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

Chapter 2: Getting Started
Application Lifecycle
The solution provided by the Windows Installer service is to write the necessary registry entries during
setup and then remove them when the COM component is uninstalled. This method helps to ensure that
all the COM servers are registered in the appropriate way.
Register Product for Uninstallation
In order to uninstall a product, the operating system must know that the product is present. Therefore, a
setup registers a product with the operating system so that it can be easily uninstalled. This registration
is required for Windows logo compliance. Much of the information registered in this process is available
to the end user through Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel. For example, technical support
contact information, product update information, product version, and product publisher information
are all registered in this process.
Application Lifecycle
Your application lifecycle should not end when your customer installs your application. As a software
vendor, the success of your application goes well beyond the initial installation on the customer’s
desktop. Customers expect to have easy access to product updates, enhancements, and critical
information. Your ability to communicate with your customers and monitor the health of your
application is vital to your ongoing growth and profitability.
Too often, software vendors require their customers to initiate communication. Vendors who are not
proactively creating an ongoing dialog are missing a tremendous opportunity. Unless the customer is an
active visitor to your Web site or public user communities, they miss important information about
updates, upgrades, hot fixes, and general technical bulletins. You miss revenue and service
opportunities.
Figure 2-2: How FlexNet Connect Manages the Application Lifecycle
The above diagram illustrates how FlexNet Connect is used to manage the application lifecycle:
1. Create Install—InstallShield makes it easy for software developers to create installations that run on
any platform.
2. Run Install—Installations created with InstallShield technology have successfully installed on over
400 million machines worldwide.
48 ISE-1800-UG01 InstallShield 2012 Express Edition User Guide