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MSI database


2 replies to this topic

lis_ck2000

lis_ck2000
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Posted 30 June 2004 - 04:20

this was my first time directly manipulating msi database, and i got totally frustrated. anyone know any good msi db tutorial?

Glytzhkof

Glytzhkof
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Posted 30 June 2004 - 04:42

Honestly, directly editing an MSI database is a hopeless task and should be avoided whenever possible. You are working in a database, and whatever errors you make in one table has the potential of cascading in all directions.

However, to find some detailed descriptions of how to make an MSI database from scratch some of Baker's books might help:

http://www.amazon.co...=glance&s=books

http://www.amazon.co...=glance&s=books

http://www.amazon.co...=glance&s=books


Regards
-Stein Åsmul

Zweitze

Zweitze
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Posted 30 June 2004 - 08:41

To learn about the tables, fields etc., use Msi.chm.

If you want to modify MSI files, a good place to start is installing the Platform SDK and look in the folder
\Program Files\Microsoft Platform SDK\Samples\SysMgmt\Msi\Scripts
which contains about 20 small scripts.

If you want to create a CA that updates the running install, look for a CA that updates the list of a list box or combo box (it is somewhere on InstallSite). Also look for a CA that extracts a file from the binary table, it shows you how to read from the database, and deal with binary resources.