Thank you everybody for the discussion! The result is clear to me: I won't use minor- and small updates.
One question concerning "Best practice" left for the deployment. In fact my application consists of: - "Viewer" (EXE, DLL, CHM) - "Database" (dat-file (80MB), bunch of PDFs) - License1.RTF, License2.RTF Now I ship my program in various flavours: 1.) Corporate edition with License1.RTF 2.) Private edition: Everything the same except License2.RTF 3.) (private) Network edition: Same as (2) except the name 4.) Demo version: Modified Database (30MB instead of 80MB) And finally each (1)-(3) get updates every few months. At first I thought with WiX it would be possible to just create one installer for all of those. But according to the discussions so far, am I right to just generate separate projects (wxs files) for each of the cases above? And according to the updates: Each of the (1), (2), (3), (4) shares the same UpgradeCode, doesn't it? Regards, Luke Am 22.07.2010 05:28, schrieb Christopher Painter: > I wrote thatI had read several blog posts over the years and cited one of them > as Vagmi and couldn't recall who the others were. I didn't say any of them > were > from you. In fact, I recall you writing a post about why WiX uses Major > Upgrades and I referred to that as vindication; evidence that we have shared > beliefs. > > BTW, I could ask you the same question considering your still unapologetic > personal attack on me several years ago. I still believe that if we ever > met > in real life we'd hit it really well. I for one sure wish you could spend > some > time in Austin seeing the work I've done combining WiX with InstallShield. > > Christopher Painter, Author of Deployment Engineering Blog > Have a hot tip, know a secret or read a really good thread that deserves > attention? E-Mail Me > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Rob Mensching<r...@robmensching.com> > To: General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset. > <wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net> > Sent: Wed, July 21, 2010 10:10:42 PM > Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Does the msi-filename matter? > > I think you have me confused with someone else. I've always had the stance: > "If you can use a Major Upgrade do so. Life is too short to deal with the > difficulties otherwise." > > What else have you told people I believe?<smile/> > > On Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 7:53 PM, Christopher Painter< > chr...@deploymentengineering.com> wrote: > >> Rob- I seem to recall several blog articles years ago talking about >> how major >> upgrades are "ugly". One was from an active blogger at the time ( Vagmi >> ) but >> I don't remember the others. >> >> http://geekswithblogs.net/Vagmi.Mudumbai/archive/2006/06/11/81426.aspx >> >> Blair- My MSI mojo is good, but what development throws over the wall to >> me >> frequently will not end well with anything other then a major upgrade with >> respect to msi servicing patterns and rules. I'm sure you've seen that >> also. >> >> Chris >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ---- >> From: Rob Mensching<r...@robmensching.com> >> To: General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset. >> <wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net> >> Sent: Wed, July 21, 2010 9:33:40 PM >> Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Does the msi-filename matter? >> >> Uhh, I personally always recommend Major Upgrades over all the other >> options. IMHO, the other options (minor updates and small updates) add pain >> that is rarely worth it (i.e. you have to be really big with lots of >> customers to bother with .msp's). >> >> I'd be curious to see who actually recommends anything but Major Upgrades >> for the general case. >> >> On Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 4:07 PM, Christopher Painter< >> chr...@deploymentengineering.com> wrote: >> >>> Same here. I've heard people post for years about how Major Upgrades are >> a >>> pain >>> and you better follow the component rules to a letter if you want minor >>> upgrades, small updates and patching to work. I've choosen to only >>> support >>> Major Upgrades and it's a bit of a vindication to now see the likes of >> Rob >>> talk >>> about why WiX's own installer only does Major Upgrades. >>> >>> Christopher Painter, Author of Deployment Engineering Blog >>> Have a hot tip, know a secret or read a really good thread that deserves >>> attention? E-Mail Me >>> >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ---- >>> From: Neil Sleightholm<n...@x2systems.com> >>> To: General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset. >>> <wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net> >>> Sent: Wed, July 21, 2010 5:58:54 PM >>> Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Does the msi-filename matter? >>> >>> But a key point is that this is only a possible** problem for minor >>> upgrades. If >>> you do major upgrades you can ignore it. >>> >>> **I say possible because I have never seen an issue but I mainly stick to >>> major >>> upgrade because they are less hassle. >>> >>> Neil >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Blair [mailto:os...