NSIS Modern User Interface

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<p><img src= example scripts will also help you to learn more about the Modern UI.

Syntax

Some defines (e.g. MUI_COMPONENTSPAGE_SMALLDESC) don't need a value, they are true/false settings. Others (e.g. MUI_UI) can be used to define a specific value.

Parameters are specified in this format: required (option1 | option2) [optional]

Parameters for defined settings should be in one string:

!define MUI_COMPONENTSPAGE_SMALLDESC ;No value
!define MUI_UI "myUI.exe" ;Value
!define MUI_INSTFILESPAGE_COLORS "FFFFFF 000000" ;Multiple settings

If you want a certain value (e.g. a text) to be language-specific, set a language string (using LangString) and define $(STRINGNAME) as value. Use a license language string (LicenseLangString) for the license text.

If you want to add " to a Modern UI string, you should always escape it using $\" because the Modern UI macros use " to separate parameters.

1. Header file

!include "MUI.nsh"

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

2. Interface Configuration

Interface settings should be set before inserting page macros. Page interface settings apply to all pages of a certain type.

Interface Settings

General Interface Settings

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

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

MUI_HEADERIMAGE
Display an image on the header of the page.

MUI_HEADERIMAGE_BITMAP bmp_file
Bitmap image to display on the header of installers pages (recommended size: 150x57 pixels).
Default: ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Graphics\Header\nsis.bmp

MUI_HEADERIMAGE_BITMAP_NOSTRETCH
Do not stretch the installer header bitmap to fit the size of the field. Use this option only if you have an image that does not use the whole space. If you have a full size bitmap that fits exactly, you should not use this option because the size of the field will be different if the user has a custom DPI setting.

MUI_HEADERIMAGE_BITMAP_RTL bmp_file
Bitmap image to display on the header of installers pages when using a RTL language (recommended size: 150x57 pixels).
Default: Non-RTL bitmap

MUI_HEADERIMAGE_BITMAP_RTL_NOSTRETCH
Do not stretch the installer header bitmap when using a RTL language to fit the size of the field. Use this option only if you have an image that does not use the whole space. If you have a full size bitmap that fits exactly, you should not use this option because the size of the field will be different if the user has a custom DPI setting.

MUI_HEADERIMAGE_UNBITMAP bmp_file
Bitmap image to display on the header of uninstaller pages (recommended size: 150x57 pixels).
Default: Installer header bitmap

MUI_HEADERIMAGE_UNBITMAP_NOSTRETCH
Do not stretch the uninstaller header bitmap to fit the size of the field. Use this option only if you have an image that does not use the whole space. If you have a full size bitmap that fits exactly, you should not use this option because the size of the field will be different if the user has a custom DPI setting.

MUI_HEADERIMAGE_UNBITMAP_RTL bmp_file
Bitmap image to display on the header of uninstallers pages when using a RTL language (recommended size: 150x57 pixels).
Default: Installer RTL header bitmap

MUI_HEADERIMAGE_UNBITMAP_RTL_NOSTRETCH
Do not stretch the uninstaller header bitmap when using a RTL language to fit the size of the field. Use this option only if you have an image that does not use the whole space. If you have a full size bitmap that fits exactly, you should not use this option because the size of the field will be different if the user has a custom DPI setting.

MUI_HEADERIMAGE_RIGHT
Display the header image on the right side instead of the left side (when using a RTL language it will be displayed on the left side instead of the right side).

MUI_BGCOLOR (color: RRGGBBR hexadecimal)
Background color for the header, the Welcome page and the Finish page.
Default: FFFFFF

Interface Resource Settings

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

MUI_UI_HEADERIMAGE_RIGHT ui_file
The interface files with the dialog resource IDD_INST that contains a bitmap control and space for the header bitmap on the right side.
Default: ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\UIs\modern-headerbmpr.exe

MUI_UI_COMPONENTSPAGE_SMALLDESC ui_file
The interface files with a customized dialog resource IDD_SELCOM with a small description area.
Default: {NSISDIR}\Contrib\UIs\modern-smalldesc.exe

