How to create an installation with embedded sis files

An installation can incorporate other installation sis files. This feature might be used for packaging files into logical components which are installed and removed as a complete set. For example, a shared library might be put in a separate installation file from the application files which use it.

The process is:

1. Create a text file with extension .pkg.

2. Specify the supported languages and the package header. These are discussed in How to create a simple installation file and How to create an installation file for a multilingual application.

3. Specify the name and location of the installation file to be installed, and its UID. Prefix the line with the @ symbol.

4. Specify the source and target destinations for any other files to be installed. Note that relative paths to embedded .sis files are not allowed.

5. Invoke CreateSIS on the package file to create (and sign) the installation (.sis) file.

The project file for an installation which bundles another sis file is provided in examples\ToolsAndUtilities\Install\HelloWorldSis.pkg

A listing of the file is given below:

#{"Minimal application"},(0x10004299),1,0,0, TYPE=SISAPP
 
"HelloWorld.exe"-"!:\sys\bin\HelloWorld.exe"
"HelloWorld_reg.rsc"-"!:\private\10003a3f\import\apps\HelloWorld_reg.rsc"
"HelloWorld.rsc"-"!:\resource\apps\HelloWorld.rsc"
 
@"Shapes.sis",(0x01123456)

The package file installs exactly the same application as described in the “How to” for a simple installation. Consequently the package header, and the final lines in which the application files are installed are the same as for the simple installation.

The final line specifies the name and UID of the Shapes.sis installation file, which is to be added to the HelloWorldSis.sis installation file. During installation Shapes.sis is extracted from the HelloWorlds.sis file and its contents are automatically installed.

To create the installation file HelloWorldSis.sis, invoke CreateSIS to create the installation file to embed, and then again to create the embedding file:

> createsis create Shapes.pkg

> createsis create HelloWorldSis.pkg

• There are a number of concepts in the file which are explained in How to create a simple installation file (e.g. UID, Build number, comments). See this topic for more information.