adobe ImageReady, which is bundled with newer versions of Adobe PhotoShop.

Additional Information

Further graphic customization can be accomplished by changing certain InstallAnywhere resource files. These are stored in the IAClasses.zip file, which resides in the resource directory. The resource directory is found within InstallAnywhere's home directory and changes to this archive will affect every subsequent build of any installer utilizing the changed copy of InstallAnywhere:

• Splash Screen
• Backgrounds
• Panel Images
• Installer Step List Background
• Installer Step List Bullets
• Billboards
• Product Feature Buttons

• Panel Titles
• Panel Text
• License Agreement Files
• Important Note Files

Localizing Text in Custom Code Panels