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How to add a HTML file in a existing MSI

Hello All,
I have a MSI package name as xyz.msi .Now i want to add a new HTML file to my xyz.msi .i Tried with orca .But as it's a new toll have not much idea that what modefication i have to do and where to do .if anyone has any idea please let me know how to add a HTML file to a existing msi package .Thankyou very much.

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Answers (24)

Posted by: AngelD 15 years ago
Red Belt
2
The easiest would be to use InstEd (www.instedit.com) due to its nice features.
Check out:
http://www.instedit.com/workingwithfiles
http://www.instedit.com/help-workingwithcabs

So basically you need to add a new row to each table below:
Component, FeatureComponents, File, MsiFileHash and Media
Posted by: aogilmor 15 years ago
9th Degree Black Belt
2
sorry i don't know the answer, never used orca to add files. If I WERE forced to use Orca I'd look into the scripts listed in msi.chm. Again, some really hard core high level packagers use wix and orca with scripts etc. so it must be possible.
Posted by: turbokitty 15 years ago
6th Degree Black Belt
1
http://www.symantec.com/community/article/3154/basic-patch-and-transform-concepts-orca

Please learn the basics and do some research before posting questions.
Posted by: rbrucelee1978 15 years ago
Orange Belt
1
For one, if your a glutton for punishment I guess you can do it with ORCA. However, you would have to create entries in the File and Component tables. Not to mention the Directory table if you want to put the HTML file in a specific location. On top of that, since you're possibly going to be creating a new component for this file, you will also have to generate a new GUID for the component you're creating... oh and the file hash as well (I don't have any idea how you would generate that) I'm pretty sure I'm only scratching the surface here or I'm completely wrong [:D]
Posted by: aogilmor 15 years ago
9th Degree Black Belt
1
look in msi.chm under the search tab, look for Windows Installer Scripting Examples. In particular WiImport.vbs and WiMakCab.vbs may help you. Orca is really bare bones, it'll take some real understanding of Windows Installer, but it should work if orca is all you've got
Posted by: anonymous_9363 15 years ago
Red Belt
1
Don't forget that, if this is a vendor-supplied MSI, rather than one you (or someone in your organisation) have built, you should NOT edit it directly, but apply your changes via a transform file.

This forum is no place for a full-blown tutorial and, if a formal training course is out of the question, you would do best to thoroughly research Windows Installer technology. Start at MSDN, sprinkle in some Juice (a forum/blog run at Altiris) and obviously some AppDeploy.
Posted by: anonymous_9363 15 years ago
Red Belt
1
it would a good idea to read up on Windows Installer technology in general before you attempt doing what you've already set out to do. ...and then get your cheap-skate employer to spring for a proper MSI authoring tool. Orca is a really useful tool but it's for hard-core packagers. I wouldn't EVER put it in front of someone who is clearly as inexperienced as you.
Posted by: AngelD 15 years ago
Red Belt
1
No pain no gain, next time it will be easier
Posted by: aogilmor 15 years ago
9th Degree Black Belt
0
Most people here use tools like Wise, but there are some hard core folks that use Wix and even vbscripts to add files. Read your msi.chm which ought to come with orca and that should contain info on how to do what you need.
Posted by: rupesh 15 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
Hi,
Thanks for your reply .but i didn't get any info from orca or msi..
Thanks
Posted by: rupesh 15 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
Hi i had gone through all of this but still it is not clear to me .here is what i had tried upto now

1) Create a CAB file using ms tool
2. Edit the MSI file with Orca.
3. For a new file, create a component for the file in the Component table.
4. Add file entry into the File table which are associated with the component created in step 3.
5. Associate the component created in step 3 with a Feature in the FeatureComponent table.
But still no luck. And what i want here i want to deploy my HTML file with MSI so that it should install on single click only.
Posted by: rbrucelee1978 15 years ago
Orange Belt
0
Have you generated your Component GUID, and created your entries in the MSIFileHash tables, I'm pretty sure I'm missing something else.
Posted by: rupesh 15 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
Yes it is a vendor supplied MSI ,and i am using transform stuff to modified the file.But what is the basic step we have to follow to merge a file with msi. Because in last i want that i have only one msi which contain original msi and my HTML and both will install on client machine at single click.
Posted by: rupesh 15 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
I had followd all of this step with orca ,Apart from Creating a Entry in MSiFilehash Table . And after i had applied these transform i got a new msi but at the time when i run the msi it throw me the error that xyz file in not found inside the cabinet .

