Release notes for Actual Installer 10 versions

Actual Installer 10.10 - 2026-10-09

In Free edition, you can now use features: Registry, INI files, and "Finish \ Launch Application".
In Pro-Trial edition, you can now try out the advanced features of Actual Updater Pro.
Added predefined settings for Additional Prerequisites: .NET Desktop Runtime v10.0 (x64), Visual C++ Redistributable 2026 (V14) x64, ASP.NET Core 10.0 Runtime (x64).
Added variables: <Hour>, <Minute>, <Second> .
Task order change: Shortcuts are created before executing Commands (timing After Installation).
Added checking if files specified for prerequisite links (e.g. <SetupTempDir>\file.exe) exist in Files and Folders.
Added feature Check Libraries for "C++ Redistributable" prerequisite - specify DLLs that must exist on the user's computer.
Added in the Files and Folders context menu: "Open File", "Register as: DLL/ActiveX, .NET Assembly, Type Library, Font".
Added buttons "Duplicate" to the pages INI Files, Registry, Variables.
Added button "Rearrange (Move Up/Down)" to the INI Files page.
Added option for Commands - "Execute", you can now enable or disable command execution (for example, for test purposes).
Actual Installer Wizard: added the trim function when retrieving data from exe files.
Actual Installer Project Manager: added missed translations; updated the Italian and German languages.
Setup Program: updated the Italian and German languages.
Modern Setup: if for Logo use Setup Icon, and it's not specified, then use file "Bitmaps\ai-48.png" (48x48px).
Modern Setup: added option "Show flags" if use multilingual installation; if not selected, then show the Globe icon for the language select component; in Dark mode show white Globe icon; added setup parameters: -BlueGlobe, -WhiteGlobe; parameter -noFlags deprecated.
Actual Installer Project Manager: center the window on first launch
Fixed: the Actual Updater Pro feature "Automatically check for updates on Windows startup" doesn't work if use in Actual Installer Free.
Fixed: error with extracting files when using the Package Type: "Setup EXE + Data" - Error Code: 2 (The system cannot find the file specified).
Fixed: error with shortcuts in ProgramGroup: when using "Install product for" = "Ask User (Current User by default)" and the user changes it to install for All Users, the Shortcuts Program Group is created for Current User only.
Minor improvements and fixes.

Actual Installer 10.9 - 2026-09-03

Actual Installer Registration: if installed for all users, then license applies to all users on computer.
Actual Installer Update process: fixed error "Update failed" - if username contains non-ASCII characters.
Feature "Sign setup file after build": options are now stored in a project file, not Registry. Sign options are moved to "General \ Output" page.
Setup: Show more details if error occurs while copying/extracting a file.
Template Editor: Improved preview when changing background and logo settings. Added new background images, and preset of solid colors; added logo settings "Fit 1" and "Fit 2" (stretch logo between top and header); added options "Center", "Hide Header", "Hide Text". Hexadecimal format is now used for colors by default. Fixed bug "Floating point division by zero".
Added missed translation to language files for Actual Installer Project Manager.
Improved: feature "Use Custom Font File" is now available starting from Lite edition.
Improved: load custom design settings (and custom font file) only when the Template Editor is displayed, not when the project is loaded; save settings in all editions.
Fixed: bug in Classic Setup: double-clicking the Finish button results in an "Access Violation" error.
Fixed: minor bug in Modern Setup: the "Select Components" list becomes too long if add more than 5 items.
Fixed: minor bug in the "Tools \ Add Downloader" feature: command has flag "Run on OS: All". Correct is Any.
Minor fixes.

Actual Installer 10.8 - 2026-07-11

Added Prerequisites .NET 11, Visual C++ 2026, SQL Server Express 2025
Added New background images
Added Buttons "Open File", "Open Location", "Open Properties" in the File Edit dialog box
Added Menu "Tools\ Open LocalAppData folder"
Added Variable <FontsDirAuto> - for All Users install mode returns "C:\Windows\Fonts"; for Current User - "%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Fonts"
Improved Template Editor: ability to use different colors/images for light and dark modes (recommended for use when the Theme is set to System) - separate them by symbol | . Example for background color: #d7ddee|#414154 - if System Theme is Light, use #d7ddee, if Dark - #414154
Improved feature "Keys": Halt setup if user enters incorrect key three times; added new masks for key generation; Improved security;
Improved File Management
Improved File Associations
Other minor improvements
Minor fixes