MUI_UI_COMPONENTSPAGE_NODESC ui_file
The interface files with a customized dialog resource IDD_SELCOM without a description area.
Default: {NSISDIR}\Contrib\UIs\modern-nodesc.exe

Welcome/Finish Page Interface Settings

MUI_WELCOMEFINISHPAGE_BITMAP bmp_file
Bitmap for the Welcome page and the Finish page (recommended size: 164x314 pixels).
Default: ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Graphics\Wizard\win.bmp

MUI_WELCOMEFINISHPAGE_BITMAP_NOSTRETCH
Do not stretch the bitmap for the Welcome and Finish page to fit the size of the field. Use this option only if you have an image that does not use the whole space. If you have a full size bitmap that fits exactly, you should not use this option because the size of the field will be different if the user has a custom DPI setting.

Welcome/Finish Page InstallOptions INI Settings

MUI_WELCOMEFINISHPAGE_INI ini_file
InstallOptions INI file for the Welcome page and the Finish page.
Default: ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Modern UI\ioSpecial.ini

Uninstaller Welcome/Finish Page Settings

MUI_UNWELCOMEFINISHPAGE_BITMAP bmp_file
Bitmap for the Welcome page and the Finish page (recommended size: 164x314 pixels).
Default: ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Graphics\Wizard\win.bmp

MUI_UNWELCOMEFINISHPAGE_BITMAP_NOSTRETCH
Do not stretch the bitmap for the Welcome and Finish page to fit the size of the field. Use this option only if you have an image that does not use the whole space. If you have a full size bitmap that fits exactly, you should not use this option because the size of the field will be different if the user has a custom DPI setting.

Uninstaller Welcome/Finish Page Interface INI Settings

MUI_UNWELCOMEFINISHPAGE_INI ini_file
InstallOptions INI file for the uninstaller Welcome page and the Finish page.
Default: ${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Modern UI\ioSpecial.ini

License Page Interface Settings

MUI_LICENSEPAGE_BGCOLOR (/windows | /grey | (color: RRGGBB hexadecimal))
The background color for the license textbox. Use /windows for the Windows text background color (usually white). Use the /grey for the window background color (usually grey).
Default: /windows

Components Page Interface Settings

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

MUI_COMPONENTSPAGE_SMALLDESC
A small description area on the bottom of the page. Use this layout if you have a lot of sections and don't need large descriptions.

MUI_COMPONENTSPAGE_NODESC
No description area.

Installation Page Interface Settings

MUI_INSTFILESPAGE_COLORS (/windows | (foreground color: RRGGBB hexadecimal) (background color: RRGGBB hexadecimal))
The colors of the details screen. Use /windows for the default Windows colors.
Default: /windows

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

Installer Finish Page Interface Settings

MUI_FINISHPAGE_NOAUTOCLOSE
Do not automatically jump to the finish page, to allow the user to check the install log.

Uninstaller Finish Page Interface Settings

MUI_UNFINISHPAGE_NOAUTOCLOSE
Do not automatically jump to the finish page, to allow the user to check the uninstall log.

Abort Warning Settings

MUI_ABORTWARNING
Show a message box with a warning when the user wants to close the installer.

MUI_ABORTWARNING_TEXT text
Text to display on the abort warning messagebox.

Uninstaller Abort Warning Settings

MUI_UNABORTWARNING
Show a message box with a warning when the user wants to close the uninstaller.

MUI_UNABORTWARNING_TEXT text
Text to display on the abort warning messagebox.

3. Pages

Insert the following macros to set the pages you want to use. The pages will appear in the order you insert them in your script. You can also insert custom Page commands between the macros to add custom pages. More info about custom pages...

You can add multiple pages of certain types (for example, if you want the user to specify multiple folders).

Examples:

!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_LICENSE "License.rtf"
!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_COMPONENTS

Var STARTMENU_FOLDER
!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_STARTMENU "Application" $STARTMENU_FOLDER

You will need the page ID for the Start Menu Folder page when using the Start Menu Folder macros. The Start Menu Folder will be stored in the specified variable.

