install4j API documentation

This documentation specifies the public API that install4j provides for scripting installers and uninstallers, developing extensions and for accessing runtime services.

Getting started

Please read "API->installer API" in the documentation for an overview on how to use the API. Packaging your own beans as regular install4j extensions is explained under "API->Extensions". The documentation is found under doc in the installation directory and can be displayed with the F1 keyboard shortcut in the install4j IDE.

To get started with writing your own screens, actions and form components, please have a look at the "Custom code" example project that is located under samples/customCode in the installation directory.

Classpath for framework classes

When developing your own classes, you have to add the install4j API to your compile classpath. Do not distribute this jar file with your application, install4j will handle this for you. i4jruntime.jar will be automatically available on the classpath in the installer as well as for all launchers generated by install4j. The install4j runtime is available as a Maven dependency:

Maven


        <dependency>
           <groupId>com.install4j</groupId>
           <artifactId>install4j-runtime</artifactId>
           <version>11.0</version>
        </dependency>

        <repository>
           <id>ej-technologies</id>
           <url>https://maven.ej-technologies.com/repository</url>
        </repository>
      

Gradle


        repositories {
            maven {
                url 'https://maven.ej-technologies.com/repository'
            }
        }
        dependencies {
            classpath group: 'com.install4j', name: 'install4j-runtime', version: '11.0'
        }
      

If a Maven dependency is not an option, you can add the JAR files that are located under resource/i4jruntime.jar and resource/i4jruntime-dev-additional.jar in the installation directory. The Maven dependency combines both of these JAR files.

Some API calls, such as com.install4j.api.launcher.Variables.getCompilerVariable(...), require the config file of an installation. If you set the system property install4j.runtimeDir to the .install4j directory of an installation of your project, the config file will be loaded from that directory.

Extension points

install4j provides four extension points: screens, actions, form components and styles. Please see the corresponding package overview for more information:

Packages
Package
Description
This package contains general utility classes for the install4j API.
This package contains the interfaces and abstract base classes for actions.
This package contains the utility classes for writing BeanInfo classes for screens, actions, and form components.
This package contains the base classes for all extension points in install4j as well as special property classes.
This package contains classes that allow you to interact with the installer and its environment.
This package contains classes that allow you to listen for events generated by the installer.
This package contains the interface and abstract base class for form components.
This package contains interfaces that are concerned with the look and feel of installer applications.
This package contains classes that your own application code can use to access runtime services provided by install4j.
This package contains classes with static utility methods for using macOS-specific features that are not directly supported by the Java platform.
This package contains the interfaces and abstract base classes for screens.
This package contains the interface and abstract base class for styles.
This package contains classes with static utility methods for using Unix-specific features that are not directly supported by the Java platform.
This package contains classes that help you to handle auto-updates.
This package contains classes with static utility methods for using Windows-specific features that are not directly supported by the Java platform.
This package contains classes to manipulate Windows services.