Create MSI

[vz2rjohnson]

Hello,

I own a copy of SB 7 developer edition and had previously been trained in SB 6 developer. In the help documentation of sb6 it said that in sb 7 would be the ability to create msis but when i go into my sb7 IDE and choose to make an msi project and try to compile it, i get returned an error of that the setupbuilder msi copiler sbmis ins not there... where is this fearure? my clients have been demanding that i use msi and i do not want to have to shell out more money of another installation tool especially one that is not made by lindersoft.

[linder]

Hello,

Are you referring to the "#exe2msi..." compiler directive?

The #exe2msi compiler directive lets you wrap a native .exe installation up as an MSI. This function can be used to wrap your .exe installer in a Windows Installer (MSI) database package suitable for use in MSI-centric environments. The resulting MSI package can be used as a regular MSI installation package (including both interactive and non-interactive installations), but will internally run the high-performance SetupBuilder .exe installer. The uninstaller will be the normal SetupBuilder uninstaller.

There is a "exe2msi Demo.sb7" source code demo in the Examples Package and in the Learning SetupBuilder Part I manual.

Does this help?

Friedrich

[vz2rjohnson]

thanks for your quick responce,

that should do the trick... but how to add uninstall/modify/repair functionality?

[vz2rjohnson]

where can i obtain the examples package?

[linder]

Hello,

Uninstall is done via the SetupBuilder uninstall engine (the uninstall .exe). Modify and Repair is only available if you support it in your script. The "exe2msi" technology just wraps the .exe into a .msi.

BTW, we are specialized in "non-MSI" deployment solutions. In other words, we compile high-performance, native Windows installation executables instead of MSI setups.

The MSI technology is far too limited for most of our customers (e.g. no scripting available) -- that's why about 70% of our new customers switch *from* a MSI solution *to* SetupBuilder.

The following is a link to an interesting "MSI to SetupBuilder" success story:

http://www.lindersoft.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19918

If you need a native MSI deployment solution, then SetupBuilder is not the right tool for you. We already have a .MSI compiler available, but most of our customers do not have any interest in MSI, so we did not add it yet. And it has very low priority, especially after the Windows 7 Logo requirements have changed and MSI is no longer required.

Hope this helps.

Friedrich

[linder]

Hello,

The Examples Package can be downloaded here:

http://www.lindersoft.com/downloads.htm

This is the direct link to the SB7 Examples:

http://www.lindersoft.com/sb7_Examples.exe

And the "Learning SetupBuilder" can be downloaded from the IDE (see attached screenshot). "Learning SetupBuilder Part I" is the official "Everything you ever wanted to know about SetupBuilder but were afraid to ask" introductory material, written by Jane Fleming. This "SetupBuilder Bible" is a compendium of tips, tricks, warnings, and resources for SetupBuilder users of every ability level.

Friedrich

[vz2rjohnson]

1. great story I believe that setupbuilder is a great tool (the best in the business with ist ease-or-use, stunning support and features that cannot be found anywhere for a comperable price)
2. where can i find the setupbuilder examples package?
3. (low on my priorities list...) how to support modify/repair functionalities? not high on *my* priorities list for the project i am currently working on, but it has been requested by a few of my clients here and there due to the nature of windows os and some of their clients. also this functionality is high on some of my *team members'* list as they have clients that demand it.

[vz2rjohnson]

oops did not see you post cancel number 1 under new post.... lol :) thanks fo rthe help

[linder]

Hi,

Thank you for your kind words :)

To support a "modify/repair" functionality, you have to develop your own script logic. Similar to what we are doing in the SetupBuilder install image itself. If you re-run the installer on an already installed package, it allows to uninstall/repair/update. It's all script driven.

Friedrich