Build Configurations

InstallShield 11 Universal

A single build configuration is always used to build a project. Because every project must include at least one, one build configuration is automatically included in every project type in the Releases view that cannot be deleted. You can add as many build configurations to this view as you need. When you build a project, it is built using the build configuration that is currently selected in the Explorer window of this view.

There are different types of build configurations that enable you to create and reuse a wide range of build settings in the same project. For example, one build configuration could be used to create a wizard with a specific set of language and platform support, while another can be used to include only specific features by setting the Build Category Filter property (to create tiers of your product). In conjunction with utilizing Build Category Filters, you can set a different value for the UUID property of the root product, features, and components in your project in each build configuration to ensure that when you deploy an update or patch to that product, each end user receives the correct version. In addition, an MSI Build Configuration would contain all the information needed to create a wizard archive that targets only Windows platforms, while an Assembly Build Configuration would enable the product to be included in or referenced by other products, assemblies, and/or Dynamic Suites.

The following topics are available to assist you in selecting and configuring the appropriate type of build configuration for your project:

Build Configurations
	Adding Build Configurations Instructions for adding new build configurations.
	Editing Build Configurations Instructions for editing build configurations.
	Deleting Build Configurations Instructions for deleting build configurations.
	Product Build Configuration Builds the project into a product that can be installed onto multiple platforms. One of this type of build configuration is always included in Universal Installer and Static Suite projects and cannot be deleted.
	Suite Build Configuration (Premier Only) Builds the project into a Dynamic Suite Installer that can be installed onto multiple platforms and install an unlimited configuration of assemblies. One of this type of build configuration is always included in a Dynamic Suite Installer project and cannot be deleted.
	Product & Suite Build Configuration Properties Descriptions of and instructions for setting Product and Dynamic Suite Build Configuration properties.
	Assembly Build Configuration (Premier Only) Builds the project into an assembly. The assembly can then only be installed by a project that was built as a product (using a Product Build Configuration) or a Dynamic Suite (built using a Suite Build Configuration) because the assembly does not contain an install engine. It can also be referenced/required by multiple projects, including other assemblies.
	Assembly Build Configuration Properties (Premier Only) Descriptions of and instructions for setting Assembly Build Configuration properties.
	MSI Build Configuration (Premier Only) Includes Microsoft Installation (MSI) properties, and builds the project into a product that can be installed onto all Windows platforms. Enables you to leverage all of the capabilities of MSI installation technology in your installation.
	Creating an MSI Build Configuration (Premier Only) Instructions for creating an MSI Build Configuration.
	MSI Build Configuration Properties (Premier Only) Descriptions of and instructions for setting MSI Build Configuration properties.
	RPM Build Configuration (Premier Only) Builds your project so that the installation leverages the Universal wizard user interface and tooling, but the application payload is deployed through RPM. This provides you with a combination of the two technologies, resulting in increased value for you when targeting Linux or any other platform running RPM.
	RPM Assembly Build Configuration (Premier Only) Builds your RPM Installer project into an assembly that can be referenced/installed by an RPM Installer, Universal Installer, or Dynamic Suite project that was built with an RPM Build Configuration, Product Build Configuration, or Suite Build Configuration respectively.
	RPM & RPM Assembly Build Configuration Properties (Premier Only) Descriptions of and instructions for setting RPM Build Configuration and RPM Assembly Build Configuration properties.