Actual Installer 10.7 - 2026-05-19

Added Options "Hide on Update" for "Custom CheckBox", "Custom ComboBox", "Components". If component is hidden, then do not process its variable. To preocess anyway, add -ProcessHiddenComponents to Setup Parameters
Added Option "Append last two folder names" for "Select Folder Mode"
Added Option to increase font size in Free Edition
Added Variables: <MyVideo>, <CommonVideo>
Added Feature to replace user-specific paths (such as AppData, Documents) with common (public) paths, when using "Ask User" for the feature "Install product for", and the user chooses to install for All Users: add parameter -CommonDirAll
Added Setup Parameters:
-LZMA (Beta feature) Use LZMA compression for a single-file setup program. Source Directory is compressed using 7-Zip tool. File options are ignored. The following conditions must be met to use it: Source Directory must not be modified; Components list is empty.
-LoadProjectOptions If project options are saved in project file ("Common Options" is not selected), then load it automatically
-LogoIcoNoScale Do not use different icon sizes for Logo in scaled screens (Modern interface)
-IcoScaleOn168PPC When using ICO file for Logo, and screen is scaled between 175% - 199%, use 256px icon size
-NoFitBigLogo Do not downscale Logo if its height is more than 130px.
Improved Template Editor: New logos; Use image as background (included gradient images); Support for animated GIF files for Logo and Background; Colors can be specified in HEX format (e.g. #289947); Added font style: Underline; Dark Theme applies also to Title Bar, and License window; Fixed some minor bugs with displaying preview.
Improved Language detection function: multiple LangIDs can be specified for language
Improved: If the setup is elevated (Run as administrator), all user-specific variables (such as <AppData> or <MyDocuments>) return paths of the original (standard) user, not the administrator. Previously, only these two variables (<AppData> and <MyDocuments>) had this effect, and for Modern interface only. Note: If the setup program is started from an elevated process (or via the Windows Explorer's menu "Run as administrator"), then the administrator paths will be used.
Improved: Writing to Registry key "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" when the setup is elevated: to use the registry key of the original (standard) user (who launched the file), the following conditions must be met: Interface - Modern; option "Install for" is set to "All Users" or "Ask User" (and the user chooses to install for All Users); option "Run as administrator" is NOT selected. In this case, the program is elevated on the Install button click. In all other cases (including when the file is started from an elevated process, or the setup is started from the Windows Explorer's menu "Run as administrator"), the registry key of the administrator will be used.
Improved: Registration of DLL/ActiveX: if the setup is not elevated, then launch "Regsvr32.exe" as administrator; add errors (with exit codes of Regsvr32.exe) to log
Improved: Classic Setup: when the setup is elevated on Select Folder page, then keep the current language and skip first pages
Improved: Actual Installer feature "Tools \ Add Font" - specify installation level - for Current User only, or for All Users on computer
Other minor improvements
Fixed: Minor bug in Classic Setup: when Shield icon is displayed (elevation is required), text on button Next not fitting for languages Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish
Minor fixes

