Building MSI copies data into APPDIR

[Lickydog]

I'm building an MSI to drop into an existing CD build. I can't change the CD build, which permits run from source (i.e. all data is unpacked at root level of the CD). When I build an MSI, the data is expected in a folder titled 'APPDIR' alongside the MSI. Can I bring it out of this folder?

[Ionut]

Hi,

Yes, you can, but it involves some changes to the AIP file and the creation of an administrative install package.

The directory structure created by Advanced Installer has changed since the 3.4 version. That is why the content of the Application Folder is placed inside the APPDIR folder.

If you want to put the files next to the MSI package, follow these steps:

1. Open the AIP file with a text editor and locate the following line:

Code: Select all

<ROW Directory="APPDIR" Directory_Parent="TARGETDIR" DefaultDir="APPDIR" IsPseudoRoot="1"/>

and change it to:

Code: Select all

<ROW Directory="APPDIR" Directory_Parent="TARGETDIR" DefaultDir="APPDIR:." IsPseudoRoot="1"/>

2. After performing the above modification, open the project in Advanced Installer and from the Media page select the "Archive installation files into CAB files" option and Build the project.

3. Run an administrative install of the package using the command:

Code: Select all

msiexec /a MyPackage.msi TARGETDIR="c:\MyPackageImage" /qn

The "/qn" command line switch performs a silent install (nu UI at all).

4. Burn the contents of the "c:\MyPackageImage" folder to a CD.

For more information about the Administrative Install please visit:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/defau ... lation.asp

Please let me know if you encounter any problems.

Regards,
Denis

[Lickydog]

Hi Denis,

I've successfully rebuilt an msi to permit run from source as per your instructions, the only problem noted so far has been a failure to execute the application from the final dialogue. All shortcuts function correctly and the readme executes from the final dialogue - APPDIR\readme.rtf functions OK, APPDIR\wrapper.exe fails. Is this a failure introduced by the administrative install?

Warm regards,

Ian

[Ionut]

Hi,

A bug related to the DLL Custom Action that launches the application at the end of the install process has been fixed in version 3.7 of Advanced Installer.

What version of AdvInst are you using?

Regards,
Denis

[Lickydog]

Sorry Denis, this is a 3.6 build.

Thanks for the update.

Ian

[Lickydog]

Hi, thanks for the updates to 4.1 - it's a monster of an update - lots of great features!

I'm still manually re-building my MSIs to externalise the content of APPDIR - is there any timescale for implementing a switch to place the installation files immediately alongside the MSI instead of one layer down (in APPDIR)?

Keep up the good work!

Ian

[gigi]

Hi,

We add this on our TODO list. Thank you for your suggestion.

Regards,
Gigi
________________
Gheorghe Rada
Advanced Installer Team
http://www.advancedinstaller.com