Saturday 4 August 2012
Software Identification Tag - Installshield
ISO/IEC 19770-2 is an international standard for the creation of software identification tags. A software identification tag is a small XML-based file that contains descriptive information about the software, such as the product name, product edition, product version, and publisher. Software asset management tools collect the data in the tags to provide accurate application identification for software that is installed in an enterprise.
Software identification tagging is evolving as an industry standard, enabling independent software vendors to create smarter applications that give their customers better information for software asset management and license optimization initiatives. Including the identification tag in your product’s
installation makes it possible for your customers to use tools that can monitor their internal usage of your product, allowing them to understand, manage, and optimize the number of licenses of your product that they obtain from you.
Proper tag creation requires that you configure standard General Information settings such as Product Name and Product Version. It also requires that you configure a few identification-specific settings, which are also in the General Information view.
Windows File Versioning Rules
Suppose your installation source contains a file named newstuff.dll, and the
Installer finds a copy of newstuff.dll already on the user’s hard drive. How
would you decide whether to overwrite the existing copy on the hard drive with a new copy from the source media? Your first idea might be to compare file dates; you would then overwrite if the copy in the source media was newer. A more sophisticated version of this technique is to look at the internal file version information, and overwrite if the copy in the source media has a higher version.
The Windows Installer uses an even more complex algorithm when deciding
whether to keep an existing file or install a new copy. It takes into account not just the file dates and the version, but the languages involved as well. Here’s the set of rules the Windows Installer follows:
Highest version wins: All other things being equal, the file with the highest
version number wins, whether that’s the file on the hard drive or the file in the
source media.
Any version is higher than no version at all: If the copy in the source media
contains version information, and the copy on the hard drive has no version
information, Windows Installer chooses the one with the version information.
Favor the new language: All other things being equal, if the file being
installed is localized for a different language than the file on the computer, Windows Installer uses the copy with the language that matches the product being installed.
Meet the product’s needs for multiple languages: If both copies support
multiple languages, Windows Installer ignores the common languages and uses the copy that supports the most languages out of the set of languages that the product uses.
Keep the maximum number of languages: If the copies differ in the number
of languages they support and both support all the languages that the product
needs, Windows Installer keeps the copy that supports the most languages.
Treat non-versioned files as user data: If there is no version information for
either copy, Windows Installer compares the file creation date and the last modification date for the file on the computer. If the modification date is later than the creation date, Windows Installer assumes this file has been customized by the user and does not overwrite it. Otherwise, it installs a new copy.
Companion files go along with the versioned file: It’s possible to mark a
file within the Installer database that does not include version information as a companion file to a file that does include version information. In this case, the companion file is installed if the other file is installed. There is one exception to this rule, though. If the companion file is not present on the target machine, it’s installed even if the versioned file is not installed.
It’s a good thing that these rules match the way most developers would like
installations to behave because there’s no way for you to change them. Of course, you can pervert their intention if you feel you must. One way to guarantee that a file from the source media is installed is to set its version string in the File table to 65535.65535.65535.65535, which is the maximum version number that the Windows Installer accommodates. Beware, though: if you do this, you’ll never be able to use the Windows Installer to replace that copy of the file with a new version.
Friday 3 August 2012
MSI Just-in-time (JIT) installation
Just-in-time (JIT) installation—A package need not be fully installed right away. If a feature or component of the package is needed later, it can be grabbed from the source and loaded JIT—all while the application is already started.
