site_archiver@lists.apple.com Delivered-To: installer-dev@lists.apple.com Thread-index: AcY2Wr2EjQqw+SzhRL2KG8ZxOS+e5Q== Thread-topic: Installer vs. Setup Assistants vs. Uninstallers In the current shipping version of Microsoft Office 2004, our Setup Assistant application is a combination of what Apple's documents would describe as an installer and a setup assistant (http://developer.apple.com/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/OSXH IGuidelines/XHIGInstallationsUpdates/chapter_9_section_4.html). Is the Apple separation of these two things specifically desired and, if so, why? One of the differences between the two is that an Installer generally just installs the product (though it does accomplish the ancillary task of license acceptance), and it leaves the setup assistant tasks to the first time you launch the program. Our current product is a mix of both: The setup assistant, run separately, takes care of setup operations and accomplishes the install. If you drag-and-drop, then the setup assistant is run, though it bypasses several of the installation-specific tasks.
From the HIG and from viewing the installer, the UI for both installers and setup assistants are incredibly similar: bevel button lists on the left, work panes on the right. Is there any reason not to use the installer's custom installer pane technology to implement a setup assistant?
I'm asking these questions from a HIG standpoint... what's the Apple take on how the workflow of installing/setting up an application should work. Also, whereas the HIG suggests that you provide an uninstaller, the Apple installer currently doesn't have an uninstall function. In our case, we have uninstaller that uninstalls older versions as well. Where would Apple suggest it be placed in the order of operations? (i.e., should we and when should we offer the user the option to remove older versions of the product?) Thanks in advance, Nathan ---- Nathan Herring MacBU SDE/Development _______________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored. Installer-dev mailing list (Installer-dev@lists.apple.com) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: http://lists.apple.com/mailman/options/installer-dev/site_archiver%40lists.a... This email sent to site_archiver@lists.apple.com