Like you say, multiple MSIs means updates/patches are a headache. You could instead use "instance transforms". From http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa369523(VS.85).aspx:
"you can install multiple instances of a product if you have a separate installation package for each instance of a product or patch. Then each package can keep its own set of data and have its own unique product code. Starting with [Windows Installer 3.0], you can install multiple instances of a product by using product code transforms and one .msi package or one patch." So what you want is to use the <InstanceTransforms> and <Instance> elements in WIX to create .mst files that will be embedded into your .msi, and then use the special command-line (MSINEWINSTANCE=1 TRANSFORMS=:YourInstanceId.mst) to install your second instance. You patch whichever instance you want by specifying its product code on the msiexec command-line (/n). And I imagine you would have no problem appending the user-specified value of a property to your service name/displayname. -----Original Message----- From: Ruslan Albu [mailto:ruslan.a...@kurtosys.com] Sent: 14 January 2011 11:43 To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net Subject: [WiX-users] The same Windows Service installed under different names I have created an installation for Windows Service and everything works well. Next I need to allow the same service to be installed more times under different names. For example, if I have the service 'MyService' I need to install two services MyServiceChart and MyServiceImage. These names will appear in MMC. There are two issues with this: 1. I need a way to specify the last bit (Chart or Image) for the DisplayName attribute in the ServiceInstall element in .wxs file. I'm thinking to add a new dialog in UI with a textbox on it and append this value to the DisplayName. Is this possible? 2. When I start the MSI the 'Change repair or remove installation' dialog pops up. I recon I can get rid of this and have the standard dialog to allow to install a new instance by changing the Product GUID to *. But in this case I will not be able to update/patch the current installation. Is it possible to implement this in WIX? How can I tackle these issues? Thanks ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ Protect Your Site and Customers from Malware Attacks Learn about various malware tactics and how to avoid them. Understand malware threats, the impact they can have on your business, and how you can protect your company and customers by using code signing. http://p.sf.net/sfu/oracle-sfdevnl _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Protect Your Site and Customers from Malware Attacks Learn about various malware tactics and how to avoid them. Understand malware threats, the impact they can have on your business, and how you can protect your company and customers by using code signing. http://p.sf.net/sfu/oracle-sfdevnl _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
