[wix-users] Help with MSM including in MSI

[pavel.zelenko at ktp.solutions]

Dear Miles, Chris,

Thanks for your prompt responses.
Yes, I would go with following approach below, please take a look and
correct me if I am wrong:
I have main "main.msi" module. I need another "additional.msi" module to be
embedded in the first one. I need to create  new .MSM  (merge module)  from
the "additional.msi" module, ( by saying this, I mean, moving files,
registries, components, etc.) and include this newly created msm module in
"main.msi".
I guess in this case they both will be installed during "main.msi"
installation.
Will this steps/approaches work with WIX?

Thanks in advance



-----Original Message-----
From: wix-users <wix-users-bounces at lists.wixtoolset.org> On Behalf Of
Christopher Painter via wix-users
Sent: Thursday, April 8, 2021 21:33
To: WiX Toolset Users Mailing List <wix-users at lists.wixtoolset.org>
Cc: Christopher Painter <chrpai at iswix.com>
Subject: Re: [wix-users] Help with MSM including in MSI

Hi Miles,

 Remember that MSI predates WiX.  Merge Modules absolutely can be used as
libraries to build a larger installer.  That's what my tool IsWiX is all
based on.   Merge modules can be useful because you can author them using
WiX and consume them using InstallShield as an example. WiX then came along
and created it's fragment and wixlib patterns to streamline all of that and
eliminate some complexities associated with merge modules but this assumes
you are staying in an all WiX ecosystem. 

 I do shy away from using merge modules in the third party sense because
there have been so many poorly authored merge modules that consuming them
often introduces problems into your own MSI.  For these I prefer  EXE/MSI
redists and chaining them using Burn.


As to the original question of how do you "convert" an MSI to an MSM... you
don't really.   MSI has concept of Product, UI, Features, Installation
directory and so on.  Merge modules are more abstract.  They have  module
signature,  sub directories, components, resources but none of the other
previously mentioned meta that an MSI has.

Regards,
Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: wix-users <wix-users-bounces at lists.wixtoolset.org> On Behalf Of Miles
Davies via wix-users
Sent: Thursday, April 8, 2021 8:08 AM
To: WiX Toolset Users Mailing List <wix-users at lists.wixtoolset.org>
Cc: Miles Davies <Miles.Davies at horiba.com>
Subject: Re: [wix-users] Help with MSM including in MSI

Hi Pavel,
	I wonder if I might ask why? This would seem an odd thing to do, at
least as far as my understanding goes.

MSM files are Windows installer 'merge modules' which are intended to be
distributed by themselves. The merge module is then used by external parties
to include into their own installers. An example might be a library or tool
such as the Microsoft CRT re-distributable. Merge modules are not designed
as a 'library' container to build a larger installer from. That would be
more closely mirrored by a WiX library.

In terms of installing a set of MSM files for an external user to consume in
their own installers you wouldn't want to unpack them in your MSI but xcopy
them into a known location.

I can help with creating a MSM and consuming it from an MSI but I am not
really sure that is what you want. 

Best regards,
	Miles

-----Original Message-----
From: wix-users <wix-users-bounces at lists.wixtoolset.org> On Behalf Of Pa via
wix-users
Sent: 05 April 2021 17:03
To: wix-users at lists.wixtoolset.org
Cc: pavel.zelenko at ktp.solutions
Subject: [wix-users] Help with MSM including in MSI

Guys, can someone help me by providing full example of converting .MSI to
.MSM and include these newly created .MSM into another .MSI

The sample or example will be helpful

Thanks in advance

 

 

 


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