[WiX-users] prerequisites .net , sqlce etc
Hi, Where can I find some information of having a WiX project check for prerequisites like .Net2 and SQL Compact Edition and download them from MS and install them if not already on on a users machine. Thanks, Glen. - This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2005. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse012070mrt/direct/01/___ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
Re: [WiX-users] prerequisites .net , sqlce etc
You can do this by using the GenerateBootStrapper task in MSBuild, it already has a few prerequisites built for you including .Net 2 and SQL CE Documentation is here http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms164294.aspx Glen Harvy wrote: Hi, Where can I find some information of having a WiX project check for prerequisites like .Net2 and SQL Compact Edition and download them from MS and install them if not already on on a users machine. Thanks, Glen. - This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2005. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse012070mrt/direct/01/ ___ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users -- View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/prerequisites-.net-%2C-sqlce-etc-tf4435638.html#a12654660 Sent from the wix-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. - This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2005. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse012070mrt/direct/01/ ___ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
Re: [WiX-users] prerequisites .net , sqlce etc
Glen, Some of the prerequisites you mention (specifically the .NET runtime) are packaged using Microsoft Installer technology themselves. As a result, you cannot automatically install them from within your MSI - all you can do is make your MSI verify that they have been installed. The archives of this mailing list should provide some samples of the syntax you need to use for your tests. As far as actually downloading and installing the prerequisites, you need something known as a bootstrapper or chainer. Searching on those terms will probably give you the information you need. Personally, I have uses NSIS as a bootstrapper with some success. Regards, Richard From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Glen Harvy Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 9:14 AM To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net Subject: [WiX-users] prerequisites .net , sqlce etc Hi, Where can I find some information of having a WiX project check for prerequisites like .Net2 and SQL Compact Edition and download them from MS and install them if not already on on a users machine. Thanks, Glen. - This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2005. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse012070mrt/direct/01/___ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
Re: [WiX-users] prerequisites .net , sqlce etc
Hi Richard, I appreciate your comments. So far I have always used the Setup Deployment project in VS20005 to create my msi and setup files. I have always configured VS2005 to check and download the prerequisites and they work fine. I need now to become a bit more professional and find that adding dialog boxes etc within the VS2005 IDE daunting and am unable to locate any documentation, tutorials or active assistance in learning how to. For well over a year I have been toying with WiX (Votive actually) but have never reached the end of the task for various reasons. I have also struggled with other installer packages with similar frustrations. As I understand it, I need to create an msi for my application using Wix and then create a setup.exe file which is in effect is a bootstrapper that will check the users computer for prerequisites, download and install them. My applications msi file will be installed by the setup.exe file providing each other prerequisite has succeeded. The prerequisites can be supplied by me, downloaded from me or the vendor's site. I just need to configure the setup.exe file properly and that is done using xml. I believe that I can eventually get WiX working/configured OK - with a little bit of help of course. I have looked in several places and have been unable to find any comprehensive but simplified tutorial on building the setup.exe/bootstrapper file. Terminology is (I have always found) the most confusing when trying to learn. eg what is a msbuild project? I also note that I am not alone! Many web references are people like me screaming out for guidance and a tutorial - I wonder if David Thielen ever worked it out. Thanks for your help. I will need to concentrate on the setup.exe file and get that under my belt before I concentrate on WiX and my msi file. If I still have the wrong end of the stick - please let me know. Cheers. Glen Harvy. On 13/09/2007 11:36 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Glen, Some of the prerequisites you mention (specifically the .NET runtime) are packaged using Microsoft Installer technology themselves. As a result, you cannot automatically install them from within your MSI -- all you can do is make your MSI verify that they have been installed. The archives of this mailing list should provide some samples of the syntax you need to use for your tests. As far as actually downloading and installing the prerequisites, you need something known as a bootstrapper or chainer. Searching on those terms will probably give you the information you need. Personally, I have uses NSIS as a bootstrapper with some success. Regards, Richard *From:* [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] *On Behalf Of *Glen Harvy *Sent:* Thursday, September 13, 2007 9:14 AM *To:* wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net *Subject:* [WiX-users] prerequisites .net , sqlce etc Hi, Where can I find some information of having a WiX project check for prerequisites like .Net2 and SQL Compact Edition and download them from MS and install them if not already on on a users machine. Thanks, Glen. - This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2005. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse012070mrt/direct/01/___ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
Re: [WiX-users] prerequisites .net , sqlce etc
Glen, I agree, documentation on this is all over the place. Unfortunately like many open source projects any work people do on WiX is almost invariably in their spare time. My understanding is that your understanding is correct. Your MSI should include checks (coded in Wix as as condition elements under the fragment / product - i.e. a launch condition) for the prerequisites just in case someone wants to install your product using an enterprise-wide system management tool like Microsoft's SMS (in which case they are likely to do so using the MSI itself, not a bootstrapper). Your bootstrapper will make the experience for regular users friendlier by ensuring those prerequisites have been met prior to triggering the installation of your MSI. As far as a tutorial for the bootstrapper is concerned the problem is that there are many possible choices for creating one - from rolling your own to using GenerateBootstrapper, and on into one of the process driven installation tools like NSIS or InnoSetup. MSBuild is the build technology behind Visual Studio 2005 (and the .NET 2.0 SDK, IIRC). Think of it as Microsoft's implementation of NAnt and you won't be far wrong. VS 2005 .XXproj files are (if I understand correctly) actually MSBuild scripts. Hope this helps, Regards, Richard From: Glen Harvy [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 10:40 AM To: WiX Users Group Subject: Re: [WiX-users] prerequisites .net , sqlce etc Hi Richard, I appreciate your comments. So far I have always used the Setup