[Sadu]

I was wondering if anyone knew how to create an Install Wizard that works on both PC and Mac.

I am a PC developer, and on PC this stuff is simple enough, but the world of Mac is not somewhere I venture often so I am a bit stuck (and are asking for help as nicely as I can).

The aplication is a cross-platform program, to be distributed on CD.
The client would like the CD to be compatible with both PC and Mac, and atuomatically launch into the appropriate setup wizard when the CD is inserted using Autoplay.

In Windows terms, the setup program needs to copy some files into the users "program files" folder, and create shortcuts on the desktop and start menu. It doesn't need to setup registry entries or anything fancy.

InstallShield do a cross-playform package for this purpose, but this costs $2500 and is way out of the budget for this project. I was hoping there was a simpler / cheaper solution - the Windows Install program I use is free and is far more functional than any commercial program I have seen.

Does anyone have any bright ideas on this? I am a n00b to anything Mac, so if someone could point me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it

[ambush]

Originally posted by Sadu:
I was wondering if anyone knew how to create an Install Wizard that works on both PC and Mac.

I am a PC developer, and on PC this stuff is simple enough, but the world of Mac is not somewhere I venture often so I am a bit stuck (and are asking for help as nicely as I can).

The aplication is a cross-platform program, to be distributed on CD.
The client would like the CD to be compatible with both PC and Mac, and atuomatically launch into the appropriate setup wizard when the CD is inserted using Autoplay.

In Windows terms, the setup program needs to copy some files into the users "program files" folder, and create shortcuts on the desktop and start menu. It doesn't need to setup registry entries or anything fancy.

InstallShield do a cross-playform package for this purpose, but this costs $2500 and is way out of the budget for this project. I was hoping there was a simpler / cheaper solution - the Windows Install program I use is free and is far more functional than any commercial program I have seen.

Does anyone have any bright ideas on this? I am a n00b to anything Mac, so if someone could point me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it

I *think* InstallAnywhere (or something?) is cross platform (at least I know it's Java).

Download LimeWire and install it.... you'll see what I'm talking about.

Good luck!

[sandsl]

In my opinion, of the apps I know of, most of the cross platform installers are either: bad looking or really expensive.

I'd go for the following:
- Create your mac installer using PackageMaker, Apples free installer maker.
- Create your windows installer using whatever you currently use.

Then create a mutil-session mac/win CD to ensure the mac users only get the mac installer and the windows users only get the windows installer.

Plently of Mac/PC hybrid games do this (such as Warcraft III) mounting only the right session. I haven't used Toast for a while, but from what I remember it does this.

[Michel Fortin]

I have to agree with Sadu here: if you need an installer for the Mac you should use one really made for the Mac. However, I hope you have considered to not have any installer on a mac.

If you application can fit entirely in an application bundle the user won't need any installer. Mac users are used to simply dragging (copying) the application where they want and expect it to just works that way.

This will be very much appreciated by users because, beside being simpler, it somewhat garanties it won't skew up anything, unlike an installer. Also it means it won't beak anything if they want to move it somewhere else on the disk later.