Introduction

NSIS 2 makes it is possible to create installers with a custom user interface. The Modern UI is an interface like the wizards of recent Windows versions.

This new interface also features new pages (Welcome, Finish, Start Menu) and a description area on the component selection page.

Because of the macro system with support for plugins and the special language files, writing scripts for the Modern UI is easy. Read this document for more info.

Screenshots

How to use

The Modern UI has a macro system, so most of the code has already been written for you!

The easiest way to use the Modern UI is to customize one of the example scripts, but you can also modify an existing script.

Note: If you want to add a double quote (") to a Modern UI string, you should always escape it ($\"), because the Modern UI macro's use " to separate parameters.

To use the Modern UI in an existing script, you should follow these steps:

1. Include the header file

!include "MUI.nsh"

MUI.nsh is in the Include directory, so you don't have to specify a path.

2. Define the name and version of your software

!define MUI_PRODUCT "Test Software" ;Define your own software name here
!define MUI_VERSION "1.0" ;Define your own software version here

3. Defines

Use defines to let the Modern UI know what it should insert. Most defines (i.e. MUI_WELCOMEPAGE) don't need a value, there are true/false settings. Others (i.e. MUI_FINISHPAGE_RUN) can be used to define a specific value.
Parameters are specified in this format: required (option1 | option2) [optional].
You should put all parameters in one string for the define:

!define MUI_WELCOMEPAGE ;No value
!define MUI_FINISHPAGE_RUN "$INSTDIR\Application.exe" ;Value
!define MUI_FONTSTYLE_HEADER "700 /ITALIC" ;Multiple parameters

All defines are optional.

3a. General settings

MUI_WELCOMEPAGE
Show the welcome page. The welcome page is an introduction and shows information for the user.

MUI_LICENSEPAGE
Show the license page.

MUI_COMPONENTSPAGE
Show the component selection page.

MUI_DIRECTORYPAGE
Show the directory selection page.

MUI_STARTMENUPAGE
Show the Start Menu Folder selection page.

If you did not disable the 'Do not create shortcuts' checkbox, put the script code to write the shortcuts between these macro's, because the creation can be disabled by the user:

!insertmacro MUI_STARTMENU_WRITE_BEGIN
  ...create the shortcuts...
!insertmacro MUI_STARTMENU_WRITE_END

MUI_FINISHPAGE
Show the finish page. The finish page tells that the installation is succesful. You can also add options to run the application or show the Readme file. If the reboot flag is set, a page that allows the user to reboot the system will be displayed (this option can be disabled).

MUI_ABORTWARNING
Show a message box with a warning (are you sure?) when the user closes the installation.

MUI_CUSTOMPAGECOMMANDS
Don't insert Page commands. Use this if you are using custom Page commands to add your own pages.

MUI_UNINSTALLER
Define if you are using an uninstaller.

3b. Interface settings

For UI elements that are enabled by default, the default value will be used when a setting has not been defined.

MUI_UI ui_file
The interface file with the dialog resources. Change this if you have made your own customized UI.
Default: ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\UIs\modern.exe

MUI_UI_HEADERBITMAP ui_file
MUI_UI_HEADERBITMAP_RIGHT ui_file
The interface files with the dialog resource IDD_INST that contains a bitmap control and space for the header bitmap.
Defaults: ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\UIs\modern-headerbmp.exe, ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\UIs\modern-headerbmpr.exe

MUI_UI_SMALLDESCRIPTION
MUI_UI_NODESCRIPTION
The interface files with a customized dialog resource IDD_SELCOM for a small or no description area.
Defaults: {NSISDIR}\Contrib\UIs\modern-smalldesc.exe, {NSISDIR}\Contrib\UIs\modern-nodesc.exe

MUI_ICON icon_file
The icon of the installer.
Default: ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Icons\modern-install.ico

MUI_UNICON icon_file
The icon of the uninstaller.
Default: ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Icons\modern-uninstall.ico

MUI_CHECKBITMAP bitmap_file
The bitmap with images for the checks of the component select treeview.
Default: ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Icons\modern.bmp

MUI_FONT font_name
MUI_FONTSIZE font_size
The font for the normal texts.
Defaults: MS Shell Dlg, 8

MUI_FONT_HEADER font_name
MUI_FONTSIZE_HEADER font_size
MUI_FONTSTYLE_HEADER weight [/ITALIC] [/UNDERLINE] [/STRIKE]
The font for the title in the header.
Defaults: MS Shell Dlg, 8, 700

MUI_FONT_TITLE font_name
MUI_FONTSIZE_TITLE font_size
MUI_FONTSTYLE_TITLE weight [/ITALIC] [/UNDERLINE] [/STRIKE]
The font for the title on the Welcome and Finish page.
Defaults: Verdana, 12, 700

MUI_INSTALLCOLORS (/windows | (foreground color: RRBBGG) (background color: RRGGBB))
The colors of the details screen. Use /windows instead of the colors to use the Windows colors (the default).
Default: /windows

MUI_PROGRESSBAR ("" | colored | smooth)
The style of the progress bar. Colored makes it use the MUI_INSTALLCOLORS.
Default: smooth

MUI_HEADERBITMAP bmp_file
Bitmap to display in the white header. With the default DPI, a bitmap with a size 150x57 won't have to be resized. The NSIS Setup uses the ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Icons\modern-header.bmp bitmap, but can also make one with your own logo.

