[wix-users] Example for bootstrapping latest "VCRedist" (VC14 / Visual Studio 2015)...

[Michael Suodenjoki]

Does anyone have an example of bootstrapping the latest "VCRedist" executables (either vc_redist.x64.exe or vc_redist.x86.exe) with Visual C++ (VC14) runtime(s) as included with Visual Studio 2015 together with a product.msi?

I'm fairly new to the WiX bootstrap methodology and would like some example/help to address a WiX solution of installing a product  requiring the "VCRedist". It is possible to download latest "VCRedist" from https://www.microsoft.com/en-eg/download/details.aspx?id=48145. Note that it seems to be language dependent.

The WiX "VCRedist" bootstrapping example should in my view cover:

* Detection so that "VCRedist" is only installed if needed.
* Prefer download (so that we do not have to embed it - particular if all language versions then needs to be embedded).
* Install correct language of "VCRedist" (likely depending on target machine system locale).
* The appropriate WiX tool commands (including listing extensions) to build/link it.

Anything else that needs to be considered?

As described by Microsoft (see http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vcblog/archive/2015/03/03/introducing-the-universal-crt.aspx), for a product using VC14 to run appropriately, the Universal CRT needs to be present. On Windows 10 it is always present but for older Windows versions the "VCRedist" executables (either vc_redist.x64.exe or vc_redist.x86.exe) (might) need to be executed.

BTW: At http://wixtoolset.org/documentation/manual/v3/howtos/redistributables_and_install_checks/install_vcredist.html in the WiX documentation the vcredist is mentioned. It does not describe how to use the Microsoft "VCRedist" (either vc_redist.x64.exe or vc_redist.x86.exe). Rather it seems to cover only how to deal with the traditional merge modules, which by the way still are available e.g. Microsoft_VC140_CRT_x86.msm, but they do not address the Universal CRT runtime. Perhaps the title of that page should be changed to e.g. "Install Visual C++ Redistributable with your installer using Merge Modules"? But as referenced above this is not enough anymore.

/Michael