Deployment project in VS20005 to create my msi and setup files. I have always configured VS2005 to check and download the prerequisites and they work fine. I need now to become a bit more professional and find that adding dialog boxes etc within the VS2005 IDE daunting and am unable to locate any documentation, tutorials or active assistance in learning how to. For well over a year I have been toying with WiX (Votive actually) but have never reached the end of the task for various reasons. I have also struggled with other installer packages with similar frustrations. As I understand it, I need to create an msi for my application using Wix and then create a setup.exe file which is in effect is a bootstrapper that will check the users computer for prerequisites, download and install them. My applications msi file will be installed by the setup.exe file providing each other prerequisite has succeeded. The prerequisites can be supplied by me, downloaded from me or the vendor's site. I just need to configure the setup.exe file properly and that is done using xml. I believe that I can eventually get WiX working/configured OK - with a little bit of help of course. I have looked in several places and have been unable to find any comprehensive but simplified tutorial on building the setup.exe/bootstrapper file. Terminology is (I have always found) the most confusing when trying to learn. eg what is a msbuild project? I also note that I am not alone! Many web references are people like me screaming out for guidance and a tutorial - I wonder if David Thielen ever worked it out. Thanks for your help. I will need to concentrate on the setup.exe file and get that under my belt before I concentrate on WiX and my msi file. If I still have the wrong end of the stick - please let me know. Cheers. Glen Harvy. On 13/09/2007 11:36 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Glen, Some of the prerequisites you mention (specifically the .NET runtime) are packaged using Microsoft Installer technology themselves. As a result, you cannot automatically install them from within your MSI - all you can do is make your MSI verify that they have been installed. The archives of this mailing list should provide some samples of the syntax you need to use for your tests. As far as actually downloading and installing the prerequisites, you need something known as a bootstrapper or chainer. Searching on those terms will probably give you the information you need. Personally, I have uses NSIS as a bootstrapper with some success. Regards, Richard From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Glen Harvy Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 9:14 AM To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net Subject: [WiX-users] prerequisites .net , sqlce etc Hi, Where can I find some information of having a WiX project check for prerequisites like .Net2 and SQL Compact Edition and download them from MS and install them if not already on on a users machine. Thanks, Glen. * C O N F I D E N T I A L I T Y N O T I C E * --- The content of this e-mail is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this communication in error, be aware that forwarding it, copying it, or in any way disclosing its content to any other
Re: [WiX-users] prerequisites .net , sqlce etc
I would suggest considering http://www.devage.com/Wiki/ViewArticle.aspx?name=dotnetinstallerversion=0 dotNetInstaller . In addition to supporting prerequisite installations of the .NET Framework, it also supports installing other prerequisites such as SQL Express. There is also a GUI to help with creating the bootstrapper configuration. Additionally, the source code is available for download. Hope this helps. Thanks, Matthew Glen Harvy wrote: Hi, Where can I find some information of having a WiX project check for prerequisites like .Net2 and SQL Compact Edition and download them from MS and install them if not already on on a users machine. Thanks, Glen. -- View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/prerequisites-.net-%2C-sqlce-etc-tf4435638.html#a12659909 Sent from the wix-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. - This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2005. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse012070mrt/direct/01/ ___ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
Re: [WiX-users] prerequisites .net , sqlce etc
Actually SMS can push support files like bootstappers out with the msi to the
distribution points and invoke them as part of their package definition. In
fact, SMS doesn't really even require MSI's although MSIs generally behave
nicer.
The scenario you describe is a limitation of GPO since GPO can only invoke
MSI's.
Regardless you are correct, bootstrapper checks should have redundant
LaunchConditions as the user could have invoked the MSI instead of the EXE.
As a note: When using SMS, always distribute the MSI outside of the EXE(
fully ,exposed ) as this is the only way the SMS Advanced Client can be aware
of the packages ProductCode and have access to the MSI for assisting in source
resolution. It should also be noticed that SMS ( atleast the last time I used
it ) only correlates the distribution point to the MSI source if the DP is
considered `local`. It does not do this for remote DP's. I wrote about this
back in 2004 ( bullets 4 and 5 )
http://blog.deploymentengineering.com/2004/12/msi-patching-with-sms.html
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
My understanding is that your understanding is correct. Your MSI should
include checks (coded in Wix as as condition elements under the fragment /
product i.e. a launch condition) for the prerequisites just in case someone
wants to install your product using an enterprise-wide system management tool
like Microsofts SMS (in which case they are likely to do so using the MSI
itself, not a bootstrapper). Your bootstrapper will make the experience for
regular users friendlier by ensuring those prerequisites have been met prior
to triggering the installation of your MSI.
-
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Re: [WiX-users] prerequisites .net , sqlce etc
Thanks for the clarification Christopher! It was my (apparently inaccurate) understanding that most SMS users preferred using MSI's directly (and managing dependencies themselves) because of the risks associated with a bootstrapper potentially doing something that could not easily be repared and/or removed at a later date. (I'm guessing that is the nicer operation you describe.:-) ) Regards, Richard From: Christopher Painter [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 1:50 PM To: Foster, Richard - PAL; wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net Subject: Re: [WiX-users] prerequisites .net , sqlce etc Actually SMS can push support files like bootstappers out with the msi to the distribution points and invoke them as part of their package definition. In fact, SMS doesn't really even require MSI's although MSIs generally behave nicer. [Snip!] * C O N F I D E N T I A L I T Y N O T I C E * --- The content of this e-mail is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this communication in error, be aware that forwarding it, copying it, or in any way disclosing its content to any other person, is strictly prohibited. Quixote Traffic Corporation is neither liable for the contents, nor for the proper, complete and timely transmission of (the information contained in) this communication. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the author by replying to this e-mail immediately and delete the material from any computer. - This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2005. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse012070mrt/direct/01/___ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
