[wix-users] Wix Toolset - Can we add a new Feature in a wix msp patch (using a small update)

[Christopher Painter]

I'm of the belief that 99.9% of projects are best suited with Major Upgrades and that Minor Upgrades / Patching are for those that really really need it and those people must become absolute experts in it.   I only know enough to get basic patch sequences done and don't desire to go beyond that to be honest.


That said, I think this will help you:


https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/Msi/changing-the-product-code


"Note that adding a new child feature, consisting entirely of new components, to an existing feature does not require changing the product code.

New child features can be authored by including msidbFeatureAttributesFollowParent and msidbFeatureAttributesUIDisallowAbsent in the Attributes field of the Feature table<https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/Msi/feature-table>. If the minor upgrade only adds new child features, then REINSTALL=ALL is sufficient to force the installation of the new child features."



Combine that with the fact that the WiX PatchFamily element has the FeatureRef  as possible child element and I'd say it's likely possible to do what you want.


________________________________
From: wix-users <wix-users-bounces at lists.wixtoolset.org> on behalf of Mouni K via wix-users <wix-users at lists.wixtoolset.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2019 3:54 AM
To: wix-users at lists.wixtoolset.org
Cc: Mouni K
Subject: [wix-users] Wix Toolset - Can we add a new Feature in a wix msp patch (using a small update)

Hi WixUsers,

We are working on a small update for our application. the below is what i
am doing-

1. We have a SampleFeature in our major release (SampleAppFirst.msi)

2. And now we need a change it to the feature which will need some files to
be removed from the existing installation. So we modified the SampleFeature
and generated the new msi, say SampleAppSecond.msi.

3. Using Wix toolset- we run the Pyro command but the Patch.msp creation
fails with the below error which occurs for a number of files that are
deleted-

Removing component 'comp6105d295194744b080cf48cde3ea7264' from feature
'SampleFeature' is not supported. Either the component was removed or the
guid changed. Add the component back, undo the change to the component
guid, or remove the entire feature.

*My question here:-*

What to do to be able to deliver the changes in a Patch.msp. Can i add a
new feature altogether. Does wix allow us to add a new feature in a
patch.msp?

Appreciate any help here.

Thanks!

____________________________________________________________________
WiX Toolset Users Mailing List provided by FireGiant http://www.firegiant.com/
WiX Support | WiX Experts and Resources from FireGiant<http://www.firegiant.com/>
www.firegiant.com
WiX Support | Installation, Development, Deployment | WiX Experts and Resources from FireGiant