MSI Custom Action Type Flags
Value added to Type
|
Effect
|
0
|
Synchronous
execution. Fails if exit code is not
zero., Always
executed. Immediate
execution.
|
+64
|
Synchronous
execution. Exit code is ignored
|
+128
|
Asynchronous
execution. Fails if exit code is not
zero.
|
+192
|
Asynchronous
execution. Exit code is ignored
|
+256
|
Execute
once. If the action is in both the UI and
Execute
sequence tables, it is executed only in
the UI
sequence table if the user interface is
used,
and it is executed only in the Execute
sequence
table if the user interface is not used.
|
+512
|
Execute
once per process. If the action is in both
the UI
and Execute sequence tables, and both
tables
are read by the same process, it is
executed
only in the UI sequence table if the user
interface
is used, and only in the Execute
sequence
table if the user interface is not used
|
+768
|
Execute
only on client after UI sequence. This
custom
action is in the Execute sequence table,
but it
should not be run if the user interface is
suppressed.
|
+1024
|
Deferred
execution custom action
|
+1280
|
Rollback
custom action
|
+1536
|
Commit
custom action
|
+3072
|
Deferred
custom action run in the system
process.
|
MSI Custom Action Types
This table also shows how you should interpret the Source and Target columns for each type of custom action
Type
|
Description
|
Source
|
Target
|
1
|
.dll
stored in a binary
Stream
|
Key to a
row in the
Binary
table
|
Name of
the .dll
entry
point.
|
2
|
.exe stored
in a binary
Stream
|
Key to a
row in the
Binary
table
|
Command-line
string
used to
launch the
.exe.
|
5
|
JScript
in a binary
Stream
|
Key to a
row in the
Binary
table
|
Name of
the JScript
function
to call.
|
6
|
VBScript
in a binary
Stream
|
Key to a
row in the
Binary
table
|
Name of
the VBScript
function
to call
|
7
|
Installation
of a
package
nested inside
of
the first package
|
Name of
the substorage
containing
database
of nested
application.
|
Properties
settings
string.
|
17
|
.dll installed
as part
of
a product
|
Key to a
row in the File
Table
|
Name of
the .dll
entry
point.
|
18
|
.exe installed
as part
of
a product
|
Key to a
row in the File
Table
|
Command-line
string
used to
launch the
.exe.
|
19
|
Displays
a specified
error
message and
returns
failure,
terminating
the
installation
|
Blank
|
Formatted
text string.
The
literal message or
an index
into the Error
table.
|
21
|
JScript
file installed as
part of
a product
|
Key to a
row in the File
Table
|
Name of
the JScript
function
to call.
|
22
|
VBScript
file installed
as part
of a product
|
Key to a
row in the File
Table
|
Name of
the VBScript
function
to call.
|
23
|
Installation
of a
package
that resides in
the
first application’s
source
tree
|
Path of
nested
package
specified
relative
to the root of
the
source location
|
Properties
settings
String
|
34
|
EXE in a
known
Directory
|
Key to a
row in the
Directory
table
|
Name of
the
executable
file and any
options.
Use quotes to
surround
long file
names.
|
35
|
Directory
set via
formatted
text
|
Key to
the Directory
Table
|
Formatted
text string
that
will be set as the
directory
path when
this
action is executed.
|
37
|
JScript
text
|
Null
|
A string
of JScript code
to
execute.
|
38
|
VBScript
text
|
Null
|
A string
of VBScript
code to
execute.
|
39
|
Installation
of an
application
that is
advertised
or already
installed
|
Product
Code for the
application
to install
|
Properties
settings
String
|
50
|
.exe named
by a
Property
|
Property
name or key
to a row
in the Property
table
|
Command-line
string
used to
launch the
.exe.
|
51
|
Property
set via
formatted
text
|
Property
name or key
to the
Property table
|
Formatted
text string
that
will be stored in
the
property when this
action
is executed.
|
53
|
JScript
text stored in a
Property
|
Property
name or key
to a row
in the Property
table
|
Name of
the JScript
function
to call.
|
54
|
VBScript
text stored in
a
property
|
Property
name or key
to a row
in the Property
table
|
Name of
the VBScript
function
to call.
|
MSI Private Properties
Following are the list of Private Properties
Property
|
Description
|
AdminProperties
|
A
semicolon-delimited list of properties that should be “filled in” when an
administrative install is performed. When the user later installs from the
Share
point, this list is used instead of the values originally in the Installer
database.