@live.com] >>> Sent: 21 July 2010 23:12 >>> To: 'General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset.' >>> Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Does the msi-filename matter? >>> >>> That could help reduce the chance of that problem, but depending on which >>> file the user changes (the initial or the update) you may not get a >> chance >>> to warn the user to not rename the MSI. >>> >>> In most of the failure cases I have seen due to not finding the MSI file >> at >>> the indicated directory caused by looking for a different name than >>> expected >>> (usually due to attempting a minor upgrade using an MSI downloaded using >>> IE) >>> Windows Installer never even starts parsing any sequence table. >>> >>> This is part of the reason huge numbers of software producers >> distributing >>> over the internet use self-extract-and-launch-style wrappers (zip-exe >>> style) >>> for their MSI distribution. >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Christopher Painter [mailto:chr...@deploymentengineering.com] >>> Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 2:51 PM >>> To: General discussion for Windows Installer XML toolset. >>> Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Does the msi-filename matter? >>> >>> It is true that changing the MSI file name forces a major upgrade. If >> you >>> are >>> concerned that your user will interfere with your servicing strategy by >>> renaming >>> the MSI, you can use the OriginalDatabase property in a LaunchCondition >> to >>> abort >>> the install if they have renamed the MSI. I would suggest something like >>> >>> >>> [OriginalDatabase]>> \MYSUPPORTEDFILENAME.msi >>> >>> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa370562(VS.85).aspx >>> >>> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa368012(VS.85).aspx >>> >>> Christopher Painter, Author of Deployment Engineering Blog >>> Have a hot tip, know a secret or read a really good thread that deserves >>> attention? E-Mail Me >>> >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ---- >>> From: Lukas Haase<lukasha...@gmx.at> >>> To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>> Sent: Wed, July 21, 2010 4:42:20 PM >>> Subject: [WiX-users] Does the msi-filename matter? >>> >>> Hi, >>> >>> Does the filename of the msi file matter in any way? >>> >>> I really DO NOT hope so! Because I have no influence if the user renames >>> the file before installing?! >>> >>> [1] says: "There are cases when the Windows Installer forces you to use >>> a major upgrade [...] You have to when you change the name of the .msi >>> file for any reason. [...]" >>> >>> Regards, >>> Luke >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> [1] http://www.tramontana.co.hu/wix/lesson4.php#4.1 >>> >>> >>> >>> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> -- >>> This SF.net email is sponsored by Sprint >>> What will you do first with EVO, the first 4G phone? >>> Visit sprint.com/first -- http://p.sf.net/sfu/sprint-com-first >>> _______________________________________________ >>> WiX-users mailing list >>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> -- >>> This SF.net email is sponsored by Sprint >>> What will you do first with EVO, the first 4G phone? >>> Visit sprint.com/first -- http://p.sf.net/sfu/sprint-com-first >>> _______________________________________________ >>> WiX-users mailing list >>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>> >>> >>> >>> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> This SF.net email is sponsored by Sprint >>> What will you do first with EVO, the first 4G phone? >>> Visit sprint.com/first -- http://p.sf.net/sfu/sprint-com-first >>> _______________________________________________ >>> WiX-users mailing list >>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>> >>> >>> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> This SF.net email is sponsored by Sprint >>> What will you do first with EVO, the first 4G phone? >>> Visit sprint.com/first -- http://p.sf.net/sfu/sprint-com-first >>> _______________________________________________ >>> WiX-users mailing list >>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> This SF.net email is sponsored by Sprint >>> What will you do first with EVO, the first 4G phone? >>> Visit sprint.com/first -- http://p.sf.net/sfu/sprint-com-first >>> _______________________________________________ >>> WiX-users mailing list >>> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> virtually, Rob Mensching - http://RobMensching.com LLC >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> This SF.net email is sponsored by Sprint >> What will you do first with EVO, the first 4G phone? >> Visit sprint.com/first -- http://p.sf.net/sfu/sprint-com-first >> _______________________________________________ >> WiX-users mailing list >> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> This SF.net email is sponsored by Sprint >> What will you do first with EVO, the first 4G phone? >> Visit sprint.com/first -- http://p.sf.net/sfu/sprint-com-first >> _______________________________________________ >> WiX-users mailing list >> WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users >> >> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This SF.net email is sponsored by Sprint What will you do first with EVO, the first 4G phone? Visit sprint.com/first -- http://p.sf.net/sfu/sprint-com-first _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
