CPack Inno Setup Generator — CMake 3.29.3 Documentation

# CPack Inno Setup Generator

New in version 3.27.

Inno Setup is a free installer for Windows programs by Jordan Russell and Martijn Laan (https://jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php).

This documentation explains Inno Setup generator specific options.

The generator provides a lot of options like components. Unfortunately, not all features (e.g. component dependencies) are currently supported by Inno Setup and they're ignored by the generator for now.

CPack requires Inno Setup 6 or greater and only works on Windows.

## Variables specific to CPack Inno Setup generator

You can use the following variables to change the behavior of the CPack `INNOSETUP` generator:

### General

None of the following variables is required to be set for the Inno Setup generator to work. If a variable is marked as mandatory below but not set, its default value is taken.

The variables can also contain Inno Setup constants like `{app}`. Please refer to the documentation of Inno Setup for more information.

If you're asked to provide the path to any file, you can always give an absolute path or in most cases the relative path from the top-level directory where all files being installed by an `install()` instruction reside.

CPack tries to escape quotes and other special characters for you. However, using special characters could cause problems.

The following variable simplifies the usage of Inno Setup in CMake:

CPACK_INNOSETUP_USE_CMAKE_BOOL_FORMAT

  Inno Setup only uses `yes` or `no` as boolean formats meanwhile CMake uses a lot of alternative formats like `ON` or `OFF`. Having this option turned on enables an automatic conversion.

  Consider the following example:

      set(CMAKE_INNOSETUP_SETUP_AllowNoIcons OFF)

  If this option is turned on, the following line will be created in the output script: `AllowNoIcons=no`. Else, the following erroneous line will be created: `AllowNoIcons=OFF`

  The conversion is enabled in every Inno Setup specific variable.

  Mandatory:

    Yes

  Default:

    `ON`

### Setup Specific Variables

CPACK_INNOSETUP_ARCHITECTURE

  One of `x86`, `x64`, `arm64` or `ia64`. This variable specifies the target architecture of the installer. This also affects the Program Files folder or registry keys being used.

  CPack tries to determine the correct value with a try compile (see `CMAKE_SIZEOF_VOID_P`), but this option can be manually specified too (especially when using `ia64` or cross-platform compilation).

  Mandatory:

    Yes

  Default:

    Either `x86` or `x64` depending on the results of the try-compile

CPACK_INNOSETUP_INSTALL_ROOT

  If you don't want the installer to create the installation directory under Program Files, you've to specify the installation root here.

  The full directory of the installation will be: `${CPACK_INNOSETUP_INSTALL_ROOT}/${CPACK_PACKAGE_INSTALL_DIRECTORY}`.

  Mandatory:

    Yes

  Default:

    `{autopf}`

CPACK_INNOSETUP_ALLOW_CUSTOM_DIRECTORY

  If turned on, the installer allows the user to change the installation directory providing an extra wizard page.

  Mandatory:

    Yes

  Default:

    `ON`

CPACK_INNOSETUP_PROGRAM_MENU_FOLDER

  The initial name of the start menu folder being created.

  If this variable is set to `.`, then no separate folder is created, application shortcuts will appear in the top-level start menu folder.

  Mandatory:

    Yes

  Default:

    The value of `CPACK_PACKAGE_NAME`

CPACK_INNOSETUP_LANGUAGES

  A semicolon-separated list of languages you want Inno Setup to include.

  Currently available: `armenian`, `brazilianPortuguese`, `bulgarian`, `catalan`, `corsican`, `czech`, `danish`, `dutch`, `english`, `finnish`, `french`, `german`, `hebrew`, `icelandic`, `italian`, `japanese`, `norwegian`, `polish`, `portuguese`, `russian`, `slovak`, `slovenian`, `spanish`, `turkish` and `ukrainian`. This list might differ depending on the version of Inno Setup.

  Mandatory:

    Yes

  Default:

    `english`

CPACK_INNOSETUP_IGNORE_LICENSE_PAGE

  If you don't specify a license file using `CPACK_RESOURCE_FILE_LICENSE`, CPack uses a file for demonstration purposes. If you want the installer to ignore license files at all, you can enable this option.

