I need to install plugins (or add-ons) to an application we write. I user WiX for the installer of the application.
A plugin is, in my mind, an optional part of the application. It needs to integrate into the file-system structure of the application, but it can also be added later, even by someone who does not have control over the installer of the original application. So I find all out of the box-mechanisms of WiX inadequate: neither small/minor/major update nor the patch mechanism seem to fit into the prerequisites stated in the previous phrase.
So I find the best way for me is to let the original installer leave a registry-entry specifying in some way where to install the plugins, and build separate installers for the plugins. Which leaves open the question, how to proceed on uninstall, but that's an issue I can handle later.
Does anyone have a better idea? Are there any mechanisms specifically for this in WiX which I'm not aware of?
Thnx for your advice,
N-Man
A registry key is a popular way to solve this. A more Windows Installer centric way of creating a plug-in directory is to use a Component to create the plug-in directory and have others use a ComponentSearch for the Component/#Guid.
Uninstalling plug-ins at the same time as your app will be difficult (probably impossible) without an external bootstrapper/chainer managing your uninstall. It is far easier to decouple the uninstall of plug-ins from application completely so they can be removed independently.
So I find the best way for me is to
let the original installer leave a
registry-entry specifying in some way
where to install the plugins, and
build separate installers for the
plugins.
Yes, I believe that's the standard approach. Your main application installer can leave a registry entry about where to install plugins like this:
<Registry Id='WritePluginsLoc'
Root='HKLM'
Key='Software\Acme\Foo 1.x'
Name='PluginsLocation'
Type='string'
Action='write'
Value='[PLUGINSFOLDER]' />
The plug-in installer can then retrieve the registry entry like this:
<Property Id="PLUGINSFOLDER">
<RegistrySearch Id='PluginsLocationSearch'
Root='HKLM'
Key='Software\Acme\Foo 1.x'
Name='PluginsLocation'
Type='raw' />
</Property>
To automatically uninstall plug-ins along with the main product I'm afraid you'll have to write a custom uninstaller exe. This exe would have to know how to find the plug-in MSI product codes and would invoke msiexec /x for each one.
Related
How do I find out what silentArg I need to use for creating a Chocolatey package?
I know that each installer will have different silentArgs but I just don't know where I can find which one has which. Also, I am using strictly .exe files (embedded too).
You'll have to work with the documentation/support provided by the software maintainer, but I'll provide some suggestions here.
Typically, MSI installers support the same silent installation parameters (many will simply work with /qn), but sometimes an installer might support additional variables or an input file you must provide.
EXE installers are a free-for-all, unfortunately. It depends on what parameters are coded into the setup program to support, even for the setup.exe installers that call another MSI. Depending on what built the EXE installer, you might be able to try some common options. The following techniques are suggestions to get you started on de-mystifying different common EXE installers:
A setup.exe that extracts and runs MSIs might be able to have the MSIs extracted and run on their own, but this is likely unsupported by the software maintainer. You will need to test this on your own per package to know if this approach will work.
Nullsoft Installers typically support a common array of options that can be used to deploy your application.
InstallShield Installers typically support the /S parameter along with an answer file, but you would still need to work with the software maintainer or read the software documentation to know what to put in the answer file.
As I've mentioned in other answers, the best thing you can do here is reach out to the vendor or software maintainer and ask for a deployment guide for that software, or at least documentation on how to silently install.
I am writing a script that pulls files from my development folders and would like to generate an installer with those files.
I would like to if there is a way to create MSI installers using command line.
Yes there is a way. The very flexible Windows Installer XML Toolset. A pretty good tutorial on how to use it is this link
The toolset is here
I think you need to define "create". If you mean "build" or "compile" then yes, pretty much every MSI authoring tool out there supports some form of automated build ... usually even MSBuild support.
If you mean "author" and "build" it's technically possible but not usually advised. Installation is too complicated to be auto magically developed.
