One thing we came across: We had trouble with Windows Installer (not just WiX) when calling an MSI from another MSI, stating that a Windows Installer was already running.
We opted for a simple MFC executable that would then invoke the MSI's using msiexec instead. Stefan -----Original Message----- From: bryan costanich [mailto:br...@corp.tixsmart.com] Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 11:24 AM To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net Subject: [WiX-users] noob/strategy questions Hi all! I'm evaluating WiX for use in a project. I have some pretty hairy installation requirements, and i'm trying to figure out if WiX is the right tool for the job. I need to create an install that does a number of things: -> install various other packaged software (MySQL, SQLExpress, etc.), these come in the form of msi and exe files that i can make silent via command line arguments -> install my own software (in the form of an .exe + a bunch of dlls) -> do a bunch of custom configuration tasks (that i can take care of with a dll call or whatever, will include modifying files, creating/modifying databases, etc.) some of this is fairly easy, for example, i could just use windows installer and point it at my application project to figure out dependencies and create an msi that would install it, it's dlls, etc. however, some of the other stuff is less easy. i could, potentially use windows installer to do the third task as well by defining custom actions. however, to make this even more complicated the installer needs to run full screen and use custom branding. also, this install package can/will be called by the software it installs (as an auto-update), needs to wait for the application to shut down, then install (potentially restart), and re-launch the application. finally, everything needs to be packaged into one exe (or at least an exe and one .msi). so, with all that said, would WiX even be useful here? a lot of this will have to be custom dialogs and such. at a minimum, could i use WiX to link together the bootstrapper + an msi that contained a bunch of custom dialogs and .net classes that do all the actual lifting? thanks all for your input. -b ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