|
AdminToolsFolder
|
Full
path to the directory that stores a user’s administrative tools (for example,
Microsoft Management Console files).
|
AdminUser
|
Set to
True if the user has administrative privileges. Always set to True if running
on Windows 95 or Windows 98.
|
Alpha
|
Set to
the processor level if the Installer is running on an Alpha computer.
|
AppDataFolder
|
Full
path to the directory that stores the user’s application data.
|
BorderSide
|
Width
of a Windowsdialog box borders in pixels.
|
BorderTop
|
Height
of a Windows dialog box borders in pixels.
|
CaptionHeight
|
Height
of a Windows caption in pixels
|
ColorBits
|
Color
depth for the current video settings
|
CommonFilesFolder
|
Full
path to the directory that stores the user’s common files.
|
CommonAppDataFolder
|
Full
path to the directory that stores the user’s application data.
|
ComputerName
|
Name of
the computer where the installation is running. Set by the Installer by
calling the GetComputerName API.
|
CostingComplete
|
This
property is set to zero by the CostFinalize action. The Installer sets it to
1 when costing is completed.
|
Date
|
Current
date as a text string.
|
DefaultUIFont
|
The name
of the TextStyle to use by default on controls. You should set this in the
Property table.
|
DesktopFolder
|
Full
path to the current user’s desktop.
|
DiskPrompt
|
String
that the Installer uses to prompt for a new source disk.
|
EnableUserControl
|
Setting
this to 1 has the effect of making all public properties unrestricted.
|
FavoritesFolder
|
Full
path to the Favorites folder of the current user.
|
FontsFolder
|
Full
path to the system font’s folder.
|
Installed
|
Set to 1
if the product has already been installed for the current user, or on a
per-machine basis. Useful to detect when you’re in maintenance mode instead
of installing for the first time.
|
Intel
|
Set to
the processor level (4 for 486, 5 for Pentium, etc.) if the installation is
running on an
Intel-based
computer.
|
IsAdminPackage
|
Set to 1
if the current installation is being run from a package created by an
administrative installation.
|
LeftUnit
|
Set to 1
to display units to the left of numbers in such things as free space
displays.
|
LocalAppDataFolder
|
Full
path to the application data folder for nonroaming applications.
|
LogonUser
|
Name of
the current user, set by a call to the
GetUserName
API.
|
NetHoodFolder
|
Full
path to the Network Neighborhood folder. Although this property has been
dropped from the most recent SDK documentation, it still works.
|
Manufacturer
|
Manufacturer
of the product. You must set this property’s value in the Property table.
|
MyPicturesFolder
|
Full
path to the user’s My Pictures folder.
|
OLEAdvtSupport
|
Set to
True if the current system supports installon- demand and advertisement.
|
OutOfDiskSpace
|
Set to
True if any disk in the system doesn’t have enough free disk space for the
installation to complete.
|
OutOfNoRbDiskSpace
|
Set to
true if any disk in the system doesn’t have enough free disk space for the
installation to complete even if rollback is disabled.
|
PersonalFolder
|
Full
path to the current user’s Personal folder.
|
PhysicalMemory
|
Megabytes
of actual RAM installed in the current computer.
|
PIDTemplate
|
String
used as a template for the PIDKEY property.
|
Preselected
|
Set to 1
when the selection dialog has already been processed.
|
PrintHoodFolder
|
Full
path to the user’s Printer Neighborhood folder. Although this property has
been dropped from the most recent SDK documentation, it still works.
|
PrimaryVolumePath
|
Path
portion of the PRIMARYFOLDER property
|
PrimaryVolumeSpaceAvailable
|
Number
of bytes available on the primary volume, in units of 512 bytes.
|
PrimaryVolumeSpaceRequired
|
Number
of bytes required by all selected features on the primary volume, in units of
512 bytes.
|
PrimaryVolumeSpaceRemaining
|
Number
of bytes remaining after installation on the primary volume, in units of 512
bytes.
|
Privileged
|
Set to 1
when the installation is running with administrative privileges.
