Extract text from InstallShield scripts (IS)
To convert IS scripts to another format, you need InstallShield or other Developer software.
To convert other file formats to the "Installer Script" file type, you need software like InstallShield or a similar tool.
The .IS file extension is predominantly associated with InstallScript, a proprietary scripting language used by Flexera InstallShield to create Windows installers. These files contain the logic and instructions - such as registry modifications, file copying, and dialog sequences - required to build a final setup executable (Setup.exe). While they are critical for developers, they present significant hurdles for end-users or system administrators trying to audit software.
The Problem:
Most .IS files are essentially plain text source code, yet they lack a default association in Windows. Double-clicking them often leads to an "Open With" prompt or an error. Furthermore, because InstallScript is a specialized language, standard text editors provide no syntax highlighting, making the code difficult to parse visually. In some legacy contexts, an .IS file might alternatively be an image slice definition from the discontinued Adobe ImageReady or a resource file for the vintage game Ironseed. This ambiguity creates confusion - users often don't know if they are dealing with code or a graphic until they try to open it.
The Solution:
For InstallShield scripts, the most practical workflow is converting the file to TXT (for universal viewing) or PDF (for documentation and archiving). This ensures the installation logic can be reviewed without purchasing a costly InstallShield license. If the file is a legacy image component, attempting a conversion to standard raster formats like JPG or PNG is the only way to salvage the visual data.
Convert.Guru analyzes your IS file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted ISL, $$A and RGE files.
If you want to convert IS file to , you can use InstallShield or similar software from the "Installation Script Source" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to IS, try InstallShield or another comparable tool in the "Installation Script Source" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our IS converter.