Centurion Setup 47.0

Overview

So you have finished coding your program, created all necessary files for it to work properly and all that is left is build an installer that everyone can use to easily install your software. Centurion Setup is what you need to complete building your software, since it uses powerful compression methods to achieve packaging of all installation files into one small executable. The process of uninstalling the product will be as easy as installing it, so even if they don’t like your program, at least they will enjoy removing it.

Installation

The installation procedure takes place in full screen mode, so don’t worry about the setup task taking over your screen. Just follow the instructions and let the program copy its core files to the installation directory you picked. It doesn’t include any 3^rd party software or any sort of malware.

Centurion Setup can run under Windows 95, 98, NT4, 2000, ME, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, and 7 (both 32 and 64-bit systems supported).

Interface

Although it has many options and features, the program looks neat and organized. Anyone with a reasonable amount of experience can use it without problems after spending some time to get familiar with its interface.

On the left is a pane from where you can choose the section of the installer you want to edit. It is split into 7 categories: Product, Files, Install, Uninstall, Display, Build and Batches. Each one has different sub-categories, relative to the main one.  In the main area you can see the information for the selected category.

Pros

Centurion Setup includes everything you want to have in your installer. For starters, its installation interface can be presented in different languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Norwegian, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, and Afrikaans), and all displayed strings can be edited too.

Shared files (DLL files) are supported as well. If a DLL is in use, the user will be asked to reboot in order to finish the installation. Additionally, you can make it so that the installer will associate specified file types with your program.

You can choose which versions of Windows your program can run under, all the way from Windows 95 to Windows 7.

Patches can be created to let users easily update older versions of your program. It will automatically check which files have changed and then include them in the patch.

Exceptions to Windows Firewall can be added by the installer, in case access to the internet is required.

If you want to protect your software, you can add a password in the installer so that no one without it will be able to carry out the installation.

Desktop and Start Menu shortcuts can be created, not only for the main executable of the installed program, but for the uninstallation file too.

Cons

Even in some cases where you think you have stumbled upon a bug, it is probably a fault in the installer you have created and not in Centurion Setup itself. So there are no cons within this program, at least not during our tests.

Alternatives

NSIS (free), which is short for Nullsoft Scriptable Install System, is a professional open source software used to create Windows installers. Chances are that you have stumbled upon software using this system to perform their installation, since it is one of the most popular and preferable installer creators due to its reliability and big list of features. Another option that’s available for Windows, Mac and Linux users is Izpack, which is open source, just like NSIS.

Conclusion

Centurion Setup is an overall great software to use for building installers, whether they are directed to average users or professionals. You will certainly not hear any complaints from users regarding the installation process of your program.