Need Help : Editing MSI adding files no results
Hi there,
I need your advices in order to edit an .MSI. Here the situation , I have an MSI package and only the MSI package to update.
This package is just installing shortcuts to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu , ... very basic. This package has been made with Installshied and will be deployed with SMS Server.
The issue is the following :
I have to insert a new shortcut. My idea is to edit in direct mode this package and into the components the new shortcut file.
I update additionnal MSI informations about version etc ... . I run a test install from Installshied and it works. I save my work as a new MSI .
When I Install the new MSI file but the new shortcut is NOT installed ! . Files (shortcuts) inserted during MSI editing are applyed during install.
Does anybody has an idea? . I have a very limited experience with MSI, is my way of thinking good ? I really would like to avoid to create a new MSI, is editing this .MSI the good way or do I have to create an MST ?
Best Regards.
Guillaume
I need your advices in order to edit an .MSI. Here the situation , I have an MSI package and only the MSI package to update.
This package is just installing shortcuts to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu , ... very basic. This package has been made with Installshied and will be deployed with SMS Server.
The issue is the following :
I have to insert a new shortcut. My idea is to edit in direct mode this package and into the components the new shortcut file.
I update additionnal MSI informations about version etc ... . I run a test install from Installshied and it works. I save my work as a new MSI .
When I Install the new MSI file but the new shortcut is NOT installed ! . Files (shortcuts) inserted during MSI editing are applyed during install.
Does anybody has an idea? . I have a very limited experience with MSI, is my way of thinking good ? I really would like to avoid to create a new MSI, is editing this .MSI the good way or do I have to create an MST ?
Best Regards.
Guillaume
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Answers (10)
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Posted by:
AngelD
17 years ago
If the new files added to the msi gets installed you will only have to populate the Shortcut table.
What info have you added to the Shortcut table for the moment?
Give us litle more info to go with.
Basically you only have to update the Shortcut table and the Icon table if you would like to add a new icon for the shortcut.
What info have you added to the Shortcut table for the moment?
Give us litle more info to go with.
Basically you only have to update the Shortcut table and the Icon table if you would like to add a new icon for the shortcut.
Posted by:
MSIMaker
17 years ago
I would create an mst if your not sure....editting an msi is tricky and should be avoided.
Create the mst and add your shortcut in there to the same component that contains the original shortcuts.
Create the mst and add your shortcut in there to the same component that contains the original shortcuts.
Posted by:
gmiga76
17 years ago
Hi,
Many thanks for your quick feedback.
What I have done under installshield, I dont use ORCA so its little bit more userfriendly .
- I have opened the .msi
- Add to component ,where the other shortcuts are located, my new link (.lnk) by choosing add file from components area.
I think I am missing something. Maybe the shortcut table and icon table, can you please tell me more about this. Things I see with Installshield or WiseInstaller are files or components.
What is very frustrating is when I test my package under Installshied it works and it install the new package with my shortcut.
When I save it and launch install from my fresh MSI it does not include any changes ... . I don't see any ways to launch a build become I am editing in direct mode an MSI .
Thanks for suggestions concerning the MST ... I ll keep this as a plan B. I think I am close to the solutions.
I am sure some of MSI experts have already done this. Any help suggestion is more than welcome.
Best Regards and many thanks for your support.
Guillaume.
Many thanks for your quick feedback.
What I have done under installshield, I dont use ORCA so its little bit more userfriendly .
- I have opened the .msi
- Add to component ,where the other shortcuts are located, my new link (.lnk) by choosing add file from components area.
I think I am missing something. Maybe the shortcut table and icon table, can you please tell me more about this. Things I see with Installshield or WiseInstaller are files or components.
What is very frustrating is when I test my package under Installshied it works and it install the new package with my shortcut.
When I save it and launch install from my fresh MSI it does not include any changes ... . I don't see any ways to launch a build become I am editing in direct mode an MSI .
Thanks for suggestions concerning the MST ... I ll keep this as a plan B. I think I am close to the solutions.
I am sure some of MSI experts have already done this. Any help suggestion is more than welcome.
Best Regards and many thanks for your support.
Guillaume.
Posted by:
turbokitty
17 years ago
Just convert the MSI to a project, add the shortcut, and build into an MSI.
Bob's your uncle.
Bob's your uncle.
Posted by:
AngelD
17 years ago
Open the msi using ORCA
select New Transform from the Transform menu
go to the Shortcut table
Look how the existing shortcut are set up and add a new row for you new shortcut, this could look like:
#Column: #Value
Shortcut: NEW_SHORTCUT
Directory: StartMenuFolder
Name: <shortcut name, example "MYNEWS~1|My New Shortcut">
Component: <component holding the file for the shortcut>
Target: <for advertised shortcut: specify the feature holding the component above, for regular shortcut: [#shortcut_file.exe]>
Arguments:
Description:
Hotkey: 0
Icon: ARPPRODUCTICON.EXE
IconIndex: 0
ShowCmd: 1
WkDir:
select Generate Transform from the Transform menu, this will now create an mst with the new shortcut added
select New Transform from the Transform menu
go to the Shortcut table
Look how the existing shortcut are set up and add a new row for you new shortcut, this could look like:
#Column: #Value
Shortcut: NEW_SHORTCUT
Directory: StartMenuFolder
Name: <shortcut name, example "MYNEWS~1|My New Shortcut">
Component: <component holding the file for the shortcut>
Target: <for advertised shortcut: specify the feature holding the component above, for regular shortcut: [#shortcut_file.exe]>
Arguments:
Description:
Hotkey: 0
Icon: ARPPRODUCTICON.EXE
IconIndex: 0
ShowCmd: 1
WkDir:
select Generate Transform from the Transform menu, this will now create an mst with the new shortcut added
Posted by:
gmiga76
17 years ago
Thanks a lot for your support, it helped me a lot.
