14 DAY TRIAL // With this entire technological outbreak nowadays, more and more people learn how to create competitive software. New technologies are bursting out on the market each month (or even sooner) and the direct results of their implementation could not please us more. But like developing and testing, the presentation of the product on the market has to come in a specific form. Assembling all those files you have worked for can be a tricky thing and the presence of an installer is a must for everyone using a software product for the first time.
All the applications I've worked with came with an installation package. Until now, I've never asked myself how this package was actually created. I thought for a moment it was a bit like archiving; you know, when you just select all files and with a click of a button everything is finished. Looks like I was wrong, because creating an installer can bring you many sleepless nights if you don't know what you are doing and, more importantly, what tools you should use.
If you've just finished writing your code masterpiece, Pocket PC Installation Creator comes to your help when it's packaging time and making it ready for its first steps of presentation. Either you want to impress your friends or your boss, or you have just created a freeware application, the use of this software is permitted with no limitations at all as long as it doesn't have a commercial side. In the last case, a registration fee of 39 USD must be paid to Aperitto Software. To remind you about registering, the publisher included an additional window that will show up when the newly created installer is being used. The handling of maximum three CAB collections and one Win32 Installation in a project is another limitation of this demo version.
Made for all kind of portable devices like Pocket PCs, SmartPhones or Palm OSs, as well as for Windows, Pocket PC Installation Creator's interface looks smart and gives you the impression that it is no place to fool around. With the help of this application, there is no need to manually edit the INF files; instead, you can quickly generate CAB files for Over The Air install (OTA), and compressed, self-contained, self-extracting windows setups for easily deploying applications from desktop, containing modules for .NET Compact Framework v2 and Mobile SQL. For example, you can create an executable installer which contains a CAB file and deploy it via active sync to an iPAQ. Running the file from there is easy, as all you have to do is surf through the installation steps. As everything is assisted by helpful dialog windows, creating an installer couldn't be less difficult due to a flexible user interface which allows you to combine related objects from your project.
You don't need to spend more than half an hour to learn how it works. Unless you faced this kind of problems and you know exactly what you are doing, you got all the necessary info to help you build your projects, starting with wizards and examples and finishing with the Assistance menu. I had no idea of the usage and the usability of many of the aforementioned things and it is required a bit of reading before you are going to make your firsts steps. If you are creating a file which will modify Windows registry, you have to know what you are doing because a wrong setting can lead to abnormal functioning of your operation system.
If you are a novice in the area, you can start with the new project wizard assistant. It is very helpful indeed, and in a few easy-to-follow steps everything is completed. The EULA and the readme file are there to be included as any code that respects itself has to have them. Once you gain more experience, you may want to try all the options and features of the application. You will be surprised at what you are going to find. From choosing the application name, version number and the above-mentioned files, all the attributes and the necessary flags, to supporting the creation of multiple installs on various platforms (ARM, SH3), everything is there for you. The modular architecture allows quite a big number of combinations covering most of the aspects of your installation requirements. And don't worry if you forget something important because you can Edit even before the last step of the building process. Multi-language support and registry check are also there to be added, because you are a professional after all. Compared to its last version, the new edition features Version Info support and custom icon for the setup wizard, download support for installation Modules and some bug fixes.
With this easy-to-use application, you can navigate among the settings of your project in no time. There is only one window for all the module's editors and it is very much Vista-like, so it should not pose any problems. It has custom dialog support and integrated dialog designer with event controller. If you have a good idea of what you are doing, there is a code editor with code automation support and parameter hints. Modules of your project can be organized in a child/parent hierarchy for a better view and the building engine is fast enough for your needs. As in previous versions, the software has skin support for the setup wizard, for a better customization.
Bottom line is that Pocket PC Installation Creator 2.6 is a helpful building tool for all types of users. It has lots of built-in guidelines and the limitations do not interfere with testing it to its fullest. The wizard is present to help the less experienced users. The application has a pretty wide range of customization and the modular architecture is a plus.
The Good
Although the application has a professional interface, it is user-friendly too. It has easy-to-use options, especially with the wizard dialog windows guiding your steps all the way. The added architectural modules cover Win32 and PalmOS, and the explained flags give you a large number of possible combinations to suit your needs. The free use for wrapping up non-commercial applications makes it a handy tool in the creation of an installation package. Dialog windows and hints come to your help at every step, and the tree hierarchy can make your work much easier. Customizing the installer's skin is also at your disposal.
The Bad
It looks a bit too business-like for the common user. Help menu is rather poorly written; "How do I section" being left blank and the FAQ is missing completely. The major disadvantage is the fact that the software is unable to search for necessary hardware requirements.
The Truth
PocketPC Installation Creator is a building tool that saves you from a lot of trouble. It comes free for personal use and I see no problem in trying it. More or less experienced users who try it will have a pleasant surprise with the ease of use of the program. Besides the missing parts, the advantages you get from using this product are quite remarkable.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