MUI_SPECIALINI ini_file
Install Options INI File for the Welcome and Finish page.
Default: ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Modern UI\ioSpecial.ini

MUI_SPECIALBITMAP bmp_file
Bitmap for the Welcome and Finish page.
Default: ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Icons\modern-wizard.bmp

MUI_BGCOLOR (color: 0xBBGGRR)
Background color for the header, Welcome page and Finish page.
Default: 0xFFFFFF

MUI_RTL_UI
Right-to-left interface.

4. Define custom functions (optional)

If you want add your own code to functions inserted by the Modern UI, such as the .onGUIInit function and the Page function, create your own function and let the Modern UI functions call them..

More info...

5. Insert custom pages (optional)

If you want to use custom pages (define MUI_CUSTOMPAGECOMMANDS or MUI_UNCUSTOMPAGECOMMANDS), insert them before inserting the language files.

More info...

6. Insert language files

Insert the Modern UI language files for the languages you are using:

!insertmacro MUI_LANGUAGE "English"

The Modern UI language files load the NLF language files, so you should not use LoadLanguageFile.

You don't need to edit the language files if you want to customize some strings. Use defines before you insert the language file:

!define MUI_BRANDINGTEXT "French Branding Text"
!insertmacro MUI_LANGUAGE "French"

Have a look at the language files for a complete list of all the string names.

If you want the installer to display a language selection dialog (have a look at the MultiLanguage.nsi example), insert the MUI_LANGDLL_DISPLAY macro in .onInit:

Function .onInit

  !insertmacro MUI_LANGDLL_DISPLAY

FunctionEnd

To customize the texts on the language selection dialog, define MUI_TEXT_LANGDLL_WINDOWTITLE and MUI_TEXT_LANGDLL_INFO before inserting the macro.

If you want the installer to remember the users language preference, define MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_REGISTRY_ROOT, MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_REGISTRY_KEY and MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_REGISTRY_VALUENAME to set a registry key to store the language. You can also use it in the uninstaller to display the right language. Don't forget to remove this key in the uninstaller.

7. Insert the MUI_SECTIONS_FINISHHEADER macro

If you are not using a Finish page without MUI_FINISHPAGE_NOAUTOCLOSEWINDOW and have not set AutoCloseWindow to true, you should insert the MUI_SECTIONS_FINISHHEADER after all the sections to display the finish header:

!insertmacro MUI_SECTIONS_FINISHHEADER

For the uninstaller, insert MUI_UNFINISHHEADER at the end of the Uninstall section:

!insertmacro MUI_UNFINISHHEADER

8. Set the descriptions for the sections

Insert the description macro's to set the descriptions for the sections. These descriptions will be displayed on the component selection page, when the users hovers the mouse over a section. If you don't want to use descriptions, use the modern3.exe UI.

LangString DESC_Section1 ${LANG_ENGLISH} "Description of section 1."
LangString DESC_Section2 ${LANG_ENGLISH} "Description of section 2."

!insertmacro MUI_FUNCTIONS_DESCRIPTION_BEGIN
  !insertmacro MUI_DESCRIPTION_TEXT ${Section1} $(DESC_Section1)
  !insertmacro MUI_DESCRIPTION_TEXT ${Section2} $(DESC_Section2)
!insertmacro MUI_FUNCTIONS_DESCRIPTION_END

Add an extra parameter to the Section command to set the define with the section number:

Section "Section Name 1" Section1
  ...
SectionEnd

9. Reserve Files

If you are using BZIP2 compression, you might need to insert ReserveFile commands. More info...

Custom pages

Custom page commands

If you want add custom pages to your installer, you should insert your own page commands to set the order of the pages and the names of the page functions. For the normal Modern UI pages, insert one of the PAGECOMMAND macro's:

!insertmacro MUI_PAGECOMMAND_WELCOME
!insertmacro MUI_PAGECOMMAND_LICENSE
!insertmacro MUI_PAGECOMMAND_COMPONENTS
!insertmacro MUI_PAGECOMMAND_DIRECTORY
Page custom FunctionName ;Custom page
!insertmacro MUI_PAGECOMMAND_INSTFILES
!insertmacro MUI_PAGECOMMAND_FINISH

For the uninstaller:

!insertmacro MUI_UNPAGECOMMAND_CONFIRM
UninstPage custom un.FunctionName ;Custom page
!insertmacro MUI_UNPAGECOMMAND_INSTFILES

Don't forget to define MUI_CUSTOMPAGECOMMANDS or MUI_UNCUSTOMPAGECOMMANDS and to insert the Page commands on the right position.

