InstallShield 2012 Spring Express Edition User Guide

Glossary
Term Definition
context menu A context menu, also known as a right-click menu or a pop-up menu, opens when a user rightclicks
an item on the desktop, in Windows Explorer, or in an application.
converted project (1) A file that has been transformed from one type of file to another.
(2) The Open MSI/MSM Wizard in InstallShield is a tool that converts .msi files and merge
module (.msm) files to InstallShield installation projects (.ism files) that you can modify and
build in InstallShield.
costing File costing is the process that InstallShield uses to determine the total disc space that a
current installation requires.
custom action An action that is created by an installation author as opposed to a standard action that is built
into a Windows installer. The action encapsulates a function performed during the installation,
uninstallation, or maintenance of an application.
database A discrete collection of data in a database management system (DBMS).
database function A function that operates on a database.
database handle A quantity that specifies a database when a database function is called.
database
management system
(DBMS)
A set of applications that control the organization, storage, and retrieval of data for many
users.
DBMS See database management system.
DCOM See distributed component object model.
DCOM file Software components that are able to communicate across a network. DCOM, previously
called network OLE, allows the components for a single application to be distributed across
multiple networked computers.
decompress The reverse process of compression, which minimizes the size of a file by removing its space
characters. This process returns the file to its original state.
deferred execution Execution of an installer action upon execution of the installation script.
dependency A software object that is required by another software object.
dialog Windows of information that display to the end user during installation and uninstallation. They
enable the end user to interact with the operation by reading or specifying information. See
also wizard.
dialog box A window that displays within an application interface that enables users to enter information
or specify commands.
differential release A release that contains only those files that were absent from one or more of a specified set
of existing releases. A differential release is used to update the versions of your product that
were installed by those existing releases.
digital signing To assure end users that the code within your application has not been tampered with or
altered since publication, you can digitally sign your application. When you do so, end users
are presented with a digital certificate when they download your product.
718 ISE-1900-UG00 InstallShield 2012 Spring Express Edition User Guide