Okay, I am trying to write an installer that installs multiple programs. The installer needs to be able to either get the files from a web server, or be able to package the files into a single installer file.
The end result I am looking for is a user hits a webpage, they can click a link to download a single installer file and the installer goes ahead and installs each of the programs. Quiet installations would be preferable but not absolutely necessary. I am trying to make this as user friendly and idiot proof as possible.
Grabbing the installers for each program from a web server would be preferable so it always grabs the latest version and I will not have to tweak the installer script each time the programs are updated.
I have looked into NSIS and MSI, and neither seem to be able to do what I need. I have entertained the idea of using Java Web Start to run a Java program that can install everything, but I am not sure the plausibility of that. If that is possible, then the user would not even need to run a file the Java Web Start would just take care of everything.
Perhaps Ninite will help.
If not, there are two possible solutions:
You can try using a MSI wrapper which installs the applications as prerequisites or through custom actions. It's dirty and complicated, but MSI is a standard.
You can write your own application which handles the installers. This is most likely the best approach.
As asked and answered here, python has a useful way of deployment without installers. Can Java do the same thing?
Is there any way to run Java's jar file without installing jre?
Is there a tool something like java2exe (win32), java2bin (linux) or java2app (mac)?
You can use Launch4j for this. Well documented and easy to use. While the resulting program still needs a JRE to run, you don't have to install the JRE on the target system. You can just copy it with your application and tell Launch4j were to find it or just wrap it up with everything else.
For creating native executables, you can use Excelsion Jet, which compiles Java to native code. We used it for a project at work, and we had to perform zero modification to the original source code (which targetted Sun's JDK).
you can embbed the JRE inside your application and create a setup or installation for your application.
You can have a look at
http://www.bearcave.com/software/java/comp_java.html
You might get it what you want.
You might want to check out how Eclipse does it - it has a native .exe that can use a local (to the installation) JRE.
You might be able to get some luck with GCJ - haven't tried it myself.
You can do it with NetBeans and a couple of tools. The result is a standalone installer that packages everything you need, so your software can run without installing JRE. It is also completely portable, because it install your software on AppData, that is, it does not need privileges to be installed. Maybe you can even configure the installation path, or you can install it on your own PC, locate the folder and copy it to distribute your software in that way.
Check the Answer I made on different post
You can use jlink to create your own customized jre which would contain only those dependencies which are needed for execution. This deployment method is really efficient. please follow **this**link for one such example.
We have a windows app and we were using Wise for deployment. Recently we switched to InstallAware and though it has some good points we are facing some issues. Can someone recommend another deployment and packaging app? We are a small company and we do not have a dedicated staff for packaging etc. Also our package includes SQL server express installation and we would love to have the simplicity of such includes as is in IA.
How about NSIS or InnoSetup? They're both widely used, and not that hard to use. (If you choose InnoSetup, also download ISTool, it's a lot easier than writing the script file manually.)
We've used NSIS several times, both for full regular desktop installers, and for small, silently installing patches. It's easy to write a basic installer, especially if you use HM NIS Edit which acts as a wizard and IDE for NSIS. Because it's scriptable, you'll be able to check if SQL Server Express is already installed - if not, it can be installed as part of your installer process.
I have never used anything but Windows Setup and the setup projects that come with Visual Studio. Do you have any unusual requirements that prevent you from doing that?
I assume your requirement as follows,
You are using wise package studio to create\customize the application to create MSI and these msi package will be deployed or installed to your environment.
My question is : How many desktops \laptops are their in your company (Infrastructure)
Solution to your question based on my assumption:
At present Admistudio is the best product to replace the Wise and you can use Installshield repackager to create or customize the applications.
Install anyware is used to customize the Dll files (Build and release method) and create custom actions in that build file and build it to MSI
Installshield Repackager is used to create MSI from Exe files and also customize existing MSI using transform file (no need to modify existing MSI instead we can create MST file to MSI and perform the customization to MST file and same file will be applied while deployment.)
Please let me know if you need further assistance.