5 replies to this topic

[charudattas]

Hi Everybody,

We have a InstallScript MSI project for our Installer "DBInstaller". We have already modified the Installer Script for making changes to certian UI's. We have only one Custom Action written using Visual Studio, which will get executed during the Installation of files.
The problem here is that we are unable to run the DBInstaller.msi file generated by the build, created for DBInstaller. When we try to run the DBInstaller, it gives the error "This installation cannot be run by directly launching the MSI package. You must run the setup.exe." Can someone please tell the reason why this error is coming? and provide any solution to fix this problem.
Any help would be highly Appreciated.
Thanks in Advance.

Edited by charudattas, 25 April 2007 - 06:34.

[Glytzhkof]

It sounds like you need to switch to using a Basic MSI setup. Installscript MSI is a mutated form of MSI that should never have seen the light of day. It is the thing that should not be. Don't use it if you can help it. The ONLY reason some people end up using it, is because they want more powerful dialogs that what is available in basic MSI, and even then it is better to redesign the solution than to use Installscript MSI.

[charudattas]

Thanks for the Reply Stein but we need to proceed with the InstallScript MSI project as we have already set certain UI's. Isn’t there any way to keep going with the InstallScript MSI project and make the MSI file from its output running?

[Glytzhkof]

Installscript MSI files need the Installscript engine to be installed on the system prior to launch - this is why the setup.exe is used so it can install and set up the Installscript engine prior to launching the actual MSI. You could try to hack the internal workings of the generated MSI file to run it without the setup.exe, but I really would not recommend it. What kind of UI do you need that Basic MSI can't support?

[charudattas]

Stein,
The main reason we are using the InstallSrcipt MSI project is the Feature Tree Dialog available in that project, we want to display a Tree of Features to the end users havin the available Features and further add any sub-features during the run-time if the user decides to do so. We have the Installer Script code already in place for achiving this kind of a dialog. I really do not know if this kind of dialog can be created using Basic MSI installer. This is the reason we are favoring the InstallScript MSI Installer.

[Glytzhkof]

Basic MSI does have its version of the feature tree dialog, though it may not be perfectly intuitive at first glance. Try creating a new setup and take a look at the feature tree dialog available when you select "Custom" setup. You will see a number of additional feature options such as "run from source" etc... but the basic feature tree is there.