Step 5: Configure media
  
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  Media files are the final output of install4j: single installer files that are used to distribute your application to your users. The creation of a media file has platform dependent options, so for each platform, you have to define a media file. It also makes sense to define several media files for one platform in case you wish to distribute different subsets of your distribution tree, or if you distribute your application with and without a bundled JRE.

To define a new media file, you double-click on the  new media file entry in the list of defined media files or choose Media->New media file from install4j's main menu. The first step of the media wizard will then be displayed. Depending on your choice of the platform in this first step, this wizard will show the configuration options for

  • an installer
    The media file will be an executable that has an installer. Optionally, the installer can be executed as an unattended installer.
  • an archive
    The media file will be an archive that the user can extract to an arbitrary location. Custom screens will not be shown and custom actions are not fully functional. Instead of the performAction() and performUnattendedAction methods, only the performFirstRunAction() method of your custom actions will be executed when a generated launcher is started for the first time.

The following media file types are available:

Installers:

  • Windows media wizard
    a media file for Windows is a native setup executable that installs your application with an installer wizard.

    The installer can download a JRE if no suitable JRE is found on the target system.

  • Mac OS X single bundle media wizard
    a single bundle media file for Mac OS X is a .dmg file that extracts an installer wizard (by double clicking on it). The wizard installs your application as a single application bundle. If you wish to support multiple launchers, please choose the "Mac OS X folder media wizard" (see below).

    The default JRE (which is always present on Mac OS X) is used during the installation phase.

  • Mac OS X folder media wizard
    a folder media file for Mac OS X is a .dmg file that extracts an installer wizard (by double clicking on it). The wizard installs your application as a folder that contains the entire distribution tree and multiple application bundles for each included launcher.

    The default JRE (which is always present on Mac OS X) is used during the installation phase.

  • Unix/Linux GUI installer media wizard
    a Unix/Linux GUI installer media file is an executable shell script that extracts an installer and installs your application with an installer wizard.

    The installer can download a JRE if no suitable JRE is found on the target system.


Archives:
  • Windows archive media wizard
    an archive media file for Windows is a ZIP-file that contains your application.

    Note: This media file type does not support a GUI installer. If you wish to create a GUI installer for Windows, please choose the "Windows media wizard" (see above).

  • Mac OS X single bundle archive media wizard
    a single bundle media file for Mac OS X is a .tgz archive that extracts a single bundle for your application. If you wish to support multiple launchers, please choose the "Mac OS X folder archive media wizard" (see below).

    Note: This media file type does not support a GUI installer. If you wish to create a GUI installer for Mac OS X, please choose the "Mac OS X single bundle media wizard" (see above).

  • Mac OS X folder archive media wizard
    a folder media file for Mac OS X is a .tgz archive that contains the entire distribution tree and multiple application bundles for each included launcher.

    Note: This media file type does not support a GUI installer. If you wish to create a GUI installer for Mac OS X, please choose the "Mac OS X folder media wizard" (see above).

  • Linux RPM media wizard
    an RPM archive for Linux can be installed and uninstalled with the rpm command on the most popuplar linux distributions. There are also a large number of graphical package management tools that Linux users can use to install an RPM archive.

    If you do not wish to use RPM for your Linux media file or if you wish to provide an alternative installation package which does not use RPM, please use the Unix/Linux archive media wizard (see below).

    Note: This media file type does not support a GUI installer. If you wish to create a GUI installer for Linux, please choose the "Unix/Linux GUI installer media wizard" (see below).

  • Unix/Linux archive media wizard
    a Unix/Linux archive media file is a gzipped TAR archive that contains your application.

    Note: This media file type does not support a GUI installer. If you wish to create a GUI installer for Unix or Linux, please choose the "Unix/Linux GUI installer media wizard" (see above).

Note: GUI launchers on Mac OS X only start a single instance of your application. Subsequent launches will not start additional JVMs.

Once you have completed all steps of the media wizard and clicked [Ok] in the final step, a new media file entry will be displayed in the list of media files.

Also, have a look at how the list of media files can be edited.

  After completing this section, go to the next step by clicking on the  forward button in the top right corner.