Creating Properties

InstallShield 2014

Project: This information applies to the following project types:

Advanced UI
Basic MSI
DIM
InstallScript MSI
Merge Module
MSI Database
MSM Database
Suite/Advanced UI
Transform

Project-specific differences are noted where applicable.

You can create your own project-wide properties through the Property Manager. These properties allow you to set a value in one place and use it throughout your project. The procedure is essentially the same regardless of whether you are creating a Windows Installer property in a Windows Installer–based project (Basic MSI, DIM, InstallScript MSI, Merge Module, MSI Database, MSM Database, or Transform), or an Advanced UI or Suite/Advanced UI property in an Advanced UI or Suite/Advanced UI project.

To create a property:

1. In the View List under Behavior and Logic, click Property Manager.
2. Click the New Property button. InstallShield adds a new row at the bottom of the view.
3. In the Name column, enter a name for the new property.
4. In the Value column, enter a value for the property.
5. in a Windows Installer–based projects: In the Comments column, optionally enter comments about the property.
6. In Advanced UI or Suite Advanced UI projects: In the Formatted column, select or clear the check box, which lets you indicate whether you want the properties in the Value column to be resolved and replaced by their property values at run time.

To replace properties (and their surrounding square brackets) such as [PropertyName] at run time, select the check box.

To leave square brackets and the content within them as is, clear the check box.

Tip: Use the following guidelines when entering values in the Property Manager view:

To overwrite all of the text in a table cell, click the table cell and then type your new property name, value, or comments.
To place the cursor at a particular place within a table cell, double-click that place. Then type your change.

Tips for Creating Windows Installer Properties in Windows Installer–Based Projects

If you want to create a property that can be changed at the command line, use all uppercase letters in the property’s name. For example, INSTALLDIR is a property that can be set or changed from the command line. For more information, see Overview of Windows Installer Properties.

See Also