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Enhanced Windows Vista Support

Whether your installations are MSI-based, InstallScript-based, or any other project type, InstallShield has the tools you need to author professional installations optimized for Windows Vista.

Windows Vista-related features in InstallShield:

Certified for Windows Vista Validation Suite - The validation suite uses pre-configured validation testing, letting you test your MSI installations for compliance with Microsoft's Windows Vista Logo requirements. The suite uses over 20 validators to automatically scan your basic MSI and InstallScript MSI.
Support for UAC - InstallShield includes robust support for the User Account Control (UAC) functionality that Microsoft added for Windows Vista, letting you eliminate unnecessary UAC prompts that spoil end users' installation experience.
Support for Restart Manager - InstallShield integrates new capabilities for more elegant application shutdown when required by an installation - minimizing reboots and simplifying and improving the overall installation experience.
Ability to Specifically Target Windows Vista - With the Project Assistant (MSI) and Platform Dialog (InstallScript) you can specifically target your installations for Windows Vista. This allows for Windows Vista-specific customization, while maintaining compatibility with existing operating systems.
Support for the beta of Windows Installer 4.5 - Create MSI installations using the most current Microsoft installation technology.
Automatic MSI Log File Creation - Windows Installer 4.0 supports automatic log-file creation. You can enable this option to create a log the first time you run the installation, instead of having to uninstall and re-install with the logging command line switch. If your setup fails, there is an added option to view the log file at the end of the installation.
Better support for Windows Vista in InstallScript Projects - Required Execution Level setting now supported in InstallScript. Previously, InstallShield always included a Highest Available manifest for InstallScript projects, and the Required Execution Level setting was available in only Basic MSI and InstallScript MSI projects
Enhancements to Setup Prerequisites - Enhancements to the Setup Prerequisite Editor in InstallShield let you flexibly and easily redistribute setup prerequisites - giving you more direct control over your installations. The Setup Prerequisite editor also lets you test for Windows Vista.
Improved Digital Signing Capabilities - Easily specify files in your project (static and dynamic) to have the InstallShield build engine digitally sign.
Support for Elevation-free Patching - Patches, of setups that have been installed with elevated privileges, can be run without the end user seeing the elevation prompt.
UAC Setup Prerequisites Support - You can now define a prerequisite as requiring administrative privileges - allowing you to run prerequisites with elevated privileges and then dropping down to user privileges to run the MSI user interface.
Support to Display UAC Shield Icon - Ready to Install dialog will display "UAC shield" icon on the "Install" button in new projects. Users can now add Shield icon to any MSI button via the dialog editor. Shield Icon will show up in the dialog editor (when run under Windows Vista).
InstallScript Engine Overhaul - InstallShield's InstallScript engine overhaul ensures increased reliability. Several enhancements have been made to the InstallScript language - new and revised variables, functions, and constants are now available. No registration is required for the InstallScript engine, allowing you to now run the InstallScript engine on Windows Vista without admin privileges.
Additional InstallScript Vista Support - End users can now run InstallScript One-Click Install installations on Windows Vista systems, even if they have limited privileges; if elevated privileges are required because of the required execution level specified in the installation's manifest, the appropriate UAC prompt is displayed when the Setup.exe file is launched.

InstallShield Premier and Professional Editions contain Windows Vista items listed above. InstallShield Express Edition does not contain validation or InstallScript and, therefore, does not contain Vista Validation or InstallScript-related Windows Vista support. InstallShield Express Edition also does not have a Setup Prerequisite Editor.