Actual Installer 10.6 - 2026-04-14

Added: New versions Actual Updater 6.1, and Actual Downloader 4.0
Added: "Windows Server 2025" to "Required Windows OS"
Added: Support for all future Windows versions. Previous versions may show message "App cannot run on Windows" on new Windows versions
Added: Languages: Japanese, Chinese (Traditional)
Added: Special function in Custom Variables: FILEEXISTS, FOLDEREXISTS, GETFILESIZE
Added: Support for multi-language text in Custom Variable's Default Data: MSG()
Added: Ability to manually specify the location of "RegAsm.exe" file (for registering .NET Assembly), if installer cannot find it
Added: Setup Parameters:
-RegNoRemoveCreatedKey if registry key is created during installation, then do not remove it on uninstall (even if registry values have flag "Remove on uninstall")
-CheckReqBeforeFindApp installer checks requirements (Internet connection, Close Running App, Prerequisites) before searching the currently installed version and performing action according to option "If app is already installed"
-noFlags do not show flags in the language select menu (Modern Setup)
-HideFinish do not show Finish dialog (for Modern Setup)
-HideOptions do not show Options link (for Modern Setup)
Improved: Download feature (Variables: GETURL, GETFILE, and Command DOWNLOAD:): support for URL without protocol (example.com), check server response code (if not "200 ok" then download fails; if "403 Forbidden" then try to use browser like User Agent (default agent is setup file name, example: Setup.exe). Fix: texts "Please wait" and "Downloading data" blink too quickly
Improved: Function to detect running process: if full file path is specified (example, C:\Dir\App.exe), then only this file is checked. Previously, any file with this name "App.exe" is checked. To not use this feature, add parameter -PRnoPath
Improved: Actual Installer: menu "Tools \ Open Program Files Folder" open the appropriate folder depending on the app bitness
Improved: Actual Installer: added notice when using option "Check for updates before installation" - this will not work for Update Methods: "Download Main Exe only" and "Download ZIP and Unpack"
Improved: Actual Installer: if app name contains forbidden characters (for files), then ignore these characters when creating project and setup file
Improved: Actual Installer: feature "Tools \ Search for duplicate files"
Other little improvements
Fixed: Files Updater.exe and Uninstall.exe are not removed from project if they have duplicates
Fixed: Rearrange / move a command if more that 24 commands listed
Fixed: Finish button is disabled when "Finish \ Custom Action" is set to launch Updater.exe file, and enabled option "Check for Updates Before Installation"

Actual Installer 10.5 - 2025-11-04

Added: Options for INI files: "Skip On Update" - do not process ini files in Update Mode. "If Key Exists" - Overwrite, Skip, Append, Prepend, Remove
Added: Conditions for Components: in the "Enabled and Checked" fields can be used conditions > (greater than) or < (less than). For example: <Var>>5 - if <Var> is greater than 5, then the condition is true, and the component will be enabled / checked
Added: Setup Parameters:
-LicenseHTML Use HTML document for License Agreement (for Modern interface)
-LicenseDlgLarge Use License dialog size 1000x1000 pixels (default 550x500) (for Modern interface)
-LicenseDlgMax use License dialog maximized (for Modern intaface)
-XVarBracket variable <ExtraVar> contains the text before the bracket (for example, if setup file name is "Setup-Test(1).exe" then <ExtraVar> will contain "Test")
Added: New string functions: EXISTX[path] and NOTEXISTX[path] - if the specified file or folder exists, then replace this string with 1, or 0 if doesn't. Folder paths must end with a slash. Examples: EXISTX[C:\File.exe] - if file "C:\File.exe" exists, then it replaced with 1, if not - 0. EXISTX[C:\Dir\] - if folder "C:\Dir" exists, then it replaced with 1, if not - 0
Improved: Components: add to log file skipped files: "File skipped as linked component not selected"
Improved: Ability to use a variable for the component index: <Component<Var>>
Other minor improvements
Fixed: Bug with components: if the file is not in the list for installation (not added in the Files and Folders page, e.g. INI file) then the file is not skipped if the linked component is not selected
Fixed: Bug with processing multiple variables <ComponentX> in one string

Actual Installer 10.4 - 2025-09-03

Added:

Lite Edition
Option "Force Close Running Application"
Option "Skip non-existent files in Update Mode" (page Installation / Advanced). If a file does not exist, it will be skipped (not installed on the computer).
Prerequisite: .NET 10.0
Variable: <SilentMode> - in silent mode it contains 1, otherwise 0
Support for multilingual text for the "Show Message After Installation" feature
Option "Do not process variables on Update" for Additional Information (Query text, custom, key) - <QueryText>, <QueryCustom>, <QueryKey> . Commands also will be skipped (to execute, add -runcmdaddinfo to setup parameters).