Installer Pages
MUI_PAGE_WELCOME
MUI_PAGE_LICENSE text/rtf_file
MUI_PAGE_COMPONENTS
MUI_PAGE_DIRECTORY
MUI_PAGE_STARTMENU page_id variable
MUI_PAGE_INSTFILES
MUI_PAGE_FINISH

Uninstaller Pages
MUI_UNPAGE_WELCOME
MUI_UNPAGE_CONFIRM
MUI_UNPAGE_LICENSE text/rtf_file
MUI_UNPAGE_COMPONENTS
MUI_UNPAGE_DIRECTORY
MUI_UNPAGE_INSTFILES
MUI_UNPAGE_FINISH

Page Settings

Page Settings apply to a single page and should be set before inserting a page macro. If you have multiple pages of one type and you want to set a setting for all them, put the setting before each page macro. Example:

;Add a directory page to let the user specify a plug-ins folder
;Store the folder in $PLUGINS_FOLDER

Var PLUGINS_FOLDER
!define MUI_DIRECTORYPAGE_VARIABLE $PLUGINS_FOLDER
!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_DIRECTORY

Note: There is no diference between installer and uninstaller page settings.

General Page Settings

MUI_PAGE_HEADER_TEXT text
Text to display on the header of the page.

MUI_PAGE_HEADER_SUBTEXT text
Subtext to display on the header of the page.

Welcome Page Settings

MUI_WELCOMEPAGE_TITLE title
Title to display on the top of the page.

MUI_WELCOMEPAGE_TITLE_3LINES
Extra space for the title area.

MUI_WELCOMEPAGE_TEXT text
Text to display on the page. Use \r\n for a newline.

License Page Settings

MUI_LICENSEPAGE_TEXT_TOP text
Text to display on the top of the page.

MUI_LICENSEPAGE_TEXT_BOTTOM text
Text to display on the bottom of the page.

MUI_LICENSEPAGE_BUTTON button_text
Text to display on the 'I Agree' button.

MUI_LICENSEPAGE_CHECKBOX
Display a checkbox the user has to check to agree with the license terms.

MUI_LICENSEPAGE_CHECKBOX_TEXT text
Text to display next to the checkbox to agree with the license terms.

MUI_LICENSEPAGE_RADIOBUTTONS
Display two radio buttons to allow the user to choose between accepting the license terms or not.

MUI_LICENSEPAGE_RADIOBUTTONS_TEXT_ACCEPT text
Text to display next to the checkbox to accept the license terms.

MUI_LICENSEPAGE_RADIOBUTTONS_TEXT_DECLINE text
Text to display next to the checkbox to decline the license terms.

Components Page Settings

MUI_COMPONENTSPAGE_TEXT_TOP text
Text to display on the top of the page.

MUI_COMPONENTSPAGE_TEXT_COMPLIST text
Text to display on next to the components list.

MUI_COMPONENTSPAGE_TEXT_INSTTYPE text
Text to display on next to the installation type combo box.

MUI_COMPONENTSPAGE_TEXT_DESCRIPTION_TITLE text
Text to display on the of the top of the description box.

MUI_COMPONENTSPAGE_TEXT_DESCRIPTION_INFO text
Text to display inside the description box when no section is selected.

Directory Page Settings

MUI_DIRECTORYPAGE_TEXT_TOP text
Text to display on top of the page.

MUI_DIRECTORYPAGE_TEXT_DESTINATION text
Text to display on the destination folder frame.

MUI_DIRECTORYPAGE_VARIABLE variable
Variable in which to store the selected folder.
Default: $INSTDIR

MUI_DIRECTORYPAGE_VERIFYONLEAVE
Does not disable the Next button when a folder is invalid but allows you to use GetInstDirError in the leave function to handle an invalid folder.