I am actually making progress. Nevertheless I have a strange behavior of my "customized" MSI.
When I do a first install, installation is finishing well, but shortuts added are not there.
So I uninstall and reinstall it again then it's ok changes all is there with my new shortcut. As you can imagine I am trying to solve this issue. Did you already had this issue ?
Regards.
Guillaume.
I am actually making progress. Nevertheless I have a strange behavior of my "customized" MSI.
When I do a first install, installation is finishing well, but shortuts added are not there.
So I uninstall and reinstall it again then it's ok changes all is there with my new shortcut. As you can imagine I am trying to solve this issue. Did you already had this issue ?
Regards.
Guillaume.
Posted by:
nheim
17 years ago
Hi gmiga76,
when i go throug your messages here, i see that you several times mentioned a *.lnk file.
Thats not going to work, because the shortcut-files have often machine specific information written to them.
The MSI-Installer builds all shortcuts on the fly. This is why you author them only in the shortcut table. There is no need to add a file in the file table.
Have turned on the logging on your test machine? Search for the shortcut name in there and have a look what Installer really has done.
Good luck to solve the problem.
Regards, Nick
when i go throug your messages here, i see that you several times mentioned a *.lnk file.
Thats not going to work, because the shortcut-files have often machine specific information written to them.
The MSI-Installer builds all shortcuts on the fly. This is why you author them only in the shortcut table. There is no need to add a file in the file table.
Have turned on the logging on your test machine? Search for the shortcut name in there and have a look what Installer really has done.
Good luck to solve the problem.
Regards, Nick
Posted by:
gmiga76
17 years ago
nheim thanks for your reply, right its just a basic set of shortcuts I want to deploy. Its an existing package and I have to modify it.
Its an msi pack creating shortcut into C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu . Then users can access home made applications ... .
When I edit this msi under Installshied I see into the component a set of links, which are my regular links to other software. Based on this structure I have added a file (soft.lnk) into this component. I save the msi , launch the install , my shortcut is there.
Well it seems I am making progress . Now it install my shortcut correctly , But I have another problem . New package is installing almost well I have created another thread about this issue.
If you think the way I am doing this is incorrect please let it me know , I am totally new to MSI packages.
Regards.
Guillaume
Its an msi pack creating shortcut into C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu . Then users can access home made applications ... .
When I edit this msi under Installshied I see into the component a set of links, which are my regular links to other software. Based on this structure I have added a file (soft.lnk) into this component. I save the msi , launch the install , my shortcut is there.
Well it seems I am making progress . Now it install my shortcut correctly , But I have another problem . New package is installing almost well I have created another thread about this issue.
If you think the way I am doing this is incorrect please let it me know , I am totally new to MSI packages.
Regards.
Guillaume
Posted by:
nheim
17 years ago
Hi Guillaume,
Unfortunately, i don't know Installshield and its user interface (i use Wise). But the job you are trying to do here is overkill for both of major players in this field.
For jobs like this one, ORCA is far more suited, because it leaves MSI-file as it is.
Anyway, if want go farther with IS, try to switch to a table view, where you can see the raw tables inside the MSI-file. Then go to the shortcut table and have a look there. This should more or less be self explaining. Then add a new row in there and copy one of the rows, that suits you best and alter it to your needs.
Please let me know, if it’s going to work.
Regards, Nick
Unfortunately, i don't know Installshield and its user interface (i use Wise). But the job you are trying to do here is overkill for both of major players in this field.
For jobs like this one, ORCA is far more suited, because it leaves MSI-file as it is.
Anyway, if want go farther with IS, try to switch to a table view, where you can see the raw tables inside the MSI-file. Then go to the shortcut table and have a look there. This should more or less be self explaining. Then add a new row in there and copy one of the rows, that suits you best and alter it to your needs.
Please let me know, if it’s going to work.
Regards, Nick
Posted by:
gmiga76
17 years ago
Nick,
Thanks for your reply and help. The added link now is ok. I a am facing another issue (see my other post on this forum).
By the way I have found an MSI for ORCA, this will avoid a huge download of full SDK. here is the link http://astebner.sts.winisp.net/Tools/Orca.zip . Maybe it will help someone.
Thanks everybody for your support.
Regards.
Thanks for your reply and help. The added link now is ok. I a am facing another issue (see my other post on this forum).
By the way I have found an MSI for ORCA, this will avoid a huge download of full SDK. here is the link http://astebner.sts.winisp.net/Tools/Orca.zip . Maybe it will help someone.
Thanks everybody for your support.
Regards.
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