Improved:

Actual Installer update mechanism
Package Type: Setup + Data (next to it and download from Internet): added error message, checking exit code of 7zip, added exit codes: 98 - "Error extracting files from archive", 97 - "error downloading data file", fixed bug if a URL contains ? (e.g. http://example.com/data.zip?id=123)
Select Components: Do not create shortcuts, registry entries and other actions if the linked component (file) is not checked (to create, add -AllowSkippedFiles to setup parameters). If the component $ADDONFILES is not checked, then create files anyway: Updater.ini, 7za.exe, ProductIcon.ico . Show correct size for components
Removed Prerequisite "SQL Server Compact" as it was deprecated, with no further development or updates planned
Detection future versions of C++
Modern Interface: if InstallDir contains variables <QueryText>, <QueryCustom>, <QueryKey>, then automatically apply new values on components change
Command DOWNLOAD: automatically create directories
Other little improvements

Fixed:

Bug with not loading previous settings in Actual Installer Options dialog, after clicking Cancel
Bug with removing multiple items from the Files and Folders section when Uninstall.exe is also selected
Bug with variables <CommandLine> and <CommandLineFull>
Bug with not showing "Installation completed with errors" if the DOWENLOAD: command failed before installation

Actual Installer 10.3 - 2025-05-19

Added:

Option for the "If App is Already Installed" feature: "Ask User (Uninstall or Update)"
Ability to use variables and conditions in the Enabled and Checked fields for Components: for example, <MyVar1>=1 , <MyVar1>!=1
Menu "Project \ Run with parameters"
Show "Modified date" of project in the Project Information dialog
Setup Parameters:
-ComboBoxFirst1 first item is 1 (not 0) for Custom ComboBox
-RunStartupUnchecked for the feature "Automatically launch main exe on Windows startup", make it unselected

Improved:

Project Manager: new dialog for restoring removed files from Source Directory; ability to edit file source path (for additional files), use Environment Variables.
File options for the root folder <InstallDir> : in previous versions, these options are ignored. Starting version 10.3, these options apply to all files from <InstallDir>, that do not have their own settings.
Command-line parameter /N will disable the option "Check for Updates Before Installation"
If the feature "If App is Already Installed" is set to "Uninstall" or "Uninstall Silently", and the app is installed and Uninstall.exe doesn't exist, then use the Update option. To not use it, add -noupdateifuninnotfound to setup parameters. To not show a warning message, add -nomsguninnotfound
In Update Mode, if the file has option "Remove on Uninstall" unselected, then remove the file entry from the Uninstaller log file
Other little improvements

Fixed:

Bug with showing the file treeview if Source Directory is a drive (for example, D:)
Bug: files that were added using the Add Files/Folder buttons, are not removed when deleting a directory from project
Bug with adding duplicate files to <InstallDir>
Bug with double (included) variables, for example, <Var<ComboBoxIndex>>

Actual Installer 10.2 - 2025-02-20

Added:

Feature "Show Message" After Installation (page Interface / Finish)
Ability to show a custom message using Commands: in the File field type MSG, in the Parameters field type your message. The message will be shown according to the Timing option.
Ability to get file version from a file into a variable: in the Registry Key field specify GETVERSION, and in the Registry Value field specify file path.
Ability to specify items for Custom ComboBox from a file: in the Items field specify a file path. Content of this file will be used as items for combo box. In the Default Item specify #last to use the last item. If the file is empty, then ComboBox will not be shown.
Special functions: DECX[], INCX[], GETVERBLDX[], COPYSTRX[] (example: COPYSTRX[abcde,2,3] returns bcd)
Setup Parameters:
-ZipNoCompress The files are stored without compression
-CheckReqOnInstall The requirements checking (Internet connection and Close Running Apps) will also be performed on the Install button click
-RoundSize Round sizes (for example, 74,65 MB will be show as 75 MB)
-MustViewLicense The user must view License Agreement before continuing with the installation (for Modern Interface)
-MustViewOptions The user must view the Options dialog before continuing with the installation (for Modern Interface)
-no3AttemptsToClose for the feature "Close Running App #1"
-InstallIfCheckBoxChecked The user must select the Custom CheckBox before continuing with the installation

Improved:

Function POSX[] - ability to use variables; if substring not found, returns 0
Feature "Register DLL/ActiveX" - check for exit code of regsvr32.exe; added parameters: -noCheckRegSvrCode, -RegDLLnoCheckFile, -RegDLLAdmin
Command DOWNLOAD: if set "Wait" option, then variable <ExitCode> will contain 1 (success download) or 0 (download failed). if set "Hide" to the "Show" option, then do not show text "Downloading data"; added parameter -ShowDownloadURL to show download URL (for Classic Interface only, and Timing "After Installation").
Other minor improvements

