Burn is meant to provide this functionality, but it is under developed. There are plenty of chaining/bootstrapping products out there in the meantime. One I like is DotNetInstaller: http://dotnetinstaller.codeplex.com/ . You could use this to install the prerequisite Adobe AIR, if necessary, and then your product. -- John M. Cooper
-----Original Message----- From: Kevin MacDonald [mailto:kevinmacdon...@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011 4:25 PM To: wix-users Subject: [WiX-users] Chaining MSIs together Hello, I have an existing installer that I wrote in NSIS that does several things. It installs the Adobe AIR runtime by invoking an executable provided by Adobe. It then installs our AIR application, again using installation utilities provided by Adobe. And finally, it installs media which our AIR application knows where to find. This all works great. However, some of our clients require a single MSI file so that they can do multiple installations from a central location. I started playing with Wix in order to do this. However, I have encountered the problem where it does not seem to be possible to chain MSIs together. I was able to kinda get it working by having a custom action invoke the AIR runtime installer using the code below: <CustomAction Id='InstallAIRRuntimeAction' FileKey='file_AIRInstaller_0' ExeCommand='-silent' Return='asyncNoWait' /> <InstallExecuteSequence> <Custom Action='InstallAIRRuntimeAction' After='InstallFinalize'>NOT Installed</Custom> </InstallExecuteSequence> This works because the enclosing MSI doesn't wait for a response, and the other MSI takes a few seconds to launch. This is of course very hacky. Is there no way to do this properly? I don't mind if the two MSIs are not chained, i.e. it would be O.K. if the AIR runtime remained on the machine during an uninstall. InstallShield advertises that they can chain MSIs. I would rather go the extra mile and use Wix or something similar, rather than fork out $2000 for InstallShield Professional. I'm suprised that Wix can't do the basic task of calling another MSI given how low level it is when InstallShield is able to do it. Am I missing something? Thanks Kevin ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Achieve unprecedented app performance and reliability What every C/C++ and Fortran developer should know. Learn how Intel has extended the reach of its next-generation tools to help boost performance applications - inlcuding clusters. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-dev2devmay _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. The message, together with any attachment, may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or distribution is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Achieve unprecedented app performance and reliability What every C/C++ and Fortran developer should know. Learn how Intel has extended the reach of its next-generation tools to help boost performance applications - inlcuding clusters. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-dev2devmay _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
