Alternative to InstallAnywhere Now?

[Bill Tschumy]

I have been using InstallAnywhere Now to install my Java applications on
Windows. It seems that ZeroG has decided to no longer make this free product
available. I can't say that I blame them since having the free version was
surely cutting into their sales.

I can't afford the $2000 they now want for InstallAnywhere. If they had the
old InstallAnywhere Now for (say) $200 I definitely buy it.

I can't continue to use the old InstallAnywhere Now because it does not
recognize Java 1.5 and configure the app to run with it. I need an installer
that will install an app to run with java 1.5. Does anyone have any
recommendations for simple installers in the less than $300 range?

I have considered just going with Web Start, but I don't think Windows users
would really prefer that type of interface for launching their applications.

 

[Chris Uppal]

Does anyone
have any recommendations for simple installers in the less than $300
range?

Have you looked into Inno Setup ? I haven't used it myself, but I've heard
several enthusiastic reports (from /non/ Java programmers).

http://www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php

-- chris

 

[Filip Larsen]

Bill Tschumy wrote

I need an installer
that will install an app to run with java 1.5. Does anyone have any
recommendations for simple installers in the less than $300 range?

Perhaps NSIS (http://nsis.sourceforge.net/) will fit your bill.

I have considered just going with Web Start, but I don't think Windows users
would really prefer that type of interface for launching their

applications.

Perhaps you can use both installer and Web Start and let your users
discover how easy it is with Web Start? Web Start has a number of
benefits that even users could be "educated" to appreciate, like
increased security and ease of update.


Regards,

 

[Andrew Thompson]

Web Start has a number of
benefits that even users could be "educated" to appreciate, like
increased security and ease of update.

Good point Filip. I would be interested to see whether
users chose (of two alternatives) the
- 'Windows-optimised set-up' or..
- 'Sun installer (with auto-update)'

I suspect most windows users would choose the self-updating version.

--
Andrew Thompson
http://www.PhySci.org/codes/ Web & IT Help
http://www.PhySci.org/ Open-source software suite
http://www.1point1C.org/ Science & Technology
http://www.lensescapes.com/ Images that escape the mundane

 

[Chas Douglass]

[snip]

I can't afford the $2000 they now want for InstallAnywhere. If they
had the old InstallAnywhere Now for (say) $200 I definitely buy it.

I agree with you completely, here.

I can't continue to use the old InstallAnywhere Now because it does
not recognize Java 1.5 and configure the app to run with it.

[snip]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'recognize java 1.5 and configure the app to
run with it'.

I have successfully built an InstallAnywhere installer with non-bundled VM
that was a 1.5 app. I have "IA 5.5 Now".

I notice in the InstallAnywhere docs that you can build your own VM bundle,
but I haven't tried it yet. Won't that work?

I recently evaluated 3 or 4 free or cheap installers by googling "java
installer". I suggest you do that.

Chas Douglass

 

[Chris]

I have been using InstallAnywhere Now to install my Java applications on

Windows. It seems that ZeroG has decided to no longer make this free product
available. I can't say that I blame them since having the free version was
surely cutting into their sales.

<snip>

I've tried a ton of installers, including NSIS, ZeroG, InstallShield, and I
can't remember what else. The one I liked the best, and have been using
successfully for a year now, is
http://www.ej-technologies.com/products/install4j/overview.html

It's not free, but it works great and it's way cheaper than ZeroG.

 

[BitRock]

I have been using InstallAnywhere Now to install my Java applications on

Windows. It seems that ZeroG has decided to no longer make this free product
available. I can't say that I blame them since having the free version was
surely cutting into their sales.

I can't afford the $2000 they now want for InstallAnywhere. If they had the
old InstallAnywhere Now for (say) $200 I definitely buy it.

I can't continue to use the old InstallAnywhere Now because it does not
recognize Java 1.5 and configure the app to run with it. I need an installer
that will install an app to run with java 1.5. Does anyone have any
recommendations for simple installers in the less than $300 range?

We have clients happily using our installer to deploy Windows apps
with JRE 1.4, 1.5

http://www.bitrock.com

You can either download the multiplatform version (Linux, Windows) or,
if you just need Windows support, contact us for the (cheaper)
Windows-only version.

 

[Bill Tschumy]

[snip]

I can't afford the $2000 they now want for InstallAnywhere. If they
had the old InstallAnywhere Now for (say) $200 I definitely buy it.

I agree with you completely, here.

I can't continue to use the old InstallAnywhere Now because it does
not recognize Java 1.5 and configure the app to run with it.

[snip]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'recognize java 1.5 and configure the app to
run with it'.

I have successfully built an InstallAnywhere installer with non-bundled VM
that was a 1.5 app. I have "IA 5.5 Now".

That's the version I have as well. Well, maybe I'll need to experiment a bit
more. I installed Java 1.5 along side 1.4. When I ran the installer, it
located the 1.4 installation and configured the .lax file to run using 1.4.
I had assumed it would pick up the most recent Java available but it did not.
Is there some setting I need to set to tell it that 1.5 is permissible?

I notice in the InstallAnywhere docs that you can build your own VM bundle,
but I haven't tried it yet. Won't that work?

It might, but that is a big download to force on the users. I would rather
let them use the one that they already have (if they do indeed have it).

I recently evaluated 3 or 4 free or cheap installers by googling "java
installer". I suggest you do that.

I have developed a list. I was just looking for additional pointers from the
group.

Thanks,

 

[Bill Tschumy]

That's the version I have as well. Well, maybe I'll need to experiment a bit

more. I installed Java 1.5 along side 1.4. When I ran the installer, it
located the 1.4 installation and configured the .lax file to run using 1.4.
I had assumed it would pick up the most recent Java available but it did not.

Is there some setting I need to set to tell it that 1.5 is permissible?

I just tried adding a panel where you allow your user to choose the VM the
app runs with. With this panel, it does list the 1.5 VM and allows you to
choose it. This is an acceptable solution for me. Without the panel it
would automatically choose the latest VM (exclusive of 1.5).

Great! This allows me to postpone the search for a new installer a bit
longer <g>.