Fixed:

Correctly execute commands with parameters that begin with -, for example: "myapp.exe --some-params"
Modern Interface: when elevating with max level protection (dim desktop), UAC dialog runs minimized
Log file does not contain all errors in Modern Interface when elevated

Actual Installer 10.1 - 2024-10-06

Added:

Support for Active Setup
New version 3.7 of Actual Downloader
Operations for Command IF: > (greater than), < (less than), check for empty string
Multi language text for "Setup + Data" (URL and file name); INI: Section, Key, and Value fields
New Exit Codes for setup program
Setup Parameters:
-gentleclose during installation, if exe file is running, then the setup force close it. add this parameter to ask the user to close it manually
-nomsgifdwnfail if Download (Command DOWNLOAD:, Variables GETURL, GETFILE) fails, then do not show a message to user
-reqinet for feature "Require Internet Connection". The default message is "This installation requires an Active Internet Connection. Do you want to continue anyway?", which allows the user to continue even if the computer is not connected to the Internet. To not allow it, add this parameter
-allowemptycombobox for Custom ComboBox: if empty then cannot install, to allow add this parameter
-CheckBoxHideOnUpdate, -CheckBoxDisableOnUpdate, -CheckBoxCheckOnUpdate, -CheckBoxUnCheckOnUpdate for Custom CheckBox

Improved:

Download feature (Command DOWNLOAD:, Variables GETURL, GETFILE) - issue with long connection to website; if the return code is 404, then the download fails
Classic Wizard: Finish \ Custom Action - added WordWrap (long text not fitting the dialog size)
Checking for Running Process: if process name is the same as the setup file name, then the process is not flagged as running
Prerequisites: Removed "Acrobat Reader"; SQL Server: versions from 2005 to 2012 are removed
Other minor improvements

Fixed:

Modern Interface: Custom Variables do not apply for the Product Version field
Modern Interface: if the install level is set to "Ask User (All Users by default)", with the option "Run as administrator" selected, and when the user change the install level to "Current User only", then it still remains as for "All Users"

Actual Installer 10.0 - 2024-05-18

Added:

64-bit setup program for 64-bit application
New Actual Updater 5.3
Product Edition and Copyright text
Options for Commands: Timing "Click Install"; Condition to check if values are not equal (IF x!=y); Extract files from ZIP file; Parameter EXIT (do not execute remaining commands).
Special functions: UPPERCASEX[], POSX[], GETVERMAJX[], GETVERMINX[]
New conditions for Additional Prerequisites: 23. Variable equal; 24. Variable not equal
New Setup Parameters: -updateinstalldir (update install dir on language change), -checkreqaftercmd (check requirements after Commands),
New Variables: <AppEdition>, <Year>, <Month>, <Day>, <CurrentAppVer> (currently installed version), <CurrentAppUninstall> (full path to Uninstaller file of the currently installed version), <Publisher> (=<CompanyName>), <Update>, <CurrentFolder>, <CommandLineFull>, <CommandLine>
Ability to set values for the options "If Previous Version is Installed", and "Install Product for" using variables <IfInstalled> and <InstallLevel>

Improved:

Mode "Allow Multiple Versions"
Feature "Get Product Version from Main Exe" moved to the General / Information page; by default, it reads the Product Version value from exe file; to read File Version, add -usefileversion to Setup Parameters
Additional Prerequisites: multilanguage text for the Object and Value fields
Default title text for Modern Interface "<AppName> Setup" (previously was "Welcome to <AppName> Setup"). To use old text, open "English.lng" file and remove string 4= from the [Welcome] section
Launch Actual Updater Configuration Tool from within Actual Installer
Other minor improvements

Fixed:

Bug: when using the option "Encrypt Sensitive Data" and string begins with a double quote ("), then this symbol is removed;
Bug: if application was installed for All Users, and the new installation uses the option "If Previous Version is Installed" is set to "Update", and the option "Install Product for" is set to "Ask User (Current User by default)", then the installation directory will not use the directory of the currently installed version;
Other minor bugs