Webinar
TechTalk: InstallShield “Suite” Secrets
Discover how InstallShield Suite simplifies multi-package installs, enables Windows features, and keeps users updated with modern, secure experiences.
Original Air Date: March 11, 2022
Overview
Ready to take your software installation strategy to the next level? Kendra Morton, Product Marketing Manager at Revenera, and Venkat Ram Donga, Senior Product Manager, reveal powerful capabilities hidden within InstallShield Suite. In this engaging Tech Talk, you'll uncover how Suite projects can streamline complex installations, enable Windows features and server roles, and deliver a modern, seamless user experience.
Whether you're dealing with multiple application packages, looking to automate updates, or aiming to align your installers with the sleek UI expectations of Windows 11, this session is packed with actionable insights. Venkat shares real-world use cases and demonstrates how InstallShield Suite can simplify deployment workflows, enhance security with digital signing, and ensure your users are always on the latest version—without manual intervention.
Plus, stick around for a live demo that shows Suite in action, so you can see firsthand how to rev up your installation capabilities. If you're a software producer looking to improve customer satisfaction and reduce support overhead, this webinar is a must-watch.
Recap
Key Themes and Takeaways
The Evolution of Software Installation Challenges
Traditional installers began as simple tools for deploying single applications, but as software complexity grew, so did the need for more sophisticated installation processes. The webinar explores how modern applications often require bundled runtimes, third-party dependencies, and coordinated deployment across multiple modules—necessitating a more advanced solution.
What Is an InstallShield Suite Project?
Suite projects in InstallShield offer a way to bundle multiple applications and prerequisites into a single installer. This approach ensures a consistent and streamlined installation experience, especially useful for deploying software suites like productivity tools or enterprise applications.
Solving Multi-Package Installation with Suite
InstallShield Suite enables the installation of multiple packages in one unified process. This capability simplifies deployment workflows, reduces user confusion, and minimizes the risk of installation errors—delivering a better experience for both developers and end users.
Automating Windows Feature and Server Role Enablement
Suite projects can automatically enable or disable Windows features and server roles, such as IIS or .NET Framework, as part of the installation process. This automation ensures that applications have the required system configurations without manual intervention, improving reliability and reducing setup time.
Keeping Users Updated with Suite Updates
InstallShield Suite includes functionality to check for and apply updates before installation begins or during maintenance mode. This ensures users are always running the latest version of the software, streamlining version control and reducing support overhead.
Enhancing Security with Digital Signing
To protect against tampering and unauthorized modifications, InstallShield Suite supports digital signing of installation packages. This feature verifies the authenticity of downloaded installers, helping maintain trust and security in software distribution.
Delivering a Modern Installation Experience
With the introduction of the Minimal Installer Template, InstallShield Suite now offers a modern, user-friendly interface that aligns with Windows 11 design standards. Features include dark and light themes, external license agreement URLs, and simplified one-click installations—meeting the expectations of today’s users.
Final Takeaway: Why Upgrade to Suite
The webinar concludes by highlighting the advantages of transitioning from traditional MSI setups to Suite installers. Benefits include improved user experience, automated updates, enhanced security, and simplified deployment—making Suite a strategic upgrade for software producers aiming to deliver high-quality installation experiences.
Speakers
Kendra Morton
Principal, Product Marketing Programs
Revenera
Venkat Ram Donga
Director, Product Management
Revenera
Frequently Asked Questions
A Suite Installer allows software producers to bundle multiple applications, prerequisites, and dependencies into a single, unified installation experience. This approach simplifies deployment, reduces user confusion, and ensures consistency across installations. Suite Installers are especially valuable when deploying complex software ecosystems or modular applications. They also support enhanced customization and automation, making them ideal for enterprise-grade software delivery.
Modern installation tools like InstallShield Suite support automated enabling or disabling of Windows features and server roles. This means prerequisites like IIS or .NET Framework can be configured before the main application installs, without requiring manual user intervention. Automating these steps ensures that the target environment is properly prepared, reducing setup errors and improving reliability. It’s a key capability for deploying web applications or services that depend on specific OS configurations.
Yes, Suite Installers are designed to bundle multiple applications and packages into a single installer. This is useful for software suites or products with several components that need to be deployed together. It ensures a consistent installation experience and simplifies version control across modules. Bundling also reduces the need for users to run multiple installers, streamlining the overall deployment process.
Suite Installers can be configured to check for updates before installation begins or during maintenance mode. By hosting a manifest file and updated setup on a web location, the installer can prompt users to download the latest version automatically. This eliminates the need for manual updates and ensures users are always running the most current release. It’s a simple way to improve security and user satisfaction.
Yes, digital signing is a critical feature supported by modern installation tools. It ensures that the installer and its contents have not been tampered with and originate from a trusted source. By verifying the digital signature before execution, software producers can protect users from malicious modifications. This is especially important when installers are downloaded over the internet or distributed widely.
Modern installer interfaces, like those offered in Minimal Installer Templates, provide a sleek and user-friendly experience. They support features like dark/light themes, external license agreement URLs, and one-click installations. These enhancements align with user expectations in modern operating systems like Windows 11. A polished installer can improve brand perception and reduce friction during setup.
Suite Installers offer several features that simplify enterprise deployment, including support for prerequisites, automated configuration of Windows roles, and silent installation modes. These capabilities reduce the need for IT intervention and make it easier to deploy software across large organizations. Enterprises benefit from reduced setup time, fewer errors, and a more consistent user experience.
Traditional MSI installers typically handle single applications with limited customization. Suite Installers, on the other hand, support bundling multiple packages, customizing the UI, automating prerequisites, and checking for updates. They offer a more flexible and scalable solution for modern software deployment. Suite Installers are ideal for complex applications and enterprise environments.
Yes, Suite Installers allow for extensive customization of the installation experience. You can configure UI elements, choose themes, set installation paths, and even control which packages are installed based on user selections. This flexibility helps tailor the setup process to different user roles or environments. It also improves usability and reduces support requests.
By automating complex installation tasks, ensuring users are on the latest version, and providing a consistent setup experience, Suite Installers reduce the likelihood of installation errors. This leads to fewer support tickets and less time spent troubleshooting. Additionally, features like update checks and digital signing enhance security and reliability, further lowering maintenance overhead.
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Watch this roundtable discussion to learn more about how developers can retain as much code as possible as they continue to innovate and modernize applications.
Webinar
TechTalk: InstallShield “Suite” Secrets
In this TechTalk you’ll learn about Suite, a project type within InstallShield, and how it resolves the problem of installing multiple packages, learn how Windows features in Suite works, and how secure it is to send packages via an installer.
Want to learn more?
Whether you are an existing customer needing assistance, or new to Revenera's Software Installation solutions, we are happy to help out with your Installation needs.