Thanks
Posted by: aogilmor 15 years ago
9th Degree Black Belt
0
check out the vbs files I mentioned in a previous post
Posted by: rupesh 15 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
Hi,If i am not wrong these files are located in Microsoft Window Installer SDK . I Don't have these installer with me and had downloaded orka from web .Nothing else .On my machine don't have any of these files.i had followd the step as i mention earlier in my mail.And upto now i didn't get a single tutorial which will explain the things in detail .Like if i have to add a text dile or HTML file so why should i use GUID for that and mutiple time this guid occur like underfile name thr is compnentwith guid compID is GUID Direcotry with GUID as same as component then keypath also have GUID same as component ID why thr is so much mess .
Posted by: aogilmor 15 years ago
9th Degree Black Belt
0
You're right, you'll have to download the sdk to get those vbs file templates. I don't know the answer to your other questions but if you try out and start to work with the vbs files it'll probably become clearer.
Posted by: rupesh 15 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
Okay for the time being lets not use vbscript .And i just want that my file copy in a specified folder name as XYD/Direct etc and this XYZ/Direct is created by Client MSI So once i had created a cob file and modified the table in orca to store the particular file at the following path . Now what when i will make a msi so along with msi i have to generate this MSI file seperately or what and second thing as i know this is just a plain HTML file so why i required a GUID here when i just want to place the file at some path only. Second is it possible that MSI itself contain my MSI file inside it.
Posted by: AngelD 15 years ago
Red Belt
0
How you add files manually can be done by following the links I provided in post #11 and updating the tables also in that post.
If you don't know how to update these tables I would suggest you read-up regarding these.
Posted by: rbrucelee1978 15 years ago
Orange Belt
0
ORIGINAL: rupesh

Okay for the time being lets not use vbscript .And i just want that my file copy in a specified folder name as XYD/Direct etc and this XYZ/Direct is created by Client MSI So once i had created a cob file and modified the table in orca to store the particular file at the following path . Now what when i will make a msi so along with msi i have to generate this MSI file seperately or what and second thing as i know this is just a plain HTML file so why i required a GUID here when i just want to place the file at some path only. Second is it possible that MSI itself contain my MSI file inside it.



Are there any components that already point to the specific directory that you want the html file to go to? If so, why don't you just associate the html file to that component? Saves you generating a new component GUID. You would still have to create your entries in the MSIFileHash table though.

Also, just to re-iterate what VBScab and AngelD have already said, it would a good idea to read up on Windows Installer technology in general before you attempt doing what you've already set out to do. I did... and still do
Posted by: rupesh 15 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
Thanx every one.Sorry for late reply .I had solved my problem with playing orca.Anyway it was really a pain in ass working with orca but now it seems pretty good.

Thanks
Posted by: rupesh 15 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
Agree
Posted by: aogilmor 15 years ago
9th Degree Black Belt
0
ORIGINAL: rupesh
Thanx every one.Sorry for late reply .I had solved my problem with playing orca.Anyway it was really a pain in ass working with orca but now it seems pretty good.


that's great news! i'm curious, did you end up using a script or were you able to add the file by just making changes in the msi database? how did you do it?
Now you can say you're a hard core packager!
Posted by: rupesh 15 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
hahhahaha Still i haven't a lot of idea about packaging Stuff. Anyway i was able to do it with msi database only and some window utility class. See here i got a new problem .if you have a time your all suggestion are invited to me.

http://itninja.com/question/gnu,-freeware-and-shareware-programs-to-cloning5051

Thanks
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