Only In ActiSetup
With any other similarly-priced solution, you will not be able to:
-
Create merge modules, transforms, patches, and validation suites
-
Design the installer's user interface
-
Provide updates to your users
-
Validate your installation packages and merge modules
-
Directly edit the MSI database tables
-
Import and compare MSI files
Out of all the products in ActiSetup's price range, the above features are only
present in ActiSetup.
Feature Matrix
| Features |
ActiSetup Enterprise |
ActiSetup Professional |
InstallShield X Express |
Visual Studio .NET |
| Stand-alone development environment |
 |
 |
 |
|
| MSI validation |
 |
 |
|
|
| Support for multiple MSI versions |
 |
 |
|
|
| Full control of features |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Full control of components |
 |
 |
|
|
| Edit registry settings and shortcuts |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Edit ODBC drivers and DSNs, and INI files |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Edit environment variables |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Edit action sequences and logic |
 |
 |
|
|
| Path variables for projects |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Integrated MSI table editor |
 |
 |
|
|
| Import MSI files |
 |
 |
|
|
| Redistributable merge modules |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Create and control NT services |
 |
 |
 |
|
| File dependency scanner |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Compare MSI files |
 |
 |
|
|
| .NET Assembly Support |
|
|
|
|
| COM Interop support |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Global Assembly Cache support |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Custom Actions |
|
|
|
|
| EXE |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| DLL |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| VBScript |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| User Interface |
|
|
|
|
| Predefined forms |
30 |
30 |
14 |
9 |
| Fully customizable forms |
 |
 |
|
|
| Forms designer |
 |
 |
|
|
| Distribution |
|
|
|
|
| CD-ROM support |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Web installer support |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Single-file distribution |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Online updater |
 |
 |
|
|
| Multiple build configurations |
 |
 |
|
|
| Digitally sign CAB and MSI files |
 |
 |
|
|
| Project Types |
|
|
|
|
| Create merge modules (.msm files) |
 |
 |
|
 |
| Create patches (.msp files) |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Create transforms (.mst files) |
 |
 |
|
|
| Create validation suites (.cub files) |
 |
 |
|
|
| Redistributables |
|
|
|
|
| Install MSI 2.0 Redistributable |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Install .NET Framework |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Install Internet Explorer |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Support |
|
|
|
|
| Free 24/7 technical support |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Pricing1 |
|
|
|
|
| Price per license |
$16002 |
$249 |
$449 |
> $1000 |
* More languages will be made available in the months after the
release of ActiSetup 2005.
1 All prices are in Canadian Dollars.
2 The Enterprise edition comes with an unlimited site license.
|