To be clear, WiX is distributed several ways. For the end-user (non-developer or developer), the WiX toolset is included in .MSI files and installed/upgraded/uninstalled. For the developer's build process, the WiX toolset is provided as a .zip file.
My point previously was that everything you've described in your scenario thus far sounds nothing like the case where a .zip file is used to distribute the WiX toolset. I'm not saying this to be critical or because I feel criticized. I say this because I care very much about the experience end-users have on their machines and want to encourage each and every developer to create installation packages that work well in all cases. In other words, I care very much about "better". Ultimately, the answer is YES you can create a series of CustomActions to unzip a file during install but I would not recommend doing that. -----Original Message----- From: Daniel Goldman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 30, 2006 1:35 PM To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [WiX-users] customaction runs unzip? Hi Rob, I was intending no criticism of wix. I think wix is great. And I don't think I had any misconceptions. I read the previous postings where zipping wix was discussed. But the fact is that wix IS distributed by a zip file. It's fine with me. You have valid reasons for doing so. As I explained under Background in previous postings in the thread, I also have valid reasons for wanting to distribute a set of softwares using zip or xcopy, and for omitting upgrade and uninstall. But I would like to do so from within wix, so it looks more professional, and so I can automatically add shortcuts to the desktop and start menu, and possibly check for .net runtime more reliably. So instead of all these discussions about whether it's "better" to do things one way or another, could somone please answer my simple question: Is it possible to use customaction (or some other wix mechanism) to run unzip on a zip file from the install cd? Or to run xcopy from install cd. If answer is YES, can you provide example syntax? And is there any kind of progress meter possible? If answer is NO, any alternative install mechanisms other than batch file option, which I would like to avoid (clunky-looking). Thanks, Daniel Rob Mensching wrote: > This is a common misconception about the WiX package that I figured I > should set straight. The .zip version of the WiX toolset is provided > for developers who want to take the tools and check them into their > source control system (a process I highly encourage). The .zip file > provides no mechanism for upgrading, uninstalling or any of those > other features that a non-developer would expect from an application's installation package. > > For those developers that don't check the tools into their source > control system, the WiX toolset is provided as an MSI (see Votive.ms) > with proper upgrade, uninstall logic. > > Unless your application is a tool that developers should check into > their source control system and requires no registration to work, I > would not use the WiX toolset as your example why distributing an > application via a .zip file is acceptable. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Daniel > Goldman > Sent: Friday, June 30, 2006 12:39 PM > To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [WiX-users] customaction runs unzip? > > I don't know what you mean by "fishy". The wix package itself is > distributed by zip, so zip can't be that bad. I can deal with patches > by just sending a new full distribution, or just sending the file(s) > that need replacing. > > Using Tomcat but need to do more? Need to support web services, security? Get stuff done quickly with pre-integrated technology to make your job easier Download IBM WebSphere Application Server v.1.0.1 based on Apache Geronimo http://sel.as-us.falkag.net/sel?cmd=lnk&kid=120709&bid=263057&dat=121642 _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