Call Install Options

Have a look at the Install Options documentation for info about creating Install Options INI Files.

First, you need to extract your InstallOptions INI File in the .onInit function (un.onInit for the uninstaller) using the MUI_INSTALLOPTIONS_EXTRACT macro:

Function .onInit
  !insertmacro MUI_INSTALLOPTIONS_EXTRACT "ioFile.ini"
FunctionEnd

If your INI File is located in another directory, use MUI_INSTALLOPTIONS_EXTRACT_AS. The second parameter is the filename for the Plugins directory. Use this name when inserting the other InstallOptions macro's:

Function .onInit
  !insertmacro MUI_INSTALLOPTIONS_EXTRACT_AS "..\ioFile.ini" "ioFile.ini"
FunctionEnd

You can call Install Options in the function defined with the Page or UninstPage command. Use the MUI_HEADER_TEXT macro to set the text in the white box:

LangString TEXT_IO_TITLE ${LANG_ENGLISH} "Install Options Page Title"
LangString TEXT_IO_SUBTITLE ${LANG_ENGLISH} "A subtitle"

Function FunctionName ;FunctionName defined with Page command
  !insertmacro MUI_HEADER_TEXT "$(TEXT_IO_TITLE)" "$(TEXT_IO_SUBTITLE)"
  !insertmacro MUI_INSTALLOPTIONS_DISPLAY "ioFile.ini"
FunctionEnd

For custom fonts and colors, macro's for the initDialog and show functions of InstallOptions are also available:

LangString TEXT_IO_TITLE ${LANG_ENGLISH} "Install Options Page Title"
LangString TEXT_IO_SUBTITLE ${LANG_ENGLISH} "A subtitle"

Function FunctionName ;FunctionName defined with Page command

  !insertmacro MUI_HEADER_TEXT "$(TEXT_IO_TITLE)" "$(TEXT_IO_SUBTITLE)"

  Push $R0
  Push $R1
  Push $R2

    !insertmacro MUI_INSTALLOPTIONS_INITDIALOG "ioFile.ini"
    Pop $R0
    
    GetDlgItem $R1 $R0 1200 ;1200 + Field number - 1
    
    ;$R1 contains the HWND of the first field
    CreateFont $R2 "Tahoma" 10 700 
    SendMessage $R1 ${WM_SETFONT} $R2 0
	
    !insertmacro MUI_INSTALLOPTIONS_SHOW
	
  Pop $R1
  Pop $R1
  Pop $R0

FunctionEnd

To read or write values to the INI Files on runtime, use these macro's:

!insertmacro MUI_INSTALLOPTIONS_READ $VAR "ioFile.ini" "Field #" "Value Name"
!insertmacro MUI_INSTALLOPTIONS_WRITE "ioFile.ini" "Field #" "Value Name" "Value"

If you need the InstallOptions return value (success, back, cancel, error), use the MUI_INSTALLOPTIONS_DISPLAY_RETURN or MUI_INSTALLOPTIONS_SHOW_RETURN macro. The return value will be added to the stack, so you can use the Pop command to get it.

Reserve files

If you are using BZIP2 compression, it's important that files which are being extracted in the .onInit function or in Page functions are first in the data block, because this will make your installer start faster.

If these functions are not above any other File command, insert the ReserveFile commands or macro's above other File commands:

ReserveFile "ioFile.ini" ;Your own InstallOptions INI files

!insertmacro MUI_RESERVEFILE_WELCOMEFINISHPAGE ;Welcome- or Finish page
!insertmacro MUI_RESERVEFILE_INSTALLOPTION ;InstallOptions
!insertmacro MUI_RESERVEFILE_LANGDLL ;LangDLL (language selection dialog)

Examples

Basic: Basic.nsi
Multilanguage: MultiLanguage.nsi
Custom pages: InstallOptions.nsi
Start Menu Folder selection: StartMenu.nsi
Welcome/Finish page: WelcomeFinish.nsi

Customize the dialogs

To change elements on the dialogs, modify the resource files Contrib\UIs directory using a resource editor such as Resource Hacker and use the interface setting to define to filename use your customized UI.

The 'Please wait while Setup is loading...' text on the splash screen which is being displayed when the installer is starting (Verifying installer, Unpacking data) cannot be changed by the script, because the installer is not started yet when this dialog is being displayed. If you want to change this text, modify dialog 111 of modern.exe.
The 'Verifying installer' and 'Unpacking data' texts are defined in the language header file of the NSIS exehead (Source\exehead\lang.h). To change them, you need to edit this file and recompile NSIS.

