Getting Started

After you install JExpress you're ready to build your installers and updaters and distribute your system. JExpress gives you 2 interfaces: the Wizard and an Advanced interface. Both let you build professional, international, cross platform installers and updaters.

Using the Wizard

The Wizard lets you quickly design your installer and autoupdater. If you want to do things like customization or eliminating unused classes, or if you just don't like wizards, then use the Advanced interface.

We recommend that you get started using the Wizard. You can always switch to the Advanced interface if you need it. Any project you create in the Wizard you can also use in the Advanced interface. Of course if you use features in the Advanced interface that the Wizard doesn't have, that project may not build in the Wizard without changes.

When you start JExpress, select Start new project if you want to dive right into building your own installer. Or pick the Hello World project to see one that's already set up.

You simply fill in the fields on each panel of the Wizard and click Next. Then click Build to create your Java installers. If there are any errors, review the messages window. Then click the Back button and adjust the settings. After you build you can test and distribute your app, installers and updaters.

Using the Advanced interface

The Advanced interface uses tabbed panels to build your Java installer and autoupdater, find classes, add customization, and distribute your app and installer via the web. Click on the tabs to enter your project's details. Explore the panels to see all of JExpress' features. When you have everything set up properly, go to the Build tab and let JExpress create your installer and updater, and then distribute your system for you.

The small status window at the bottom of the Build panel shows you when JExpress is done. If there were any errors, look at the Messages panel to get more details. If you don't find enough details in the Messages window, check for a text file in the JExpress directory called jex.log for more information. If jex.log doesn't exist, then create a plain text file with this name, build your project again, and then review the file.

Learn more about

• the Advanced interface
• how to test your installer
• how JExpress organizes your distribution files