Install Designer - Create NSIS and Inno Setup dialogs easily!

This section contains the most latest information about Install Designer. The most recent version is at the top.

Version 1.0.2.13

Release: 2024-11-03

• Support for Inno Setup 6.3.3 (this also includes Inno Setup 6.3.2, 6.3.1 and 6.3.0, see changes)
• Support for Graphical Installer for Inno Setup 6.3.3 and Graphical Installer Wizard Build 2024.1(see changes)
• Script Editor window now automatically receive focus [ + ] to make editing easier
• Added new Validator: Body Event Validator [ + ] which validates whether Body has appropriate Event set.
  Currently: "OnClick", "OnDblClick", "OnKeyDown", "OnKeyUp", "OnKeyPress", "OnChange", "OnBack", "OnBackButtonClick", "OnCancelButtonClick"
• Clicking the Status Bar now navigates to the script file ( .iss or .nsh) or .designer file (of currently active frame)
• App now supports Dark Theme
  Dark Theme : can be set in Settings dialog (by default Light Theme is used).
  Dark Theme is applied to the GUI of the app (windows, dialogs, ...) and also to the Scripts (script viewers and syntax highlighting) Manual
  Note: Setting Dark Theme will *NOT* generated dark themed installers. This option affects the Install Designer app only!

Version 1.0.1.12

Release: 2024-05-21

• Support for NSIS 3.10 (see changes)
• Support for Graphical Installer for NSIS, Build 2024.1 with Graphical Installer Wizard (see changes)
• Minor fixes (null checks)

Version 1.0.1.11

Release: 2023-07-20

• Support for NSIS 3.09 (see changes)
• Support for Graphical Installer for NSIS, Build 2023.1 with Graphical Installer Wizard (see changes)
• Support for Inno Setup 6.2.2 (see changes)
• Support for Graphical Installer for Inno Setup, Build 6.2.2 with Graphical Installer Wizard (see changes)
• Inno Setup script now uses // instead of ; for header comments.
  The generated script can be directly included from any [Code] section or any .iss file
• Added check for unique Name property
  Unique Name property : Property 'Name' (case insensitive) of all controls must be unique (both NSIS and Inno Setup)
  Undo Manager allows you to Undo this action (otherwise script will not compile correctly)

Version 1.0.1.10

Release: 2022-06-05

• Support for NSIS 3.08 (see changes)
• Support for Graphical Installer for NSIS 2022.1 and Graphical Installer Wizard 1.18.01 (see changes)
• Support for Inno Setup 6.2.1 (see changes)
• Support for Graphical Installer for Inno Setup 6.2.1 (Zinka) and Graphical Installer Wizard 1.18.01 (see changes)
• Fixed bug with empty Open recent list: most recent files are shown correctly
• Improved checking for Property validity
  Property validity : added checking Events (currently: "Name", "OnClick", "OnDblClick", "OnKeyDown", "OnKeyUp", "OnKeyPress", "OnChange") in all NSIS and Inno Setup controls
  Undo Manager allows you to Undo this action (otherwise script will not compile correctly)
• Official support for Windows 11 (also ARM)
• Official support for electron-builder scripts (editing any electron-builder .nsi or .nsh or .iss scripts)
• Installer now supports multiple processor architectures (x86, x64, arm64, ia64) - useful when running Windows on ARM

Version 1.0.1.9

Release: 2021-11-09

• Controls placed on Designer now supports Global Variables mode
  Global Variables mode (can be turned On / Off in Settings, separate for or )
  Global NSIS control's variables are marked with /GLOBAL parameter
  Global Inno Setup control's variables are defined directly in [Code] section (otherwise defined in page creator function)
• Fixed exception when creating more than 10 menu shortcuts (Open recent file menu)
• Improved opening .designer files with Drag & Drop: now it is possible to drop file anywhere in the window
• Fixed creating DateTimePicker control (also Cut/Copy/Paste operations on it)
• Inno Setup script of Event Body now detects var..begin..end
  var..begin..end and automatically creates var / begin..end section(s) if present
• Inno Setup Page Creator procedure was changed to Function which now returns TWizardPage (can be used for any purpose)
• Fixed Context Menu: items are shown/enabled correctly according to the action
• Added Open Containing Folder action (Right click the Designer) to explore the folder with the .designer and script files
• App now automatically detects when .designer file is changed / deleted / renamed
  Changed / deleted / renamed file confirmation and offer to reload / close / rename / ignore the change(s)
• Added possibility to open the same .designer file multiple times (new option in Settings)
• Opening associated .designer file with Double click brings the main window into foreground
• Improved help system: help is context sensitive (based on selection) and works from any or dialog
• App's status bar
  App status bar now contains icon for .designer file, or script file and for Modified flag
• Improved syntaxt highlighting in generated or script files
• Added Message Box with instructions
  Message Box with instructions when Compiler shows unknown Error (mostly because the Setup is already running or Install Designer was not launched as Administrator)
• Tons of other UI and UX improvements for easier use and faster work!

