[wix-devs] v4 - which .NET Framework?

[Rob Mensching]

We could install many different versions of .NET Framework in the Bundle but I was trying to keep it simpler than that. We don't support installing WiX Toolset on XP. So Vista is the lowest bar. My understanding is v4.6.0 isn't supported. So if v4.6.1 doesn't support Vista I think the simple answer is v4.5.2 everywhere. I'd only really want to do the more complicated scenario below if there isn't a single .NET Framework that supports all our target OS's (aka: Vista+).

As for not up to date machines, we should either solve the problem or ensure there is a good error message in mbapreq. This is the same experience everyone else uses so it might as well be good.


-----Original Message-----
From: wix-devs [mailto:wix-devs-bounces at lists.wixtoolset.org] On Behalf Of Sean Hall
Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2016 8:42 AM
To: WiX Toolset Developer Mailing List <wix-devs at lists.wixtoolset.org>
Subject: Re: [wix-devs] v4 - which .NET Framework?

If we're going to target a lower version of .NET than the one that the
bundle includes, then there's no reason for us to pick only one version of
.NET for the bundle.  We can set it up such that it installs .NET 4.0 on XP
SP3, .NET 4.6 on Vista SP2, and .NET 4.6.1 on Win 7 SP1 and later.

The question then becomes, what happens when there is no 4.x version of
.NET installed on the machine and the version of .NET we have in the bundle
can't be installed on the current OS.  For instance, 4.6.1 cannot be
installed on completely unpatched versions of Windows (I don't remember off
the top of my head which ones), it requires one (or more) Windows Updates
and/or service packs.  Do we just pop up a message saying that they need to
update their OS?  Do we ask them to enable the .NET feature in Windows, or
add functionality to burn to do it ourselves?

Also, Phill mentioned switching to a Redist version.  I'm not sure where
that came from, or why we would want to do that.  If that's because of
layout, then I think there's a feature that could be written for Burn where
it can support using a Web version for install and a Redist version for
layout.