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

Glossary
Term Definition
.jar file A Java archive file that contains the classes, images, and sound files for an installation,
zipped up into a single file.
.jpg file Also known as JPEG, which is the abbreviation for Joint Photographic Experts Group, the
original name of the committee that wrote the standard. This type of file is one of the image
file formats supported on the Web. The file uses lossy compression, a type of compression in
which color and grayscale continuous-tone images are compressed and some data is lost to
eliminate redundant or unnecessary information. These images support 16 million colors and
are best suited for photographs and complex graphics.
.mif file A management information format file used to describe a hardware or software component.
.msi file The Windows Installer installation package in its finished state. It includes installation
resource files and can have compressed within it all of the application’s data files. The .msi
file is the one that is distributed to the end users and will interact with the Windows Installer
service to install your application on their machines.
.msm file The database file of a merge module. This type of file contains all of the installation
properties and installation logic for the module. See also merge module.
.msp file A Windows Installer patch file. This type of file consists of a summary information stream,
transform substorages, and cabinet files. An .msp file contains at least one database
transform that adds patching information to the database of its target installation package.
The installer uses this patching information to apply the patch files that are stored in the
cabinet files.
.mst file A transform package. This type of file is a simplified Windows Installer database that contains
the differences between two .msi databases. Transforms enable administrators to apply
modified settings to a database when they are deploying an installation package. See also
transform.
.NET An operating system platform that Microsoft created for connecting information, people,
systems, and devices. The .NET environment enables developers to build, create, and deploy
their applications and Web services using whatever languages they prefer via the common
language run time.
.NET Compact
Framework
A scaled-down version of the .NET Framework designed to run on resource-constrained
devices, such as mobile devices. The .NET Compact Framework is currently available only for
Pocket PC and Windows CE .NET devices, with support for more devices forthcoming.
.NET Framework A programming infrastructure that Microsoft created for building, deploying, and running
applications and services that use .NET technologies such as Web services. The .NET
Framework consists of three main parts: the common language run time, a hierarchical set of
unified class libraries, and a componentized version of Active Server Pages called ASP.NET.
.ocx file An object linking and embedding (OLE) custom control file. This type of file is a cross-platform
COM file that is called by an application to perform a function, such as the ability to resize
windows.
.p12 file A certificate file that conforms to public-key cryptography standard (PKCS) number 12, which
specifies a portable format for securely storing or transporting a user’s private keys,
certificates, miscellaneous secrets, and other information.
.pcp file A Windows Installer patch creation properties file.
712 ISE-1800-UG01 InstallShield 2012 Express Edition User Guide