Start Menu Folder Page Settings

Put the code to write the shortcuts (using CreateShortcut) between the MUI_STARTMENU_WRITE_BEGIN and MUI_STARTMENU_WRITE_END macros:

!insertmacro MUI_STARTMENU_WRITE_BEGIN page_id
  ...create shortcuts...
!insertmacro MUI_STARTMENU_WRITE_END

The page ID should be the ID of the page on which the user has selected the folder for the shortcuts you want to write.

MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_TEXT_TOP text
Text to display on the top of the page.

MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_TEXT_CHECKBOX text
Text to display next to the checkbox to disable the Start Menu folder creation.

MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_DEFAULTFOLDER folder
The default Start Menu Folder.

MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_NODISABLE
Do not display the checkbox to disable the creation of Start Menu shortcuts.

MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_REGISTRY_ROOT root
MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_REGISTRY_KEY key
MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_REGISTRY_VALUENAME value_name
The registry key to store the Start Menu folder. The page will use it to remember the users preference. You should also use for the uninstaller to remove the Start Menu folders. Don't forget to remove this key during uninstallation.

For the uninstaller, use the MUI_STARTMENU_GETFOLDER macro to get the Start Menu folder:

!insertmacro MUI_STARTMENU_GETFOLDER page_id $R0
  Delete "$SMPROGRAMS\$R0\Your Shortcut.lnk"

Installation Page Settings

MUI_INSTFILESPAGE_FINISHHEADER_TEXT text
Text to display on the header of the installation page when the installation has been completed (won't be displayed when using a Finish page without MUI_(UN)FINISHPAGE_NOAUTOCLOSE).

MUI_INSTFILESPAGE_FINISHHEADER_SUBTEXT text
Subext to display on the header of the installation page when the installation has been completed (won't be displayed when using a Finish page without MUI_(UN)FINISHPAGE_NOAUTOCLOSE).

MUI_INSTFILESPAGE_ABORTHEADER_TEXT text
Text to display on the header of the installation page when the installation has been aborted.

MUI_INSTFILESPAGE_ABORTHEADER_SUBTEXT text
Subext to display on the header of the installation page when the installation has been aborted.

Finish Page Settings

MUI_FINISHPAGE_TITLE title
Title to display on the top of the page.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_TITLE_3LINES
Extra space for the title area.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_TEXT text
Text to display on the page. Use \r\n for a newline.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_TEXT_LARGE
Extra space for the text area (if using checkboxes).

MUI_FINISHPAGE_BUTTON text
Text to display on the Finish button.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_TEXT_REBOOT text
Text to display on the finish page when asking for a system reboot. Use \r\n for a newline.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_TEXT_REBOOTNOW text
Text to display next to the 'Reboot now' option button.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_TEXT_REBOOTLATER text
Text to display next to the 'Reboot later' option button.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_RUN exe_file
Application which the user can select to run using a checkbox. You don't need to put quotes around the filename when it contains spaces.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_RUN_TEXT text
Texts to display next to the 'Run program' checkbox.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_RUN_PARAMETERS parameters
Parameters for the application to run. Don't forget to escape double quotes in the value (use $\").

MUI_FINISHPAGE_RUN_NOTCHECKED
Do not check the 'Run program' checkbox by default

MUI_FINISHPAGE_RUN_FUNCTION function_name
Call a function instead of executing an application (define MUI_FINISHPAGE_RUN without parameters). You can use the function to exectute multiple applications or you can change the checkbox name and use it for other things.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_SHOWREADME file/url
File or website which the user can select to view using a checkbox. You don't need to put quotes around the filename when it contains spaces.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_SHOWREADME_TEXT text
Texts to display next to the 'Show Readme' checkbox.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_SHOWREADME_NOTCHECKED
Do not check the 'Show Readme' checkbox by default

MUI_FINISHPAGE_SHOWREADME_FUNCTION function_name
Call a function instead of showing a file (define MUI_FINISHPAGE_SHOWREADME without parameters). You can use the function to show multiple files or you can change the checkbox name and use it for other things.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_LINK link_text
Text for a link on the which the user can click to view a website or file.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_LINK_LOCATION file/url
Website or file which the user can select to view using the link. You don't need to put quotes around the filename when it contains spaces.