  Mandatory:

    Yes

  Default:

    `OFF`

CPACK_INNOSETUP_IGNORE_README_PAGE

  If you don't specify a readme file using `CPACK_RESOURCE_FILE_README`, CPack uses a file for demonstration purposes. If you want the installer to ignore readme files at all, you can enable this option. Make sure the option is disabled when using a custom readme file.

  Mandatory:

    Yes

  Default:

    `ON`

CPACK_INNOSETUP_PASSWORD

  Enables password protection and file encryption with the given password.

  Mandatory:

    No

CPACK_INNOSETUP_USE_MODERN_WIZARD

  Enables the modern look and feel provided by Inno Setup. If this option is turned off, the classic style is used instead. Images and icon files are also affected.

  Mandatory:

    Yes

  Default:

    `OFF` because of compatibility reasons

CPACK_INNOSETUP_ICON_FILE

  The path to a custom installer `.ico` file.

  Use `CPACK_PACKAGE_ICON` to customize the bitmap file being shown in the wizard.

  Mandatory:

    No

CPACK_INNOSETUP_SETUP_<directive>

  This group allows adapting any of the `[Setup]` section directives provided by Inno Setup where `directive` is its name.

  Here are some examples:

      set(CPACK_INNOSETUP_SETUP_WizardSmallImageFile "my_bitmap.bmp")
      set(CPACK_INNOSETUP_SETUP_AllowNoIcons OFF) # This requires CPACK_INNOSETUP_USE_CMAKE_BOOL_FORMAT to be on

  All of these variables have higher priority than the others. Consider the following example:

      set(CPACK_INNOSETUP_SETUP_Password "admin")
      set(CPACK_INNOSETUP_PASSWORD "secret")

  The password will be `admin` at the end because `CPACK_INNOSETUP_PASSWORD` has less priority than `CPACK_INNOSETUP_SETUP_Password`.

  Mandatory:

    No

### File Specific Variables

Although all files being installed by an `install()` instruction are automatically processed and added to the installer, there are some variables to customize the installation process.

Before using executables (only `.exe` or `.com`) in shortcuts (e.g. `CPACK_CREATE_DESKTOP_LINKS`) or `[Run]` entries, you've to add the raw file name (without path and extension) to `CPACK_PACKAGE_EXECUTABLES` and create a start menu shortcut for them.

If you have two files with the same raw name (e.g. `a/executable.exe` and `b/executable.com`), an entry in the section is created twice. This will result in undefined behavior and is not recommended.

CPACK_INNOSETUP_CUSTOM_INSTALL_INSTRUCTIONS

  This variable should contain a semicolon-separated list of pairs `path`, `instruction` and can be used to customize the install command being automatically created for each file or directory.

  CPack creates the following Inno Setup instruction for every file...

      Source: "absolute\path\to\my_file.txt"; DestDir: "{app}"; Flags: ignoreversion

  ...and the following line for every directory:

      Name: "{app}\my_folder"

  You might want to change the destination directory or the flags of `my_file.txt`. Since we can also provide a relative path, the line you'd like to have, is the following:

      Source: "my_file.txt"; DestDir: "{userdocs}"; Flags: ignoreversion uninsneveruninstall

  You would do this by using `my_file.txt` as `path` and `Source: "my_file.txt"; DestDir: "{userdocs}"; Flags: ignoreversion uninsneveruninstall` as `instruction`.

  You've to take care of the escaping problem. So the CMake command would be:

      set(CPACK_INNOSETUP_CUSTOM_INSTALL_INSTRUCTIONS "my_file.txt;Source: \\\"my_file.txt\\\"\\; DestDir: \\\"{userdocs}\\\"\\; Flags: ignoreversion uninsneveruninstall")

  To improve readability, you should go around the escaping problem by using `CPACK_VERBATIM_VARIABLES` or by placing the instruction into a separate CPack project config file.

  If you customize the install instruction of a specific file, you lose the connection to its component. To go around, manually add `Components: <component>`. You also need to add its shortcuts and `[Run]` entries by yourself in a custom section, since the executable won't be found anymore by `CPACK_PACKAGE_EXECUTABLES`.