To modify the Welcome and Finish dialog, edit the Install Options INI File ioWizard.ini in the 'Contrib\Modern UI' directory.

Customize Modern UI Functions

If you want add your own code to functions inserted by the Modern UI, such as the .onGUIInit function and the Page functions, create your own function and let the Modern UI functions call them. Use the defines to define the name of your functions.

Example:

!define MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_ONGUIINIT myGuiInit

Function myGUIInit
  ...your own code...
FunctionEnd

GUI Init
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_GUIINIT
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_UNGUIINIT

Welcome Page
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_WELCOME_PRE
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_WELCOME_SHOW - ${MUI_TEMP1} contains HWND of Welcome dialog

License Page
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_LICENSE_PRE
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_LICENSE_SHOW
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_LICENSE_LEAVE

Components Page
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_COMPONENTS_PRE
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_COMPONENTS_SHOW
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_COMPONENTS_LEAVE

Directory Page
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_DIRECTORY_PRE
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_DIRECTORY_SHOW
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_DIRECTORY_LEAVE

Start Menu Folder Page
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_STARTMENU_PRE MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_STARTMENU_LEAVE

Install Files Page
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_INSTFILES_PRE
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_INSTFILES_SHOW
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_INSTFILES_LEAVE

Finish Page
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_FINISH_PRE
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_FINISH_SHOW - ${MUI_TEMP1} contains HWND of Finish dialog

Installer Abort
MUI_CUSTOMFUNCTION_ABORT

Uninstaller - Confirm Page
MUI_UNCUSTOMFUNCTION_CONFIRM_PRE
MUI_UNCUSTOMFUNCTION_CONFIRM_SHOW
MUI_UNCUSTOMFUNCTION_CONFIRM_LEAVE

Uninstaller - Uninstall Files Page
MUI_UNCUSTOMFUNCTION_INSTFILES_PRE
MUI_UNCUSTOMFUNCTION_INSTFILES_SHOW
MUI_UNCUSTOMFUNCTION_INSTFILES_LEAVE

Version history

• 1.63 - March 9, 2003
  • Support for a bitmap in the wizard header
  • New defines to change the description area
  • MUI_SYSTEM inserted automatically
  • Single macro for language selection dialog
  • Removed page description in window title
  • Easier to customize resource files
  • New system for custom functions
  • Start Menu folder registry key automatically written
  • New InstallOptions macro's that do not remove the return value from the stack
  • Support for custom pages before the finish page
  • Renamed Start Menu page defines
  • 'Do not create shortcuts' checkbox can be removed
  • 'MS Shell Dlg' font for header title
  • RTL support
  • Documentation updates
  • Minor fixes
  • No changed language strings

• 1.62 - February 2, 2003
  • Final version for NSIS 2 beta 1
  • New language strings for finish page
  • Possibility to let a Modern UI Function call your own function
  • No problems anymore when using both 'Run program' and 'Show Readme' on the finish page
  • Default state of checkboxes on the finish page can be changed
  • Welcome / Finish page compatible with custom DPI settings
  • Converted Install Options INI files to use dialog units
  • More ReserveFile macro's
  • Background color can be changed with a define
  • Support for multilingual branding texts
  • Start Menu / Finish page window titles also work when using custom page commands
  • Language files should be inserted after inserting the MUI_SYSTEM macro
  • Define MUI_MANUALVERBOSE if you don't want the Modern UI to change the verbose settings during compilation

• 1.61 - December 5, 2002
  • Final version for NSIS 2 beta 0
  • modern3.exe UI without description area
  • Added define to show uninstall confirm page
  • Added language string for finish page title and continue to uninstall
  • Define for parameters for the application to run on the finish page
  • Bugfixes

• 1.6 - November 18, 2002
  • Welcome / Finish page
  • Automatic ask for reboot on the finish page
  • Create no shortcut option on the Start Menu Folder selection page
  • Customizing GUIInit functions easier
  • Minor font / UI changes

Complete version history

Credits

Made by Joost Verburg.
Icons designed by Nikos Adamamas, aka adni18.
Thanks to Amir Szekely, aka KiCHiK, for his work on NSIS to make this possible.

Help

Please post questions at the NSIS Forum.

License

Copyright © 2002-2003 Joost Verburg

This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
warranty. In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
arising from the use of this software.

Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute
it freely, subject to the following restrictions:

1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; 
   you must not claim that you wrote the original software.
   If you use this software in a product, an acknowledgment in the
   product documentation would be appreciated but is not required.
2. Altered versions must be plainly marked as such,
   and must not be misrepresented as being the original software.
3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any distribution.