MUI_FINISHPAGE_LINK_COLOR (color: RRGGBB hexadecimal)
Text color for the link on the Finish page.
Default: 000080

MUI_FINISHPAGE_NOREBOOTSUPPORT
Disables support for the page that allows the user to reboot the system. Define this option to save some space if you are not using the /REBOOTOK flag or SetRebootFlag.

Uninstall Confirm Page Settings

MUI_UNCONFIRMPAGE_TEXT_TOP text
Text to display on the top of the page.

MUI_UNCONFIRMPAGE_TEXT_LOCATION text
Text to display next to the uninstall location text box.

Advanced Page Settings

You can add custom code to the page functions of your Modern UI pages. More info...

4. Custom functions

If you want add your own code to functions inserted by the Modern UI (e.g. the .onGUIInit function and the page functions), create your own function and let the Modern UI functions call them.

More info...

5. Language files

Insert the Modern UI language files for the languages to want to include.

!insertmacro MUI_LANGUAGE "English"

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

Language Selection Dialog

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 the .onInit function:

Function .onInit

  !insertmacro MUI_LANGDLL_DISPLAY

FunctionEnd

You can also use this macro for the uninstaller, in the un.onInit function.

Language Selection Dialog Settings

To remember to users preference, you can define a registry key.
Note: These defines should be set before inserting the installation page macro.

MUI_LANGDLL_REGISTRY_ROOT root
MUI_LANGDLL_REGISTRY_KEY key
MUI_LANGDLL_REGISTRY_VALUENAME value_name
The registry key to store the language. The users preference will be remembered. You can also use it for the uninstaller to display the right language. Don't forget to remove this key in the uninstaller.

For the uninstaller, insert the MUI_UNGETLANGUAGE macro in un.onInit to get the stored language preference:

Function un.onInit

  !insertmacro MUI_UNGETLANGUAGE

FunctionEnd

Language Selection Dialog Interface Settings

To customize the language selection dialog interface, use these defines before inserting the MUI_LANGDLL_DISPLAY macro.

MUI_LANGDLL_WINDOWTITLE text
The window title of the language selection dialog.

MUI_LANGDLL_INFO text
The text to display on the language selection dialog.

MUI_LANGDLL_ALWAYSSHOW
Always show the language selection dialog, even if a language has been stored in the registry. The language stored in the registry will be selected by default.

6. Reserve files

If you are using solid compression (by default, solid compression is enabled for BZIP2 and LZMA), it's important that files which are being extracted in init- or page functions function are located before other files in the data block, because this will make your installer faster.

If there are File commands in your sections or functions above the init- or page functions, add the reserve file macros above your sections and functions.

ReserveFile "ioFile.ini" ;Your own InstallOptions INI files
!insertmacro MUI_RESERVEFILE_INSTALLOPTIONS ;InstallOptions plug-in
!insertmacro MUI_RESERVEFILE_LANGDLL ;Language selection dialog

7. Your own sections and functions

Add your installer sections and functions. See the NSIS Users Manual for details.

Information about section code and function code for Start Menu shortcut creation and language selection can be found above.

8. Section descriptions

The descriptions of sections will be displayed on the components page, when the user hovers the mouse over a section. If you don't want to use descriptions, use the MUI_COMPONENTSPAGE_NODESC interface setting.

To set a description for a section, you have to add an additional parameter to the Section commmand with a name for the define that should contain the section number.

Section "Section Name 1" Section1
   ...
SectionEnd

Use these macros to set the descriptions:

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

!insertmacro MUI_FUNCTION_DESCRIPTION_BEGIN
  !insertmacro MUI_DESCRIPTION_TEXT ${Section1} $(DESC_Section1)
  !insertmacro MUI_DESCRIPTION_TEXT ${Section2} $(DESC_Section2)
!insertmacro MUI_FUNCTION_DESCRIPTION_END

For the uninstaller, use the MUI_UNFUNCTION_DESCRIPTION_BEGIN and MUI_UNFUNCTIONS_DESCRIPTION_END macros.