Software Deployment

Hi all,

I'm back with another situation!

I have some components that I need to install into another app's file system. That's easily enough achieved with a registry search and Set Directory Custom Action. Here is the issue, however. These files will support two different applications, Third Party App 1 and Third Party App 2.

What I'm currently doing is using two features that are conditioned by the population of the registry search property. If a Third Party App 1 install directory is found that feature gets installed. Same for Thirdy Party App 2. The files are the same for both.

I was wondering if there was a better way to handle this to cut the overhead in the install in half with regard to these files instead of having two sets of the same files packaged.

My first thought was to simply install the single set of files in our file system. Then, install a dummy file into the Third Party App directories if found. Then, I could use the DuplicateFile table tied to the dummy component. Using this method has the potential for a footprint of 3 sets of files as opposed to the possibility of having two sets from the current setup. However, the actual overhead in the install is cut in half.

I guess it comes down to the question of how can I install a single set of files to two areas from the same installation?

Let me know if anything is murkey or if you have any suggestions or agree with my current approach!

Thanks much in advance!