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How to install files in the correct folder using Visual Installer

As described in this blog post, there exist two Program Files folders in a 64 bit computer with a 64 bit Windows. One folder is used as a storage place for 32 bit programs and the other folder is used as a storage place for 64 bit programs. And it is important that your program files are installed in the correct folder in a 64 bit system, otherwise there is a risk that your program will not function as expected.

Windows in different languages
If you create an application that may be installed in non-English versions of Windows it is important to know that the name of the Program Files folder may be different compared to the English version of Windows. For example in a Spanish version of Windows the name of the Program Files folder is Archivos de programa. In a Spanish 64 bit Windows, where 32 bit and 64 bit program files / binary files also must be placed in different folders, there will exist the following two folders on the user’s hard disk:

C:\Arquivos de Programas : For 64 bit files
C:\Arquivos de Programas (x86) : For 32 bit files

This can be compared with the folders in an English 64 bit Windows:

C:\Program Files : For 64 bit files
C:\Program Files (x86) : For 32 bit files

(more examples of localized folder names is available in this article on our web site.)

Use an environment variable
It is impossible to handle all of the above combinations by hard-coding the folder path to the Program Files folder. We also advise against any tries to do so. Instead you should use an environment variable in Visual Installer that has the name %PROGRAMFILES to handle this. By placing this variable in the beginning of a folder path, for example like this:

%PROGRAMFILES\SamLogic\Visual Installer

the %PROGRAMFILES variable will be changed to correct folder path, regardless of the bitness of the program files / Windows and regardless of the language of the Windows. This replacement will occur during the setup process in the user´s computer.

Easier to select a variable in Visual Installer 2012
In Visual Installer 2012 (version 9.5.15 or later) it is easier to select correct variable to the main folder of the setup project. We have added a button to the right of the Main folder text box:

If you click on this button (the button with three dots) the dialog box below will be opened:

Via this dialog box you can choose and include the %PROGRAMFILES variable, or another relevant variable, to the main folder of your installation project in an easy way.

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How Visual Installer handles 64 bit folders in Windows

In a 64 bit computer with 64 bit Windows installed there exists two Program Files folders and two System folders. The reason to this is that 32 bit binary files and 64 bit binary files must be placed in different folders. When you distribute and install a program it is important that you install your files in correct folders. 64 bit binary files must be installed in 64 bit folders and 32 bit binary files must be installed in 32 bit folders, otherwise your program may not work. It is not necessary to install data files with 64 or 32 bit data in specific folders; this is only important when binary / executable files are installed (for example EXE files and DLL files).

Our setup tool SamLogic Visual Installer handles all this automatically if you specify the bitness for your setup project in the 32/64 bit tab in the Setup options dialog box in the editor, and uses the %PROGRAMFILES and %SYSDIR variables when you specify destination folders for your installaton files.

The %PROGRAMFILES variable can be used in the Main folder text box in the File list tab in the Visual Installer editor. The picture below shows an example of usage:

And if a file should be installed to the System folder in Windows, you can choose the System directory (%SYSDIR) option in the Destination folder dialog box, as shown below:

If you use these variables in the way described above, your files will always be installed to correct folders in the system.

More information
More information about 32 and 64 bit folders is available in this article on our web site:
> Windows 64-bit: The ‘Program Files (x86)’ and ‘SysWOW64’ folders explained

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Visual Installer can show visually when a license key is correct

A useful feature in Visual Installer is the possibility to show visually for the user when he/she enters correct license key in the License Key setup dialog box. The user can see that the license key is correct before he/she presses the Next button. The picture below shows how it may look like:

As soon as the correct license key has been entered in the License Key dialog box, the text color of the license key is changed to green and a green check mark is shown to the right of the entered license key. This will simplify for the user when he/she for example enters a license key that is printed on a label.

This option can be turned on and off
You can turn on and off this option in Visual Installer’s editor. To turn this option on/off, open the Dialog boxes tab in the editor and click on the “…” button to the right of the License key option. Click thereafter on the More options button. In the dialog box that now is shown, you can turn this option on and off.

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Social media support in CD-Menu Creator (Facebook, Twitter etc.)

Our menu interface designer tool CD-Menu Creator supports now social media like Facebook, Twitter and Google+. You can include one or more logotypes for social media in a menu interface (for example a Facebook logotype), and when the end-user clicks on a logotype your social media page is opened in the end-user’s web browser.

With this built-in functions in CD-Menu Creator can connect a menu interface for a CD, DVD or USB flash drive with social media like Facebook, Twitter and Google+ in an easy way.

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Graphical setup windows in Visual Installer

In SamLogic Visual Installer it is possible to insert a graphical setup window in the background, that is shown behind the installation dialog boxes. On the setup window you can place pictures and text etc. A striking setup window, with high-quality graphics, can make a good first impression of your product.

A setup window can cover the whole screen or just a part of the screen. Below we are showing examples of how it can look like:

Setup window that covers the screen partially

Setup window that covers the whole screen

No setup window (only setup dialog boxes are shown)
Use of a setup window is optional. You can of course create an installation without a setup window, where only installation dialog boxes are shown during the installation. Below we show how it can look like:

More information
> Visual Installer: Setup windows are handled more easily

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Visual Installer 2012 has now been released

A new version of our setup tool Visual Installer has now been released. The name of the new version is SamLogic Visual Installer 2012 and some of the new features in the new version are:

• Support for Microsoft Windows 8.
• Support for Microsoft Office 2010.
• Support for Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 and 2012.
• Support for .NET Framework 4.0.
• Compatible with TeamViewer.
• Updated support for AutoCAD profiles.
• You can now create a submenu (subgroup) for shortcuts in an easy way.
• Support information etc. can be added to ‘Add/Remove Program’ in Windows Control Panel.
• Improved handling of updates.
• Updated ‘Create setup package’ dialog box.
• New script commands and a new variable.

A more detailed list with the new features is available on this page.

In coming blog posts we will describe the new features in SamLogic Visual Installer 2012 in more detail.

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Outlook will replace Hotmail

Microsoft has decided to replace Hotmail with Outlook. The new web based e-mail service Outlook will have a modern Metro style interface and all Hotmail users will be automatically transfered to Outlook.

Current Hotmail user will also be able to keep the @hotmail.com domain name in their e-mail address, but new users must choose between @outlook.com or @live.com.

Read more:
> CNN: Microsoft reinvents Hotmail as Outlook
> ZDNet: Goodbye, Hotmail. Hello, Outlook.com

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CD-Menu Creator 2012 has now been released

A new version of our menu designer tool SamLogic CD-Menu Creator has now been released. The name of the new version is SamLogic CD-Menu Creator 2012 and some of the new features in the new version are:

• Support for the coming Microsoft Windows 8.
• Template gallery. Design a menu faster by using a template.
• Support for social media like Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
• A Metro style menu interface can be created.
• A menu interface with clickable icons can be created.
• A new button style has been added: Plastic buttons.
• Now you can have more than 2 columns wit buttons. No upper limit.
• More than 10 new menu examples have been added.
• Can co-operate with our USB tool USB AutoRun Creator.

A more detailed list with the new features is available on this page.

In coming blog posts we will describe the new features in CD-Menu Creator 2012 in more detail.

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Windows 8 will be released in October

Microsoft Windows 8 will be released in the end of October, according to officials from Microsoft. More information is available here:

> RTE News: Microsoft says Windows 8 release due in October
> Computerworld: Windows 8-powered PCs, tablets to launch in late October

During the summer we have worked to adapt our software to Windows 8, and new versions of our programs will be released before October. The new CD-Menu Creator 2012 will be released in July.