Inno Setup v6.3.3 Free + How to use Inno Setup

Inno Setup is a powerful, feature-rich, and easy-to-use software installation system for Windows programs. Since its creation in 1997, Inno Setup has become one of the most popular installation tools available. It offers a robust solution for creating professional software installers with a variety of customization options and support for modern installation needs.

Inno Setup is a free installer for Windows programs by Jordan Russell and Martijn Laan. Inno Setup today rivals and even surpasses many commercial installers in feature set and stability.

Key Features of Inno Setup

• Broad Windows Support:

  • Supports every Windows release since 2006, including: Windows 10, Windows 10 on ARM, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Vista. No service packs are required.

• 64-Bit and ARM Architecture Support:

  • Extensive support for installation of 64-bit applications on the 64-bit editions of Windows, including x64, ARM64, and Itanium architectures.

• Administrative and Non-Administrative Installations:

  • Supports both administrative and non-administrative installations, offering flexibility for different user privileges.

• Single EXE and Disk Spanning:

  • Supports the creation of a single EXE to install your program for easy online distribution and disk spanning.

• Standard Windows Wizard Interface:

  • Provides a familiar and intuitive Windows wizard interface.

• Customizable Setup Types:

  • Allows the creation of customizable setup types such as Full, Minimal, and Custom.

• Complete Uninstall Capabilities:

  • Includes robust uninstallation capabilities to remove the installed program completely.

• File Installation:

  • Integrated support for "deflate," bzip2, and 7-Zip LZMA/LZMA2 file compression.
  • Ability to compare file version info, replace in-use files, use shared file counting, register DLL/OCX's and type libraries, and install fonts.

• Shortcut Creation:

  • Allows creation of shortcuts anywhere, including in the Start Menu and on the desktop.

• Registry and INI File Management:

  • Enables the creation of registry and .INI entries.

• Running External Programs:

  • Supports running other programs before, during, or after installation.

• Multilingual Installations:

  • Supports multilingual installs, including right-to-left language support.

• Passworded and Encrypted Installs:

  • Allows creation of password-protected and encrypted installations.

• Digitally Signed Installs:

  • Supports digitally signed installs and uninstalls, including dual signing (SHA1 & SHA256).

• Silent Install and Uninstall:

  • Capable of silent install and uninstall processes.

• Unicode Installs:

  • Supports Unicode installations.

• Advanced Customization Options:

  • Integrated preprocessor option for advanced compile-time customization.
  • Integrated Pascal scripting engine option for advanced run-time install and uninstall customization.

• Full Source Code Availability:

  • The full source code is available on GitHub.

• Tiny Footprint:

  • Only about 1.3 MB overhead with all features included.

• Comprehensive Documentation:

  • All features are fully documented.

• Widely Used:

  • Trusted and used by major software products like Microsoft Visual Studio Code and Embarcadero Delphi.

Inno Setup's comprehensive features and stability make it a top choice for developers looking to create professional and reliable installers for their Windows applications.

Inno Setup - Changelog:

Pascal Scripting change: Fixed support function TStream.Seek.

How to use Inno Setup:

Here's a step-by-step guide to get you started with Inno Setup:

1. Download and Install Inno Setup:

• Download the latest version of the installer.
• Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

2. Getting Familiar with Inno Script Files:

• Inno Setup uses script files with the .iss extension to define the installation process.
• These scripts can be edited with any text editor, but Inno Setup also provides its own Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for easier editing.

3. Scripting Basics (Optional - Using Inno Setup IDE):

• Launch the Inno Setup Compiler (IDE).
• You can either start with a new script or explore the sample scripts available under the "Examples" subdirectory within the Inno Setup installation directory.

4. Defining Application Information (in Script):

• In the script, you'll find sections like [Setup], [Files], and [Icons].
• Edit the [Setup] section to define details like application name, version, publisher information, etc.

5. Specifying Files to Install (in Script):

• Use the [Files] section to specify the files you want to include in the installation.
• You can define the source and destination locations for each file.

6. Creating Shortcuts (in Script):

• The [Icons] section allows you to create shortcuts for your application.
• You can define the location (Start Menu, Desktop) and name for the shortcuts.

7. Compile the Script:

• Once you've finished editing the script, save it.
• In the Inno Setup IDE, go to "Build" -> "Compile" to create the installer executable.

8. Additional Resources:

• The Inno Setup Help file provides detailed information on all the script directives and functionalities.
• There are also many online tutorials that can guide you through specific tasks.

Remember: Scripting can get complex for advanced setups. Start with the basics and explore the resources for further learning as you get comfortable with Inno Setup.

Download Inno Setup:

Size : 5.37 MB

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