INSTALLDIR vs. TARGETDIR

INSTALLDIR represents the main product installation directory 


TARGETDIR represents the installation directory for an administrative Windows Installer–based installation (when the user runs MsiExec.exe with
the /a command-line switch).

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.

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.