|
ProductCode
|
GUID
that identifies this product. You must set a value for this property in the
Property table.
|
ProductID
|
Set to
the product ID by the ValidateProductID action.
|
ProductLanguage
|
Language
ID to use for internal Installer strings displayed to the user.
|
ProductName
|
Name of
the product being installed. You must set a value for this property in the
Property table.
|
ProductState
|
Will
return –1 if the product is neither advertised nor installed, 1 if the
product is advertised but not installed, 2 if the product is installed but
for a different user, or 5 if the product is already installed for the
current user.
|
ProductVersion
|
Product
version represented as a string in the format 00.00.0000. You must set a
value for this property in the Property table.
|
ProgramFilesFolder
|
Full
path to the user’s Program Files folder.
|
ProgramMenuFolder
|
Full
path to the user’s Program folder in the Start menu.
|
RecentFolder
|
Full
path to the current user’s Recent folder. Although this property has been
dropped from the most recent SDK documentation, it still works.
|
RemoteAdminTS
|
Set to 1
when the system is configured for remote administration via Windows Terminal
Services.
|
ReplacedInUseFiles
|
Set to 1
if the Installer replaces a file that’s in use (thus requiring a reboot to
finish the installation).
|
RestrictedUserControl
|
Set to 1
if the user can’t change the value of restricted public properties.
|
RollbackDisabled
|
Set to 1
whenever rollback has been disabled by any means.
|
ScreenX
|
Width
of the screen (in pixels).
|
ScreenY
|
Height
of the screen (in pixels).
|
SecureCustomProperties
|
Semicolon-delimited
list of public properties that should be treated as restricted public
properties.
|
SendToFolder
|
Full
path of the Send To folder for the current user.
|
ServicePackLevel
|
Major
revision number of the most recent service
pack
applied to the operating system
|
ServicePackLevelMinor
|
Minor revision
number of the most recent service pack applied to the operating system.
|
SharedWindows
|
Set to 1
when the system is operating in shared
Windows
mode.
|
ShellAdvtSupport
|
Set to 1
if the operating system supports advertising.
|
SourceDir
|
The root
directory of the current installation package.
|
StartMenuFolder
|
Full
path to the current user’s Start Menu folder
|
StartupFolder
|
Full
path to the current user’s Startup folder.
|
System16Folder
|
Full
path to the Windows System folder.
|
SystemFolder
|
Full
path to the Windows System32 folder.
|
SystemLanguageID
|
Default
language for the system. The Installer sets this by calling the
GetSystemDefaultLangID API.
|
TempFolder
|
Full
path to the user’s Temp folder
|
TemplateFolder
|
Full
path to the user’s Templates folder
|
TerminalServer
|
Set to 1 when the
Installer is running on Windows
Terminal Server.
|
Time
|
Current
time in the format HH:MM:SS.
|
TTCSupport
|
Set to 1
if the system supports .ttc (TrueType
Font
Collection) files.
|
UILevel
|
2 for
none, 3 for basic, 4 for reduced, or 5 for the full user interface.
|
UpdateStarted
|
Set to 1
when changes have been made to the user’s system.
|
UpgradeCode
|
A GUID
representing allowable upgrades.
|
UserLanguageID
|
The
default language ID for the current user. The
Installer
sets this by calling the GetUserDefaultLangID API.
|
Version9X
|
If
running on Windows 95 or 98, this is set to 100 times the major version of
Windows plus the minor version of Windows.
|
VersionDatabase
|
Numeric
version of the Installer database for the package being installed.
|
VersionNT
|
If
running on Windows NT or Windows 2000, this is set to 100 times the major
version of Windows plus the minor version of Windows.
|
VirtualMemory
|
Size
of the current page file in megabytes.
|
WindowsBuild
|
Build
number of the operating system.
|
WindowsFolder
|
Full
path to the Windows folder.
|
WindowsVolume
|
Root
of the drive containing the Windows folder.
|
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