InstallShield 2012 Express Edition User Guide - Knowledge Base ...

Chapter 9: Configuring the Target System
Editing the Registry
4. Type the name of the key. Since the primary key must be a Windows Installer identifier, the name
should contain only letters, numbers, underscores (_), and periods (.), and it must begin with a
letter or underscore.
If you do not specify a value, InstallShield generates a unique primary key for this entry in the Registry
table.
Registry Flags
Registry flags enable you to control the installation and uninstallation of your registry entries. By
default, your registry entries are installed if the feature to which they belong is installed. They are then
removed from the target system when that feature is removed. If you would like your registry entries to
remain on the target system even after the product has been uninstalled, or if you want to create registry
entries only if they do not already exist, you need to set the installation flag for that key.
In InstallShield, installation behavior is set at the subkey level. All values beneath the key must have the
same installation and uninstallation behavior.
To change the registry flag of a key, right-click one of your project’s keys in the Registry view, and then
click any of the commands that are listed in the following table.
Table 9-4: Registry Flags
Icon Command Description
Automatic This is the default option for all registry keys. If the key is not already present, the
installation creates it. During an uninstallation, if the key is empty, it is removed.
Install only (+)
Uninstall entire key
(-)
Project: This registry flag type is available in Express projects.
If the key does not already exist, it is created. The key is left on the target system
when the feature to which this key belongs is uninstalled.
This option is available only for keys that do not contain subkeys or values.
Project: This registry flag type is available in Express projects.
If this flag applies to an empty key, the key is not created at installation. If this flag
applies to a key that contains values and the key does not exist on the target system,
the key and values are created at installation. In both cases, the key, all subkeys, and
values are removed at uninstallation—even if the subkeys and values were added
after the installation.
210 ISE-1800-UG01 InstallShield 2012 Express Edition User Guide