End User Computing
What is Transform? MSI Transform is a collection of specified changes in the form of .mst files, which one apply to a base Windows Installer package file at installation time. When one applies transforms to an .msi file, Windows Installer can dynamically add or modify data in the installation database, customizing the installation of the […]
Normal logging (MSI Windows Installer Logging) The installer records errors and events in its own error log. The type of logging that is performed by the installer is determined by the setting of the logging mode. Logging is enabled and the mode can be set by using the following methods: The logging mode of an […]
What are Merge Modules? Merge modules provide a standard method by which developers deliver shared Windows Installer components and setup logic to their applications. Merge modules are used to deliver shared code, files, resources, registry entries, and setup logic to applications as a single compound file. A merge module is similar in structure to a […]
The following steps describe the conversion of MSI to WSI: (Converting MSI to WSI) (Converting MSI to WSI) Step 1) Open the MSI with Windows Installer Editor Steps 2) under the tools menu select MSI to WSI conversion: Step 3) Click on next for selecting new source directory: Step 4) Click Next … Step 5) […]
What is Add/Remove Programs? (MSI Configuring Add/Remove Programs in Windows Installer) It is a GUI provided by windows to Add, Remove, and modify the programs How to customize Add/Remove Programs through MSI? One can supply all of the information needed to configure Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel by setting the values of certain installer properties […]
What is Registry? (MSI Structure of Registry) The Registry is split into a number of logical sections. Each of these keys is divided into subkeys, which may contain further subkeys, and so on. Any key may contain values. These values can be: String Value Binary Value DWORD Value (numbers between 0 and roughly 4 thousand […]
What are the Properties? (MSI Properties) Windows Installer can configure software installation by using the values of variables defined in an installation package or by the user. What are the types of Properties? (MSI Properties) Windows Installer uses three categories of global variables during an installation: Private properties: The installer uses private properties internally and […]
What are custom actions? The Windows Installer provides many built-in standard actions for performing the installation process. Standard actions are sufficient to execute an installation in most cases. However, there are situations where the developer of an installation package finds it necessary to write a custom action. The actions written to perform specific tasks is […]
What is an Environment Variable? An environment variable contains information about an aspect of the OS environment, such as a drive, path, or configuration string. When one create an OS environment with Microsoft® Platform Builder, the IDE sets specific environment variables based on the platform settings one select. The following table lists the system and […]
The Program Information tables group contains tables with information that’s used for the Installer’s internal operations. This group includes these tables: Property Table: (MSI Program Information Tables) What is a Property table? The Property table contains all of the properties and corresponding values that are present in an installation. This table has following columns: Property: […]