  Here's another example (Note: You've to go around the escaping problem for the example to work):

      set(CPACK_INNOSETUP_CUSTOM_INSTALL_INSTRUCTIONS
          "component1/my_folder" "Name: \"{userdocs}\\my_folder\"\; Components: component1"
          "component2/my_folder2/my_file.txt" "Source: \"component2\\my_folder2\\my_file.txt\"\; DestDir: \"{app}\\my_folder2\\my_file.txt\"\; Flags: ignoreversion uninsneveruninstall\; Components: component2")

  Mandatory:

    No

CPACK_INNOSETUP_MENU_LINKS

  This variable should contain a semicolon-separated list of pairs `link`, `link name` and can be used to add shortcuts into the start menu folder beside those of the executables (see `CPACK_PACKAGE_EXECUTABLES`). While `link name` is the label, `link` can be a URL or a path relative to the installation directory.

  Here's an example:

      set(CPACK_INNOSETUP_MENU_LINKS
          "doc/cmake-@CMake_VERSION_MAJOR@.@CMake_VERSION_MINOR@/cmake.html"
          "CMake Help" "https://cmake.org" "CMake Web Site")

  Mandatory:

    No

CPACK_INNOSETUP_CREATE_UNINSTALL_LINK

  If this option is turned on, a shortcut to the application's uninstaller is automatically added to the start menu folder.

  Mandatory:

    Yes

  Default:

    `OFF`

CPACK_INNOSETUP_RUN_EXECUTABLES

  A semicolon-separated list of executables being specified in `CPACK_PACKAGE_EXECUTABLES` which the user can run when the installer finishes.

  They're internally added to the `[Run]` section.

  Mandatory:

    No

### Components Specific Variables

The generator supports components and also downloaded components. However, there are some features of components that aren't supported yet (especially component dependencies). These variables are ignored for now.

CPack will change a component's name in Inno Setup if it has a parent group for technical reasons. Consider using `group\component` as component name in Inno Setup scripts if you have the component `component` and its parent group `group`.

Here are some additional variables for components:

CPACK_INNOSETUP_<compName>_INSTALL_DIRECTORY

  If you don't want the component `compName` to be installed under `{app}`, you've to specify its installation directory here.

  Mandatory:

    No

CPACK_INNOSETUP_VERIFY_DOWNLOADS

  This option only affects downloaded components.

  If this option is turned on, the hashes of the downloaded archives are calculated during compile and download time. The installer will only proceed if they match.

  Mandatory:

    Yes

  Default:

    `ON`

### Compilation and Scripting Specific Variables

CPACK_INNOSETUP_EXECUTABLE

  The filename of the Inno Setup Script Compiler command.

  Mandatory:

    Yes

  Default:

    `ISCC`

CPACK_INNOSETUP_EXECUTABLE_ARGUMENTS

  A semicolon-separated list of extra command-line options for the Inno Setup Script Compiler command.

  For example: `/Qp;/Smysigntool=$p`

  Take care of the escaping problem.

  Mandatory:

    No

CPACK_INNOSETUP_DEFINE_<macro>

  This group allows to add custom define directives as command-line options to the Inno Setup Preprocessor command. Each entry emulates a `#define public <macro>` directive. Its macro is accessible from anywhere (`public`), so it can also be used in extra script files.

  Macro names must not contain any special characters. Refer to the Inno Setup Preprocessor documentation for the detailed rules.

  Consider the following example:

      # The following line emulates: #define public MyMacro "Hello, World!"
      set(CPACK_INNOSETUP_DEFINE_MyMacro "Hello, World!")

  At this point, you can use `MyMacro` anywhere. For example in the following extra script:

      AppComments={#emit "'My Macro' has the value: " + MyMacro}

  Take care of the escaping problem.

  Mandatory:

    No

CPACK_INNOSETUP_EXTRA_SCRIPTS

  A semicolon-separated list of paths to additional `.iss` script files to be processed.

  They're internally included at the top of the output script file using a `#include` directive.

  You can add any section in your file to extend the installer (e.g. adding additional tasks or registry keys). Prefer using `CPACK_INNOSETUP_SETUP_<directive>` when extending the `[Setup]` section.

  Mandatory:

    No

CPACK_INNOSETUP_CODE_FILES

  A semicolon-separated list of paths to additional Pascal files to be processed.

  This variable is actually the same as `CPACK_INNOSETUP_EXTRA_SCRIPTS`, except you don't have to add `[Code]` at the top of your file. Never change the current section in a code file. This will result in undefined behavior! Treat them as normal Pascal scripts instead.

  Code files are included at the very bottom of the output script.

  Mandatory:

    No