Version 1.0.1.8

Release: 2021-09-19

• Added possibility to define custom Body of Events (Functions)
  Body of Events (Functions) for NSIS Function(s) and Inno Setup Event(s)
  The Body is saved in dialog's .designer file together with Event / Function - each has appropriate Body, set in section Events (Advanced). Manual
• NSIS and Inno Setup scripts are now saved as UTF-8 with BOM
• Fixed issues with creating TPanel component in Inno Setup
• Added Errors Annotations
  Errors Annotations in Script Preview form to better signalize Error location (previously only Message Box was shown)
• Fixed issues with loading / saving components from / to .designer file
• Several minor improvements for better user experience

Version 1.0.1.7

Release: 2021-07-25

• Added searching (filtering) Properties on Names and also on Values
  Search (Filter) Properties (in Properties window) for currently selected Control (in Properties window) for currently selected Control
• Support for Inno Setup 6.2.0 (see changes)
• Support for Graphical Installer for Inno Setup 6.2.0 (Yanka) and Graphical Installer Wizard 1.17.01 (see changes)
• Added support for new control and new/updated properties
• Support for NSIS 3.07 (see changes)
• Support for GI for NSIS 4.11.01 (Xolka) and Graphical Installer Wizard 1.16.01 (see changes)

Version 1.0.1.6

Release: 2021-01-11
Updated: 2021-04-07

• Implemented 4 new controls: Link, DatePicker, HTrackBar, VTrackBar
  New controls: Link, DatePicker, HTrackBar, VTrackBar for NSIS dialogs Manual
• Added several missing properties for both NSIS and Inno Setup dialogs and controls
• Support for Inno Setup 6.1.2 (See changes), supported new events and properties
• Huge improvement in Undo Manager for both NSIS and Inno Setup: Undo/Redo supports for sets (Style, ExStyle, Anchors, ...)
• Undo Manager now sets NSIS and Inno Setup Events properly (even if null) and triggers correct Property changed events
• Changes on Control made by Undo Manager are applied immediately in Properties window (without need to reselect the control)
• Possibility to Search (Filter) Properties
  Search (Filter) Properties (in Properties window) for currently selected Control (in Properties window) for currently selected Control
• Fixed various "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" exceptions
• Implemented import of InstallOptions .ini files
  Import of InstallOptions .ini files for NSIS dialogs (you can easily convert your existing "old" dialogs)
• NSIS and Inno Setup .designer files associated with Install Designer are opened in the same instance of the app (as separate tabs).

Version 1.0.1.5

Release: 2020-08-04

• Whole GUI has been refreshed and modernized using DockPanel Suite (version 3)
  DockPanel Suite 3 which is the Visual Studio inspired docking library for .NET WinForms (see its offical website). The ID now behaves more user friendly.
• All "standard" features are now supported (like closing the tab with mouse wheel click, ...)
• Added icons in various places: Toolbox window, Properties window, Script Preview window, ...
• Unified fonts and colors across the whole user interface
• Designer window now shows NSIS or Inno Setup icon instead of text (to distinguish type of opened dialog)
• Designer tab now supports long texts (file name and full dialog name is now displayed)
• Support for NSIS 3.06 and NSIS 3.06.1 (see changes)
• Added checking for Property validity
  Property validity (e.g. property Name can use only characters [a-z][A-Z][0-9] and '_' ) for NSIS and Inno Setup controls
• Pressing F1 on any selected word in Script Preview window opens appropriate NSIS or Inno Setup help file (useful if the compiler shows error in generated script)
• Copy and Paste was improved: pasting the same component again and again now creates copy with unique name (LabelXyCopy, LabelXyCopy2, LabelXyCopy3, ...)
• Installer: improved German translation

