Smart Install Maker Editor's Review

Smart Install Maker is one of the nicest and easiest to use tools for creating installation packages that I could find. I liked this program from the moment I first started it. If you ever developed an application and when you sent it to your friend it didn't work anymore, then you should really try this program. The program is very configurable, offering great flexibility to the user.

When you first start the program it immediately shows a new project which you can modify. There are 8 steps that should be taken, in order to completely customize the installation kit of your application. The program's interface is nicely structured so you'll be able to learn how to use it very fast. When I configured the program to create my first project it took me just a few minutes to enter all the data.

The installation packages are called projects within the program's interface. Every project can be opened or saved from the "File" menu, or using the program's toolbar. The user can configure the program to create a custom installation package which will check user privileges, check the .NET Framework version, check the operating system requirements, require a password for installation, create shortcuts or registry keys, run commands, install ActiveX components, and many more.

Pluses: The software uses variables for creating any text in the installation windows. These variables resemble the environment variables in Windows OS and look like this : %ProductName%, %ProductVersion%, and so on. The advantage is that when you modify the program version for example, all the texts containing the old version will be automatically updated. I used this program a couple of times, and never felt that I would have liked another feature beside those the program already has.

Drawbacks / flaws:

In conclusion: This program is really worth its money. It doesn't matter if you have just one program or a couple of programs, which you want to distribute. Smart Install Maker will help you create very nice looking and efficient installation packages in a matter of minutes.