INTERNET SAVVY, STUFFIT INSTALLERMAKER 4.5 SHIPS FROM ALADDIN SYSTEMS, INC.
Aladdin’s Installer Easily and Quickly Creates Custom Installers That Can
Download Files From Multiple FTP Sites
Watsonville, CA – November 7, 1997 – Aladdin Systems, Inc., developer and
publisher of the worldwide compression standard StuffIt(r), today announced
StuffIt InstallerMaker(tm) 4.5 began shipping. InstallerMaker 4.5 allows
developers to create Internet savvy installers, that download files from
the Internet. InstallerMaker also allows developers to easily create custom
software installers that turn standard software into trialware (a
time-locked demo) without any coding. InstallerMaker is the only Macintosh
installer with automatic trialware creation capability that is also
Internet savvy. Trialware created with InstallerMaker can be purchased by
end users with the click of a button.
“InstallerMaker has grown from just being an Installer for developers to a
solution for data distribution for developers, distributors and marketers,”
said Pauline Shumake, InstallerMaker product manager. “With
InstallerMaker’s unique features like trialware capabilities and now
Internet FTP capabilities, it is a must-have for the serious developer that
wants a hassle-free installer incorporating the latest technology.”
New Features in InstallerMaker 4.5:
o InstallerMaker 4.5 now allows users to build installers capable of
retrieving files from the Internet. New FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
install tasks allow developers to specify an FTP site on the Internet with
a path leading to a file to retrieve and install.
o StuffIt Engine support is now included in InstallerMaker. Internet
installers, enabling them to unstuff StuffIt (.sit) files, expand .zip
files, decode MacBinary files and decode BinHex files.
o Now users can simply hold down the Option key while dragging files into
an archive to automatically replace existing files, allowing them to bypass
the confirmation prompt asking whether to add new files or replace existing
files.
o Many of Aladdin’s licensees hold licenses for multiple products. Now
Aladdin has made it even easier to use these multiple registration numbers.
o New and updated graphics were also added to InstallerMaker 4.5
Other Features in InstallerMaker 4.5
The “Display Alert” Task allows developers to show alert messages to users
at any time during installation. The “Launch” Task allows developers to
create tasks to launch applications, open other files, or launch additional
installers that are necessary to the installation of their software,
without having to include them in the installer archive.
“Preserve Success/Fail Status,” and the “Execute When” features let users
know when and if their installation succeeded. Preserve Success/Fail Status
allows developers to preserve the flag indicating whether the last Task
and/or Find failed when executing tasks. Execute When is a new feature that
allows Tasks to be set to execute under three conditions: Always, If last
Task/Find succeeded, or If last Task/Find failed.
“Edit Installer Finder Info” allows developers to set the Shared and File
Locked flags for the installer, and /or the minimum and preferred memory
allocation. This feature makes it easier to retain the custom settings for
the installer.
InstallerMaker 4.5 features time saving enhancements including: the
capability to use ShrinkWrap(tm) 3.0 for creating disk images as part of
the build process, a software license display mode during installation, an
update architecture that creates software updaters quickly, support for
building foreign language installers, Internet TCP/IP configuration for
ISPs, the ability to display banners and play sounds during the
installation process, as well as valuable user interface enhancements.
Robust Electronic Commerce Solution
With InstallerMaker 4.5, developers can convert their software into
trialware with two simple menu selections; setting the purchase price and
demo period, and adding graphics. InstallerMaker creates a version of
trialware with full featured electronic commerce, a fast, simple extension
of the installation creation process which developers are already required
to do, but without the extensive additional coding necessary on other
electronic commerce solutions.
When InstallerMaker’s trialware feature is enabled, the user is notified
every time they run the software of the number of days or launches left in
their trial period. They are also given the opportunity to purchase the
product from within the application. The purchase may be made in real time
via the Internet, modem connection, a toll-free phone call, by fax, or
postal mail. When the demo period expires users will not be able to
continue using the software without a purchase even if they reinstall it.
Creating Disk Images with ShrinkWrap
InstallerMaker has the capability to use ShrinkWrap to create disk images
while building an installer. This eliminates a time consuming step in the
SCM (Source Code Management) process and results in more reliable product
builds. With Aladdin’s ShrinkWrap technology InstallerMaker can produce
master disk images for duplication automatically.
Software License Dialog With Foreign Language Support InstallerMaker
supports a separate software license dialog box during installation.
Developers can add copies of their software license agreement in multiple
languages (Spanish, French, German, etc.) to be displayed before
installation. The end user must accept the terms of the license agreement
before the installation will proceed.
Internet Configuration Support
Documentation and the Internet PrefSaver(tm) assist developers in
configuring a Mac OS computer for Internet access. PrefSaver helps ensure
user account name and password information is propagated across common
Internet software packages such as Netscape Navigator, Eudora Lite,
Internet Explorer, and many others through Internet Config.
Availability and Requirements
StuffIt InstallerMaker is distributed electronically through the World Wide
Web at http://www.aladdinsys.com and on CompuServe. InstallerMaker is sold
through license agreements directly from Aladdin. Current licensees can
download a free upgrade of the new version. Contact Developer Sales at
dev.sales@aladdinsys.com for additional details. InstallerMaker requires a
Macintosh or Mac OS compatible computer running System 7.1 or higher. Four
megabytes of RAM is recommended.
Aladdin Systems: Making data transmission, access and organization
transparent in the Internet era. Founded in 1988, Aladdin Systems, Inc. is
the developer and publisher of award winning business and consumer
products. Aladdin publishes StuffIt, the worldwide compression standard;
Private File(tm), the easiest cross-platform encryption software, and
FlashBack(tm), the ultimate safety net for any file; Spring Cleaning(tm),
the best-selling Mac uninstaller and ShrinkWrap(tm), the industry standard
for creating and distributing disk images. Aladdin products are designed to
help users take full advantage of their computers by making life easier.
Aladdin is located at 165 Westridge Drive, Watsonville, CA 95076, USA;
telephone: (408)761-6200; URL: http://www.aladdinsys.com; e-mail:
info@aladdinsys.com.
Internet PrefSaver, ShrinkWrap, StuffIt, InstallerMaker, and the Aladdin
Logo are trademarks of Aladdin Systems, Inc. All other products or brands
are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Lyng or Nicole Rowland
pr@aladdinsys.com
(408) 761-6200