Version 1.0.1.4

Release: 2020-07-27

• Added button for navigating to the Main script file
  Main script file for NSIS (.nsi) and Inno Setup (.iss) scripts
• Support for Inno Setup 6.0.5 (See changes)
• Fixed bug: pressing Del key in Properties window which wrongly deleted the currently selected component in designer instead of deleting the character in Text property
• Shortcut for deleting control(s) in designer is now Shift+Del
• Fixed bug: pressing arrow keys in Properties window (to move the caret for Text property) now does not move the currently selected component in designer
• Added "NSIS" / "Inno Setup" text to various dialogs and windows to better distinguish which installation system is used.
• Improvements in Script Generator
• Added possibility to select the installer's language on startup

Version 1.0.1.3

Release: 2020-03-22

• Implemented Unlimited Undo + Redo
  Undo + Redo for all actions performed in designer (also creating / deleting controls!), with default shortcuts Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + R Manual
• Added missing shortcuts for all toolbars and menus actions
• Added Controls Z-order
  Controls Z-order feature - it is posible to Bring the control to the Front (Ctrl + F) or Send the control to the Back (Ctrl + B) and adjust how the controls are layered on the dialog Manual
• Refreshed UI, updated toolbars's icons
• Added Open Recent File
  Open Recent File feature to easily open most recent files (up to 10 most recent files).
• Support for Inno Setup 6.0.4 (See changes)
• Fixes and improvements in Script Generator and Dialog Designer

Version 1.0.1.2

Release: 2020-02-09

• New NSIS and Inno Setup properties group: Expert
  Expert properties group for advanced script generating
• Property Redraws and No Events Handlers ( NSIS and Inno Setup): When set the Events Handlers will NOT be generated into the script.
  This may cause compilation error(s) if you do not have them defined correctly in some other place!
• Property Graphical Installer Redraws ( NSIS): When set the controls will be updated to work in the Graphical Installer page.
  This may cause compilation error(s) if you do not have defined correct includes!
• Improved UX/UI: removed redundant content from designer tabs
  Removed redundant content from designer tabs
• Improved UX/UI: separate statuses for designer and script file name
  Separate statuses for designer and script file name
• Application accepts passing filename as an argument ( NSIS and Inno Setup .designer file) that is opened at startup
• Installer can associate .designer files that are opened in Install Designer application (with custom icon)

Version 1.0.1.1

Release: 2019-12-15

• Removed immediate compilation after some change is made in designer (better performance on slower computers)
• Fixed Access Denied
  Access Denied error when exiting the application when exiting the application - Layout.config is now saved in LocalAppData folder and warning is shown if file cannot be written
• Support for NSIS 3.05 (see changes - Important note: ANSI targets are deprecated, consider moving to Unicode!)
• Fixed issues with multiple selected items in checklistbox in control's Properties (Anchors, Style, ExStyle, ...)
• Cancel button in Settings dialogs closes the dialog
• It is possible to use keyboard arrows to navigate in Settings dialog
• Changed file modified flag to " ⚫ "

Version 1.0.0.1 (Gold)

Release: 2019-11-11

• This is final release of Install Designer - Product is GOLD - no more beta!
• Public version for Commercial and Personal use.

Version 0.0.5.11 (Beta)

Release: 2019-11-05

• Public Beta version with tons of fixes and improvements.

Version 0.0.4.22 (Alpha)

Release: 2019-10-22

• Public Alpha version.

Version 0.0.0.1 (Zero)

Release: 2019-10-03

• This is initial release of Install Designer - first version available!

Legend - symbols used in this changelog

• - special (very important) release of Install Designer
• - new feature (large change, usually with picture describing it)
• - small change or new small thing (sometimes not visible for user)
• - fixed bug, fixed issue, resolved problem
• - some part was reworked (no large change)
• - removed feature (feature will not be available in next release)
• - known bug (non critical bug which cannot be fixed at this moment)
• - item which we are currently working on
• - information or tip for you for easier use of our software
• - warning - really useful info. Can save you a lot of troubles.
• By default NSIS is mentioned first, alternative for Inno Setup is enclosed in [square brackets].